Introductory Reading Assignment

Exposition and Argument is a necessary course for me because I need to further develop my writing regarding nonfiction texts to achieve a higher level of success in a professional environment. Because I am an engineering student, this course may seem unnecessary because it does not directly relate to my intended major. However, effective communication and writing can make all the difference between two engineers with similar technical skills, and writing can be used to "think new thoughts" when new connections are made through the writing process.

The rationale of The New Humanities is exemplified in the section titled Knowledge in Depth and Knowledge of the World, in the passage "We begin to get a glimpse of the larger world only when we shift our focus from one reality to another" (xxv). The intense specialization of higher education can give students tunnel vision that is only broken when they step back and consider a new way of thinking, purposefully altering their perspective.

The "shared horizon" is the unique perspective created by the connections we form between different texts and our own knowledge throughout the course of our lives. It is important because making these connections is the very essence of "thinking new thoughts" and adding to the body of human knowledge. An important way to make these connections is by using the "retrospective view", or looking at a text after reading it through the lens of a certain phrase or passage. This can create an entirely new perspective on the text, and broaden the shared horizon further. Ultimately, this course may end up being vital to my success in college through its broadening of my perspective and its promotion of new ways of thinking about the challenges that face engineers and even the world today and in the future.