[This site is a work in progress--please contact Julia with suggestions and let me know if there's anything I can do to improve accessibility.]
Welcome!
This is an introductory course in college writing. As we study how to be more effective thinkers, writers, and researchers, we'll be taking "Contested Sites" as our theme. In particular, we'll be looking at instances where people disagree intensely about about a subject, based in part on whether they are "insiders" or "outsiders"; the ground shifts depending on where you stand. For instance, we'll be reading about how insulting language can be used as an expression of power and discussing whether people who trade sex for money should be viewed like any other workers. Assigned readings and class discussion will give us a chance to explore complex arguments and help us find more sophisticated ways of thinking about ideas like racism, individual choice, and sexual exploitation. This, in turn, will prepare us for critical writing tasks in other classes and better enable us to deal with ordinary conflict in our own lives.
To find out more, explore the site or check out the following links:
I welcome your questions, please feel free to ask before, during, or, after class, during office hours (Monday 12:30-1:30; or, by appointment, CO 641), or, by email: julia.rodas@bcc.cuny.edu.