REQUIRED READING:
Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Robert Manning, Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America's Addition to Credit
Tom Vanderbilt, The Sneaker Book: Anatomy of an Industry and an Icon
Alan Durning, How Much Is Enough: The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth
Frank B. Levering and Wanda Urbanska, Simple Living: One Couple's Search for a Better Life
James B. Twitchell, Lead Us into Temptation: The Triumph of American Materialism

These books are available at the University Bookstore, Volume Two Bookstore, Tech Bookstore, and the Reserve Desk in Newman Library (two hour reserve). You may also purchase the books through Amazon.com or one of the other major online bookstores. In addition to the assignments in books, short supplementary readings may occasionally be handed out in class or posted on the class homepage.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Class participation: This is a reading- and discussion-based course, so obviously full participation is critical to its success. Everyone is expected to attend each scheduled class meeting, to carefully and critically read all assigned material (including the reaction papers and questions posted by discussion anchors) before coming to class, and to participate actively in our deliberations.

2. Reaction Papers: To sharpen writing skills, help focus ideas, and facilitate discussion, on most weeks each participant will turn in a short (ca. 1 p., double spaced) reaction paper. While I may occasionally assign specific topics for the reaction papers, in most cases you will be given wide latitude in how you approach this assignment. You may assess the strengths and weaknesses of the assigned reading, respond to its major arguments, critically examine its theoretical and/or methodological frameworks, relate it to other readings for the course, or some combination of these approaches. Simple summaries will not suffice; reaction papers must come to terms with the significance and meaning of the reading. I want you to demonstrate that you have read and given serious thought to the material for that week. Regardless of the particular strategy you adopt for doing this, your reaction papers should also be concise, well-written, and carefully proofread. Reaction papers will be graded using an informal check/check+/ check- evaluation system. Occasionally we may also do peer evaluations of the reaction papers.

3. Discussion Anchors: Each week two (or more) volunteers (depending on the final size of the class) will be responsible for leading class discussion. Discussion anchors are expected to be especially familiar with the reading for the day and to compose a brief set of questions to help guide our discussions. If they are so inclined, they might also locate relevant book reviews, compile bibliography, and/or skim through other material related to the assigned reading to share with the class. Discussion anchors must post their individual reaction paper(s) (each anchor should complete one on weeks when there are two anchors) and a single set of broad discussion questions (which should be jointly constructed when there are two anchors) on the class listserv no later than twenty-four hours before class. During class they will not only be responsible for leading discussion, but also be available to answer questions, share resources, and summarize major arguments of the reading. No formal presentation is necessary, but discussion anchors may provide a brief introduction to the discussion if they wish.

4. Final Paper: All participants in the seminar are required to complete a 10-12 page double spaced (or ca. 4000-word) paper. The specific topic of the paper is largely up to you, but it must be related to the major themes and issues of the course and cleared with me in advance. The paper must be based on original research and use appropriate primary and secondary source materials. It should also contain proper documentation (notes and bibliography) cited in one of the standard formats used in the humanities or the social sciences (i.e., the styles in Kate Turabian, Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, or Dissertations, 6th ed., or The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed.). Early initiation and consistent effort throughout the term are crucial to the production of a successful paper. To encourage students to begin working early and to provide opportunities for feedback from others in the course, participants will occasionally be asked to make brief reports to the class on their progress. In addition, a short abstract /working bibliography and (optional) initial draft will be due according to the schedule below. At one of the sessions near the end of the semester, students will formally present their research to the rest of the seminar. The final paper is due on the date listed in the schedule below.

5. Evaluations
The final grade for the course will be based on the following:
 

Attendance and Participation	30%
Reaction Papers	25%
Class Presentation	10%
Final Paper/Project	35%

HONOR CODE:
Students are expected to follow the Virginia Tech Honor Code for all assignments. I don't mind if you consult with your classmates for homework and paper assignments, but any work you turn in should ultimately represent your own thoughts and words. Otherwise we would all be forced to live in a world of deceit and distrust that most of us would prefer not to inhabit.

A PERSONAL NOTE:
I am here to help you learn. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, special needs, or difficulties related to this course (or even if you just want to talk about the issues it raises). I know that approaching a professor can be intimidating, but I want to assure you that I enjoy meeting with students, and I do everything possible to make myself accessible throughout the term.

SCHEDULE:
Subject to revision as necessary (any changes will be announced in class and posted on the class homepage). Reading assignments are to be completed by the time of class on the day they are listed below. Unless otherwise noted, the numbers in the reading assignment column refer to chapters.
 

Date	Topic	Reading	Writing Assignment
27 Aug	Introduction
3 Sept	Fast Food	Schlosser 1-4	Reaction Paper, Short Biographical Sketch
10 Sept	Fast Food	Schlosser 8-10, Epilogue, Afterword	Reaction Paper
17 Sept	Easy Money	Manning 1, 5, 6, 10 (skim)	Reaction Paper
24 Sept	Consumerism as Culture	Twitchell Intro 1-3	Reaction Paper
1 Oct	Consumerism as Culture	Twitchell 4-6	Reaction Paper
8 Oct	Consumerism as Culture	Twitchell 7-8	Abstract and Bibliography
15 Oct	Global Markets	Vanderbilt, entire	Reaction Paper
22 Oct	Consequences	Durning 1-5	Reaction Paper
29 Oct	Consequences	Durning 6-10	Reaction Paper
5 Nov	Voluntary Simplicity	Levering/Urbanska 1-6	Reaction Paper
12 Nov	Voluntary Simplicity	Levering Urbanska 7-11	None
19 Nov	Project Progress Reports		Opt. Paper Draft (Nov. 22)
26 Nov	Thanksgiving Break
3 Dec	Presentations
10 Dec	Presentations
13 Dec	Final Paper Due (by noon)		Final Paper