Hi Advisors –

Please see the information below (and flyer attached) about a new RHE class being taught this fall.  Applications are still being accepted.

Questions?  Evan Roberts (evanroberts@austin.utexas.edu)

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SCREENWRITING: LIFE STORIES

RHE 328

INSTRUCTOR: EVAN ROBERTS

FALL 2015, WED 6-9

Apply: goo.gl/AXQs8X

This course is an introduction to ethnographic/documentary fieldwork and the screenwriting adaptation process. Students will conduct oral history interviews with an individual and adapt their life story into an 8 page short film script.

First, writing teams will conduct a series of interviews outside of class, learn the basics of how to get “good tape” and transcribe their recordings. Next, teams will use these transcripts as source material for fictional stories and workshop their scripts in class.  Students will engage in short interview projects to learn the craft of interviewing, as well as writing exercises where they use existing oral histories to practice adapting the essence of a real life experience into a three-act structure. Through in-class writing exercises and writing assignments, students will explore the process of adaptation and find their “take” on the essence of a situation in one person’s life.

Students will explore the basic dramatic principles of story, character and structure as well as analyze the structure and mechanics of scripts and short films and present their findings in class. Since much of the work of screenwriting is done before the actual drafting, this class will focus on the process of screenwriting: from the initial premise, to treatments and step-outlines, then writing the first draft.  The craft of screenwriting is learned through the critical examination of other screenplays and films, ie:  we watch movies to learn how to write movies, read screenplays in order to write screenplays.  This workshop, then, will also hone your critical and editorial skills, and the application of those skills to your own writing.

The semester culminates with a pitch presentation, in which you and your writing partner reveal your collaborative creative process and bring us into the world of the film in a clear, concise, engaging visual presentation. The panel will consist of Deans, friends of the college, and local filmmakers. Each film project competes for the potential to get their film funded and produced by the College of Liberal Arts film production team and local filmmakers. Students will retain a writing credit on the finished short film.

If you would like a seat in one of our lower-division honors courses (GOV 310L, GOV 312L, SOC 302, HIS 315K, GRG 304E, LIN 306, just to name a few) you must sign up for a seat in the LAH Office.  Once you sign up, we will give you access to add the course. YOU MUST REGISTER YOURSELF FOR THE CLASS.  If you put your name down in the book, you are committing to the course – please do not put your name down if you are uncertain that you want it.

Happy registration!

Students interested in declaring a major in the Department of Government MUST RSVP and attend an Transfer session before declaring and/or meeting with an advisor.

The link to the reservation survey is:

Bit.ly/152govchange

The following business course is now open to non-business students:

PREREQUISITES:  Upper-division standing, AND credit or registration for MAN 320F or MAN 336

 CONTACT Leah Miller by e-mail for access to register for the course:  leah.miller@mccombs.utexas.edu

LA 101L: LIBERAL ARTS IN THE WORKPLACE

LA101L Unique #29355, Wednesdays, 3:00-5:00 PM, FAC 18, February 4 – March 25, 2015

LA101L Unique #29360, Thursdays, 3:30-5:30 PM, FAC 18, February 5 – March 26, 2015

http://www.utexas.edu/cola/orgs/lacs/Students/Courses/CollegeToCareer.php 

Description: This course is designed for juniors and seniors who have taken at least 12 credit hours in their major and are interested in learning to articulate the value of their major in whatever career path they pursue.  Students will develop their online brands for the job search and workplace, complete exercises which will help them identify potential careers, understand their strengths related to specific career fields, practice interviewing and networking techniques, and develop a plan for pursuing their career of interest (which might include plans for graduate or professional study).  Due to the limited number of class meetings, attendance is mandatory.

Schedule: This course will meet two hours a week for seven weeks.

Application Deadline: February 2, 2015 at noon

How To Apply: This course has a three-step application process. Each step must be completed by the deadline; however, this course may fill before the deadline – students are admitted in the order in which applications are completed. Applications will not be accepted once the course is full or after 2/2 at noon.

1. Step 1 – Deadline 2/2 at noon: Email Caitlin von Liski (c.vonliski@austin.utexas.edu) with your course section choice (Wednesdays or Thursdays), a job or internship posting that you are interested in applying for and a brief description of how this course will help you in your job/internship search.
2. Step 2 – Deadline 2/3 at noon: Once Step 1 is approved, you will be authorized to add/register for the course. It is fully your responsibility to register for the course. If you do not add the course by the deadline, your spot will be released for a waitlisted student.
3. Step 3 – Deadline 2/4 at noon: You will be sent a StrengthsQuest Assessment code on 1/28; please take the assessment by the deadline and bring your printed results to the first class day.

Questions? Caitlin von Liski, c.vonliski@austin.utexas.edu, 512-471-7900

LA 320wb & LA 110WB: LIBERAL ARTS INTERNSHIP COURSES

LA 320wb Unique #29410 | http://www.utexas.edu/cola/orgs/lacs/Students/Courses/ICFS-320wb.php

LA 110wb Unique #29370 | http://www.utexas.edu/cola/orgs/lacs/Students/Courses/ICFS-110wb.php 

Hours Requirement:  You must intern a minimum of 10 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks during the 14-week semester.

Student Eligibility: The Liberal Arts internship courses are open to all College of Liberal Arts students, regardless of major, who meet the following requirements:

• You have a 2.25 or higher GPA
• You have at least sophomore status (30+ hours) by the start of the course
• You are registered with BTT Gateway
• You are in good academic standing at UT Austin
• If you have taken any of the LA internship courses in a previous semester, you earned a passing grade in each course (you have never failed an LA internship course)

Spring Application Deadline: Friday, January 30, 2015 at 4:00 PM

You must complete all three steps in the application process (see details in How To Apply section below) by the application deadline. If you do not complete one or more application steps by the application deadline, the course will be officially closed and you will not be eligible to participate in the internship course.

How To Apply: This course has a three-step application process. All steps must be completed by the application deadline listed above. NOTE: Submit your application as early as possible. If your application is not approved, having a good amount of time before the application deadline allows you to find another internship, change your internship plans or consider taking a different course before your add/drop period closes.

1. Step 1 – Application Part I:  Part I should be completed once you have secured your internship or if you are in the process of applying for an internship and your employer needs confirmation that you will be eligible for academic credit before hiring you. Access the online [Access the online form HERE.] We will use this information to verify that you meet the student criteria and to make an initial evaluation of your internship site’s eligibility. This first step should be completed as soon as possible.
2. Step 2 – Course Enrollment: Once Part I is approved, you will be authorized to add/register for the course. It is fully your responsibility to register for the course. We strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the registration/add times and related fees. Note: registering after the 4th class day during the fall/spring may result in higher fees.
3. Step 3 – Application Part II & Credit Requirement Confirmation: Download Part II of the Internship Course Application Form [Download HERE]; you and your internship supervisor will complete and sign this form. The completed form should be scanned and emailed to Amira Sounny-Slitine, internship course coordinator, at amira@austin.utexas.edu. If you cannot scan the application, you can drop it off at FAC 18 or fax it to 512-471-7903.

Questions? Contact Amira Sounny-Slitine, amira@austin.utexas.edu, 512-471-7900

SOPHOMORE – STUDENTS INTERESTED IN HISTORY AS A MAJOR

i.e., you’ll have between 30 and 59 hours by the end of this semester (or just below or above those numbers)

Are you interested in historical research, our History Honors program, and graduate school?

The following small, writing class is designed for sophomore History majors – and there will be seats for non-History majors.

HIS  317N          THINKING LIKE A HISTORIAN

Professor Julie HARDWICK

TTH     09:30am – 11:00am  GAR  0.132

HIS 317N – Thinking Like a Historian is a sophomore seminar for History majors and students who want to study history.  The class will introduce students to history research as a professional discipline: research methods, types of sources, historiography, and structure of research papers.  Students will read  a wide range of primary sources, examine how different historians have developed competing interpretations of particular topics, and develop a research project.  Students write a variety of very short papers, do a group project, and provide a written framework for their research projects.

Readings will include primary sources posted on Canvas and articles available in electronic versions through the PCL website.

Texts (subject to change):   Natalie Zemon Davis, The Return of Martin Guerre (Harvard University Press, 1984); Eric Hinderaker, The Two Hendricks: Unraveling a Mohawk Mystery (Harvard University Press, 2011); James E. Crisp, Sleuthing the Alamo: Davy Crockett’s Last Stand and Other Mysteries of the Texas Revolution (Oxford University Press, 2005)

Grading:   Six short papers 30%   Group project 20%   Research project framework 30%   Participation 20%

In February of 2014, Michael Sam, a former outside linebacker for the University of Missouri and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, announced that he was gay.  The announcement did not come as a surprise to his former teammates – Sam had shared his sexual orientation during a fall practice session the previous year – but the news sent shockwaves through the news media.  His declaration was met with both scorn and praise.  With the NFL Draft nearly four months away, would Sam become the first openly gay player in the NFL?

His courage attracted international media attention and drew the support of First Lady Michelle Obama via Twitter: “You’re an inspiration to all of us, @MikeSamFootball.  We couldn’t be prouder of your courage both on and off the field.”  But some NFL players, including Jonathan Vilma, voiced uneasiness about Sam’s reception in the locker-room.  “I think he [Sam] would not be accepted as much as we think he would be accepted,” Vilma cautioned.

The Sam Saga underscores the extent to which sports reflect ideological divides in our culture. In this course, we will frame our discussion of contemporary issues in sports through a historical lens that examines the introduction of athletic contests into American society.  Next, we will use this backdrop to wade through complex social, economic and cultural issues including: compensation of college athletes, use of analytics to inform decision-making, minority representation among players and managers, introduction of openly gay athletes and the health implications of player safety.

Most importantly, we will take on the role of key decision-makers (e.g., athletic directors, head coaches and general managers) and construct our own ethical framework for dealing with these issues in the sports context.

Assignments and Grading Policy:

Grades will be based on the following: (1) regular class attendance, careful preparation of the readings, and active participation in the class; (2) timely submission of all work; (3) a term paper.

Final grades will be calculated using the following formula: (1) short response papers – 35%,  (2) term paper and presentation – 35%, and (3) class participation – 30%. There will be no final examination.

Texts/Readings:

Michael Lewis, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (2004)

William Rhoden, 40 Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Black Athlete (2007)

Mark Faninaru-Wade & Steve Fainaru. League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth (2013)

There will also be a course packet comprised of short readings.

About the Instructor:

Daron K. Roberts is a former NFL coach who has been featured in ESPN the Magazine and Sports Illustrated. In the fall of his third year at Harvard Law School, Roberts decided to pursue a career in football coaching and wrote 164 letters to college and professional football teams.  The Kansas City Chiefs offered Roberts a training camp internship for the 2007 season. After completing his internship, he joined the Chiefs in a volunteer capacity and was elevated to the position of assistant coach in 2008.  That experience led to coaching stints with the West Virginia Mountaineers, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.

A native of East Texas, Roberts holds a B.A. in Plan II Honors and Government from the University of Texas (2001), an M.P.P. from Harvard Kennedy School (2004) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (2007).

During his tenure at the University of Texas, Roberts was elected Student Government President.  At the time, Texas was the largest public university in the United States.  For his leadership, Roberts was awarded the university’s highest distinction – Most Outstanding Student in 2000.

Roberts has been recognized as one of the Harvard Kennedy School’s 75 Most Fascinating Alumni and the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders for cultivating a nonprofit football camp – 4th and 1, Inc.  4th and 1 offers free SAT prep, life skills development and football training to at-risk youth in Michigan, Texas and Florida.  The camp has served over 300 students since 2010.

Dear Liberal Arts Honors Student,

If you have looked at the course schedule, you will see that we have a rich offering of upper division Liberal Arts Honors classes for the spring semester of 2014.  I want to call your attention particularly to those being taught by Professors Thomas Staley and Steven Isenberg.

Staley just retired from a distinguished career as Director of the Harry Humanities Research Center.  A Professor of English, he is an authority on 20^th-century English and American literatures, having written extensively, for example, on James Joyce.  He will be teaching a class not to be missed for English majors or any one interested in modern literature, LAH 350 “Reading the Moderns,” MW 2:00 to 3:30 pm.

Every spring semester between 2003 and 2009, Steven Isenberg came to Austin from his home in New York City to teach some of the most exciting and popular LAH classes we have ever offered.  He left us in 2010 to become the Executive Director of PEN, the world’s oldest literary and human rights organization.  He stepped down from that position recently and is returning to U.T. Austin to teach LAH 350 “The Literature of World War I,” in conjunction with the HRHRC’s World War I Exhibition (TTH 11:00 am – 12:30 pm), and LAH 350  “Modern Masters of the Novel” (TTH 2:00 3:30 pm).  Both will count toward an English major.  For those interested in poetry, you cannot do better than taking Professor Isenberg’s one-hour class, “HMN 125K,” which will focus on the poetry of Phillip Larkin.  Professor Isenberg, who holds degrees from Berkeley, Oxford, and the Yale Law School, brings a fascinating background to the classroom, having served as President and Chairman of the Board of Adelphi University, Publisher of “New York Newsday,” Executive Vice President of the “Los Angeles Times,” and Chief of Staff to New York City Mayor, John V. Lindsay.

Every best wish, Larry Carver

Taught by the wonderful Professor Scala.

Meets T/TH 3:30 – 5 pm

This course is required for all majors and is open to everyone, not just English majors.

Description: This course serves as an overview of the most important and influential works of the British literary and linguistic tradition from its beginnings through the 20th century. The course will be conducted in both lecture and discussion format, and the goal of the course will be “coverage”—a vast majority of students’ time will be devoted to reading and annotation. The course will make an effort to give students a coherent narrative of British literature from the earliest writings in English through the major periods and transitions. It will cover important writers, genres, and styles as they characterize those literary periods. This course will aim to provide the foundation for future study in English literature by enabling students to contextualize and relate to each other the specific upper-division classes in which they enroll.

Required Texts: Two-volume Norton Anthology of British Literature: Major Authors, packaged with Norton Critical Edition of Pride and Prejudice; Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, Annotated; Alfred Hitchcock, dir.  Vertigo.

Come sign up in the LAH Office!

Interested in Spanish and community service? Consider SPN 327W: Advanced Grammar and Composition II, uniques 47275 and 47290 (Fall 2013).

These particular sections carry both a writing flag as well as a flag in Ethics and Leadership. The course requires 2-3 hours per week of volunteer service. Compositions and class discussions are integrated with students’ volunteer experiences. Service sites include schools, clinics and various agencies. Instructor permission is required to register, and the SPN 327G prerequisite is enforced. Students who meet the prerequisites can contact the instructor, Jane Johnson, jane.span@gmail.com, for information.