American Studies 351 - WRITING ABOUT AMER SOCIETY
Spring
2015
01
4.00
Dava Sobel
T 01:00-02:50
Smith College
40351-S15
SEELYE 310
dsobel@smith.edu
40352
Same as ENG 384. Topic: The Climate of the Country
In this class, students develop their skills in narrative, long-form nonfiction writing as they explore the ways that science and technology are transforming American culture. This course focuses on writing about the country's weather and climate-past, present and future. As the United States confronts the consequences of global climate change, some sectors of the population continue to deny that any human-induced crisis looms. What is the scientific evidence to support the prediction of impending climate catastrophe? And why isn't everyone swayed by that evidence? Course readings include current reports in science news sources as well as poems, plays and historical and literary accounts by authors such as John McPhee, Andrea Barrett, Bill McKibben and Elizabeth Kolbert. Writing assignments range from short descriptions of weather phenomena to longer essays and reported pieces. Admission by permission of the instructor, based on submitted writing samples.
In this class, students develop their skills in narrative, long-form nonfiction writing as they explore the ways that science and technology are transforming American culture. This course focuses on writing about the country's weather and climate-past, present and future. As the United States confronts the consequences of global climate change, some sectors of the population continue to deny that any human-induced crisis looms. What is the scientific evidence to support the prediction of impending climate catastrophe? And why isn't everyone swayed by that evidence? Course readings include current reports in science news sources as well as poems, plays and historical and literary accounts by authors such as John McPhee, Andrea Barrett, Bill McKibben and Elizabeth Kolbert. Writing assignments range from short descriptions of weather phenomena to longer essays and reported pieces. Admission by permission of the instructor, based on submitted writing samples.
Topic: The Climate of the Country. Writing Sample Required. Not open to first-years, sophomores