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Commanding English Communities

Learning communities descriptions, fall 2007

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There are 5 courses (14 – 15 credits total). Students choose:

#1 The Face of the Earth

Courses:

Meets liberal education (LE) requirements for: Physical Science with Lab Core, Environment theme
6 credits

Description: Patterns in nature can be described through observation and reasoning. By reading, developing scientific observation and lab skills, students will study concepts of geologic time, the rates of geologic processes, and our living on the edge.

Instructors: Annia Fayon is an assistant professor of physical sciences with an emphasis on geology. Jill Trites teaches speech and reading courses in PSTL.

#2 Critical Reading in the Social Sciences

Courses:

Counts for: Social Sciences, Cultural Diversity
6 credits

Description: What are the issues of a stratified, multicultural society? How does one read in the social sciences? Students will explore issues of race, class, gender through reading, discussion, and a service learning project. This provides an introduction to sociological thinking. The reading course explores ways to read in the social sciences, using the readings from the sociology course.

Instructors: Amy Ronnquist teaches the sociology course; Margaret Delehanty Kelly teaches reading, writing, and immigration literature in PSTL.

#3 Creative Expression

Courses:

Counts for: Arts & Humanities, International Perspectives theme
5 credits

Description: What is art? What motivates artists to create, and what are they attempting to communicate through their creation? Students will study art from a variety of perspectives as they also visit galleries, read and write about works of art and learn to “see” in new ways

Instructors: Jeff Chapman, an artist himself, teaches the General Art course. Renata Fitzpatrick teaches reading, writing, and literature courses in PSTL.

 

Students in the CE program also take three more courses in the fall:
  • Writ 1201—Writing Studio (4 credits)
    The course offers an introduction to university writing through the active practice of: gathering ideas, planning, organizing, drafting and revising 4 -5 papers. Frequent writing and feedback from instructor and peers; Meets in computer classroom. Prepares students to take Writ 1301 in the spring.
  • PsTL 1051—Intro to College Writing: Workshop (editing workshop) (2 credits)
    This course focuses on academic writing style: grammar editing, editing techniques, and conventions of formal academic English. Students will bring drafts of their writing from the writing course into the editing workshop.
  • PsTL 1461—Oral Communication in the Public Sphere (3 credits)
    In this public speaking course, students develop skills and voice for effective communication in a variety of settings. Speeches are researched, outlined, delivered, and video-taped. Students are also given the opportunity to deliver creative performances.
    Meets LE requirements for Citizenship and Public Ethics theme.

May 2007