Voices Along the Way

This seminar introduces students to the origins of contemporary American cultures via literature and film. Our exploration of American landscapes and mindscapes will be organized around three topics: places of conflict, emerging family systems, and emerging educational systems. We will respond to each of these topics by writing essays and designing multi-media presentations. We will read stories and essays, and we will consider films including Dances with Wolves, The Godfather, and The Mission. We will focus our attention on the skills of critical reading, research, oral presentation, and critical writing; we will also explore the conventions of creative writing.