Tentative Course Syllabus - Spring 2010

HUM 2230-H 

Honors Humanistic Tradition II (12-09)

 

 

Instructor:  Harry S. Coverston, Ph.D., J.D., M.Div.

Office:      227 PSY (Psychology Bldg.)

Hours:   Virtual Office Hours nightly by 10 p.m. (Su-R) 

   Actual Human Being Office Hours:

                        MWF 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Phones: Office (407) 823-2904

                Message: (407) 823-2273

Email:  Webcourses CourseMail ONLY

 

Course Description: An interdisciplinary, multicultural study of the arts and sciences

contributed by diverse human traditions to world civilization. Focus is on modern

civilizations and their contributions to the Global Village. Primary sources (in translation)

are emphasized (UCF Course Catalogue 2005-6)

 

.

                                       Course Objectives

 

As a result of this course, students should be able

 

1. To analyze, evaluate and discuss the chronology and significance of major events and movements in western, U.S. and world civilizations in each of the periods studied (Baroque, Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism and Post-Modernism)

 

2. To understand, interpret and discuss how those ideas and developments are reflected in the art, music, drama, literature, religion and philosophy of each period

 

3. To develop skills in critical and creative exploration of different cultures, traditions, and depth dimensions of the human spirit through readings, discussions, debates, group research and presentations, written and creative art work

 

4. To develop a better understanding of myself and my place in human history which can be formed, reflected upon critically and articulated in verbal, written and non-verbal form.

 

 

                                                                Practical Skills Developed

 

Students will develop and practice the following skills in this course:

 

1. THINKING: 

  • Development of critical analysis, questioning of presumptions, awareness of one's own hermeneutical lens; 
  • Development of expansive thought, developing data into knowledge through understanding the context, subtext and significance of ideas; 
  • Development of creative, synthetic thought which applies knowledge through expressions unique to the individual

 

2. EXPRESSION: 

  • Development of student's ability to write at college level 
  • Development of ability to construct logical arguments to support positions 
  • Development of ability to express ideas through multi-media technologies and non-verbal expressions
  • Development of student's ability to express ideas verbally in group and class discussions

 

3. INTERACTIVE:

·        Development of ability to work with other individuals and as a member of a group 

 

 

Required Texts:  Students will need texts by the second class meeting

             

  • Course Pack includes:
    1. Henry M. Sayre, The Humanities: Culture, Continuity & Change, Vol. II (includes Books 4, 5 and 6)  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2008
    2. Music CD Supplement, Vol. II 

 

·         Elie Wiesel, Night (NY: Bantam, 1982)

 

·         Other assigned materials as provided

 

 

GROUND RULES Read these! The preliminary module quiz is based in part on these rules. Your continued presence in this class after the add/drop period constitutes your consent to be bound by these ground rules.

 

COVENANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A LEARNING COMMUNITY spells out the remainder of instructor and student obligations in the course and will provide the basis for student self-evaluation at the end of the term.

 

Withdrawal Deadline: It is this instructor's desire and intent that every student complete this course in good standing. However, should it become necessary for the student to withdraw, it is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the course prior to the deadline on  Friday, March 5, 5 p.m.

 

 

Course Grading

 

1. ENGAGEMENT

 

This class requires active engagement of all students. This includes preparation outside class and participation during class sessions.

 

If you do not wish to engage the course materials and the members of this learning community, this is not the course for you.

 

 

Students will earn up to 275 total points in the following manner:

 

 

·         ATTENDANCE-  40 classes (excluding exams) @ 1 pt. = 40 total points

 

·         CLASS ACTIVITIES (both announced and unannounced) @ 235 points

includes pre and post-test, group presentations and evaluations, film reviews, chapter questions and an end of the term self-evaluation

                 

 

ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT TOTAL = 275/750 total points (37% of total grade)

 

CAVEAT: Students who do not earn at least an A- in the Engagement component cannot earn more than a B in the course. All borderline grades will be considered with Engagement scores as the first consideration.

 

 

2. GORDON RULE WRITING COMPONENT

 

 

This is a Gordon Rule course. Florida's Gordon Rule (as applied at UCF) requires a passing score (60% or >) on a minimum of four papers per class. Additionally, students must earn at least a C- in the class as a whole for Gordon Rule credit.

 

Students can meet the Gordon Rule requirement through the following assignments:

 

 

GORDON RULE PAPERS - 3 @ 35 points = 105 total pts.

 

·         Thoreau - Walden, Civil Disobedience

·         Kipling - White Man's Burden

·         Wiesel - Night

 

            EXTRA CREDIT PAPER (not required, not counted in three GRP)

 

·         UCF Reader - Brown v. the Board –@ 25 points

 

Students are required to obtain a passing score on three Gordon Rule Papers plus the Summary Reflection Paper.

Mere submission of the four papers is insufficient to meet the Gordon Rule requirement.

Students may complete the Extra Credit Paper for up to 25 points extra credit.

 

·         Papers which do not meet college level writing will be returned for rewriting and resubmission.

·         Papers which do not obtain a passing score must be rewritten and resubmitted to count toward Gordon Rule credit.

 

Gordon Rule Paper assignments will include

·         reading of assigned materials,

·         content QUIZ on the readings to insure reading and test comprehension (10 points)

·         completing an assignment designed to prepare students for writing,

·         writing the Gordon Rule PAPER within the 24 hour window (15 points)

·         uploading the paper to the Turnitin.com and submitting a hard copy in class

·         being present on time and contributing to DISCUSSION on due date (10 points)  

 

SUMMARY REFLECTION PAPER - 1 @ 45 (10 writing + 25 content) + 10 points response post = 45 total points –

Mandatory assignment, must be one of four total writing assignments with a passing grade.

 

 

WRITING COMPONENT TOTAL = 4 papers @  150/750 points (33% of total grade)

 

CAVEAT:  If you do not obtain a passing grade on the three Gordon Rule papers + the Summary Reflection Paper, you cannot make a grade higher than a D+ for the course and you will be required to take another Gordon Rule course if you still need Gordon Rule credit.

 

 

3. EXAMINATIONS AND QUIZZES

 

CONTENT QUIZZES - 25/28 quizzes @ 5 pts. = 125 total

 

Students may miss up to three content quizzes of the 28 total and still earn up to the 125 points possible. Students may take any or all of the three remaining content quizzes for up to 15 points extra credit.

 

EXAMINATIONS - 2 @ 100 points = 200 points total

 

Students will take three examinations each covering approximately 1/3 of the course material. The examinations, worth 100 points possible, will be objective exams requiring identification and comprehension of artifacts and artists, literature and writers and thinkers and their ideas as well as familiarity with class notes.

 

The exams will also test knowledge and comprehension of musical selections from each period as found on the course musical supplement CD.

 

·         Students will drop the lower grade of the first two examinations.

·         The higher of the two exams will be added to Exam III which will be given on the final exam date.

·         All students will take some version of Exam III.

·         There will be no comprehensive mid-term or final examination.

·         Students who make at least an A- on the first two exams will take an open book, open note Alternative Exam III. Their examination grade will be composed of their scores on Exams I and II unless they fail to complete the Alternative Exam III (in which case a 0 is added to the higher of Exams I or II). They will not take closed book Exam III.

·         There will be no makeup exams given.

 

            Two exam scores @ 100 points each = 200 points

 

                        Details - Methods to the Madness - Exams

 

EXAMINATION AND QUIZZES COMPONENT TOTAL = 300/750 points (40% of total grade)

 

EXTRA CREDIT

 

Extra Credit - Students are encouraged to suggest extra credit possibilities available to all students. Extra credit may only be earned by submitting a written report of the event observed. If Extra Credit is offered, a format will be provided.

 

Bear in mind that up to 40 points extra credit are available through completing the Extra Credit Paper and taking the three extra content quizzes beyond the 25 required.

 

Extra Credit points count toward the final total. They are not applicable to any component of the grade.

 

GRADING SCALE 

 

93 - 100 = A           

88-89 = B+

78-79 = C+

68-69 = D+

Below 60 = F

90-92 = A-

83-87 = B           

73-77 = C

63-67 = D

 

 

80-82 = B-

70-72 = C-

60-62 = D-

 

 

for an explanation of what these grades mean, see So, what does my grade mean?

 

 

FINAL GRADES (Out of 750 possible points total)

 

698 - 750 = A

660 - 675  = B+

585 - 599 = C+

510 - 524 = D+

Below 450 = F

676 - 697 = A-

623 - 659 = B

548 - 584 = C

473 - 509 = D

 

 

600 - 622 = B-           

525 - 547 = C-

450 - 472 = D-           

 

 

All borderline cases will be decided upon participation and attendance grades at discretion of instructor.

 

Final Comments: If something arises unexpectedly that will affect your attendance and/or performance in this class, please contact the instructor. While your instructor is a fairly understanding man, he's a lousy mind reader. To be human means to face unexpected problems, illness and the death of loved ones. That includes all of us and we can generally work through such problems together. The worst thing you can do in such situations is simply disappear.

 

·        Any departure from this syllabus is in the discretion of the instructor.

·        Any class-wide changes in syllabus requirements or scheduling will occur with notice to students.