LIB253
Writing Ourselves into Time and Place
"Seeing our lives as stories, rather than as an unrelated series of random events, increases the possibility for...significant, purposeful action. We all want very much for it to have mattered that we were here...to understand connectedness to others, to the past, and to the future," (Daniel Taylor). We will write short stories from our lives and share them with each other, making sense of the thru-lines of our lives, discovering our personal legacies and the legacies of our generation.
Note: This class involves active participation: weekly writing assignments and sharing writing with other students in small groups.
A $50 discount will be applied automatically for adults 55+.
Overview
Location: Online
Format: Self-paced with weekly virtual class
Duration: 6 weeks
Tuition: $180
Can be applied to:
Liberal Arts for 55+ Certificate
Upcoming Offerings
Register for a course at any time, with the option to apply to a program later.
- Thu, May 9, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (virtual class)
- Thu, May 16, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (virtual class)
- Thu, May 23, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (virtual class)
- Thu, May 30, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (virtual class)
- Thu, Jun 6, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (virtual class)
- Thu, Jun 13, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (virtual class)
Course outline
- Week 1:
We will establish our expectations and goals, and write about where we are in our own lives at the present time. - Week 2:
We will look back to the people who have influenced our lives, and write about our ancestors and the foundational stories that have shaped our lives. - Week 3:
We will write about our child-selves, our nuclear family, and the friendships of our youth. - Week 4:
We will focus on cultural, political and historic events, and how they impacted the adolescent and young adult years of each of us. - Week 5:
We will write about our careers and adult responsibilities, and how they have impacted ourselves and our families. - Week 6:
We will consider the personal stories we choose to leave as a legacy.
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Picture more clearly the people and events that have shaped your life
- Develop skills in using writing to tell stories from your life
- Discuss with more awareness the personal and generational legacy we leave to those who come after us
Learning Methods
- Participation in Zoom seminars
- Writing assignments and small group discussion with other students
- Participation in written discussions with other students
- Academic and non-academic articles, and other online resources
Learning Materials
No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.
Technical Requirements
For online courses, you will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. Canvas is the online system that will be used for the course. For more information and online support, visit Online Learning.