E-mail Contact: kdowning@wppost.depaul.edu

Class Website: http://www.depaul.edu/~kdowning/corridor.htm

Corridors of Time: Exploring Earth's History through Field Experience and Creative Nonfiction is a Summer 2000 course introducing students to major National Parks and other important natural history locations in the Colorado Plateau Region of the Southwestern United States. Students will observe astonishing landforms including mountain ranges, plateaus, volcanoes, fossil forests, meteorite craters, arches, and canyons. We will visit and investigate archeological sites of the Anasazi people and study the history of human settlement and cultural development in this region. Students will contemplate the personal and philosophical meaning behind the phenomena (geological, biological, and human) we encounter, and express this meaning in a work of personal writing. Creative nonfiction, also known as immersion, is a technique which, through inventive written expression of real events, expands the role of the observer/tourist into that of observer/participant. The resulting writing, or literary journalism, will serve as an account of what each student deeply feels and learns from our travel. Sights, sounds, physical activity (hiking, rafting, discussions, etc.) and random events will be synthesized into personal accounts of the learning experience. In consultation with faculty, students will define learning goals and writing projects to demonstrate their chosen competencies. Expected highlights of our journey include Oak Creek Canyon (AZ), San Francisco Peaks Volcanic Field (AZ), Meteor Crater (AZ), Petrified Forest N.P. (AZ), Grand Canyon N.P. (AZ), Painted Desert (AZ), Canyon De Chelly (AZ), and Arches N.P. (UT). Time permitting, an optional one day river-raft trip (Moab, UT) or visit to Canyonlands N.P. may be scheduled.

There will be several class meetings, including a writing workshop, held in the final weeks of the Spring 2000 quarter (O'Hare Campus) in preparation for travel. We anticipate travel to take place from June 7 through June 17, 2000. Upon return, students will participate in a summary session to reflect on the learning experience. Estimated travel fee cost (subject to change) is $1600 for roundtrip airfare (Chicago to Phoenix), ground transportation, lodging, park fees, and selected meals. Additional expenses include DePaul Tuition, books and most meals. Enrollment will be limited to approximately 18 students. This course is offered for PW-2, PW-D, PW-G, PW-H, PW-K, PW-O, AL-1, AL-2, AL-C, AL-H, AL-J, AL-R, and their BA-99' Program equivalents. Capstones, Advanced Electives, and Externship credit will be available for those students who have previously completed Research or Major Seminar. Other competencies from the Pre-99' and BA-99' programs will be strongly considered for negotiated credit. Students may register for a maximum of three competencies.

3. A structured personal account of experiences in the Colorado Plateau Region. The resulting writing, or literary journalism, will serve as an account of what each student deeply feels and learns from our travel.