“Reading Lives, Writing Selves: Autobiography and Culture” is an English course that will introduce students to the theory and practice of contemporary life writing. Beginning with a theoretical introduction to the genre, the students will discover the ways people have articulated their lives in a global context in the 20th and 21st centuries. Combining a thematic focus (questions of identity, ethnicity, gender, class, religion, history, language) with discussions of forms (traditional written autobiographies, graphic narratives, films and documentaries, digital and media genres), the course will engage multiple texts, leading students to think and write critically about the texts and thematic issues. They will also learn how to produce their own versions of non-fiction, based on reflections on their own lives and experiences. By reading a variety of texts and producing critiques and creative writing, the students will actively engage the material given; group work will promote meaningful learning through peer interaction.

Continuous Assessment: 100%