Preface and Chapter 1

Summary:

By Ashley Brown

1. The preface and chapter 1 of this book, My Freshman Year by author Rebekah Nathan, talks about why Nathan chose to write this book. She also tells the reader how she decided to start this project of becoming a freshman again in college. When she was sitting in on a class where she taught, she heard some gossip that sparked an idea in her head to write this book. In chapter one, Nathan explains why she is writing this book and what questions she is hoping to answer. She also explains to the reader which information she will include from her research and what she will be leaving out. For example, Nathan told the reader she will be leaving out some “gossip” that she hears because it does not fully support what her goal of this research is. Nathan also tells about her first few weeks at college, the orientation, "Welcome Week", and life in the dorms. She explains incidents where students mistake her as a mom on campus, or a parent at orientation. Nathan talks about how she is unfamiliar with the lingo of this new generation of undergraduate students, and that she seems to not be able to get around as easily as she thought she would at AnyU (the college she is researching at). Nathan is used to being a professor and parking in the faculty lots, and entering halls from the back where a professor would. She is challenged right away through the undergraduate student perspective.

2. When critiquing the writing in the preface and chapter 1, you find that Nathan explains the goal of this book very well by giving examples and being very open in her writing. Nathan does not leave out any information, thus making the reading easier to understand. Throughout the whole section she allows the reader to follow her train of thought, and where she is coming from. Also, the author makes sure to give all three perspectives, undergraduate student, professor, and anthropologist when analyzing information.

Graphic Organizer:

By Nicki Woitas

Vocabulary:

By Catherine Wagner

1. pseudonym – Preface X
-a fictitious name used by an author to conceal his or her identity.
2. Ubiquitous – Page 2
-existing or being everywhere.
3. Pedagogy – Page 3
-the function or work of a teacher; teaching.
4. Purview – Page 4
-the range of operation, authority, control, concern.
5. Acumen – Page 8
-keen insight.
6. Plethora – Page 10
-overabundance; excess.
7. Mental Defective – Page 13
-a morbid physical or mental state.
8. Rectory – Page 13
-Parsonage; the residence of a member of the clergy.
9. Retorts – Page 16
-to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way.
10. Contextualize – Page 18
-to put (a linguistic element, an action, etc.) in a context, esp. one that is characteristic or appropriate, as for purposes of study.

Discussion:

By Catherine, Ashley, and Nicki

1. What inspired Nathan to write this book? How is she planning to go about gaining research and writing this book?

2. Is this an accurate way of gaining insight into the life of the average college student? Why or why not?

3. What is the importance of keeping characters anonymous? Is the information still valid in the eyes of the reader?

4. Would Nathan's appearance be a factor in how realistic her immersion in the college life is? Is there a "right" crowd she has to get into to collect valid information?