I was fortunate enough to get my first choice on all of my course selections for the fall. However, with the FWS, we could only place a ballot indicating our first five choices.
Does anyone know when we will find out which one we will be placed in?
Thank you and have a good one!
“Ballot results on Student Center by Monday, August 3rd.”
Thank you Ranza123. 
They had so many nice options, I can hardly wait to see which one I get.
Out of curiosity, what were your top picks?
Hi Ranza,
My fav 5 choices (that fit in my available time slots) are as follows:
Course Title: Questions about Ethics
Course Description: Some think that we are obligated to help the less fortunate; others claim that killing is (in all cases) impermissible; and still others believe that we all must observe the Sabbath. But what does it mean to say that an act is obligatory, impermissible, or mandatory? Are there objective facts about this, or is it just a matter of personal preference or convention? And why should we care what morality requires? In this course we’ll survey a number of different answers to these questions. The aim is to teach students to critically evaluate (often very complex and abstract) arguments, as well as how to write about those arguments in a clear, well-organized, and persuasive manner. Students will be required to write a number of short essays, as well as a longer final paper in several drafts.
Course Title: The Nature of Morality
Course Description: We make moral judgments (“that was wrong!”) and act for moral reasons (e.g., doing something because it’s right) all the time. But what is the nature of morality? What makes an action right (wrong)? Does it all depend on the consequences? Another important question concerns the nature of rightness (wrongness) itself. Is morality an objective feature of the world, or is it all in the head? In this writing-intensive course we will focus on these sorts of questions. Through explaining and evaluating arguments of philosophers, we will develop skills in writing clearly and persuasively. In addition to exploring morality’s nature in general, we will tackle two specific issues, namely whether we can justify criminal punishment, and whether we can justify harming animals for our benefit.
Course Title: Flocks, Swarms and Crowds: How Order Emerges Out of Chaos
Course Description: What can the unified motion of a flock of birds teach us about the behavior of human crowds? Can the decentralized decision-making of a honeybee swarm offer insights into what makes an effective democracy? Biological systems exemplify self-organization, where order emerges out of chaos without the help of any leader or conscious over-sight; and scientists are only beginning to explain how these feats of organization are achieved. In this course, we will explore this emerging field and relate biological examples of self-organization to human societies. We will use primary scientific literature and popular science formats, including blogs, podcasts, and books such as Sync and Honeybee Democracy. Writing will engage various audiences while synthesizing course material, emphasizing logical flow and clarity in the writing process.
Course Title: True Stories
When students write personal essays for college applications, they often discover how challenging it can be to writing about themselves. In this course, we’ll examine how well-known authors such as Maxine Hong Kingston, Alison Bechdel, Tim O’Brien, and others construct their public, written selves. We’ll also consider how the style of writing affects how readers understand an author’s personality and motives. Readings will include short essays, possible some poems, and a few longer works. Through the writing frequent essays, we’ll explore why and how people write about themselves—for self-exploration, political or social change, purely to practice a form of art, or for other reasons—and we’ll investigate how writing shapes lived experience.
Course Title: Revenge!
Course Description: Revenge: everyone wants it, but what are the costs and consequences of getting it? This class will examine the methods and motives of vengeance in order to understand its historical and cultural significance in literature and film. In the process, we will attempt to answer the question of why these narratives not only endure but also enjoy such a prominent place in the canon. We will look for revenge everywhere: from Shakespeare, to Bollywood films, to American Westerns. Working independently and in class, students will gain experience in interpretative reading and analysis, as well as innovative writing and editing.
That’s a good list! The top two I think were on one of my lists (but ended up not being able to fit in my schedule, I think) and I’ve heard good things about True Stories. The other two might be new this semester because they don’t sound familiar, but they all sound cool! What departments are they? (The top two are philosophy and true stories is English, right?)
@ Ranza123, I apologize for the delay in responding, summer school has been quite busy. Yes, you are correct, Questions about Ethics is philosophy and true stories is English.
I can’t hardly wait to see which one I get.
I took True Stories and enjoyed it