Since the early 1980s, instructors teaching freshman composition at SRJC have selected one work of literary merit (WOLM) to be read by all English 1A students, which is about 1600 students per semester. The number of students who study the book is actually much higher because many instructors also assign the selected WOLM to other classes, especially 100 and 1B. In the early years, the program consisted of little more than this agreement on a common literary text, with instructors benefiting by sharing ideas about teaching the particular work. As the years passed, however, the program developed into an exciting and integral part of the 1A curriculum. A constellation of optional adjunct activities also began to revolve around the WOLM, such as the lecture program, library displays, bookmarks, public readings, special classes for ESL students. In short the WOLM has become an event.
Note: there is no selected WOLM for summer semesters.
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