First-Year Seminar (101-6-22)
Topic
How to Read: Critical Thinking & the Craft of Clos
Instructors
Mary E Finn
Meeting Info
University Hall 418: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
Clarity of expression is no doubt valued in all communication. But a newcomer to scholarly writing in all fields of study at Northwestern could be forgiven for wondering if many a scholar's goal was in fact confusion if not downright opaqueness. No matter what your major, you will read critical material by scholars writing from within the discipline, drawing on the methodologies particular to that discipline and on the specialized vocabulary in which arguments are crafted using those methodologies. These materials can read to a novice like the very antithesis of clarity! And they can tempt a new reader not to fully engage with the argument and therefore potentially miss the point. So we will read a set of them together over the course of the quarter.
For comparison and contrast, across the disciplines you will also read material considered to be for the "general public" (in The New York Times, The Economist, The Atlantic, for example). What is gained and what is lost when a complicated topic is "translated" from "academic speak" to "plain prose"?
Finally, what does it mean to hone your skills of close reading? It means reading carefully at the level of the sentence; tracing the argument through the sequence of paragraphs; and identifying the evidence - or lack of evidence - so central to any successful argument in all fields.
This kind of reading enables sophisticated analysis and critique, the goal of this class for your written assignments as well as your contribution to class discussion. As your close reading skills become more advanced, your participation in discussions and your own critical analysis in writing will advance.
We will read scholarly material across the social sciences, sciences, and humanities, including quite a number of articles by Northwestern professors. All material will be available electronically.
Class Attributes
WCAS First-Year Seminar
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for First Year & Sophomore only
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required