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Summer Reading Program
The Summer Reading Program at Saint Francis University
Program Goals
The Summer Reading Program is part of the first-year experience at Saint Francis University. The program is designed to increase academic expectations of incoming students by involving them immediately in a meaningful learning experience. In the program, students read and discuss a book that addresses questions of values and ethics with other students, faculty, and staff. Incoming students also write an essay on the book’s theme during orientation; this essay is the baseline measure for incoming students’ writing competency. Faculty are encouraged to incorporate the book and its theme into their classes; co-curricular events that build on the book’s themes are scheduled throughout the academic year. The ultimate goal of the Summer Reading Program is to encourage habits of lifelong reading in all community members.
Books selected for the Program
| 2008 |
Cage of Stars |
Jacquelyn Mitchard |
2007
|
The Color of Water |
James McBride |
| 2006 |
The Kite Runner |
Khaled Hosseini |
2005
|
Masters of the Dew |
Jacques Roumain |
2004
|
The Bean Trees |
Barbara Kingsolver |
2003
|
Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by in America
|
Barbara Ehrenreich
|
2002
|
The Alchemist
|
Paulo Coelho
|
2001
|
Dead Man Walking
|
Sister Helen Prejean
|
2000
|
A Walk in the Woods
|
Bill Bryson
|
1999
|
The Least of These My Brethren
|
Daniel J. Baxter, M.D.
|
1998
|
Alicia: My Story
|
Alicia Appleman-Jurman
|
1997
|
The Chosen
|
Chaim Potok
|
1996
|
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
|
Maya Angelou
|
1995
|
Narrative of the Life of a Slave
|
Frederick Douglass
|
Book selection criteria
1. The book is consistent with the Eight Goals of Franciscan Higher Education.
2. The book is consistent with the 14 Learning Objectives of the General Education Program.
3. The book establishes an academic tone that sets student expectations for their university experience.
4. The book is suitable for inclusion in first-year seminars and/or as the basis for writing assignments in English 103/104.
5. The book is on a topic that lends itself to related co-curricular programming events, especially to a keynote event on the book’s theme.
6. The book lends itself to discussion.
Other considerations:
-cost (paperback)
-length
-availability (500-600 copies)
Do you have a suggestion for the Summer Reading Program?
If so, click on the link below and give us your suggestion.
Summer Reading Program Suggestion Form