What?! A book to read over the summer? But it’s my vacation! Yes, you received your first college assignment before even starting classes. Actually, thousands of other freshmen were also reading books over the summer in preparation for their first days on campus. Many colleges and universities across the nation have instituted First Year and/or Campus reading programs, but why? There are many reasons for having students – and faculty and staff – read a common book. As a new student, you are entering a community of other learners with a variety of life experiences. A common reading program allows incoming students to have at least one thing in common and something to talk about right from move­in day. Reading a common book provides numerous opportunities to connect with, engage in, and contribute to your new community. Common reading programs also set the tone for college academic expectations. College will be work and will demand that you challenge yourself in many ways; participating in a shared reading program is one way to start this academic journey. According to a 2007 report from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), among seventeen­year­olds, the percentage of non­readers has doubled, from nine percent in 1984 to nineteen percent in 2004. The fact is that Americans of most age levels are reading less, which, according to the study, results in lower reading scores and civic, social, and economic implications. The NEA also found that “literary readers are more likely than non­readers to engage in positive civic and individual activities – such as volunteering, attending sports or cultural events, and exercising.” Overall, reading literary fiction and non­fiction, not just the latest issue of People or checking the news on CNN.com, is an important part of being a college student and in being a thoughtful, engaged citizen of your community and your world. WHAT IS “SYNERGY”? UNCW’s Common Reading Experience, also known as “Synergy,” provides: • an introduction to academic expectations and intellectual engagement • a common experience with new peers and faculty • an opportunity for self­reflection and critical thinking • a great way to get involved in and out of the classroom • a powerful, meaningful, and FUN learning experience Synergy supports the university mission of integration of teaching, research, and service and the stimulation of intellectual curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, and thoughtful expression. How will the book be used? The Common Reading book is a requirement of First­Year Seminar courses and will also be used in various courses as determined by faculty. Throughout the Fall semester, there will be numerous events related to the book including films, lectures, discussion groups, and much more. "The Common Reading Experience helped me to create common ground with people of different backgrounds and I was able to expand my horizons." ­ Elizabeth Barnard, UNCW Class of 2009 How are books selected? The Synergy Common Reading Committee solicits recommendations from students, faculty, and staff throughout the year. In selecting a book, the committee gets feedback from student readers and considers characteristics such as: • Potential to engage students and spark passionate discussion • Appeal to a wide range of students • Possibilities for classroom use and additional programming • Richness of themes; interdisciplinary in nature Do You Want to Suggest a Future Book? Are you reading something great? Do you want to help choose the next Common Reading book? Go to http://www.uncw.edu/commonreading/suggest.htm to make your recommendation. Synergy Website http://www.uncw.edu/commonreading/ Program information Book and author information Reading resources Related multimedia web links Event schedule Suggest a book Synergy General Questions and Activities Discussion / Journal Questions 1. As a college student, what does “intellectual engagement” mean to you? 2. What role does reading play in your life? Do you like to read for leisure? How often and what do you read? 3. As a student and a reader, what characteristics would you look for in a future Common Reading selection? 4. Do you think UNCW’s Common Reading program is a good idea? Why or why not? Activities 1. Write a letter to the Synergy committee to propose next year’s Common Reading selection. Base your proposal on the selection criteria found online at ­ http://www.uncw.edu/commonreading/aboutprogram­selection.htm. Group Work 1. Although Common Reading programs are the norm at most colleges and universities, some schools have Common Film Programs instead in which all freshmen view the same film at the beginning of the semester and have discussions. In groups of four or five, discuss how you feel about this type of program instead of a common book program. What are possible advantages and disadvantages? What characteristics would you look for in your film selection? As a group, choose one or two films that you believe would be good candidates for such a program based on your criteria. Each group will present its thoughts and selections to the class. The class will discuss and agree on a list of criteria for selection and vote on the best “selection” for a potential Common Film program. The film that is selected can then be viewed during or outside of class time. Campus Events Each student will be required to attend at least one scheduled common reading event. Possible events include a speaker and film series, discussion groups, and / or performances. A detailed event schedule can be found at http://www.uncw.edu/commonreading/events.htm. Critical Thinking and Critical Reading As a college student, you will be asked to think critically in all of your classes. You will be faced with new information, challenging issues, and difficult decisions in which critical thinking skills will be helpful. The Common Reading program offers your first opportunity to engage in critical thinking and critical reading. Critical reading is “a technique for discovering information and ideas within a text,” and critical thinking is “a technique for evaluating information and ideas” (Kurland, 2000). As you read and discuss the Synergy book, delve deeper into the text and question what you are reading. Critical Reading is: ACTIVE: Critical readers question the text as they read, often writing those questions and notes in the margins. They use a dictionary if necessary and use context clues. “Speak to the text” as you read – argue, agree, respond. Discuss ideas and themes with others. FOCUSED ON INTERPRETATION: A critical reader knows that a text is but one person’s portrayal of a story, information, and/or facts. One single text cannot necessarily be taken for the “whole truth.” It is important to recognize not only what a text says, but how that text portrays the subject matter. Are the facts biased? Is it well researched? EVIDENCE­DRIVEN: Especially in non­fiction writing, it is important for readers to actively recognize and analyze the evidence presented on each page. The evidence and facts provided help to establish the author’s purpose, tone, and any bias. AWARE OF CONTEXT: Critical readers don’t just read for facts. They know that all texts exist in contexts: cultural, historical, etc. SOPHISTICATED: Critical readers consider how a text is written, not just what it says. They think about choices the author makes and how the writing choices affect the reader and meaning. MEANINGFUL: Critical readers work on making sense of a text by synthesizing what they know about the subject, the context it was written in, and the writing style. They go beyond the surface and work towards their own critical, insightful interpretation of the text. “To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” ~Edmund Burke For more information on Critical Thinking, see Cha. 4, “Strategic Learning.” FALL 2011 UNCW COMMON READING SELECTION Zeitoun By Dave Eggers When I was prompted by the Synergy committee to recommend a book that would provoke thought and discussion, I was naturally hesitant. Finding a book that you think will be relevant, engaging, and enjoyable is a very difficult task for anybody. After a great deal of consideration, I remembered a particular book that was written by one of my favorite authors, Dave Eggers, dealing with a remarkable man in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. That book, of course, was Zeitoun. Zeitoun embodies much more than just the qualms of moral obligation and disaster politics; it also characterizes a sense of community. Although we may never have to paddle out in flood waters like Zeitoun did, we can still learn from his actions and nurture a sense of pride for our school and the people that we share it with. Having pride in a community does not always mean running for student body president (although it is certainly not discouraged), but it does mean being active in its functioning, something that resounded with me in reading Zeitoun. Seeing Zeitoun’s strong commitment to his home is something that I see in UNCW and hope to relate to anybody wanting to know more about our school. So, on behalf of the Synergy committee, I invite you to explore Zeitoun and to find your own connections to the book and its themes ­ and to hopefully embrace the ideas of community that first attracted me to the book and led to me recommend it for the 2011 Common Reading Experience. ­Taylor Curley Synergy Committee, 2010­2011 Psychology and English, UNCW Class of 2012 Awards Winner American Book Award, 2010 A New Yorker Best Book of the Year Winner Dayton Literary Peace Prize A Chicago Tribune Best Book of the Year John F. Kennedy Distinguished Honor A Kansas City Star Best Book of the Year Winner of Los Angeles Times Book Award A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year A New York Times Notable Book An Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Decade A Huffington Post Best Book of the Year Author Information – Dave Eggers Photo credit: Michelle Quint Dave Eggers is the author of six previous books, including What Is the What, a finalist for the 2006 National Book Critics Circle Award and winner of France's Prix Medici.