First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-2)

Instructors

Jesse Yeh
620 Lincoln Street

Meeting Info

Elder Hall 032 Seminar Room: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

What if we live in a world where there's no law? How will society function? Will we be better or worse off? In this class, we will anchor our discussions of these questions on a series of science fiction texts and films. Along the way, we will supplement our discussions with social theories of the law and empirical research in anthropology, political science, and sociology.

Learning Objectives

This course is a First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS). To be a strong academic writer entails more than generating flowery platitudes; it should reflect your ability to think critically, methodically, and rigorously. The primary objectives of this course are to develop the following skills:
1. Pose your own questions about legality that are relevant, concrete, specific, and appropriately scoped.
2. Locate and evaluate the relevance and reliability of different types of sources in answering your questions;
3. Utilize and integrate evidence to support your claims;
4. Construct well-structured arguments; and
5. Deploy language in ways that are appropriate and persuasive for your intended audience.

Evaluation Method

In-class participation, written assignments, and paper

Class Materials (Required)

Any edition acceptable

Butler, Octavia E. 2019. Parable of the Sower. Paperback reissue. New York Boston: Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5387-3218-2.

Le Guin, Ursula K. 2014. The Dispossessed. First Perennial Classic Paperback edition, reissued in Harper Perennial Modern Classics. Harper Perennial Modern Classics. New York, NY London Toronto Sydney New Delhi Auckland: Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0-06-051275-0

Other materials will be posted on the course website

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.