Lester L Faigley

Instructor:  Faigley, L            Areas:  VI / I

Unique #:  36045            Flags:  Independent Inquiry; Writing

Semester:  Fall 2013            Restrictions:  n/a

Cross-lists:  n/a            Computer Instruction:  No

E 379R (Topic: Travel Literature) and 379S (embedded topic: Travel Literature) may not both be counted.

Prerequisites: Six semester hours of upper-division coursework in English.

Description: The focus of this course will be on the reinvention of travel literature as an active and diverse genre. At a time when tourism has triumphed over travel and when you can surf the Web while drinking a Coke throughout much of the world, the possibilities of travel have been rediscovered by some of the best writers living today.

We will begin the course by examining the urge to travel and what we learn from traveling, starting with Robyn Davidson's solo odyssey across the Australian desert with four camels and a dog. Then we'll read Bruce Chatwin's wanderings in Patagonia, Ryzard Kapuscinski's eloquent comments on his visits to troubled nations during the Cold War, Jon Krakauer's account of disaster on Mt. Everest, and Sara Macdonald's exploration of the cultures and religions of India.

You will keep a reading journal, which you will share with the class. You'll also write a travel essay and a seminar paper organized around a central issue or question raised in three travel books.

Texts: • Robyn Davidson, Tracks, Vintage, 1995, ISBN 0-679-76287-6 • Bruce Chatwin, In Patagonia, Penguin, 2003, ISBN: 978-0142437190 • Ryzard Kapuscinski, Travels with Herodotus, Vintage, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4000-7878-3 • Jon Krakauer, Into Thin Air, Anchor, 1998, ISBN: 0-385-492089 • Sarah Macdonald, Holy Cow, Broadway, 2003, ISBN 0-7679-1574-7 • Online readings.

Requirements & Grading: Reading journal 35%; Travel book map 5%; Travel essay 20%; Term Project 40%.

Instructor:  Faigley, L            Areas:  VI

Unique #:  35750            Flags:  Writing; Independent Inquiry

Semester:  Fall 2012            Restrictions:  n/a

Cross-lists:  n/a            Computer Instruction:  No

E 379R (Topic: Travel Literature) and 379S (embedded topic: Travel Literature) may not both be counted.

Prerequisites: Six semester hours of upper-division coursework in English.

Description: The focus of this course will be on the reinvention of travel literature as an active and diverse genre. At a time when tourism has triumphed over travel and when you can surf the Web while drinking a Coke throughout much of the world, the possibilities of travel have been rediscovered by some of the best writers living today.

We will begin the course by examining the urge to travel and what we learn from traveling, starting with Robyn Davidson's solo odyssey across the Australian desert with four camels and a dog. Then we'll read Dervla Murphy's tale of a bicycle trip from Ireland to India, Redmond O'Hanlon's trek through the jungles of the Congo, Jon Krakauer's account of disaster on Mt. Everest, and Sara Macdonald's wanderings in India.

You will keep a reading journal, which you will share with the class. You'll also write a travel essay, an essay on a travel book, and a seminar paper organized around a central issue or question raised in three travel books.

Texts: • Robyn Davidson, Tracks, Vintage, 1995, ISBN 0-679-76287-6 • Dervla Murphy, Full Tilt, Overlook, 1987, ISBN: 0-87951-248-2 • Redmond O'Hanlon, No Mercy, Vintage, 1996, ISBN 0-679-73732-4 • Jon Krakauer, Into Thin Air, Anchor, 1998, ISBN: 0-385-492089 • Sarah Macdonald, Holy Cow, Broadway, 2003, ISBN 0-7679-1574-7 • Online readings.

Requirements & Grading: Reading journal 35%; Travel book map 5%; Travel essay 20%; Term Project 40%.

E 379R (Topic: Travel Literature) and 379S (embedded topic: Travel Literature) may not both be counted.

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of coursework in English or rhetoric and writing.

Description: The focus of this course will be on the reinvention of travel literature as an active and diverse genre. At a time when tourism has triumphed over travel and when you can surf the Web while drinking a Coke throughout much of the world, the possibilities of travel have been rediscovered by some of the best writers living today.

We will begin the course by examining the urge to travel and what we learn from traveling, starting with Robyn Davidson's solo odyssey across the Australian desert with four camels and a dog. Then we'll read Dervla Murphy's tale of a bicycle trip from Ireland to India, Redmond O'Hanlon's trek through the jungles of Borneo, Jon Krakauer's account of disaster on Mt. Everest, and Sara Macdonald's wanderings in India.

You will keep a reading journal, which you will share with the class. You'll also write a travel essay, make a map of a travel book, and write a seminar paper organized around a central issue or question raised in three travel books.

Texts: Dervla Murphy. Full Tilt. Overlook, 1987.  ISBN 0-87951-248-2

Sarah Macdonald. Holy Cow. Broadway, 2003.  ISBN 0-7679-1574-7

Redmond O’Hanlon. Into the Heart of Borneo. Vintage, 1987.  ISBN 0-679-72714-0

Jon Krakauer. Into Thin Air. Knopf, 1999.  ISBN 0-385-49478-5

Robyn Davidson. Tracks. Vintage, 1995.  ISBN 0-679-76287-6

Requirements & Grading: Reading journal (12 entries, 200-400 words each) 35%; Travel essay (7 pages) 20%; Map of a travel book (4 pages) 5%; Seminar paper (10-12 pages) 40%.

For more information, please download the full syllabus.