To: One Campus, One Book Committee

From: Kenyon Flint, ENC 3250 Professional Writing

Date: September 20, 2015
Subject: Three recommendations for the OCOB

After researching the different required books among freshman at different universities, I decided that
March, Fire Shut Up In My Bones, and Outcasts United would be great required reads for incoming
freshman.
These books not only meet the criteria of the committee, but will help students prepare for the semester
with important concepts discussed throughout each novel.

The criteria I used to pick the three required books for OCOB were based on the universities missions and
expectations. The three universities that I researched for this recommendation were Saint Louis, Stony
Brook, and Marquette.
Book Title

Publisher

ISBN

Price/Page

Summary

number
Outcasts

Random

United:

9780385522045

Paperback:

This novel is

house

$12.63

about an

Warren St.

publishing

Hardcover:

American town in

John

group

$16.83

Georgia that

Number of

becomes a

Pages:

refugee for a

336

diverse group of
families from
different war
zones around the
world. This was
intended as a
social experiment
but ended up as
a close nit town
that survived off
one anothers

Fire shut up in

Houghton

my bones:

Mifflin

9780544570115

Paperback:

support.
This novel is

$9.40

about Blows

Charles M.

Harcourt

Blow

Hardcover:

childhood

$18.33

memories in the

Pages:

70s where his

240

small town felt

the remnants of
slavery in a big

Paperback:

way.
This book is

$9.10

written by two

Aydin, John

Pages:

authors about

Lewis

128

their struggles for

March: Book

Top shelf

one: Andrew

productions

9781603093002

civil and human

rights. The book
goes back and
forth to each
author sharing
their experiences
and
accomplishments
.

After reviewing the outcome and goal of the OCOB program, I believe these three books would be great
for the program to use for future students. Outcast United would be my first pick for upcoming freshman
because it is based on the qualities our university would want all of its students to follow. All three novels
contain American history which I believe is an interesting topic for any student as well as a lost treasure
that our generation needs and really lacks.
Mandatory readings may sound like a torturous act from our college universities, but in my opinion this
new program will help new students get the feel of the college life and will only benefit them by obtaining
new information and preparing them for a future career.