English 149 - Winter, 2018

Topics in Literature

Topic: Career Decision-Making and English: Designing Your Life

Class Information

Instructor: Marx, John
Time: MW 11:00-11:50
Location: 130 Physics

Description

This class will help provide answers to the perennial question: "What can you do with an English major?" In particular, the focus will be on career exploration and decision-making. Using the design thinking process, characterized by curiosity, trial & error, and collaboration, students will have an opportunity to explore a variety of traditional and innovative career paths and think critically about this process. While developing their own career narrative, students will research the career paths and decision-making of others. Students will prototype and refine career tools including networking, writing for the job search, and interview skills. Additionally, students will take self-assessments and write reflections throughout to help clarify the process of career decision-making. Using such techniques, this class will help students in English make more out of their major both now while they are in college and later when they graduate.

(Team of instructors joining John Marx: Marcie Kirk Holland, Janice Morand, and Daniel Moglen from the Internship and Career Center.)

(In addition to text below, other articles/multimedia will be posted on the Canvas site.)

Grading

Grading will include participation as well as performance on short exercises, an interview with a Davis alum, and journal writing exercises of various lengths.

Texts

Designing Your Life, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans