MAKING YOUR PLACE: SOCIETY AND THE INDIVIDUAL

Program Description
Fall Quarter

Faculty: Helena Meyer-Knapp & Marla Elliot

Offices: Lib 3210, & 3212

Times: Mon. and Wed. 5.30-9.00 Tel: 866 6000, x 6549 & x6726
Place: Longhouse

Office hours by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This program illuminates the challenge of meeting an individual's and society's needs at the same time. Fall quarter our topics will include land, property rights, and the care of the dependent and disabled. We will be looking at these issues as the affect us as working people, as family members and as citizens in a democracy.

We will focus our skill development work on speech and communications, and on computers.

Fall Quarter Program Activities and Expectations

Reading Over the course of the quarter we will read two "dialogues" about ethics and persuasion, Jane Jacob's Systems of Survival and Plato's Gorgias and two biographies about people make new beginnings to their lives-- John Callahan's Don't Worry He Can't Get Far Like That, and Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Peter Brook's The Empty Space will help us understand the nature of theatrical performance. Ira Progroff's A Journal Workshop will help us use written dialogue as a way to understand our own ethics and aspirations.

Reading Plays Three plays will occupy us mid quarter. They are August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, about property rights, Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle, about the struggle over which mother gets to raise an infant, and the third is Shaw's Major Barbara, a story about social obligations to the poor. Students will learn about voice, speaking and posture, as well as dramatic content.

Writing Students will write a 1-2 page "reflection" on each of book before seminar. We will learn about writing dialogue, for journal purposes and also as a way to craft a well organized argument/narrative. Each student will design and write about a winter quarter independent project. We will ask for a substantial presentation and paper about the project at the end of winter. Computers Early fall quarter we will evaluate computer expertise. Students will be asked to demonstrate a gradually increasing level of proficiency in handling networked computer information throughout the quarter

CREDIT AND EVALUATION

Credit In the course of the whole year credits will be granted in political studies, theater, legal studies, communications and computers. Special credit will be assigned on a case by case basis, in accordance with the particular topics of your research project. Evaluation We will require written self-evaluations and faculty evaluations each quarter.

In order for your credit to be sent to the registrar's office for processing you will have to give the program secretary, Peggy Davenport, or one of the faculty, a final copy of your own self- evaluation.