This course probes what it means to be human by asking questions about identity formation, the relationship between individuals and society, and the ways in which various modes of expression make and convey meaning. Who we are is, in large part, shaped by our cultural heritage, but also by the decisions we make and the person we want to be. This course explores the factors that go into making those decisions.
Students in this course read a wide range of texts—novels, plays, poems, short stories, and nonfiction—from diverse regions, time periods, voices, and perspectives. Through critical engagement with these texts, students develop their own perspectives and voices. Students discuss, write about, and present their ideas in formal academic language as well as in more personal and affirming ways.
