Cultural Diversity in the US
Bus Tour of AmericaBUS–270–401
Hop aboard the UPenn Express for this semester–long bus ride across America.Students will get to know each other quite well as they will be on a bus together for over 500 hours! This classroom on wheels is a refitted children’s school bus. There’s a library in the back, complete with an Allied Barton guard, difficult– to–find books, and no toilet! (NOTE: Please do not use library as toilet). You’ll get to know your TA quite well, as the TA is your bus driver. We will stop at many rest stops to learn about all the different types of people that this great nation has to offer. As there are no printers on the bus, students will have to hand–write their papers. Also, please do not register for this class if you get carsick easily.
Cross Cultural Analysis
Border Patrol at the US–Canadian BorderBORDR–101–070
This class examines the unique importance of the US–Canadian border by installing students as border patrol officers. This hands–on experience cannot be found anywhere else. Students will learn about immigration policy, as well as how to discern Canadians from Americans and weed out illegal immigrants. Students can only hope for an “eh”—there is a heavy curve. The student who uncovers the most amount of illegal drugs, people or other contraband will receive the highest grade in the course. All students must meet a contraband quota. Recitations will occur in the detention facility near the border station. NOTE: Do not apply if you have a fear of dogs because there are many bomb and drug–sniffing dogs at the border. Good eyesight is a plus.
Formal Reasoning
Dressing Strategies for Formal EventsFORM–170–002
Sometimes it’s difficult to reason what to wear to your formal. This class deals with the biggest dilemma facing college students today: what to wear to your fancy event. This class teaches about the decision of whether to match your date, at what point renting a tuxedo is too expensive, and how to not look douchey. What if the invitation doesn’t specify dress code? What do you do then? This class gives coping strategy and reasoning skills to deal with the most complex questions regarding dressing for a formal.
Prerequisites: Must be upper–middle–class or above and have taken game theory and fashion design to enroll in this course.
Physical World Sector
Dirt.DRT–401–007
Dirt. You know. It’s brown, sometimes different colors, feels like it’s EVERYWHERE. This class takes a multi–directional approach to dirt. Students will simulate the experience of being dirt. This will involve classmates criticizing them until they are dehumanized. We will also make art depicting dirt made entirely out of dirt. This may or may not be just a bucket filled with dirt. Students will learn to approach dirt from a mathematical perspective by counting out how many smaller pieces of dirt make up a larger piece of dirt. You’ll find yourself asking "what is a piece of dirt?" The class will also explore that deep philosophical question.
Arts and Letters
Letter Writing 101LTR–101–001
Students will travel back in time to the year 1886, the peak year of letter writing. What does it take to write a good letter? How can we express ourselves without a keyboard? Why say “dear” at the beginning; isn’t a little intimate and weird? What’s a colon? How do I sign my name? Do I just write it out? What type of pen should I use? When do I use a wax seal? Students will become pen pals with each other and will send each other letters. Because of the inefficiency of the USPS, this course will be two semesters in length. If you have a question for the teacher or the TA please send a letter, and do not e–mail, because you’ll fail the class. No postcards allowed.
History
History of White and BlackCOLR–002–001
It’s not what you think. This class has nothing to do with society or race. This class is all about the classic combination of the color white and the color black. Have you seen a chessboard? Have you shopped at White House Black Market? Have you seen a 50s diner’s floor? Have you seen a penguin? Are you color blind? This is the class for you. Students will also learn about the history of the White House and how the shade of white has changed over time. There’s no grey area in this course—it’s all white and black. ;)
Writing Seminar
Writing About WritingWRIT–030–210
In this writing seminar students will engage with writing on a meta–level by writing about writing. Do you like the seminar? Is it good? You will analyze your seminar on a week–to–week basis. It may seem to become an infinite loop and/ or Droste effect that is inescapable. But don’t worry; it’s no worse than any other writing seminar. Because they’re all terrible.
Writing About Writing About Writing*
WRIT-031-210
In this advanced writing seminar students will engage with writing on a meta–level by writing about writing about writing. Did you like the course last semester? Was it hard to write about a course that you were in? Well, try writing about writing about writing in that course. This class will confuse you endlessly and literally teach you nothing. That’s why it’s a writing seminar.
*Instructor: Val Ross.
