Madden guest speaker at President’s Convocation

David Madden, author of this year’s Common Book Experience reading choice at Pellissippi State, willbe the guest speaker at the second annual President’s Convocation, September 7 at the Pellissippi Campus. Convocation is the kickoff event for the Common Academic Experience activities planned throughout the year.

Madden is the author of “Sharpshooter,” a Civil War novel written from the perspective of a young soldier. The author will address students, faculty and staff at 11:50 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

An ice cream social with entertainment by Dan Gammon and Kathleen McGregor Williams will take place in the Courtyard immediately following the Convocation.

 “‘Sharpshooter’ introduces an extraordinary character in Willis Carr, a 13-year-old boy during the Civil War who wants to go out into the world and do something with his life but instead gets caught in an exploding world that forces him to make terrible choices in horrific situations,” said Lois Reynolds, English department head.

The book is required reading for English 1010, History 2010, Psychology 1010, Sociology 1010 and some American literature classes.

“Implementation of the book in these courses,” said Reynolds, “will involve not only study of Civil War history, including planned field trips to important sites in Knoxville and East Tennessee, but study of the effects of war on soldiers and of the difficulty of making decisions in traumatic situations. Many of our students will undoubtedly identify with the protagonist.”

Madden, a Knoxville native, is a creative writing professor at Louisiana State University. He has published nine novels and two collections of short stories, as well as a number of works of literary criticism, essays and poems; plays; and textbooks. Several of his novels have been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

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