This course is designed to introduce you to a variety of cultural perspectives and to teach you how to critically analyze all the texts you read. Our course material will include literature, popular culture, and ethnographic texts, all chosen to help you think about issues of power, ideology, and difference within and between cultures. All class readings will be provided via laulima or by the instructor. Although this is an English class, the texts and issues we will be dealing with are interdisciplinary, and you will be able to use the analytical skills gained in this class in other courses, as well as in your life in general. In addition to learning how to analyze a variety of texts, you will also produce several types of writing (including a journal, informal writing pieces, and formal essays) to show you how each genre can be utilized to your benefit, both in and outside of academia. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to recognize and understand ideologies and biases inherent in texts, have the skills to analyze the details of texts to understand their messages, produce several forms of writing relevant to various situations, and understand the multiple roles writing can play in academic and regular life.