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First-Year Writing Seminar (104-8-1)

Instructors

Anna Maree Parkinson
847/467-5173
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge Hall, Rm 3321, Evanston
Office Hours: By appointment

Meeting Info

University Library 3322: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Marvel or Monstrosity?

Every culture produces artworks embodying the ambivalence specific to their historical moment or even concerning broader existential anxieties. Marvelous and monstrous beings can represent acute cultural anxieties or imaginaries, such as social fears about change through secularization, modernization, and changing understandings of markers of modern identity such as gender, sexuality, race, and species or life-forms. Further, what do these fascinating figures reveal about the self, which is often perceived in relation to others and individual conflicting desires? Why do we continue to produce expressions of socio-political, psychological and historical ambiguity through representations of life forms perceived to be marvelous or monstrous? Through a selection of narrative fiction, visual representation, films, and critical essays, this seminar examines significant sites of cultural fascination and the anxieties played out in these representations. As our course is a First-Year Seminar, we will also discuss various aspects of college academic life, as well as working towards a consolidation and an expansion of analytical and writing skills that you have already developed during your first year as a university student.

Learning Objectives

* Describe and evaluate how visual and textual representations of the unusual or extraordinary represent forms of cultural anxiety or challenge dominant norms.
* Discuss, analyze, and explore ideas and writing practices, both in class and individually.
* Participate in thoughtful, engaged discussions and respectfully articulate questions and observations both in class and on our Canvas Discussion Board.
* Practice writing skills including: description, summary, comparison, and analysis.
* Identify main arguments and supporting evidence used by scholars in academic texts.
* Compose research essays with: an original thesis; a clearly structured argument; evidence drawn from primary and secondary sources in support of your argument; an engaging conclusion.
* Master correct bibliographical and citational practices (MLA).
* Critically reflect on your own scholarly writing practices, including: pre-writing activities (research and planning); articulating a strong thesis; creating an outline of your argument; drawing on evidence from peer-reviewed sources in support of your argument; writing the first draft; revising your paper; providing and receiving advice on your writing through peer-editing workshops; revising and editing your essay before submission. Always keep in mind that revision is key to successful academic writing!

Teaching Method

Seminar

Evaluation Method

Attendance
Class participation
Group work
Homework
Papers
Presentations
Project, final
Readings
Writing assignments

Class Materials (Required)

Materials provided through Canvas

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar