Course Requirements

 

Professor: Lynn D. Cates

Course Name: Introduction to Humanities I

Course Number: Huma 1301

Synonym: 24272

Semester: Spring 2011

Day/Time: Wed. 6:00-8:40PM

Campus/Room: GTC TBA

 

Contact Information:

Office: TBA

Email: lcates55@yahoo.com

Office Hours: M 5:00-6:00 PM

Arranging Conferences: After Class

 

Course Description:

A study of representative samples of literature, art, and music of various periods and cultures from pre-history through the Renaissance. The study of the interrelationships of the arts and their philosophies emphasizes an understanding of human nature and the values of human life.

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the study of the humanities from prehistoric times through the early Renaissance. Topics shall include history; religion/philosophy; literature; art and music. We shall relate these media to various aspects of the human condition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Materials (Text: Required)

Adams, Laurie Schneider

Exploring the Humanities: Creativity and Culture in the West vol. 1

 

Instructional Methodology:

Evaluated work comes mostly from lecture or text or web.

 

Course Rationale:

The study of the humanities from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective affords the student the opportunity not only to acquire a deeper appreciation of particular works of art but also to gain a larger perspective on the work of art as an expression of the human spirit in a particular time and place.

 

Course Objectives:

Departmental Objectives/Outcomes:

1. Students will be able to identify a variety of significant works of art from various times and places in human history.

2. Students will demonstrate the ability to associate works of art with their cultural context.

3. Students will be able to discuss the relationship between the arts and human nature and values.

 

Evaluation/Grading:

F—Student fails to achieve a score of at least 70% on the mid-term placement test and does not satisfactorily complete remedial work.

D—Student achieves at least 70% on the mid-term placement test, with or without remediation, but does not have the C paper accepted.

C—After fulfilling the D requirements, student hands in, and has accepted, a 3-5 page paper fully characterizing a humanistic artifact. Project must conform to C project requirements on last page.

B—After fulfilling the C requirements (or achieving a score of 80% or higher on the mid-term placement test), student hands in, and has accepted, a 3-5 page project fully relating a humanistic artifact to an aspect of the human condition as expressed by a certain culture. Project must conform to B project requirements on last page.

A—After fulfilling the B requirements (or achieving a score of 90% or higher on the mid-term placement test), student hands in, and has accepted, a 6-8 page project fully relating a humanistic artifact to an aspect of the human condition as expressed by a certain culture. Project must conform to A project requirements on last page.

Policies:

Attendance: Attendance at every lecture is expected. If you miss a lecture, it is up to you to make up the material by obtaining notes from a classmate or on the web. I do not loan notes or repeat lectures.

Withdrawal: I do not withdraw students who are not succeeding in the course. It is up to the student to make sure he/she is withdrawn in such a case. (Student who misses mid term will be dropped after a week.)

Incompletes: Incompletes will be given only for personal medical emergency and must be documented. No more than ONE project will be accepted after incomplete is assigned.

Mid-term placement test: A mid-term placement test will be given near the middle of the semester. The sole purpose of this test is to help me determine your level of knowledge in the humanities. The test consists of 16 multiple choice questions, fairly evenly distributed over pre-history, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, and Greece. There are also 4 paragraph essays covering the humanistic aspects of the material. Scores below 70 will require remedial research papers to be written, each to boost the grade by 10 points.

Late work: Late work would be accepted only in event of an emergency. An emergency counts as:

1. death of parent, spouse, sibling or child on or just before due date.

2. Emergency room visit for self, parent, spouse, sibling or child on or just before due date.

All emergency exceptions must have written support in instructor’s hands within 24 hours of due date. NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.

 

Scholastic Dishonesty:

"Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework." (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32)

Cases of scholastic dishonesty will be pursued according to the procedure set forth in the Student Handbook, "Student Rights and Responsibilities," Section J, "Academic Dishonesty."

 

Academic Freedom:

Students have the right to believe whatever they happen to believe and, within the appropriate constraints that follow from the organization of a course and its class meetings, to express those beliefs. Grades will never be based on the beliefs that a student maintains, but only on the quality of the work performed by a student in conjunction with the course.

Office of Students with Disabilities:

"Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester." (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 14)

 

Withdrawal Addendum

"Withdrawing from a course may affect financial aid, veteran's benefits, international student status, or academic standing. Students are urged to consult with their instructor or an advisor before making schedule changes. Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in fall 2007 or later at any Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college career. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are encouraged to carefully select courses; contact an advisor or counselor for assistance. See the Student Handbook, p. 22, for additional information."

 

Problem Resolution:

If you are having a problem related to this course or related to me as your professor your first step generally should be to speak with me. If I cannot resolve the problem or satisfy your concern, or, if for some reason you would prefer not to address the issue with me, you can appeal to the Chair

of the Department for help by completing and submitting the form available at: http://philadmin.constantinformation.com/forms/f_prob_res.htm.

 

 

Humanities 1301

Spring 2011

 

Jan. 19 Introduction, Syllabi, Overview; The Humanities

Jan. 26 Pre-History 1 & 2 Ch. 1

Mesopotamia:

Feb. 2 Mesopotamia 1 & 2 Ch. 2

Feb. 9 Mesopotamia 3 & 4 Ch. 2

Ancient Egypt:

Feb. 16 Ancient Egypt 1 & 2 Ch. 3

Feb. 23 Ancient Egypt 3 & 4 Ch. 3

Ancient Greece and the Aegean:

Mar. 2 Aegean 1 Ch. 4 & Ancient Greece 1 Ch. 5

Mar. 9 Ancient Greece 2 & 3 Ch. 6

Mar. 16 Spring break. No classes.

Mar. 23 Ancient Greece 4 & 5 Ch. 6

Mar. 30 Mid-Term placement test

Ancient Rome:

Apr. 6 Ancient Rome 1 & 2 Ch. 7

Apr. 13 Ancient Rome 3 & 4 Ch. 8

The Mediaeval Period:

Apr. 20 Mediaeval Europe 1 & 2 Chs. 9 & 10

Apr. 27 Mediaeval Europe 3 & 4 Chs. 11. C paper must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM CDT in order to submit A paper by end of semester.

The Early Renaissance:

May 4 Renaissance 1 & 2 Chs. 12 & 13. C paper must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM CDT in order to submit B paper by end of semester. B paper must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM CDT in order to submit A paper by end of semester.

May 11 Study Day. All papers must be submitted by 8:40:00 PM CDT today.

 

 

Project Descriptions

C project

The C project is a detailed characterization of a piece of art. To fulfill this requirement successfully, the student must:

1. Correctly identify the work and its author or commissioner.

2. Write a small biography of the artist, writer or ruler who commissioned it (2-5 paragraphs).

3. Discuss correctly the period and culture of the artist and work.

4. List thoroughly and accurately the details of the piece of art.

5. C paper MUST be selected from the art, architecture or literature of pre-history, Mesopotamia, or Ancient Egypt. Length shall be 3-5 pp.

 

B project

The B project is more comprehensive than the C project. In addition to requirements 1, 2, 3, and 4 for the C project, the student must relate the piece of art to a humanistic theme, that is, it must exemplify some aspect of the human condition as it pertains to a certain period or culture. This discussion must be sustained for at least one page and contain good reasons for the relation.

B paper MUST be selected from the art, architecture, literature, theater or music of Ancient Greece, the Aegean, or Rome. Length shall be 3-5 pp.

 

A project

The A project is more comprehensive than the B project. In addition to requirements 1, 2, 3, and 4 for the C project, the student must relate the piece of art to a humanistic theme, that is, it must exemplify some aspect of the human condition as it pertains to a certain period or culture. This discussion must be sustained for at least one page and contain good reasons for the relation.

Additionally, documented assessments of the work, relating to the humanistic theme by two or more professional scholars must be included. This part should be about 2-3 pp. in length. A paper MUST be selected from the art, architecture, literature, theater or music of mediaeval Europe or the early Renaissance.

 

All work is expected to be properly documented and conform to accepted rules of grammar and spelling. Style is MLA.

 

 

 

 

 

Readings

See above.

Course Subjects

See above.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

See above.