I have never seen "thematic English" in my life.

English Composition is about teaching
students how to write and it does this by sending hopeful students home with subjects to ponder and write about.

Below is a translation of the definition of "thème" from the Hachette 2000 French/French dictionary (the original follows).

So "English Composition" is FINE.

The translation of the French definition of "thème" is "subject, (subject) matter, a proposition that is discuseed in a book or speech. Ex.
What is the theme (subject) of this essay?

thème n. m. 1. Sujet, matière, proposition que l’on entreprend de traiter dans un ouvrage, un discours. Quel est le thème de cet essai ? ¶ Ce à quoi s’applique la pensée de qqn; ce qui constitue l’essentiel de ses préoccupations. Thème de réflexion. Syn. sujet.
2. MUS Mélodie, motif mélodique sur lequel on compose des variations. ¶ Spécial. En jazz, mélodie dont les accords fournissent la trame harmonique des improvisations. Thème en trente-deux mesures.
3. Exercice scolaire consistant à traduire un texte de sa langue maternelle dans une autre langue. Le thème et la version. Thème latin. ¶ Un fort en thème: un très bon élève; péjor. un élève à la culture essentiellement livresque, par ext., une personne qui fait preuve de zèle et d’application sans montrer d’intelligence véritable.
4. ASTROL Thème céleste ou astral: représentation de l’état du ciel au moment de la naissance de qqn, qui sert de base à l’établissement de son horoscope.
5. GRAM Partie du nom ou du verbe (radical et voyelle thématique) à laquelle s’ajoutent les désinences liées aux cas ou aux personnes, dans certaines langues à flexions.
6. LING Syn. de topique.
© Hachette Multimédia / Hachette Livre, 1999


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Note added at 2002-12-14 18:00:47 (GMT)
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Have checked the Iowa State U site, where I found two uses of \"thematic\" -- neither of the two I found pins it down. Will check Sule\'s second link in a minute.

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Note added at 2002-12-14 18:02:58 (GMT)
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The second link is Thai as well: sorry not convinced yet. Will take another look at the Iowa State link.

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Note added at 2002-12-14 18:05:33 (GMT)
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WELL, THE LINK REFERENCE IS TO ENGLISH 105 AND I\'VE GRAFTED THE COURSE DESCRIPTION. HERE IT IS:

Engl 105. First-Year Composition II
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: 104 or exemption from 104; credit for or concurrent enrollment in Lib 160. Development of college-level writing strategies with emphasis on arguing a position, analyzing texts, and using primary and secondary sources. Five to seven major writing assignments.

Engl 105H. First-Year Composition, Honors
(3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Exemption from 104 and admission to Freshman Honors Program; credit for or concurrent enrollment in Lib 160. A rhetorical approach to topics in language, literature, and culture. Reading and writing assignments may be organized around a course theme or focus. Writing intensive.