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- Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:54 pm
Scottbdoug wrote:Question...
Isn't an English Professor one that teaches English literature, and a Professor of English one who teaches how to write English (grammar, spelling, the use of similes, metaphors and the like)?
or am I just lost?
Scott the Complainer.
Actually, no, Scott. An English professor can teach just English Literature, although even then, he or she is still teaching his or her students English grammar and composition skills in the grading of their papers. Most of us, however, usually teach courses in both English literature and English composition. I,myself, teach courses in 19th and 20th century century literature--as well as American Modern and Postmodern literature--and courses in English composition and rhetoric.
"Professor of English" is an official title that some colleges and universities use in their department listing, although some do list their professors as "professor," "associate professor" or "assistant professor," depending on tenure level. I have never heard any of my colleagues or any other English professor refer to themselves as a "professor of English" in any casual conversation or missive. To do so would be pretentious and haughty by trying to add an unnecessary and uncalled for air of sophistication to their job.
So, you really need to again look up definitions for "English professor" and see what it means, as well as if any definition actually says English professors "only teach English literature" or rigidly separates "English professors" from "Professors of English" as you say they do...I've never seen either.