English R1B

Book List

Hesse, Herman: Siddhartha (1922); Miller : Bhagavad Gita (1986); Nishida, Kitaro: An Inquiry into the Good (1911); kwe: Dirges of Becoming (2010)

Description

The journey to self is a theme that we can all relate to and, perhaps for this reason, one that has been explored by many poets and philosophers from many cultures and traditions. Yet, writing about self often seems much like lifting a cup of water from a rushing stream and asking someone to guess which way the river is flowing. In this course, we will travel many streams of thought and expression of the human experience, embracing a wide array of selections exploring the notions of self and experience in the world. By reflecting on and writing about our readings (some philosophical, some poetic), we will turn attention to our own life experience and the expression of our individual understandings of self.

English R1B is a writing-intensive course that develops students' practical fluency in expository and argumentative writing, in close reading of primary and secondary texts. This course also builds and refines the skills required for university-level research. Emphasizing the development of research skills, this course will teach you how to locate academic sources, evaluate these outside materials, and use them to construct your own positions. Above all, the class will provide a space for you to expore your spoken and written voice within a community of learning.