ENG 240 Nature Literature

What do we mean when we talk about “nature?” About “wilderness,” or about “place?” Starting with close, thoughtful attention to the natural world, authors in this course offer opportunities to consider these questions and to (re)consider our relationships and responsibilities on our planet. Guided by these writers, students will explore questions of environmental, climate, and social justice, reflect on their own experiences in nature, and articulate their own values and questions about nature and the environment. Texts by diverse authors will be chosen from a variety of genres, which may include poetry, fiction, film, memoir, literary essay, science writing, travel writing, and documentary. This class may include nature journaling.

Credits

4

General Education Requirements

Arts and Letters

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 

1. Use close reading and interpretive frameworks to analyze and respond to a diverse range of nature writing in a variety of genres

2. Critically analyze relationships between texts and their social, historical, cultural, and literary contexts

3. Critically analyze nature writing by writers in various scientific as well as literary disciplines

4. Distinguish between denotative and connotative meaning when analyzing literary texts

5. Use textual evidence to support interpretive claims about literary works

6. Contribute to collaborative learning through formal and informal writing, discussion, and/or creative projects