The Evolution of the
Common Core Reader
A Work in Progress
Suzanne M. Deschênes, PhD
April 16, 2012
Presented at:
The Lilly Network Exchange: The
Human Journey Core
Sacred Heart University
A brief history…
• The reader was conceived…
• In ~2006, title selected: “Common
Core Reader on the Catholic
Intellectual Tradition”
– approved by University
Academic Assembly
• 2011: reader is substantial enough
for in-house use and evaluation;
work in progress
Content conundrums…
• Title: “Common Core Reader on the Catholic
Intellectual Tradition”
• What was the original intent for the nature of the
Reader?
• Should the current name of this reader be
revised to reflect its content, Catholic
or otherwise? Or, should we confine
ourselves to the title’s implied intent?
• What is the CIT?
Content conundrums…
• Who decides what is consistent with the CIT?
• What criteria should be used to select readings
for the Reader?
– Catholic authors only?
– Explicitly Catholic?
– How “Catholic” is Catholic? i.e., how “orthodox”
must the readings be?
• Will the Reader be prescriptive for
instructors, i.e., must all readings for
common core courses come from the
Reader? Critical for faculty buy-in…
Content solutions…
• Title issues: keep title, be flexible on content
• What is the CIT? Reader will contain an
Introduction that provides both short and long
definitions of the CIT
• Who selects readings? Representative faculty
from each discipline
• Criteria for readings? CIT ≠ orthodox;
CIT is broad and encompasses a
diversity of thought and philosophies;
readings must “engage” the CIT;
don’t have to be Catholic authors
Content solutions…
• Prescriptive? No! Foreword containing this
explanation:
A resource book for profs to
– increase their own understanding of the CIT
– recommend additional readings to students
– supplement readings already used in their
courses
– interrogate from a different disciplinary
perspective the works they are using and
which might be in the reader already
– enjoy interdisciplinary interactions with
other common core instructors
Format
• Annotated list of readings, or
• Annotations and very short excerpts
from readings to stimulate interest
and further exploration ( e.g.,
St. Thomas Univ. reader), or
• Longer reader containing
annotations and lengthier excerpts
(e.g., book chapters, articles, essays,
etc.)
Format - Specifics
For each represented discipline:
1. A reading selection that offers a perspective
on what it means to practice integration of
the CIT in the discipline (e.g., on being a
Catholic writer, on being a Catholic
biologist)
2. Reading selections
a. Annotation
b. Discussion questions
c. Excerpt (suggested 10 page max)
Organization
1. In main body of reader: by discipline
2. Indices:
- chronological
- four common core questions
- CIT characteristics
Disciplines
College of Arts & Sciences
- History
- English
- Art
- Music
- Social sciences
- Natural sciences
- Etc.
Welch College of Business
College of Health Professions
Dissemination
• Secure campus online site
• Soft-cover reader
• External publication
Collecting the Readings
• A long journey…
Online organization…
Online organization…
Example of annotated readings (source +
commentary)