First Year Writing Courses Fall 2023

This course will explore the ubiquitous superhero story and its super-strength hold on our cultural consciousness, including the concept of "superhero fatigue." From its humble beginnings in sequential art to the CGI advancements in Marvel and DC films, superhero stories are moving beyond the pow! clash! comic panels and the standard moral codes of the 1930s. Today's superhero narratives subvert the standard American mythos and often present genre-bending narratives to the audience. Together, we will deconstruct the role of superheroes and determine their purpose as a 21st century epic narrative. We will look into subversive stories like Wandavision and The Umbrella Academy, as well as new interpretations on classic characters and their creators. Throughout the semester, we will focus on the discourse of power centered on identity, authority, morality, and trauma. Our goal is to investigate what elements create a superhero narrative and why these stories continue to resonate with us today.

Course #: FYW 102-01
Professor: Samantha Atzeni
Day/s & Time/s: TuTh 5:30PM - 6:50PM

Since more than 20 years have passed since the 9/11 terror attacks, it is important to look back and examine its continuing impact on our lives, particularly as residents of New Jersey, among the hardest-hit regions. Within the framework of academic argumentation, we will focus on media reactions to the event, including the Pulitzer-prizewinning New York Times series, “Portraits of Grief.” We will study several key documentaries, including “The Falling Man,” and “Boatlift:An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience.” In addition, we will examine music inspired by the incident, particularly “The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen’s 2002 critically-acclaimed album.

Course #: FYW 102-03
Professor: Janet Mazur
Day/s & Time/s: MR 11:00 - 12:20 PM

Disadvantaged groups remain the focus of conversation in higher education. Often these groups are identified within certain social constructs including race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. However, incarceration has been another topic of conversation. In this course, we will use selected articles and various media forms to discuss opportunities for postsecondary education for incarcerated individuals with a focus on access. We will review arguments around providing access to college study for students incarcerated or students “behind the wall.”

Course #: FYW 102-05
Professor: Amanda Simpson
Day/s & Time/s: TR 7:00 - 8:20 PM

Conspiracy theories have long played a prominent role in discussions about American culture and politics: from the JFK assassination and the Apollo moon landings to the 9/11 attacks and recent presidential elections. Especially with the proliferation of the internet and social media platforms, people today face the unique and difficult task of evaluating the credibility of sources of news/ information and deciding what actually constitutes historical fact. This course dives into the issues surrounding the perpetuation of conspiracy theories developed from the first half of the 20th Century to the present, chronicling major events in history that spark the most controversy and evaluating the pros and cons of various analytical approaches. In striking the proper balance between being overly skeptical on the one hand, or too impressionable on the other, students will explore the boundaries of their core beliefs while working to advance their critical thinking and academic writing skills.

Course #: FYW 102-07
Professor: Thomas Arndt
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

When the head, heart, mind and soul intertwine, what will you allow your pen to capture? During this course, students will learn how to write from their "inner core," the place where truth dwells. These sessions will be designed for students to view writing through the lens of their personal development and self-discovery process. We will focus on choice of major, intention on choosing that major and the undeclared major. These interactive class discussions and mapping exercises will encourage students to create a life full of endless possibilities. Along the journey, the students will gain essential concepts on writing with intention, trusting the process and the art of pausing and thinking. Gain valuable tips through thought-provoking articles, journaling, podcasts, and YouTube videos.

Course #: FYW 102-09
Professor: Yolanda Whidbee
Day/s & Time/s: TuFr 2:00PM - 3:20PM

In this section, we will explore a variety of different artistic outlets, such as fiction, poetry, film, visual art, television, and music, to see how creative minds use their medium for rhetorical purposes. Rather than simply entertain us, these artists ask us to consider complex, sometimes controversial ideas while reflecting on the world around us. For example, the novel `Fight Club’ explores issues of masculinity, consumerism, materialism, sexuality, psychology, and cultism, while The Who’s `Quadrophenia” acts as a musical sibling to Green Day’s `American Idiot,’ as both concept albums house statements about disenfranchised, rebellious male youths. We will examine materialism, conformity, causes of violence, sexuality, and racism, through the works of many iconic figures–some of whom may include Langston Hughes, Chuck Palahniuk, Kurt Vonnegut, Flannery O’Connor, Pink Floyd, Ben Folds, Paul Simon, Childish Gambino, Joni Mitchell, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Lee, Norman Lear, and Alan Ball–to see how these creative minds express social commentary through stimulating (and sometimes entertaining) forms.

Course #: FYW 102-11
Professor: Jordan Blum
Day/s & Time/s: MR 9:30 - 10:50 AM

In this course, we will be actively analyzing misinformation and disinformation surrounding current hot-button issues. As such, we will be working towards information literacy skills while developing our ability to critically read, analyze, and discuss the topic(s) at hand.

Course #: FYW 102-13
Professor: Michael Boldizar
Day/s & Time/s: MR 11:00 - 12:20 PM

The course will examine how the stigmatization of people with mental illness is created through literary and media forms. Students will explore how mental illness is portrayed through various representations of it in literature, poetry, film and in our modern political and social media platforms. By discussing how authors, filmmakers and other public opinion influencers portray people with mental illness, the course seeks to dispel many of the belief systems that create and maintain their repudiation and demonization. Among the questions to be considered: What is the quality of life for people who are directly or indirectly affected by the portrayals that are created to instill fear and shunning of people with mental illnesses? Why do we find these characters so compelling? Why and how are the authors and filmmakers so successful in creating terror and fright out of characters who appear to be mentally ill? Do we perpetuate fear and apathy with regard to people with mental illness?

Course #: FYW 102-15
Professor: Mary Bonard
Day/s & Time/s: TF 11:00 - 12:20 PM

In this class, students examines the definition of "adulting" and how young adults emerge into adulthood. Students explore the phenomenom of adulting through research, books, genres of music, poems and by narrating their own experiences. Using a human-centered approach students investigate how they will transition into college and emerge into adulthood.

Course #: FYW 102-17
Professor: Tammie Brown
Day/s & Time/s: MR 8:00 - 9:20 AM

The course will explore a range of ways in which human relationships with each other, with society at large, with the world in which we live have been conceived as structured in terms of a "gaze" or "look." We begin with the idea of the human being (in part) having a need or desire for recognition in the eyes of another. We then turn to consider analyses and critiques of modern Western society based on a culture of seeing, drawing from work in cultural criticism, feminist theory, psychoanalysis, film studies, and fiction. We will look at relationships of power, the male gaze, the female gaze, the white gaze, the imperial gaze, the oppositional gaze, as well as looking at the gaze in terms of gender, sexuality, race, nation, and (dis)ability.

Course #: FYW 102-19
Professor: Nancy Lukomski
Day/s & Time/s: MoWe 7:00PM - 8:20PM

One of the big questions facing us all is, how can you have a satisfying and joyful life? Can you navigate the enduring possibility of surprise and changes that impact life, such as a global pandemic, a changing job market, or the [insert unexpected element here]? This course will introduce students to life design and creative problem-solving to explore these questions and change. We will practice life design and design thinking exercises like wayfinding, reframing, and ideation, explore personal values and their influence on leading within your life and creating change, and discuss social, economic, and topical events and trends that create the surprises and change we must all navigate. Interactive classes and guest speakers are at the core of this course, culminating in a collaborative. multifaceted plan for each student's potential future. Students will develop critical thinking and self-efficacy skills to consider the robust possibilities in life and as a new TCNJ student.

Course #: FYW 102-23
Professor: Audrey Cooper
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30 - 1:50 PM

This course will focus on a semiotic approach to analyzing several different aspects of popular culture. Through the study of academic articles, television shows, and film, the course will allow students to examine how a collective, cultural consciousness is developed by the ways we read and interact with media and pop culture. The class will include a variety of semiotic analyses applied to individual units including Advertising, Television, Print Media/News, Film, and Social Media. Each unit will include readings that analyze and evaluate individual mediums of popular culture, and students will then apply these ideas to real-life examples. Each unit will culminate with a student essay that synthesizes academic analysis with the everyday examples that surround us in the 21st century.

Course #: FYW 102-25
Professor: Paige Costantino
Day/s & Time/s: MR 2:00 - 3:20 PM

College students, Generation Z or Generation "Zoomers", are quite a unique group based on advances in technology, social media, and changes in the virtual risk-taking phenomenon occurring within their lifetime. These shifts have created a sense of invincibility where young adults differentiate and disassociate with the decisions they make online from the physical "real" world. This ability to disconnect and separate from the real world can have both positive and adverse effects. Our class will explore this topic and review current examples (ie. TikTok Challenges) which demonstrate the rise in risk-taking behaviors.

Course #: FYW 102-27
Professor: Jordan Draper
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30 - 1:50 PM

This interactive course examines the role of leadership in advancing social justice, with emphasis on human rights, equality, equity, freedom, and peace in America and globally. As important, we will explore and critically evaluate various theories and models of effective leadership for the public good. This course utilizes an evidence-based approach to studying effective leaders in the public and private sectors, including government officials, non-profit agents, citizen activists, as well as social and corporate entrepreneurs. We also will investigate the values, traits and competencies associated with successful efforts to realize positive social change. Texts, films, videos and supplemental readings include nonfiction and fiction, as well as contemporary mass and social media sources. Conditions permitting, the instructor plans to incorporate guest presenters and experiential learning.

Course #: FYW 102-30
Professor: Nino Scarpati
Day/s & Time/s: TF 11:00 - 12:20 PM

Cinderella is arguably the most well-known and retold fairy tale. Hundreds of versions exist, transcending time and culture. The story continues to be remixed and reimagined, offering endless possibilities for interpretation. This course explores and evaluates the pervasive influence of the Cinderella story in literature and pop culture. We will trace its evolution, from oral tradition to print, media, and stage, and analyze stories through various lenses. Through critical reading of traditional and modern versions, film analysis, classroom discussions, academic readings, and in-class exercises, we will examine how this story has shaped our personal perceptions, delve into its social implications, and investigate why it remains timeless and continues to be remade.

Course #: FYW 102-32
Professor: Ellen Farr
Day/s & Time/s: MoWe 5:30PM - 6:50 PM

In this course we will examine the history and impact of LGBTQ+ representation in Young Adult books. We will read and write about the YA novel Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera, in which our protagonist is a queer Puerto Rican college student from the Bronx. Using this book and other examples of Queer YA fiction, we will discuss various topics including social identity, intersectionality, heartbreak and relationships, family and community, body image, allyship, language, and more. We will reflect on our past by writing about early messages and socialization as well as look to the future to explore the role of queer YA books and coming of age stories as tools for social justice advocacy.

Course #: FYW 102-34
Professor: Romina Generali
Day/s & Time/s: MR 9:30 - 10:50 AM

Did you ever wonder what goes into writing a police report, a law enforcement investigation, a formal statement, or police policy or procedures? This class will examine law enforcement from the inside out. Experts in the field of forensics, active shooter, and crime scene investigation will share their professional perspective on current policing. View body worn camera footage and write from the lens of the Officer or witness. Students will learn the community oriented policing model of TCNJ Campus Police. Learn why all words are evidence and what single word can stop someone from confessing to a crime.

Course #: FYW 102-36
Professor: Timothy Grant and Chelsea Jacoby
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

Studying diversity in the workplace offers students the opportunity to learn about modern day strategies related to hiring practices, fast track recruiting and other areas of overall inclusion. As diversity crosses a multitude of areas (race, class, gender, age, socioeconomic, level of education, differing abilities, etc.), this course will provide students the opportunity to engage in dynamic and energetic conversations (inclusive of social media trends and personal experiences), writings and guest speakers. Additionally, ethical and legal standards as well as stereotypical practices will be reviewed/discussed. Open-mindedness is crucial in this judgement free and safe academic space.

Course #: FYW 102-41
Professor: Lynette Harris
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

Have you ever felt like you were lost? Like the world around you is constantly evolving and yet you still feel stagnant. Sometimes the thoughts we ponder becomes our worse enemy. Better yet, have you heard that therapy is for crazy people, so you avoid speaking to a therapist to help you face the negative thoughts? This course will cover the history of mental health, how it has transformed over time, and examine various mental health techniques. We will examine different stigmatization about mental health and learn the power of utilizing individual, group, and family therapy to break the barriers.

Course #: FYW 102-43
Professor: Brittany Johnson
Day/s & Time/s: TR 7:00 - 8:20 PM

This course explores the variety of experiences students have in their first year after high school. Of the multiple options 18 year olds can pursue after high school graduation, we will explore how these emerging adults make choices, negotiate early adulthood, begin to live independently, and develop their own religious, political, social or economic identity, as an individual separating from the family unit.

Course #: FYW 102-45
Professor: Michelle King
Day/s & Time/s: MR 11:00 - 12:20 PM

Throughout history, humans have been burdened with countless infectious diseases. Some of these, due to their lethality or their insidious spread, have become legendary. In this course, students examine the societal impact of, and science's response to, history's most significant diseases, including plague, influenza, tuberculosis, smallpox, polio, cholera, malaria, syphilis, HIV/AIDS and Ebola. We will begin with the current COVID-19 Pandemic. What did the world do correctly and incorrectly - why is it lasting so long? Through reading, writing, and class discussions, students explore the effects of each disease on two levels: the biological (microbiology, pharmacology, and immunology) and the societal (epidemiology and sociology). Students will understand the biology of each disease while also learning its historical framework. The ethics of infectious disease monitoring and control, including quarantines, mandatory health department notification, and the use of experimental drugs, will also be the subject of classroom discussions. Current events relating to disease that crop up during this semester will be brought into the classroom on a weekly basis. What will be the next Pandemic? Will we learn from the past?

Course #: FYW 102-47
Professor: Rita Mary King
Day/s & Time/s: MW 7:00 - 8:20 PM

Although we live in an environment full of technology and concrete, humans rely on the natural world for the most basic of needs. As people, we interact with the natural world for food, medicine, beauty, and fulfillment. In this course, we will evaluate articles, visual media, and concepts that help us examine our relationship and dependence on plants and nature. We will discuss questions like: where does our food come from and is the system sustainable? How do big businesses capitalize on humans’ dependence on plants? What is the human fascination with wilderness? Why are we so drawn to and reliant on nature? How does our current environmental crisis jeopardize our ability to rely on nature?

Course #: FYW 102-49
Professor: Lindsay Knapp
Day/s & Time/s: TR 7:00 - 8:20 PM

This course will connect popular fashion topics from East Asian countries to global issues. Students will investigate how their beloved fashion trends can be traced to different social issues and topics on a larger scale worldwide. Students will have an opportunity to approach academic writing from an aesthetic viewpoint to develop critical thinking skills. We will examine how even the smallest things in the way people dressed can have an impact on our environment, economy, culture, and society.

Course #: FYW 102-54
Professor: Celia Liu
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30 - 1:50 PM

It is no surprise that in our current political and social climate that book bans are on the rise across the United States, especially when issues of race and ethnicity are involved. While the list is already substantial, it continues to grow each year with the addition of new publications or old classics that challengers are determined to defeat. But what really happens when texts and authors are "banned"? What does that term even mean for us now in 2023 with the Internet and social media? Does the definition need to be changed or challenged in order to accommodate new authors and stories and their distribution? Is silence really golden? Or do we need to turn up the volume and shine the spotlight on race and ethnicity?  In this course, we will explore a number of different argumentative  writing styles and techniques from traditional researched essays to multimodal presentations in an attempt to answer these questions and engage in conversation about issues surrounding race and ethnicity in fictional and nonfictional texts by contemporary authors who have had the honor of making the banned books list in the United States in recent years. Students will use a variety of sources to complete several researched essays on various topics within the framework of banned books by contemporary authors about race and ethnicity.  Students should gain a better understanding for all sides of the debate surrounding the topic of banning books (for, against, and undecided/neutral) and be better equipped to enter conversations about race and ethnicity in a more profound, educated, and formal manner.

Course #: FYW 102-56
Professor: Courtney Malpass
Day/s & Time/s: TF 8:00 - 9:20 AM

This course examines the country's current climate around race. Students will engage in weekly class discussions based upon personal experiences, timely readings, films, documentaries, and visual media highlighting current events related to issues of social injustice and systemic racism. Rhetorical claim approaches such as definition, causal, and evaluative, as a way of fostering an understanding of and writing about these pertinent issues will be utilized in this course. Students will gain a greater understanding of the elements of an expository essay by engaging in the writing process both independently and collaboratively, as well as participating in peer editing and one-on-one conferencing with the instructor. Due to the sensitive topics discussed and explored, this course will be taught with two sections of the class running concurrently.

Course #: FYW 102-58
Professor: Stefanie Marchetti
Day/s & Time/s: W 5:30 - 8:20 PM

How does a student from an unprivileged background and a low performing high school exceed at an elite institution? We will investigate, examine and explore the various ways these students cope, adapt, perform and excel even with the odds stacked against them. We will review what colleges are doing to support these students as well as what more colleges should do. We will research and examine the data on programs and the outcomes as they relate to this topic.

Course #: FYW 102-60
Professor: Todd McCrary
Day/s & Time/s: MR 8:00 - 9:20 AM

Is theatre still necessary in the age of social media and the internet? How has the experience of being “distanced” and “virtual” affected our communal need for performance? Do we still need live theatre and performance to help provide an understanding of the world in which we live and the life that we inhabit? In this introductory writing course, we will explore these questions by briefly discussing the fundamentals of theatre and performance, reading a handful of classic and contemporary plays and musicals (each characterizing a different dramatic viewpoint or style of theatrical representation), and screening some recent productions and short documentaries. We will write three short essays (a response, an argument, and an evaluation), before writing a longer researched essay that will explore a historical or contemporary work, figure, or trend informing contemporary theatre and performance.

Course #: FYW 102-62
Professor: David Muller
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

“To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before” — Captain Kirk, Star Trek
“The best Science Fiction supposes an imaginary invention or discovery, probably something quite extraordinary, and speculates about what might happen. It, then, anticipates the impact of that scientific discovery upon humankind.” — James O. Bailey, Pilgrims Through Space and Time (New York, 1947)
Come stretch your imagination and explore some of these creative possibilities! How have the creation of constructs such as robots and warp drive given rise to such powerful philosophic statements as the Three Laws of Robotics and The Prime Directive? How have these constructs fostered scientific invention? Through the lens of various novels, short stories, flash fiction pieces, podcasts, television series, films, and/or artistic images, we will examine how the science and the art of this genre come together to create stories that not only interpret life, but can drive culture and creativity. Ultimately, we will grapple with what it truly means to be human.

Course #: FYW 102-64
Professor: Susan O'Connor
Day/s & Time/s: TuFr 8:00AM - 9:20AM

Using the 2014 critically acclaimed film Dear White People and subsequent Netflix television series as a reference and backdrop, this course will focus on the experiences of Black students attending Predominantly White Institutions. The course will highlight the barriers Black students face at PWIs, the support systems needed to keep them there, and communities established within the Black student population that give them a sense of belonging. We will also explore the diversity (nationality, socio-economic status, faith, childhood circumstances, parental educational level, etc). within the Black student population at PWIs and how that ultimately plays a role in their experiences at PWIs. Lastly, we will explore how non-black students and staff can partner with Black students to assist them in acclimating to these environments and increase their sense of belonging.

Course #: FYW 102-68
Professor: TBA
Day/s & Time/s: MW 7:00 - 8:20 PM

Traditionally, heroic characteristics have been associated with stereotypically masculine traits, which makes the examination of female heroes both compelling and necessary. We will deconstruct female heroes, specifically examining how strength and sexuality are portrayed. Through literature, articles, movies, and other types of media, students will analyze the function of gender in writing the heroic narrative. Assignments will include a semiotic analysis of a self-selected hero and a research-based historical perspective.

Course #: FYW 102-72
Professor: Laura Sass Germain
Day/s & Time/s: TF 8:00 - 9:20 AM

"I believe in hope. I believe in belief." In summer 2020, Ted Lasso emerged quickly as a streaming series about an American football coach shipped to England to manage a professional soccer team. What began as a binge-worthy comedic escape from pandemic-life quickly became a complex look at not only what makes a great leader but also what makes great teams. On and off the pitch, the show highlights the complexity of leadership surrounding relationship building, trust, and authenticity. We will spill the tea - through examples in television and film, podcasts, TED Talks, and assigned readings - and explore themes and intersectionalities in a thoughtful way that dispels the myth that great leadership is bigger than one person. This course will challenge students to create and/or enhance their own personal and group leadership styles, with particular emphasis placed on the value of self-care and mental health, emotional intelligence, working through failure, and perceptions of gender in leadership. Assignments will include self-reflections, rhetorical analysis, dynamic in-class activities, and research-based written arguments.

Course #: FYW 102-74
Professor: Erica Kalinowski
Day/s & Time/s: MR 3:30 - 4:50 PM

Is New York the capital of the world? How did it become such a great multicultural city? What does it mean to be a New Yorker? These are some essential questions that will guide us as we explore the neighborhoods in the five boroughs and the surrounding regions of the NYC metro. The course will cover immigration, gentrification, city planning, food, culture, entertainment, sports, and art.

Course #: FYW 102-77
Professor: Matthew Winkel
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

As responsible digital citizens, it is imperative to develop the skills necessary to approach all forms of media with a critical eye. This will be a course centered around examining video games using the same methods employed in critical literature studies. We’ll examine how interactivity changes the author-audience power dynamic, as well as how the usage of second person narration changes the user experience. Furthermore, we’ll look at how games can be used in the classroom to promote literacy and critical thinking.

Course #: FYW 102-79
Professor: Emily Zbyszynski
Day/s & Time/s: MR 3:30 - 4:50 PM

In “Social Justice and Privilege,” students will explore narratives of silenced voices, particularly those who have been marginalized for reasons including race, socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality, ability, and other aspects in today’s world. Some questions that will be considered are: Why are these voices silenced? Who has the power to silence voices and what systems of oppression are in place? Focusing on the binary of voice/silence, we will explore these issues as played out in two documentaries, a Young Adult novel, and current events.

Course #: FYW 102-81
Professor: Kristen Luettchau
Day/s & Time/s: TR 7:00 - 8:20 PM

First-Year-Writing Courses are intended to offer intensive and structured study in the academic writing process. However, each course reflects a specific theme that provides a context for a writing intensive experience. The overall theme of this course is rooted in the exploration of social innovation, advocacy and activism. The course is designed to explore concepts, mindsets and skills surrounding these notions. Students will engage in an in-depth examination of real- life leaders who pioneered, organized and strived for change for various subsets of society. Learning from these examples as well as grassroots movements at home and abroad, students will be challenged to understand and connect to the strife of others and develop a deeper understanding of how they can connect, collaborate and make a lasting impact.

Course #: FYW 102-84
Professor: Amy Schuler
Day/s & Time/s: T 5:30 - 8:20 PM

Fairy tales and mythology are extremely prevalent in pop culture. Think about it: we see these classic stories in movies, TV shows, books, poetry, music videos, theatrical performances, and advertisements today. In this class, students will engage in the act of comparative analysis to study how a variety of global fairy tales and myths have been shaped via the oral tradition as well as in writing, animation, live action films, and theatrical performances to convey ideological beliefs.

Course #: FYW 102-86
Professor: Robyn Gold
Day/s & Time/s: TF 2:00 - 3:20 PM

Contrary to what you may have heard, watching anime and playing video games can be more than just brain-rotting activities. Within most anime or video games, writers give protagonists and antagonists traits to lead their teams and followers. In this course, we will analyze leadership characteristics and styles as they manifest in anime and video game characters. Applying introductory leadership concepts, we will examine the effectiveness of various characters’ leadership styles. We will then reflect on how our examinations shape our own leadership styles to be used in our personal and professional lives.

Course #: FYW 102-88
Professor: Thomas Branin
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

Why do historical movies and novels feel true, even if the facts they use are wrong? Braveheart, for example, has almost no basis in historical reality, and yet it won an Academy Award and is often cited as a top historical film. In this class, we'll read novels and watch films that allow us to capture essential truths about distinct historical eras: the great African civilizations, the suffragettes, and the 1960s and 70s (Richard Nixon, Watergate, and the Vietnam War specifically). We will read Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, watch Suffragette with Carey Mulligan, and read The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nyugen, among other works.

Course #: FYW 102-90
Professor: Donna Raskin
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

What does it mean to have a perfect world? Almost by definition, what is perfect for some cannot be perfect for others. In this course, we will explore the concept of dystopias - societies imagined in novels, films, short stories and other media where power is harnessed by the few to control the many in an attempt to create a "perfect" world. Who is privileged in these societies? Who is marginalized? And how closely do these societies mirror our own realities?

Course #: FYW 102-92
Professor: Christopher Trautman
Day/s & Time/s: MR 3:30 - 4:50 PM

In the summer of 2020, Apple TV+ launched Ted Lasso as a streaming series about an American football coach shipped to England to manage a professional soccer team. What began as a binge-worthy comedic escape from pandemic-life quickly became a complex look at not only what makes a great leader but also what makes great teams. We will spill the tea and explore themes to dispel the myth that great leadership is bigger than one person. This course will challenge students to create and/or enhance their own personal and group leadership styles with particular emphasis placed on communication, addressing stereotypes, managing failure, building resiliency and trust, and practicing vulnerability.

Course #: FYW 102-94
Professor: Lindsay Barndy
Day/s & Time/s: M 5:30 - 8:20 PM

The course will explore a range of ways in which human relationships—with each other, with society at large, with the world in which we live—have been conceived as structured in terms of a “gaze” or “look.” We begin with the idea of the human being (in part) having a need or desire for recognition in the eyes of another. We then turn to consider analyses and critiques of modern Western society based on a culture of seeing, drawing from work in cultural criticism, feminist theory, psychoanalysis, film studies, and fiction. We will look at relationships of power, the male gaze, the female gaze, the white gaze, the imperial gaze, the oppositional gaze, as well as looking at the gaze in terms of gender, sexuality, race, nation, and (dis)ability.

Course #: FYW 102-96
Professor: Nancy Lukomski
Day/s & Time/s: MW 5:30 - 6:50 PM

In 2024, Americans will participate in national and local elections that will feature intense debates over immigration, our rights and responsibilities as citizens, the nature of our past, and best path toward our future. It is also a year of significant anniversaries related to those very questions: the centennial of the passage of Johnson-Reed Act, which imposed immigration quotas and created the Border Patrol, the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision declaring segregation unconstitutional, and the 50th anniversary of Richard Nixon's resignation from the Presidency at the height of the Watergate crisis. In this class, we'll examine how history shapes our understanding of American identity through the lens of our own family and community stories. We'll trace our individual American journeys to ask what does the United States' motto: "e pluribus unim" - "out of many, one" mean for us today?

Course #: FYW 102-98
Professor: Kim Pearson
Day/s & Time/s: TF 2:00 - 3:20 PM