ENGL 2226 Literature of Social Justice

What role does literature have in social justice? How does literature help us think critically about injustice and help us develop empathy? Using Civil Rights activist Lillian Smith as a fulcrum, students will examine depictions of social justice in American literature and beyond in various genres of literature (fiction, memoir, graphic novel, drama, etc.). The course will focus on issues of gender, sexuality, race, class, and other issues.

Registration Name

Literature of Social Justice

Lecture Hours

3

Lab Hours

0

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENGL 1102

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Articulate knowledge about the work of Lillian Smith and its significance in a variety of contexts (historical, artistic, religious, etc.).
2. Think critically about injustice in the context of both contemporary American society and the world through the application of ethical perspectives/concepts to ethical questions.
3. Develop empathy towards and an understanding of the diverse life situations which characterize the human experience. (i.e. Recognize the complex context of ethical issues and the cross-relationships among issues.)
4. Students will engage in thinking about themselves and to lead them to the space where they can discuss their core beliefs and the justification for those beliefs.
5. Through academic research, students will state a position and engage with the objections, responding accurately to the objections.