WAYCROSS COLLEGE

HUMANITIES 2111

SYLLABUS—FALL 2007

Class Time and Place: 7:15-9:55 p.m., Wednesdays, Room 211A
 

Instructor:  Sara Selby                   Office:  152A                    Telephone:  449-7576

e-mail: sselby@waycross.edu
main website: http://www.waycross.edu/faculty/selby/index.htm
 
 
TEXTBOOK: THE HUMANITIES, Volume 1 by Witt, Brown, Dunbar, Tirro & Witt, 7th Edition

SCOPE OF COURSE: A study of principal Western art styles from the Ancient World to the Renaissance. Includes study of selected masterpieces of architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, music, and philosophy.

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:  To foster understanding and appreciation of Western cultural heritage; to develop aesthetic sensibility and critical faculties; to provide concepts, vocabulary, and context for aesthetic evaluations; to increase enjoyment of the arts; to create awareness of the continuity of cultural development and of the interrelation of the arts; to strengthen speaking, writing, and reasoning skills.


ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance at class is most important and is the student’s responsibility.   An instructor may drop a student from class with a grade of WF when that student has missed twenty percent (20%) of regularly scheduled class meetings.  If such absences are excused, the withdrawal grade will be W or WF, depending on the student’s status at the time he/she was dropped. However, it is the student's responsibility to pursue the withdrawal process. Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal, nor does it guarantee administrative withdrawal.
     Tardiness:  Class will begin on time.  Students are expected to remain in class until dismissed by the instructor.  Two tardies and/or two early departures will count as one absence.  You are accountable for material presented in all classes, whether you attend or not.

HOW A STUDENT MAY DROP A COURSE WITHOUT PENALTY:  In order to drop a course officially without penalty, a student must obtain and fill out a Drop/Add form from the Registrar’s office, acquire appropriate signatures, and return the completed form to the Registrar’s office before the designated date published in the Academic Calendar in the Waycross College Catalog.

MAKE-UP WORK:  It is the student’s responsibility to make up missed work absolutely no later than one (1) week after his/her absence.  Such opportunity for make-up work shall be given at the instructor’s discretion.  Habitual absences on testing days will not be excused.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT: This course is designed to foster intelligent, mature discussion. It is NOT a suitable environment for children or pets; please do not bring either to class. If a student exhibits disruptive behavior, he/she will be asked to leave the classroom. Disruptive behavior includes talking while the instructor is talking, gathering belongings before class has been dismissed, sleeping in class, and/or possession of activated pagers, beepers, or telephones in class.


GRADING:  The final grade will be determined as follows:
   I. Tests  
  II. Notebooks (retained in division files)  
 III. Research Paper/Project (retained in division files) 
 IV. Final Examination (retained in division files)
40% 
15% 
25% 
20 % 

GRADE EQUIVALENCIES:

A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = 0-59

INCOMPLETES: The grade of "incomplete" is given to students who for reason of illness or accident are unable to complete a segment of the course. At least 75% of the coursework must have been completed with a passing grade at the time of the request before an "I" will be considered. In no case will the "I" be given as a means of avoiding a failing grade.


ADA STATEMENT:  “The College is committed to providing accessibility to all students in accordance to ADA/504 guidelines.  Students should contact the Director of Student Life regarding accessibility.”

ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER:  The Academic Support (ASC) was created to offer supplemental assistance to students enrolled in all courses at the College.  The ASC offers a variety of services at all levels, ranging from personal tutoring in math, reading, and composition skills to providing handouts and supplementary materials on writing research papers and critiques, taking essay and objective tests, and developing effective study techniques.  Through audio-visual, computerized, self-paced, and one-to-one tutorial work, the ASC assists students in developing strengths and eliminating deficiencies.  Students may be referred by instructors or may independently seek additional help.



TESTS:  Unit tests will consist of a combination of multiple choice, identification, and essay questions. Students should bring scantron sheets and pencils to class on testing days. Paper for essay questions will be provided by the instructor. Students missing a test must notify the instructor in writing within twenty-four hours following the test and must have an acceptable excuse. Medical excuses require a physician's note. If a student misses a test for an unacceptable reason, the student will receive zero (0) credit for the test, which will be averaged like any other grade. No test grades will be dropped, and no opportunities for "extra credit" will be allowed. Anyone found guilty of academic dishonesty at any time during the term will receive an automatic "F" for the course.

NOTEBOOK ASSIGNMENT:  Each student is required to maintain a humanities notebook subject to evaluation by the instructor at any time during the semester. Always bring your notebook to class, as I may call for them at any time.
        Your notebook should be organized as a comprehensive set of study notes.  You must include the following for each unit covered:
            1. definitions of Key Terms found at the end of each chapter in the text
            2. responses to Summary Questions at the end of each chapter in the text
            3. notes taken during class lectures/presentations
In addition to these materials, your notebook may include evidence of project research and/or responses to readings from the text.
        Notebooks will be graded on thoroughness of notes, written expression, and thoughtfulness of reflection statements. Notebooks will be taken up on the day of the final examination and retained in division files.

RESEARCH PAPER:  Each student has the option of writing an 8-10 page research paper on a topic approved by the instructor or of participating in a class project.
        If the student chooses to write a research paper, he/she must submit a topic pertinent to the time period covered by the course for the instructor's approval no later than the second week of class. For the paper, a minimum of five (5) secondary sources is required, exclusive of primary sources, encyclopedias, MASTERPLOTS, CLIFFS NOTES, BARRON'S BOOKNOTES, MONARCH NOTES, and other such study aids. Sources must come from a variety of media and must be from the Waycross College Library or from (or approved by) the instructor.
        Complete documentation is required.  Follow the forms for internal documentation and for the Works Cited page consistent with MLA format.  If you have any questions about documentation, see me or ask for help in the ASC.  The manuscript should be typed. One-inch margins are expected. Research papers must include a title page and a Works Cited page in addition to at least 8 and no more than 10 pages of text.
     PLAGIARISM, WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL, IS PROHIBITED; IT WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT PLAGIARIZED AND COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.   Plagiarism is defined by Webster as the stealing and passing off of the ideas or words of another as one’s own.  Further, the MLA HANDBOOK states, “Plagiarism may take the form of repeating another’s sentences as your own, adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own, or even presenting someone else’s line of thinking as your own.” Alleged violations involving plagiarism and other academic misconduct will be handled according to the procedures outlined in the WAYCROSS COLLEGE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
     Some reminders about using sources:
     When using secondary sources, you must document all references.  If you quote, you must introduce the quotation, use quotation marks, give proper internal page documentation, and provide a complete bibliographic entry on the Works Cited page.  When paraphrasing, remember that if you retain any of the wording of the original material, you must use quotation marks around that wording and provide documentation.
     Explanations and examples of internal page documentation, bibliographic forms, etc., are readily available in any good handbook of the English language.

IF A STUDENT CHOOSES TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER, HE/SHE MUST TURN THE PAPER IN ON TIME. LATE PAPERS WILL BE PENALIZED ONE LETTER GRADE PER DAY LATE. FAILURE TO TURN IN AN ACCEPTABLE RESEARCH PAPER WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.
 

 

CRITERIA FOR GRADING ESSAYS
WAYCROSS COLLEGE
Revision, Fall 2006
 

A

Outstanding vocabulary, sentence structure, development, and organization
Outstanding maturity of thought and logic
No major errors
No more than one or two minor errors, depending on the length of the essay

B

Good vocabulary, sentence structure, development, and organization
Good maturity of thought and logic
Only one major error
No more than a few minor errors, depending on the length of the essay

C

Average vocabulary, sentence structure, development, and organization
Average maturity of thought and logic
No more than two major errors
Several minor errors, depending on the length of the essay

D

Weak vocabulary, sentence structure, development, and organization
Weak maturity of thought and logic
No more than three major errors
Multiple minor errors

F

Unsatisfactory vocabulary, sentence structure, development, and organization
Unsatisfactory maturity of thought and logic
Three or more major errors
Multiple minor errors
 


MAJOR ERRORS (ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING):


1.  Sentence fragment (frag) 4.  Garbled sentence (awk)
2.  Comma splice (cs) 5.  Faulty subject-verb agreement (s-v)
3.  Run-on sentence (run-on)

 

MINOR ERRORS (ANY THREE OF THE FOLLOWING EQUAL A MAJOR ERROR) :


1.  Misused verb form (vb)
  8.  Error in pronoun-antecedent agreement (agr)
2.  Nonparallel element (non-11)   9.  Error in capitalization 
3.  Misused or omitted comma 10.  Error in pronoun case or reference (upr)
4.  Misused or omitted semicolon  11.  Inappropriate word choice or sentence structure
5.  Dangling or misplaced modifier (mm) 12.  Misspelled word (sp)
6.  Misuse of adjective or adverb 13.  Omission of word ending
7.  Misused or omitted apostrophe


INDIVIDUAL/GROUP PROJECT:  Instead of writing a research paper, members of the class may choose to complete a project dealing with some aspect of the humanities from the Prehistoric to the Renaissance Period. The project may deal with any topic that relates to art, architecture, music, literature, or philosophy. The form of the project will be determined by the nature of the topic studied. Prior to submission of the completed project, each student must submit a brief prospectus of the project, including the following:
                                        a) name(s) of student(s) involved in the project
                                        b) specific subject of study
                                        c) brief statement of purpose of study
                                        d) brief description of the method of study projected
                                        e) brief description of anticipated final project
                                        f) brief statement of the usefulness of the project
When the project is completed, it must be accompanied by an annotated bibliography listing sources consulted. If students choose to complete the project instead of writing the paper, that decision must be registered with the instructor no later than the second week of class.

IF A STUDENT CHOOSES TO COMPLETE A PROJECT, HE/SHE MUST TURN IN THE PROJECT WITH THE ACCOMPANYING ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ON TIME. LATE PROJECTS WILL BE PENALIZED ONE LETTER GRADE PER DAY LATE. FAILURE TO TURN IN AN ACCEPTABLE PROJECT AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.

 Course Schedule

Week One, Aug. 22:    Introduction to Humanities

Week Two, Aug. 29:     ch. 1 and 2: "Mesopotamia" and "Egypt and the Kingdom of Kush," 6-58

Week Three, Sept. 5:     Test #1 

Week Four, Sept. 12:    ch. 3: "Early Greece," 60-90

Week Five, Sept. 19:     ch. 4 and 5:
"Classical Greece: Politics, Art, Drama" and "Classical Greece: Philosophy and Ethical Thought," 90-163

Week Six, Sept. 26:      Test #2

Week Seven, Oct. 3:    Work on projects in library

Week Eight, Oct. 10:     ch. 6 and 7: "The Culture of Rome" and "Judaism and Early Christianity," 164-246

Week Nine, Oct. 17:     Test #3; ch. 8: "The Byzantine and the Islamic Empires," 248-278

Week Ten, Oct. 24:     Take-home Test #4; ch. 9: "Medieval Europe: Culture and the Cathedral," 279-307

Week Eleven, Oct. 31:     ch. 10: "Divine and Human Love in Medieval Europe," 308-356

Week Twelve, Nov. 7:    Test #5

Week Thirteen, Nov. 14:   ch. 11, 12, and 13: "African Backgrounds," "West African Languages and Literature: the Oral Tradition and its Legacy," and "Visual and Musical Arts of West Africa," 358-424

Week Fourteen, Nov. 21:     Thanksgiving Holiday

Week Fifteen, Nov. 28:     ch. 14 and 15: "An Introduction to the Civilization of India" and "An Introduction to the Civilizations of China and Japan," 426-499

Week Sixteen, Dec. 5:    Present Projects and Notebooks

FINAL EXAM > Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7:45 p.m.: President's Dining Room, James Dye Student Services Building
 

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