We will examine altruism in theory, practice, and example, and relate the readings to our own experiences in the community.
Titles span several centuries and literary genres.
In addition to core readings, individuals will select others for relevance to their own projects and interests, with a heavier reading load for graduate students. The rational of linking life experience to literature is based on empirical evidence showing that memories, personal experience, and relevance are activated during the reading of literature, and, more importantly, that they sharpen comprehension and contribute to complex-type interpretation of literary texts. We will also review some theoretical perspective on altruism and service. The minimum service commitment is forty hours . At the same time, recognizing that a variety of service projects accommodates a diversity of student talents and preferences, individuals with particular interests may choose projects of their preference.