Reading has the ability to take readers on a journey to a time and place different from their reality. Imagine living during the unfathomable era of slavery, being a member of the social elite in the roaring twenties, or living on Chicago’s Southside before the Civil Rights Act. How do those experiences connect to our contemporary world?
Through samples from American Literature, both classic and contemporary, students will engage in the exploration of themes such as, but not limited to, “coming of age”, “the American dream”, “the lure of adventure”, “freedom and dignity”, and “self in society”. In doing so, students will grapple with issues of American culture both historically and currently.
Working with instructors, students may have the opportunity to select from among some key learning experiences such as: exploring the American Dream as myth, writing creatively to depict a theme, and making a connection between the skills learned and the real world through workplace writing tasks such as resumes and digital communication or role play to practice public speaking skills such as interviewing.
Opportunities such as the above will continue to expand students’ toolbox of communication skills as they begin to understand the power of their voices as future leaders and changemakers in our increasingly diverse society.
Through samples from American Literature, both classic and contemporary, students will engage in the exploration of themes such as, but not limited to, “coming of age”, “the American dream”, “the lure of adventure”, “freedom and dignity”, and “self in society”. In doing so, students will grapple with issues of American culture both historically and currently.
Working with instructors, students may have the opportunity to select from among some key learning experiences such as: exploring the American Dream as myth, writing creatively to depict a theme, and making a connection between the skills learned and the real world through workplace writing tasks such as resumes and digital communication or role play to practice public speaking skills such as interviewing.
Opportunities such as the above will continue to expand students’ toolbox of communication skills as they begin to understand the power of their voices as future leaders and changemakers in our increasingly diverse society.