NDL 201: Reading Workshop
Instructor: Barbara Fister (fister@gustavus.edu, x7553)
Meets Wednesdays, 2:30-4:00 in VH 301 from February 8th – March 21st
Required text: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Course Description
In this course students will read and discuss two or more books, including a contemporary work of fiction or non-fiction announced in advance and a book chosen by the student, Students will publish reviews of the books they read to a book-related social network, will reflect on their own reading histories and practices, and will explore the place of books and literacy in contemporary culture. The goals for this course are for students to learn
- the value of reading and discussing books, even when they are not required
- how to analyze your own reading preferences
- some practical means of discovering books you are likely to enjoy
- a little bit about the role that books and reading play in society
Schedule
Feb. 8 – examining your personal reading history; the place of reading and books in our culture
Feb. 15 – read section I
Feb. 22 – read section II; half the class should bring discussion questions
Feb. 29 – read up to section IV, September 10; the other half of the class should bring discussion questions
March 7 – read the rest of the book; we’ll discuss the ending and the entire book
March 14 – no class; read a book of your own choosing
March 21 – bring the book you read to present to the class; develop a list of books that you might read in future.
Evaluation
This is a pass/fail course. To pass the course students will
- attend class meetings. If you get sick, let me know.
- come prepared to discuss the part of Zeitoun assigned for the day.
- participate in in-class writing exercises.
- participate weekly in online discussion through Moodle; I expect each student to raise at least one question/point during the course and comment at least three times.
- read and write a review of a book of your own choice.
- develop a reading list for yourself of ten books you think you might want to read in future.
- have fun (okay, that’s optional, but recommended).
Also . . .
Students are expected to adhere to the Gustavus honor code. Students with a disability should let me know so we can make appropriate accommodations that work. Though I’m happy to consult on any writing-related questions you may have, students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center and/or to consult with Andrew Grace, whose specialty is writing assistance for students whose first language is not English. There are drop-in hours or you can set up an appointment online.
More about the book review
These reviews should be the kind you read in a newspaper – short, descriptive, evaluative, and intended as an aid to someone who hasn’t read the book and wants to know if it appeals or not. Your review should be two-three paragraphs in length (150-300 words). If it’s fiction, you might want to say something about the plot, pacing, characters, writing style, and anything you particularly liked or didn’t like about the book. Since this is intended for people who might read the book, avoid “spoilers” – giving away the ending or a plot twist. If non-fiction, explain what it’s about, how the author approaches the subject, who the author is and what credentials he or she brings to the book, and what you thought of the book. These will be posted online to help other students think about what to read next. Please upload your review to the Moodle site (or send it to me in an attachment if you have trouble doing that) by March 23.
