Professors S. Parker, T. Ulmer, & S. Richards

The theme of this ENG 12 (42P, 15970), SOC 31 (38P, 18279), SD 10 (5P, 18081) link is “Journeys of Hope, Journeys of Discovery.” As incoming college students the participants in this Opening Doors Learning Community have already embarked on a personal journey whose destination is very much unknown. We will build on this common experience through a set of readings, writing and learning exercises which will explore a range of challenges that others such as Malcolm X and those Southern Blacks in the Great Migration experienced and overcame. Through this exploration our students will develop a set of conceptual skills that will enable them to more deeply probe the dynamics of the social world and a set of writing and communication skills that will prepare them for further college-level work. They will also leave with a sense that there are deeper lessons about choices that can be drawn from the experiences of those who came before.