"English 401: Composition IV: Theory and Research" is designated in the Elmhurst College catalogue as "a writing course that introduces students to the scholarly field of composition studies." It is part of a series of courses for English majors pursuing a degree with "Writing Emphasis," for students seeking teacher certification, or for "any" interested upper-level students who have completed an advanced writing course beyond the traditional first-year composition sequence. Elmhurst College, located in the western suburbs of Chicago, is a four-year, comprehensive, liberal arts college (granting bachelor and masters degrees) with approximately 2,550 students, including traditional, non-traditional, resident, and commuter students.