On-Campus Course Syllabus

HUM 302 LOO.A

Modern World

Spring 2018

Class Information

Day and Time:Thursday, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Room Number:A201

Contact Information

Instructor Name:Kevin Stilley
Instructor Email:

Instructor Phone:214.818.1369

Instructor Office Hours:By appointment

Course Description and Prerequisites

A survey of the Enlightenment and Romanticism and how these opposing forces shaped philosophy, literature, art, and music. Various movements are examined such as revolution, evolution, and World War I.

Course Objectives

The student who successfully completes this course will demonstrate the ability to:

  • Communicate the main ideas, persons, and events that have shaped modern Western culture.
  • Distinguish between Enlightenment movements in different socio-geographical areas.
  • Illustrate and critique modern worldview assumptions in light of Christ and Biblical teaching.
  • Think, read, and write critically.

Required Textbooks

  • The Portable Enlightenment Reader, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 1995. ISBN: 978-0140245660.
  • Romanticism: A Very Short Introduction, by Michael Ferber. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN:978-0199568918.
  • The Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Enlightenments, by Gertrude Himmelfarb. Vintage, 2005. ISBN: 978-1400077229
  • A Student’s Guide to Liberal Learning, by James V. Schall. Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2000. ISBN: 978-1882926534.
  • Bible

Course Requirements and Assignments

Final course grades will be determined by completion ofan academic book review, reading responses, classroom participation, and a final exam.

Reading Responses (25% of final grade)

A writing prompt (usually in the form of a question) has been posted to the Canvas Discussion forum for each reading assignment. Every student is expected to participate by posting a response. Full credit will be given for every thoughtful response that is given prior to the class convening. Students are also encouraged to engage the ideas of other students participating on the discussion board.

In the event that a particular class session must be canceled for any reason (weather, sickness of the instructor, etc.) reading responses will continue to be due on the date assigned on the syllabus.

Classroom Participation (25% of final grade)

Colloquy is an important part of the pedagogical process. All students are expected to attend class, be punctual, and participate appropriately in classroom discussion. To engage in classroom discussion of the assigned reading it is imperative that all reading assignments be conducted in a timely fashion. Students will receive credit for attending and participating appropriately in class. Absences or tardiness will adversely affect your grade. The professor will deduct points for disruptive behavior, lack of collegiality, failure to prepare for classes, or use of unauthorized electronic devices (see Course/Classroom Policies and Information).

“When a man is busy at study, the Evil Impulse whispers to him: Why tarryest thou here. Go and join the men who flirt with pretty women.” - Talmud, Zohar, ii, 265b

Writing Assignment(25% of final grade)

Each student will write an academic book review on the book The Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Enlightenments, by Gertrude Himmelfarb. You will find numerous online guides on how to prepare anacademic book review and parameters for the review will be provided on the first night of class.

This review can be turned in late but one letter grade will be deducted if the due date is missed and then an additional letter grade for every passing week.

Final Examination (25% of final grade)

This examination will cover material from reading, discussion, and lectures from the entire semester. Guidance will be given as the course progresses about what is likely to be on the final exam.

Course/Classroom Policies and Information

Electronic Devices: Laptops, tablets, smart phones, and similar devices may NOT be used during class as their usefulness is far outweighed by their ability to create a distraction and contribute to the cultural habit of inattentiveness. [The Shallows, by Nicholas Carr, is a good book on the negative effects of technology on learning.]

Recording: Students are free to record the class. The instructor’s slides and/or lecture notes will be made available on Canvas.

Guests: Guests are generally welcome, but please notify the instructor in advance.

Extra Credit Opportunities: Extra credit opportunities may be made available during the course of the semester.

Class Attendance

Students are responsible for enrolling in courses for which they anticipate being able to attend every class session on the day and time appearing on course schedules, and then making every effort to do so. When unavoidable situations result in absence or tardiness, students are responsible for acquiring any information missed. Professors are not obliged to allow students to make up missed work. Per their independent discretion, individual professors may determine how attendance affects students’ ability to meet course learning objectives and whether attendance affects course grades.

Grading Scale

A / 97-100 / 4.0 grade points per semester hour
A- / 93-96 / 3.7 grade points per semester hour
B+ / 91-92 / 3.3 grade points per semester hour
B / 88-90 / 3.0 grade points per semester hour
B- / 86-87 / 2.7 grade points per semester hour
C+ / 83-85 / 2.3 grade points per semester hour
C / 80-82 / 2.0 grade points per semester hour
C- / 78-79 / 1.7 grade points per semester hour
D+ / 75-77 / 1.3 grade points per semester hour
D / 72-74 / 1.0 grade point per semester hour
D- / 70-71 / 0.7 grade points per semester hour
F / 0-69 / 0.0 grade points per semester hour

Incomplete Grades

Students requesting a grade of Incomplete (I) must understand that incomplete grades may be given only upon approval of the faculty member involved. An “I” may be assigned only when a student is currently passing a course and in situations involving extended illness, serious injury, death in the family, or employment or government reassignment, not student neglect.

Students are responsible for contacting their professors prior to the end of the semester, plus filing the appropriate completed and approved academic request form with the Registrar’s Office. The “I” must be removed (by completing the remaining course requirements) no later than 60 calendar days after the grade was assigned, or the “I” will become an “F.”

Academic Honesty

Absolute truth is an essential belief and basis of behavior for those who believe in a God who cannot lie and forbids falsehood. Academic honesty is the application of the principle of truth in the classroom setting. Academic honesty includes the basic premise that all work submitted by students must be their own and any ideas derived or copied from elsewhere must be carefully documented.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

  • cheating of any kind,
  • submitting, without proper approval, work originally prepared by the student for another course,
  • plagiarism, which is the submitting of work prepared by someone else as if it were his own, and
  • failing to credit sources properly in written work.

Institutional Email Policy

All official college email communications to students enrolled in this course will be sent exclusively to students’ institutional email accounts. Students are expected to check their student email accounts regularly and to respond in an appropriate and timely manner to all communications from faculty and administrative departments.

Students are permitted to setup automatic forwarding of emails from their student email accounts to one or more personal email accounts. The student is responsible to setup and maintain email forwarding without assistance from college staff. If a student chooses to use this forwarding option, he/she will continue to be responsible for responding appropriately to all communications from faculty and administrative departments of the college. Criswell College bears no responsibility for the use of emails that have been forwarded from student email accounts to other email accounts.

Disabilities

In order to ensure full class participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring special accommodations (e.g., tape recorders, special adaptive equipment, special note-taking or test-taking needs) is strongly encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course, or if a student has a learning disability, please inform the professor so assistance can be provided.

Intellectual Property Rights

Unless otherwise specifically instructed in writing by the professor, students must neither materially nor digitally reproduce materials from any course offered by Criswell College for or with the significant possibility of distribution.

Resources and Support

Canvas and CAMS: Criswell College uses Canvas as its web-based learning tool and CAMS for student data. Students needing assistance with Canvas should contact the Canvas Help Support line at (844) 358-6140. Tech support is available at this number twenty-four hours a day. Students needing help with CAMS should contact the Campus Software Manager at .

Student Services: The Student Services Office exists to foster and encourage success in all areas of life—physical, intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional. Students are encouraged to reach out for assistance by contacting the office at 214.818.1332 or . Pastoral and certified counseling services are also available to Criswell students. Appointments are scheduled through the Dean of Students Jeff Campbell, at .

Wallace Library: Students can access academic resources and obtain research assistance by visiting the Wallace Library, which is located on campus. For more information, go to the library website, or email the Wallace Library at .

Writing Center: Students are encouraged to consult with writing tutors to improve and enhance their skills and confidence by practicing techniques of clear and effective writing. To consult with a tutor, students can visit the Writing Center located on the first floor near the Computer Lab, or they can schedule an appointment by emailing r calling 214.818.1373.

Course Outline/Calendar

DATE / TOPIC / ASSIGNMENT
January 25 / We will not be meeting in class on this day. Your assignment is to read A Students Guide to Liberal Learning and comment on it in the Discussion area of Canvas.
February 1 / Introduction to Course
Discussion of Reading Assignment
Lecture: Freedom to Think / Please print out and bring your syllabus to this class session.
Students Guide to Liberal Learning
February 8 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: The Enlightenment Spirit / Portable Enlightenment Reader, Introduction and Part 1: pages ix-38
February 15 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: Enlightenment Science / Portable Enlightenment Reader, Part 2: selections from pages 39-74
February 22 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: God of the Enlightenment / Portable Enlightenment Reader, selections from pages 75-133
March 1 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: Revolution!(s) / Portable Enlightenment Reader, selections from pages 134-180
March 8 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: What is Man? (that Thou are mindful of him) / Portable Enlightenment Reader, selections from pages 181-221
March 15 / Spring Break / Spring Break
March 22 / Discussion of The Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Enlightenments, by Gertrude Himmelfarb. / DUE: Book review of The Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Enlightenments, by Gertrude Himmelfarb.
March 29 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: Manners, Morality, & Art / Portable Enlightenment Reader, Selections from pages 242-350
April 5 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: Politics & Economics / Portable Enlightenment Reader, Selections from pages 395-514
April 12 / Discussion of Reading
Lecture: Gender & Race / Portable Enlightenment Reader, Selections from pages 560-670
April 19 / Discussion of Reading / Romanticism: A Very Short Introduction, pages 1-31
April 26 / Discussion of Reading / Romanticism: A Very Short Introduction, pages 32-62
May 3 / Discussion of Reading / Romanticism: A Very Short Introduction, pages 63-92
May 10 / Discussion of Reading / Romanticism: A Very Short Introduction, pages 93-132
May 17 / Final Examination / Final Examination

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