Expository Writing (105-0-20)

Topic

American Fear: The Things That Scare Us

Instructors

June Shou Li

Meeting Info

University Library 4722: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Government corruption, public speaking, nuclear weapons, murder by a stranger—recent surveys demonstrate that Americans are more afraid, and have more things to be afraid of, than ever before. How did we come to be so afraid, and how can we understand the things that scare us? We experience fear when we identify a threat to our safety or wellbeing, but these threats don't just make themselves known by going bump in the night. Fear is learned, and more often than not, we learn fear through writing. We unwind from school by watching a scary movie, or start the day by reading the news, or try to ignore texts in class from an anxious roommate who keeps asking, "do u think we will die alone?". In other words, one of the main reasons that we experience fear is because, at some point, we encountered the work of a writer who has made the argument that we should be afraid.

The readings in this course will explore how Americans express fear as individuals and as a collective. Through class discussion, we will evaluate the techniques used by writers, journalists, and poets to communicate with different audiences, and we will engage with the texts that we read by making some arguments of our own.

Class Materials (Required)

All readings will be provided on Canvas.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.