Happy Monday! Some of you reading may have already received your copy and many more will be receiving a copy soon when you venture to Amherst for Summer NSO! Regardless of if you’ve received your copy or not there are some things you can start thinking about RIGHT NOW!
As part of the events that will take place during the summer and school year we will be hosting an essay-writing competition. Now, you may be thinking “They’re already giving me an assignment and classes haven’t started yet. What is going on?!”. Don’t worry though! The essay competition is a chance for you to write about what you’ve read and how you’re preparing to join us here at UMass Amherst.
Curious about the prompt? No need. Check it out below!
“Piper Kerman’s story is a window into a world most readers have never seen before. With each person she meets, Piper struggles with critical issues for understanding what it means to be a part of her new community: race, gender, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, power, and privilege. This book is an invitation to reflect on how everyone’s stories intersect but are also shaped and informed by those larger social issues, too. How does Piper’s experience illuminate the opportunities and challenges ahead, as you begin to live and work with people from different cultures and experiences at UMass Amherst?”
See? Not so difficult to get behind and a chance to think about integrating and experiencing all of the new opportunities here on campus!
Details for submission will be posted soon so check back here or at the Common Read Website. You can also email us your questions at commonread@sacl.umass.edu or Professor David Fleming at dfleming@english.umass.edu.
HAPPY WRITING!