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Reading Academic Texts: What is Nature

Susanne Scharnowski

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Topic: We all believe that we have a fairly clear idea of what nature is: it is out there, around us; it includes trees, birds, mosquitoes, water, air, mountains, oceans, storms and snow. We are also quite convinced that nature is ‘good’: we are encouraged to eat natural food; to appreciate, protect and to conserve nature, to “re-connect” with nature, or even to “get back to nature”. The word ‘nature’ elicits almost exclusively positive associations. Nevertheless, most people would find it difficult to give a definition of nature and say what it is exactly that makes food natural and what ‘we want to protect in ‘nature conservation’. The question, though, is not new: Since we have developed the ability and technology to adapt the natural environment to our needs, philosophers, scientists and writers have contemplated humans’ relationship with nature and asked what it is and how we should treat it. But in the age of the Anthropocene, at a time in which human activity is the dominant influence on the planet, does it even make sense to use the word ‘nature’? Program: Just as we think we know what nature is, we are convinced that we know what we are doing when we read. However, especially in academia, reading is not always straightforward; texts confront us not only with unfamiliar thoughts and concepts, but also with ourselves and our own limitations. In order to explore the topic of nature and to reflect upon the practice of reading, we will study various texts which address different aspects of nature: definitions in handbooks; exemplary historical texts that represent specific approaches to nature; and academic articles which discuss the contemporary relationship between humans and nature from the point of view of environmental philosophy and environmental psychology. Engaging with these texts, students will not only obtain a deeper understanding of the concept of nature, but at the same time reflect upon their own reading and practice techniques that enhance their reading experiences: systematic/ critical reading, skimming/ scanning/ extraction of specific information/ in-depth (extensive) reading; taking notes, highlighting; summarising, paraphrasing, synthesising; using various digital tools and reference books; detecting connections and contradictions in and between texts; evaluation & appreciation of texts; recognizing a writer’s purpose and attitude. Is this the right course for you? You should be interested in the topic of the course as well in reflecting upon and working on your academic reading practice; you should also be prepared to discuss and share challenges, problems, strategies and solutions to specific linguistic, academic, and psychological issues in class, such as the challenges of reading texts that students experience as difficult, dry or boring; what to do with footnotes etc. Workload and assessment: Students will read between 15 and 25 pages of academic and other texts in English per week and have to prepare two homework assignments (oral and written). The final assessment will consist of a written assignment. If you want to participate, you must attend the first, at the latest the second session; joining the course later won’t be possible. You must attend at least 85% of the classes. Some of the materials will be available in digital form on Blackboard; additionally, students have to purchase the reader (a collection of photocopied texts in printed form) from the copy shop at Königin-Luise-Str. 39, near U-Bahnhof Dahlem Dorf. close