Introduction to Liberal Arts is a required course for all first year students and is designed as a common experience that emphasizes questions of human value and stresses particular skills.  The skills are noted in the course description from the Monmouth College Catalog and they include:  "critically reading a text, writing papers, using the library, thinking analytically, and communicating ideas orally"(p.11).  We will study the agreed upon common readings and explore the other readings as well as discuss the convocations and other auxiliary materials using the theme of the course - "Exemplary Lives."  The reading list and any auxiliary materials are designed to prompt questions about an Exemplary Life. How do people have an impact on their world? How do they overcome obstacles to accomplish great tasks? How do they survive tragic events, and come to inspire the rest of us?