Fourth Lecture of the 2024 First-Year Studies Lecture Series

Authors

Bill Carrothers, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Janet Planet, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Mark Urness, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Jose Encarnacion, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Greg Riss, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Marcia Bjornerud, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Claire Kervin, Lawrence UniversityFollow
Kurt Wilson, Lawrence UniversityFollow

Document Type

Lecture

Lecture Date

11-13-2024

Abstract

First-Year Studies, a staple of the academic experience at Lawrence University since 1945, continues to evolve. Beginning in Fall 2024, the course required for all first-year students will undergo a significant realignment, all aimed at making the program more focused while keeping its intent of a collective introduction to the liberal arts.

The changes stem from recommendations made by a faculty task force that began its work in spring of 2022. It was approved in a faculty vote in May 2023. The revamped course, now lasting one term instead of two, will have a theme that stitches together the seven works to be studied. “Water” will be the theme for the next four years, then give way to a new theme. The writing curriculum has been reshaped with a sequence aimed at better preparing students for effective analytical writing.

Works covered in this lecture: Back-Water Blues by Bessie Smith (Delta Blues Tradition) and Rising: New Dispatches from the American Shore by Elizabeth Rush

Comments

Moderator: Jeff Clark

Recommended Citation

Carrothers, Bill; Planet, Janet; Urness, Mark; Encarnacion, Jose; Riss, Greg; Bjornerud, Marcia; Kervin, Claire; and Wilson, Kurt, "Fourth Lecture of the 2024 First-Year Studies Lecture Series" (2024). First-Year Studies Lectures. 254.
https://lux.lawrence.edu/frst_lectures/254