Honors 84
Writers and Photographers in the Natural World
Spring Semester 2004-Drake University
Prof. Woodward

This course will examine how writers and photographers have interpreted the natural world--using classic works, newspaper and magazine writing concerning nature, photographs, and digital presentations on the World Wide Web.

The goal is to provide students with a broader understanding and appreciation of the wealth of media concerning the natural world; to study how naturalists have devoted their lifetimes to exploring the world of nature; to examine how issues surrounding the natural world are being addressed in contemporary society; and to instill in students what could become a lifelong love of exploring the natural world.

REQUIRED READINGS

We will being doing extensive reading and discussion during the semester concerning these works:

Beston, Henry. The Outermost House. Henry Holt, 1992.

Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. Boston: Mariner Books/Houghton Mifflin, 2002. (40th anniversary edition if possible).

Dillard, Annie. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. New York: HarperPerennial, 1998.

Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac. Ballantine, 1991.

Miller, Debbie S. Midnight Wilderness: Journeys in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Portland, Oregon: Alaska Northwest Books, 2000.

Thoreau, Henry. Walden and Other Writings. New York: Modern Library, 2000.

Additional readings will be placed on reserve in Cowles Library--including photographic works of Ansel Adams and Speaking for Nature: How Literary Naturalists From Henry Thoreau to Rachel Carson Have Shaped America by Paul Brooks.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

You will be required to attend class regularly, to participate in classroom discussions, to prepare brief credit/no credit discussion papers, and to write four papers--three shorter analytical papers and a major research paper.

The three shorter papers should be 5-6 pages and will be centered around assignments related to our class readings and discussions. You will be assigned topic areas by the teacher.

The major research paper can be a study of the works of a major writer or photographer concerning the natural world; an assessment of media coverage of a major issue relating to the natural world; or an analysis of a magazine with a central publication interest in the natural world.

Here are four examples of the many possibilities for major papers:

Using the book Silent Spring as a case study, students could analyze the media coverage in the 1960s surrounding the publication of the book and attempts by Rachel Carson's detractors to destroy her arguments.

Using J. Baird Callicott's edited collection, Companion to a Sand County Almanac, students can read and interpret essays on "The Making of A Sand County Almanac," "Anatomy of a Classic," "Building 'the Land Ethic'," and "The Legacy of Aldo Leopold."

Drawing on research in the microfilm of The New York Times, students could analyze how the newspaper has covered a major contemporary issue in the natural world.

Researching a major magazine such as National Geographic or Audubon, students could analyze how the magazines tell the stories of and interpret the natural world.

DEADLINES FOR PAPERS

The deadlines for the four papers are as follows: Paper No. 1--Wednesday, Feb. 11 at classtime; Paper No. 2--Monday, March 15 at classtime; Paper No. 3--Friday, April 9 at noon; and major research paper--Monday, April 26 at classtime..

GRADING

Your semester grade will be determined by your class attendance; by classroom work/discussions; and by your research and writing on the required papers.