This course will introduce students to the practice of
reading and writing at the college-level. The structure of this course will
revolve around how we observe, participate, and become shaped by media and
mainstream culture in our daily lives. By actively negotiating how texts work
within historical, social, and political contexts, we will read and write about
how media and pop culture engage with complex and intersecting issues of race,
gender, sexuality, class, and nation.
In class, we will approach media and pop culture with
questions considering how we are implicated in what is being argued, sold, or
perpetuated through these various texts – how social issues inevitably rise
from them. What is at stake for these authors, artists, and writers? What
strategies do they use for different audiences? In what ways can we agree with
or challenge the productions of our time?
Our readings and discussions may range from advertisements, social
media, stand-up comedy, song lyrics, music videos, television shows, and film,
to op-eds, speeches, news segments, essays, and literature. As writers
ourselves, we will consider our own contexts – our relationship to place and
audience – and engage with the ethical responsibility of putting forth
arguments for awareness, social justice, or change.
Assignments
Five major papers between 3-6 pages long (subject to
change):
– personal essay
– analysis of a text
– a literature/film review
– argumentative piece on social issue
– research-based project
Required texts/materials
All readings will be made available on Laulima, and it will
be your responsibility to have access to these readings on the day they will be
discussed.
Course goals
– Become a critical and close reader
– Engage in writing as process: brainstorming, outlining, drafting,
proofreading, revision, and peer review
– Practice writing in various modes: personal, analytical,
comparative, argumentative
– Build research skills in analyzing, evaluating,
contextualizing, and integrating sources
– Sharpen technical skills such as voice, style, sentence
structure, grammar, word choice, transitions, thesis writing, and organization.