The One Series
The One Series offers students the opportunity to undertake a semester-long in-depth study of a major literary text. Discussions will address emergent research methods, advanced writing and critical thinking issues, and debates surrounding canonization. The seminar may involve working with primary sources and archival materials; reviewing the critical literature; using online databases of historical newspapers, periodicals, and other cultural materials; exploring relevant contexts in literary, linguistic, and cultural history; studying the etymological history and changing meanings of words; experimenting with new methods of computational analysis of texts; and other methodologies.
English majors may take this course at any time while at Penn, and do not need to be a junior to enroll. Anything within the range ENGL 4500-4998 will fulfill The One Series requirement.
Every semester, 4-6 different seminars that showcase a wide range of key texts and questions will be offered.
The One Series Courses
2026 fall
2026 spring
2025 fall
2025 spring
2024 fall
2024 spring
2023 fall

Department of English