The Craft of Writing

This course explores the human/nature relationship and the varying ways in which humanity has been figured through ideas about nature. Engaging with the fields of philosophy, posthumanism, and environmental studies, we will examine texts that question how the human relationship with nature has shaped our current perception of the environment. The first half of the class will introduce theoretical frameworks for thinking about the human/nature dynamic. The latter portion of the class will tend to more contemporary examples of this relationship and the sociopolitical consequences of such ideologies.

Together, we will work specifically on developing close reading and analytical writing skills. You will be expected to read and write analytical responses to texts from scholars such as Plato, Bill McKibben, and Mel Chen. We will focus on incorporating textual evidence and developing strong theses and arguments that address the topics covered in the course.