3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

Nature is everywhere: it blows in as weather; it defines each individual’s personality; it is a force unto itself. But do we really know about the Earth—or, for that matter, about our own natures? How do each of these senses of nature and the natural appear in different genres of writing? This writing course will focus on texts that center nature in some way. We will look at everything from poems and sci-fi novels, to social scientific studies about climate change and pollution, to watershed tables and physiographic maps, to historical trails and Indigenous land treaties, to films and audio/visual artworks—all texts that seek to know (and sometimes to question) nature itself. Students will explore the advantages and limitations of how these authors have thought about nature in writing; then, students will develop their own thinking about the natural world and their own natures through writing, revision, and research. Assignments will form part of a semester-long portfolio of different kinds of writing, including short reflections; short group presentations and dialogues; creative un-essays; and short response papers to major texts. By the end of this course, students will not only have a richer understanding of current discussions and debates about nature, but also have a diverse range of critical and creative tools to apply to their other courses and their daily lives.