Introduction to Liberal Arts: Exemplary Lives e Professor Schell (Section S/19)
Text: Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father
Orientation
| Sunday, August 28th , 3-5 pm |
Introduction to Course |
Class meets in Wallace 114 at 11 am
Week 1 August 29th – September 2nd
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Monday |
Reading quiz on Part I of Obama. Diagnostic essay assignment distributed. Discussion: please refer to questions distributed over the summer (click here for questions) |
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Tuesday |
Convocation (Meet in Dahl Auditorium in assigned section). Topic: Professor David Suda on “Liberal Education” |
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Wednesday |
Discussion: Follow-up on convocation. Continue discussion of Obama. |
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Thursday |
Informal writing assignment due in class. Topic: What does the idea of a “liberal arts” education mean to you and how does it fit with your goals, values or aspirations? (1-2 pages). Continue discussion of Obama. |
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Friday |
Special advising office hours (11-noon). Please see me if you have scheduling questions or other concerns, or just stop by to chat. My office is in 312 College Place (behind the Mellinger Center), #2. |
Week 2 September 5th – September 9th
Reading: Complete Part II of Obama.
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Monday |
Learning Community Session: Multiple Perspectives on Autobiography (Meet in Electronic Classroom in Library) *Introductory essay due in class. |
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Tuesday |
Convocation. Topic: Professor Rob Hale on “Academic Honesty” (Meet in Dahl Auditorium in assigned section). |
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Wednesday |
Quiz on Part II of Obama. Discussion on convocation. |
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Thursday |
Discussion of Obama continued. Introductory essays returned. Informal writing due in class. Topic: In Part II of his autobiography, Obama describes his work as a community organizer and activist in Chicago. Choose a person (other than Obama) or a scene that represents or describes a certain perspective on the community. Discuss their perspective, how Obama captures the person or the scene and what is interesting or significant to you about the person or scene. |
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Friday |
No class this week on Friday. |
Week 3 September 12th – September 16th
Reading: Part III of Obama
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Monday |
Revision of introductory essay due in class. Discussion of Part III. First formal essay assignment distributed. |
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Tuesday |
.Convocation: Professors Kristin Larson and Craig Vivian on Identity |
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Wednesday |
Quiz on Part III of Obama. Discussion of Part III continued. Schedule for Part II of course distributed. |
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Thursday |
11 am: Study Skills Session (Meet in Electronic Classroom in Library) *7-8pm “Murder in the Stacks!” (Meet in lobby of library). |
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Friday |
Class meeting: Wrap-up discussion of Obama. Informal writing due in class. Topic: In Part III, Obama describes his trip to Kenya. Why is this trip significant and what does he learn about himself there? Additional, optional reflection: Is there a place that is significant to your identity – where is it and why is it significant? Draw connections to Obama’s reflections. |
Looking ahead:
Formal essay due Monday, September 19th in class.
Begin reading Sherwin Nuland’s Da Vinci over the weekend.