First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-20)

Topic

Language and Childhood

Instructors

Erin M Leddon
847/491-5778
2001 Sheridan, Office 4188
Office Hours: By appt

Meeting Info

2001 Sheridan GPC/WCAS 5228: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

How do children achieve the remarkable feat of acquiring language - an accomplishment we often take for granted? Which aspects of the human capacity for language are best understood as biological, as species-wide and species-specific? How do families, schools, and communities help shape children's development as speakers and listeners, and eventually as readers and writers? How does learning a first language (or more than one language) interact with learning to think, learning to imagine, and developing a sense of identity? To explore these questions, we will consider studies of children's language development along with perspectives from social policy, medicine, education, business and marketing, the arts and publishing. Students will have regular opportunities to reflect on their own experience, and each student will be able to select a topic of individual interest for a final seminar project. All assigned reading will be available to students on Canvas.

Registration Requirements

First-Year Seminar: WCAS First-Year Seminar; P/N Options: No P/N option for this section.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Pose questions. Formulate thoughtful and engaged questions and comments in seminar discussions. Pose questions about topics related to course content in written assignments, and motivate the importance and relevance of these questions.
• Find evidence. Identify main arguments and evidence in texts; summarize and evaluate arguments made by others. Identify relevant and reliable evidence to support claims.
• Make arguments. Formulate organized arguments based on careful analysis of evidence.
• Develop your voice. Select language appropriate for persuading specific audiences. Demonstrate progress in writing effectively at the college level.
• Cite sources appropriately.

Teaching Method

Discussion: Regular opportunities to write and to share ideas based on course readings and developed through writing.

Evaluation Method

Reaction papers, essays, participation in class discussion, short presentation.

Class Materials (Required)

Course materials are free, distributed through Canvas.

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

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