Fall 2023 Syllabus
Each section of the course will comprise no more than 15 students and 2-3 faculty members from various disciplines. Sections meet for two hours one evening per week. In the first week of the semester, we will have a brief organizational meeting with all the sections to give everyone a chance to get acquainted.
Books are available in the bookstore, and a few copies of each text will be on reserve in the library. Texts should be read (paper or ebook) unless specified as "audiobook OK."
Requirements
The requirements of the course are attendance and active participation. You are expected to be present at, prepared for, and to contribute to every session, although illness or family emergencies will be taken into consideration. If you have to miss a session, you are expected to attend another section after having first coordinated with all section leaders. At the end of the semester, you will be given a questionnaire about the readings. Completion of this form is a requirement for course credit.
Schedule
Mandatory Meeting: Monday, August 28 at 7 p.m., Eliot Chapel
Week of September 4
Julie Schumacher, Dear Committee Members
possible topics
Week of September 11
Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air (audiobook OK)
possible topics
Week of September 18
Kerry Howley, Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs: A Journey Through the Deep State (audiobook OK)
possible topics
Week of September 25
Svetlana Alexievich, Voices from Chernobyl
possible topics
Week of October 2
Mei-Mei Berssenbrugge, A Treatise on Stars
possible topics
Week of October 9
Eloísa Solaas, Las Facultades (documentary)
possible topics
Week of October 16
Fall Break
Week of October 23
James Forman Jr., Locking Up Our Own (audiobook OK)
possible topics
Week of October 30
Tommy Orange, There There
possible topics
Week of November 6
Katie Watson, Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law, and Politics of Ordinary Abortion (audiobook OK)
possible topics
Week of November 13
Nell Zink, Avalon
possible topics
Week of November 20
Thanksgiving vacation: Monday section only, Avalon
Week of November 27
Thi Bui, The Best We Could Do
possible topics