We see not only the primacy of the family and the remarkable ways of teaching children in that culture, but how qualities such as generosity, self-sacrifice, patience, and courage provide unity within both the small family group and the larger community. We recognize how vital spirituality is when integrated into daily life, when people believe they live in a physical environment that is imbued with spirit. From Waterlily we look back to various creation stories and early legends, and then progress in time via stories and poems that bring us into the era of invasion and eventual domination by another culture. Having gained an early appreciation of indigenous cultures' integrity, we can more fully appreciate both the damage done, and the deep well-springs of continuity and tradition that keep these cultures alive today. Students also collaboratively research and present their findings on a tribe whose culture we have not studied as a class.
Students write two or three short papers and take two exams.
I think one of the strengths of this course is the amount of collaborative work the students perform, from peer criticism to co-authoring. I facilitate small group meetings for draft consultation during essay development, and I find that the students prove to be excellent readers for each other. Since English 201 goes beyond the level of competence in essay writing toward a level of proficiency, occasions for conversation and critical response provide the fertile ground for deep thought and, ultimately, clear expression of those ideas. Students may work within their chosen discipline to a large extent, thus preparing themselves as professional scholars and writers. In addition to the writing projects, students read and discuss several challenging essays, each student acting as discussion leader for one of the readings.