This college writing class presents students with the principles of academic reading and composition, and provides them with tools for critical analysis. Through a close, sensitive reading of literary and theoretical texts (as well as other media), dealing with the human body in different cultures and periods, students will be introduced to different academic discourses, and will practice and hone their academic writing skills. Readings will be drawn from the fields of national and comparative literatures, sociology, disability studies, women and gender studies, history, psychology and psychoanalysis, among others.