In order to experience the range of opinion on the relationship between American culture, American values, individualism and community, seminar participants will be assigned to review a significant work of scholarship which explores some of these themes. These works range from those directly concerned with the concept of individualism to others which implicitly or explicitly incorporate their discussion of individual and community within a broader context. Representing such fields as history, literature, sociology, political science, and philsophy, these works collectively illustrate the extent to which the concept of individualism is near the core of discourse on American culture and society. In all cases, the secondary sources are intrinsically valuable for their contribution to an understanding of individualism. No formal paper is required for this exercise.
Expectations are for more than a mere summary of the work.
A review should contextualize and evaluate as well as summarize. For examples of the kind of scholarly review appropriate for this exercise, consult back issues of American Quarterly or American Historical Review. In many cases, the assignments under this rubric will not reflect the academic background a particular individual brings to the course. It is my assumption that, as scholars, you should be able to read intelligently and perceptively in order to analyze and comment upon a text outside your field of study, and to understand how the work relates to the topic under consideration. It is just as necessary to research a secondary work you are to present as a primary one.