Borderlands Writing invites you into research and composition focused on the cultural, historical, and geographical context of our university. Through the study of Borderlands literacies, languages, and theories, you’ll build personal writing skills that reflect your identity and unique voice in these lands. You will also have the opportunity to build personal resilience and self-advocacy skills with connections to local resources and communities; these can help you navigate the challenges that many first-generation and multicultural students face at a diverse land grant, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) like ours.
Writing courses of 101, 101A, 102, and 109H are available as Borderlands sections. All UA students are welcome in Borderlands sections; they are especially designed for students who:
have interests in or ties to the U.S.–Mexico border region
are first-generation college students (their parents or guardians did not complete a college degree in the U.S.)
AND/OR
navigate multiple languages or cultural contexts in daily life
Borderlands Writing Instructors are specially trained to teach first-year college research and composition through the lens of Borderlands backgrounds, cultures, and places.
Q: What does "Borderlands" mean?
We define the Borderlands as the geographical, cultural, and psychological spaces of multiethnic history and identities (Cervantes-Soon and Carillo).
Q: Why is the course called "Borderlands" writing?
The title of "Borderlands" comes from scholar and writer Gloria Anzaldúa who used it to describe the experience of living between two worlds — two languages, two cultures, two ways of being. Borderland experiences often mean navigating two or more sides of our identity. Though we might not always feel like we fully belong to either side, we can reflect on the incredible strength, creativity, and resilience that can grow from that in-between space.
Q: Does Borderlands count towards my Foundations Writing GenEd requirements?
Yes, Borderlands courses fulfill your GenEd requirements for Foundations Writing just like a general Foundations Writing course. Borderlands courses share all of the main student learning outcomes of general courses too, but are taught by instructors who are trained in Borderlands writing pedagogies.
Q: Can I enroll in this class through UAccess?
No, Borderlands sections are generally not open to add to your cart or register through UAccess, but students can request enrollment (through the Foundations Writing Evaluation, by email invitations, or through contacting the Borderlands Writing Lead: melanimartinez@arizona.edu) to be enrolled with priority.
Q: What are the "special topics" in a Borderlands class?
Any writing class instructor can choose a focus topic for their course, but Borderlands writing courses offer learning opportunities that are most often grounded in place and identity, especially regarding Tucson, Sonora, and the greater US/Mexico Borderlands.
Q: Why do students want to be part of a Borderlands class?
Borderlands students are looking to build a sense of belonging on campus with others that may share their language, heritage, culture, and communities. They may be first-generation college students or the first person in the family to attend college in the U.S. and may have lived experiences or specific interests in exploring a sense of place in our local / regional communities.
Q: Do I need to be a Spanish speaker or multilingual to join this course?
Borderlands invites students of all languages. Though some course material might include Spanish, Indigenous, or other language text or audio (with English translations), students are not required to communicate in any particular language to join the class; this class is open to everyone--those who consider themselves monolingual, bilingual, multilingual, a heritage speaker, or embracing their identity as a "no sabo kid"!
Q: What have former Borderlands ENGL 109H students said about their Borderlands Writing experience?
"It allowed me to portray such an important part of my identity in a unique and meaningful way, as well as reminding me why I am proud to be a part of its community."
"By using my cultural knowledge as a writing resource, I discovered new confidence in how I see myself as a writer and in what I want to stand for."
"This class gave me the opportunity to think about the context in which I live, the places where I physically and emotionally reside, and what it means to a broader context which is important to me because it affects my family and my own life. It made me think about research differently."
"I think this class helped me have a voice and gave me a sense of belonging in the classroom as it felt good to help others and have my advice valued by my classmates as it not always easy for me to share my ideas."
In addition to the general course outcomes in Foundations Writing, Borderlands sections also aim to support students towards:
Leveraging their diverse cultural backgrounds and experiential knowledge as writers in the Borderlands
Building self-advocacy and engaging models of resilience
Producing work in Borderlands languages, genres, and literacies
Applying Borderlands theories and practices to research and writing