•This carefully scaffolded course guides students through primary and secondary tests that illustrate some of the themes of the course—ecocriticism, bioregionalism, contact zone, manifest destiny, and the demographics of the region. Includes a variety of genres—exploration narrative, nature writing, novel by a Native American, a “cowboy” novel, a play, poetry, and a memoir--that portray the Southwest environment.•Reading lists and schedule•Notes and bibliographies; links to secondary articles•Di