Through considering a wide range of historical, political, literary, and natural-science based texts, this course will center on the past and present state of our National Park System. Discussions will range from the abstract level of cultural theory to the concrete data of an ecologist working in the field. First and foremost, however, students will be expected to think as writers: analyzing and crafting arguments, compiling and presenting research, and always being attentive to the nuts-and-bolts of strong composition. We will begin our course by surveying some of the key evolutionary strands in America’s concept of Wilderness, and then move to consider the preservation of our nation’s first parks: Yellowstone and Yosemite. The final portion of the class will center largely on independent research, with each student compiling a report—in addition to the formal writing assignments—on a National Park of one’s own choosing. Discussion, workshops, and student presentations will all be essential components of the course.