LIBS 113: The World in a Grain of Sand

Course Description

From a single artifact (an object or a text), students will learn to build an understanding of an entire culture in a given historical moment. First by analyzing the artifact and then by building a larger context in which to interpret the significance of that artifact, students will also build their own academic community. By the end of the course, each student will have mastered the use of all library research resources and have developed a specific expertise in an area of research related to the artifact. By the end of the course, the class will have organized its own academic conference on the artifact in which they will share their research and insights. The professor will be a specialist in the area from which the artifact is selected and will guide you in your mastery of research skills and acculturation to academic life. (F).