Weeks 1-3  

Part I: Autobiography

Text: Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father   

Diagnostic (introductory) essay

Autobiographical essay

Quizzes on reading

Informal writing on liberal arts

Learning community (multiple perspectives on autobiography)

Study Skills Session and “Murder in the Stacks!”

Weeks 4-5

   Part II: Biography                                                                                                                        

  Text:   Sherwin Nuland’s Da Vinci             

 Informal writing – what is exemplary about da Vinci?

Video assignment: analyze biographical movie using guide questions.

Presentations

 Formal paper – write biography of person you know.

Weeks 6-7

Part III: Exemplary Lives of Scientists

Text: Alan Lightman’s A Sense of the Mysterious. 

Informal writing

Midterm exam (“take-home” essay questions)

FALL BREAK

*Midterm grades due  

Weeks 8-10

Part IV: Exemplary Lives: The “Good” Life  

Texts: Philip Hallie’s Eye of the Hurricane and reading by Jonathan Kozol to be distributed.

Reflective- style informal writing

Video of Phillip Hallie

Convocation with Dr. Mark Larrimore

Convocation with Jonathan Kozol

Wackerle Center session

Formal Paper

Weeks 11- 13 

Part V: Exemplary Lives in their Historical Context 

Text: Louis Masur’s 1831

Informal writing

Research project and presentation

BREAK

Thanksgiving break

Weeks 14-15

Part VI: Exemplary Lives (Global Perspectives)

Text: Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions 

Informal writing

Final Exam: Final exam is scheduled for Tuesday December 13^th  1 pm