3 weeks / 3 credits (Diversity Studies)
Country Director: Lucy Stamp - Associate Professor

Accompanying Faculty Member: Sara Glennon
Program Date: June 9 - June 30, 2007
Cost: $5800 (includes lodging, most meals, and airfare from Boston)

Proposed Itinerary & Course Description

This course will introduce students to the genre of Travel Writing. Students will learn how to apply travel writing techniques as they journey through modern Britain and explore British culture and traditions, and they will complete their entire journey by train, which is undoubtedly the best way to get a feel for the landscape of Britain. The course will begin in the historic city of Bath where students will visit Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths, and Stonehenge. From Bath, the adventures will continue in Cardiff, South Wales-followed by a trip to Oxford where students will receive an insider's tour of Oxford University. Departing the city of Oxford, the class will take a long, scenic journey north to Yorkshire and visit the atmospheric coastal town of Whitby, the inspiration and setting for one of the most famous novels of all time: Bram Stoker's Dracula. In Whitby, students will visit the ruins of Whitby Abbey and receive a lively and highly entertaining tour from a local resident, who is very knowledgeable about the history of the town and Bram Stoker's connection to it.

From Whitby, the class will journey North West to the city of Edinburgh, Scotland where students will visit the Scottish highlands and Edinburgh castle, walk the Royal Mile, and tour the Palace of Holyroodhouse, one of the former residences of Mary Queen of Scots. The last port of call will be the city of Canterbury, England's second most visited city. Here the class will visit Canterbury Cathedral and the shrine of Thomas a Becket. Students will also visit Dover castle and see the white cliffs of Dover before presenting some of their final written work and making the trip back to London. In London, students will visit Trafalgar square, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey-as well as stroll through some of the most atmospheric and historic neighborhoods this unique city has to offer. On the final day of the trip, students will see one of Shakespeare's plays performed at the Globe theatre
Prerequisites: CP101 or FY1011 or *BU101 or *BU1011

                                   and EN101 or EN1011

*Applicable to Business Program students only.

EN2684— Travel Writing: A Journey through Britain

Course Description:

This course will meet the diversity graduation requirement through a close examination of British culture and traditions—including the issues of class, religion, and politics that shape the travel writer’s observations and experience.

Rationale:

Our study abroad programs have proven very successful at giving our students an intensive, focused opportunity to learn about other cultures. This course will give students a broader view of British culture by allowing students to visit areas of Britain that have not been the focus of other study abroad trips. In addition to providing students with a rich cultural experience, this travel writing class will also give students an opportunity to develop their observational and analytical writing skills.

Student Profile:

As with our other study abroad courses, this course offers the students an opportunity to experience their subject first-hand. Most of the writing will involve the documentation of their own experience and the application of travel writing techniques demonstrated in model readings vs. in-depth, text-based analysis; but students should be prepared to do some independent reading and face the challenge of extensive travel and site visits around Britain.

Prerequisites:

Full-time status in the Landmark College credit program.
Successful completion of core courses (CP101 or FY1011 or BU101 or BU1011 and EN101 or EN1011)

Skills to be covered:

Developing experiential learning skills, especially:

• Using a learning journal to apply information and techniques gathered from course materials, assigned readings, and site visits
• Cross-cultural observation
• Connecting new information to prior knowledge
  

Developing writing skills by:

• Producing daily journal entries that demonstrate an understanding of the travel writing genre, travel writing techniques, and cultural perspectives discussed in the context of the class, site visits, and course materials.
• Submitting a final collection of written work that clearly documents the student’s observations and experience and reflects an understanding of travel writing techniques.
• Responding to written and/or verbal feedback—as well as suggestions for improvement

Developing critical thinking through work on:

• Cross-cultural analysis
• Synthesizing information from a variety of sources
  

Methods of Assessment:

Weekly journals 30%
Final written work 30%
Final Presentation 10%
Attendance and Participation 30%

Students may request a reallocation of the weight carried by each of the above criteria. Arrangements must be made with the instructors prior to the beginning of the course.

Weekly Journals:

Students will be asked to write daily journals that reflect an understanding of cross-cultural perspectives and travel writing techniques discussed and modeled in assigned readings.

Final Written Work:

Upon completion of the 3-week course, students will be asked to submit and present a final collection of written work that clearly demonstrates an understanding of the cultural perspectives and travel writing techniques discussed and modeled in course readings and materials.

Texts and Materials:

A compilation of texts and materials will be available in the bookstore some time in April.