Instructor: Gary Goodman, University Writing Program, College of Letters and Science
Description: This class will engage students in exploring the 2007-2008 Campus Community Book Project, focused on The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea and investigating the topic of immigration. Closely connected with the Campus Community Book Project, this seminar will integrate information and ideas from various events scheduled during fall quarter, as students select events to attend and report on them to the class, orally and in writing. Students will read The Devil’s Highway and short supplemental readings from different disciplines and perspectives on immigration and its effects. By participating in the seminar and the book project, students will: develop a better understanding of the causes and human experiences of immigration, the history of immigration and border enforcement policies in the U.S., and different perspectives on immigration reform; compare and synthesize perspectives from different disciplines as a foundation for exploring the text and the topics that it raises; improve critical reading and thinking skills; and improve written and oral communication skills.
Format: The seminar will meet from 2:10-4 pm on Thursdays to explore various aspects and themes of the book through class discussions, mini-lectures, and writing workshops. Each student will also select at least five Campus Community Book Project events to attend, including one of the author’s talks, and participate in a writing workshop with Luis Alberto Urrea. They will write journals responding to readings and reporting on book project events (30 minutes of writing each week), draft short reviews of at least three events (500 words each), and revise at least one review for potential publication in a campus or community paper. In a final synthetic essay (750 words), students will focus on a particular area of interest and write a personal essay reflecting on the book project’s impact on their understanding of the book and the broader topic of immigration. Grading: Grading will based on class participation: 30%; journals (10): 10%; reviews (3) of book project events: 30%; revision of one review: 10%; and final reflective essay: 20%
About the Instructor: Gary Sue Goodman teaches a variety of writing courses, including Writing in the Professions: Journalism and Writing History, as well as courses on multi-ethnic literature in the U.S. She has participated in the Campus Community Book Project since its inception and coordinated the project in 2006-07 and 2007-2008. She also directs the Writing Across the Disciplines component of the University Writing Program, which offers writing workshops for faculty, teaching assistants, and students across campus. She has an M.A. in English and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature.