This course introduces students to the power of writing as a means of communication and a process of thinking and understanding. As students complete a series of writing assignments, they will engage in a process of reading, drafting, reviewing and revising, working in peer groups and individually with their instructors.
Dr. Lisa Sanders, a columnist for The New York Times, writes, “The experience of being ill can be like waking up in a foreign country. Life, as you formerly knew it, is on hold while you travel through this other world as unknown as it is unexpected.” While many view illness as personal, we are also surrounded by those who want to share their stories. Given each individual’s unique experience, how do we talk about illness, and what do our descriptions reveal about us and our communities? To explore these questions, we will first read When Breath Becomes Air, the self-told story of a Stanford neuro-surgeon whose world is flipped when he is diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 lung cancer: the doctor who treats patients with brain disease is suddenly the patient with a terminal illness. In addition, we will analyze blogs, podcasts and articles in a variety of disciplines to see how they approach both physical and mental illness. Later in the semester, students will research the story of an illness of their choice and may choose from texts including written narratives, films, works of art and other mediums.
Lisa Rourke