Department of Humanities and Philosophy

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES AND PHILOSOPHY

FALL 2010 – COURSE SYLLABUS

GENERAL HUMANITIES –2223

(Renaissance Through the Modern Era)

SECTION 14265

INSTRUCTOR Casey McCulley: B.A., M.A., Famous Artists School Graduate

PHONE Cell (405) 532-9107 FAX: (405) 815-4058 EMAIL:

TIME TR - 2:00-3:15

CLASSROOM LA 130

OFFICE HOURS Assigned time after 3:15 TR – Adjunct Area 203B

DESCRIPTION This course will converge on the major artistic, intellectual, and literary accomplishments of Western Civilization from the Renaissance to the Modern Era. It also will touch on African and Eastern accomplishments as they relate to the West. It is a cultural history survey class designed both to familiarize the student with the basics of our particular civilization and to foster a critical awareness of the broader human endeavor. The class will consist of lectures and discussions about the achievements and how they have come to be the foundation of our society.

REQUIRED TEXT The text chosen has been selected as a reading guide to be used in conjunction with the instructor’s lectures and supporting resources. The textbook is Roy T. Matthews & F. DeWitt Platt, The Western Humanities, Seventh Edit., vol. II (NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010).

NOTEBOOK You must have the notebook Specifically color-coded for the appropriate section. Each course has peculiarities unto itself and because the dates, times, and schedules are different from each other, the contents have been placed in different color notebooks. You may pick these up from Kopy Kat Etc., 401 N. University Dr., Edmond, OK (at the corner of Ayers and University Dr.) Each student MUST have this notebook for in-class study. The cost of each notebook is $10.00.

PREREQUISITES ENG 1213 and to be able to read, write, and speak English above the basic grammatical components.

OBJECTIVES To learn about some of the artists, writers, musicians, scientists, and philosophers whose aesthetic works have shaped, and are shaping, thinking in the world today.

Through the development of critical thinking, using discussion, questioning, writing, and class and community interaction, to understand the impact each of these disciplines had had, and is having, on humanity.

To develop cultural literacy and to grasp an understanding of the individual’s responsibility and their worth in society.

That you might participate in cultural conversations to the extent you are knowledgeable of the topics discussed and can add to those dialogues in a meaningful way.

TEACHING The class will explore the humanities through use of text, lecture, discussions, videos, transparencies, recordings, and direct contact with community resources. The class content will depend upon the interaction of the students, therefore, student attendance and participation is crucial to the success of the class. An immersion method of teaching called suggestopedics will expose the student to the arts as well as teaching about the arts. The students are personally responsible for what goes on in class even if they have been absent.

ATTENDANCE Attendance and promptness are very important. I do not like “penalties” as an incentive device in educating, but the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma re underwriting your education and they should receive your best efforts for their generosity. Therefore, using a tried formula, five (5) unexcused absences will lower your grade by one letter. Each additional “group of three (3)” absences will lower your grade another letter. A tardy after roll call can be considered a half an absence.

REGENTS It is expected that a full-time college student will spend a minimum amount of time each week in class attendance and study out of class approaching a 40-hour workweek. A person employed on a full-time basis should not simultaneously expect to maintain a full-time academic schedule. At the undergraduate level, this means that for each hour in class, a student is expected to spend at least two (2) hours doing homework.

ACADEMIC Academic dishonesty includes, but is not confined to: plagiarizing; cheating on test or

INTEGRITY examinations; turning in counterfeit reports, tests, and papers; stealing tests or other academic material; knowingly falsifying academic records or documents of the insti-tution; accessing a student’s confidential academic information without authorization; disclosing confidential academic information without authorization; and, turning in the same work to more than one class without informing the instructors involved. Each student is expected to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary action. More information concerning this policy can be found on page three (3) of the UCO Student Code of Conduct located at: http://broncho2.uco.edu/conduct/code.htmi

EVALUATION Take-Home Quizzes: Each quiz will be worth 75 points. The Take-Home Quiz is to help guide the student through the chapters about to be studied so they might take an active part in class discussion. The student should cover each chapter prior to class. All of the quizzes will contain objective questions such as, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, identification of terms, sites, and persons; and subjective questions such as essay. Points will be assigned per question, usually one point per objective and more for identification and essay questions. All of the works, artists, and other answers must be spelled cor-rectly or they will be counted as an incorrect answer!

In-Class Quizzes: Each quiz will be worth 25 points. The questions will be taken direct-ly from the 75 questions on the Take-Home Quizzes.

Final Exam: It will be made up from the In-Class Quizzes only. A Final Exam must be taken to pass this class. A Scantron is necessary for the exam.

Scantrons: will be used for the multiple-choice questions/answers on the Take-Home Quizzes and the Final Exam only.

Electronic Language Devices: For all students who use electronic (or otherwise) language dictionaries, those units will not be allowed for In-Class Quizzes as the questions have been performed previously on the Take-Home Quizzes.

Make-up Policy: All quizzes are allowed one week after the In-Class Quiz is given. They cannot be made up after the time period allotted and there must be an excused absence. Being unprepared for a quiz is not acceptable.

Critical Thinking Questions: There will be four of these written out of class during the semester. Each will be worth 25 points. There will be levels of “correctness” in each, however, there is a complete answer. These will be discussed in class after the student has had several days to produce the possible answer(s). A rewrite is always possible. The essay must be at least two pages in length (this means 41 full lines, 6 ½ inches in length – This does not count the partial lines at the end of a paragraph) and may need references for your argument. These must be typed in the research paper format. If an original paper for the class discussion is not handed in on the due date, the rewrite paper will be devalued by 20%.

In-Class Writes: There will be two, each worth 25 points.

Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center visit: There is to be one paper over your trip to the museum and it is worth 50 points. Cost is approximately $8.50.

Class Participation: This involves class participation, group discussions, and peer colla-boration. This will aid in many ways such as class discussions, missed class information, and international communications points. There will be a general summary written at the end of each class worth 5 points. It will cover lecture, videos, paintings viewed, etc. There will be points deducted for absences as you will not have been in class, therefore, you could not have participated. Generally, points per missed class plus loss of points for the work missed.

Bonus Points: The amount of bonus points for each activity is 25 points with a maximum of 50 points possible. They must be cleared with the instructor and may consist of viewing certain movies, going to lectures, and visiting museums or appropriate traveling exhibitions. Again, the research paper format must be followed. Tell who, what, when, and where; describe the event and give it a title; give an evaluation (critical thinking). What did you gain from the experience? Was it worthwhile? How well was it presented? How did it affect you? What was your reaction?

Grading: (If I cannot read it, I cannot grade it!)

·  Take-Home Quizzes + In-Class Quizzes = 600 points

·  Comprehensive Final Exam based on only the In-Class Quizzes = 100 points

·  Critical Thinking Essay Questions = 100 points

·  In-Class Writes = 50 points

·  National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center paper = 50 points

·  Class Participation = 100 points

·  Total possible score = 1000 points (plus 50 possible Bonus Points – these are to be added to the prior total so a student possibly could accumulate 1050 points.

·  Final Grade: These will be allocated on a 10% scale as follows:

A = 1000-900 B = 899-800 C = 799-700 D = 699-600 F = 599-0

ADA NOTICE The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should make their requests by contacting the coordinator of Disability Support Services at 974-5249. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor as soon as possible after the DSS has verified the need for accommodations to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion

FINALS If a university emergency occurs that prevents the administration of a finals examination,

EMERGENCIES the student’s final course grade will be calculated based on the work in the course com-pleted to that point and the faculty member’s considered judgment. Final exams will not be rescheduled, and a grade of “I” will not be given as a result of the missed exam.

QUESTIONS My policy is that of an open door. I encourage students not to be shy and to talk with me when I am available on campus. If it is necessary I will make a special trip to meet with one or more students at a time when it is convenient to everyone. I sincerely desire this class to be a rewarding and enlightening experience for you.

POLICIES There are a few other important issues that the student needs to be aware of both for this class and other classes in general.

·  This university does have an “honor code.” You should familiarize yourself with its limitations in you Student Handbook. Cheating a plagiarism (see attached sheet on plagiarism) are serious violations of academic conduct that may lead to your expulsion from the university. Helping others cheat is considered just as serious. If I find identical answers in essay-type questions that are not quoted verbatim from the text I will count a reduction in the grade of all papers. This means the perpetrator as well as the one who has allowed the copying.

·  Please avoid disturbing others or the instructor during class. This means no talking except concerning the issue at hand during the discussion. If, after you have been asked to refrain from idle chatter and you continue to indulge in this nuisance to everyone, you will be asked to leave the class. If it is a persistent problem, other more drastic measures will be taken. Write notes to each other.

·  No laptop computers will be used during class, unless assigned.

·  All electronic devices will be turned off upon entering the classroom.

·  Baseball caps and hats with wide brims may not be worn in class during an exam.

·  If, after the first quiz or essay, your work determines that you arrange a meeting with me to discuss your performance, please do so. I can make specific recommendations about how you might improve your study skills.

DISCLAIMER In all good faith, I have been as clear and complete as I could be about all of the details of the Humanities 2223 course. However, I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus when, and if, my professional judgment indicates the need for such a change.

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET AND SYLLABUS ATTACHMENT

FALL 2010

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not confined to: plagiarizing; cheating on tests or examinations; turning in counterfeit reports, tests, and papers; stealing tests or other academic material; knowingly falsifying academic records or documents of the institution; accessing a student’s confidential academic records without authorization; disclosing confidential academic information without authorization; and, turning in the same work to more than one class without informing the instructors involved. Each student is expected to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary action. More information concerning this policy can be found on page three of the UCO Student Code of Conduct located at: