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- Roy Scranton, War Porn
- Dave Eggers, The Circle
- Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
- Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil’s Highway
- Francis Wade, Myanmar’s Enemy Within
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In addition to these books, we will also read excerpts from the works of other great writers, such as 
Dante Alighieri, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Hannah Arendt, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Pope Francis.
CLASS DISCUSSIONS
Our class discussions are the most important part of this seminar. They will only work if everyone in the seminar participates. I realize that we all have different personalities; some of us are talkative, others are quiet; some are more outgoing, others more reserved. I don’t expect to change your personality to participate effectively. Rather, I plan to work with each of you on an individual basis to ensure that you contribute to our common endeavor in the most effective way possible.
Our discussions will only work if you have the readings physically in front of you. Therefore, you are required to do two things:
1) Copy and print all of the readings on this site that are marked PRINT (otherwise, you do not need to copy them, but you must still read them);
2) Bring each required reading to class on the day we are to discuss it. To make your life easier, I strongly recommend that you print all of the required readings immediately and put them into some kind of orderly binder.
GRADING
It is a special privilege to take a seminar. Seminars are small and allow for intimate and lively discussions. They also provide me with the pleasant opportunity to work closely with each of you as individuals. You should treat our seminar with the devotion it deserves.
My aspirations are modest. I simply want to teach you to speak, read, write, think critically, and persuade. If I accomplish these tasks in working with each of you, I will be pleased. These objectives are reflected in the breakdown of your grades.
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- Participation (35%)
- Two Reflective Essays (15% each)
- Final Essay (35%)
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Paper assignments will be docked 1/3 of a letter grade for each day they are late.
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is MANDATORY. Unless you are ill, you must consult with me beforehand if you anticipate missing a class. If you are ill, please send me an email so that I do not worry about you. Of course, university-approved absences are fine, but please remind me beforehand if you will be gone.
HONOR CODE
This course is all about communication. Therefore, I welcome all of the conversations you have with each other, inside or outside class. With the exception of your final essay, you may discuss your readings and writing assignments with each other. In fact, I encourage it. However, every writing assignment you turn in to me must be clearly, unmistakably, and unequivocally your own work!
OFFICE HOURS
I enjoy meeting with all of my students, and I hope to see each of you on a regular basis. You do not need to have specific questions about the class. Because I view your education holistically, and I am open to any subject you want to discuss.
I hold my office hours Tuesdays at 1:30-2:30 and Wednesdays 2:00-4:00, & by appointment. My office is 2060 Nanovic Hall, close to the main office of the Political Science department.
Visit me!
NOTE: Please leave your technology at home. This includes electronic devices of any kind, such as laptops, KIndles, i-Pads, I-phones, video cameras, video games, dog fences, or other personal digital devices. Bad Karma.
My class is a no-tweet zone. Some things are just not dignified!