Course Descriptions

ENG 109 - Crime Fiction

3 Credits

A study of crime fiction in short stories, plays, novels, movies, and/or television shows. This course will trace the evolution of various subgenres including classic, hard-boiled, police procedural, and courtroom drama by such authors as Christie, Hammett, Conan Doyle, Bunglowala, Hiroki, and Al-Ramli. Students will study how crimes, their investigation, and the concept of law and justice are influenced by geography, politics, and various social factors including, but not limited to, gender, race, class, ethnicity, religion, power, and privilege.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 101; or equivalent; or instructor permission (ENG 101 can be taken as a co-requisite) :

Learning Attributes: WR

New SUNY General Education: SUNY - Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice, SUNY - Humanities

Retiring SUNY General Education: SUNY-H - Humanities (SHUM)

MCC General Education: MCC-AH - Arts and Humanities (MAH)

Course Learning Outcomes
1. Identify how common sub-genres of crime fiction developed in response to various social structures and cultural factors such as class, race, rights, access, equity, participation in social justice action, and/or concepts of law and justice.
2. Describe common conventions of the genre as shaped by factors including, but not limited to geography, politics, gender, race, class, religion, dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and/or opportunity.
3. Analyze crime fiction from a variety of academic perspectives in written assignments and discussions.
4. Write a thesis-driven essay using literature as a primary source
5. Apply appropriate formal conventions and documentation style when writing about literature.
6. Describe the origins of crime fiction with attention to cultural context

Course Offered Fall

Use links below to see if this course is offered:
Fall Semester 2024
Intersession 2025
Spring Semester 2025