Humanities 105H, Dr. HarnettSpring, 2015 Syllabus, page 1
HUMANITIES 105H:The Human Struggle (Honors)
#1421 TuTh 10:45 AM-12:10 PM in LB 200
Michael C. Harnett, Ph. D., Professor of English & Humanities
and Scholars Program Director
Office: LB 216Office Hours:8:00-9:00 AM MTuWTh; 11:00 AM-12:00 PM MW; 1:30-2:30 PM MTu; see me for other times. I will make every effort to meet with you.
Phone: x5699 Email: Backup Email:
Course Website:
Course Description: Catalog Statement
“Humanities 105H: Honors The Human Struggle.3 units
HUMAN 105H is an interdisciplinary, inter- cultural course designed to challenge students to further develop critical reading, writing, and thinking abilities through comparative study of materials from literature and various disciplines. Students evaluate some of the most relevant issues faced by people of the United States and other cultures throughout history, with emphasis on values and ethics. The course examines the creative impulses and destructive forces that have influenced the human struggle for order, acceptance, knowledge, understanding, self-expression, power, freedom, individuality and survival. Students improve their abilities to analyze, synthesize, develop original ideas, distinguish fact from opinion or belief, and use logic and reason in language and thought to determine whether the solutions of the past are compatible with the problems of today and tomorrow. Writing instruction focuses on improving advanced composition skills. The course may be team- taught. The honors course will be enhanced in one or more of the following ways: 1. Accelerated standards of reading levels, emphasizing primary sources. 2. Accelerated standards of critical thinking, including critical writing and thesis-based essay exams. Lecture 3 hours. Prerequisite: Eligibility for ENGL 101. Transfer Credit: CSU, UC, USC”
Note: This Honors course includes profound, classic readings by important authors.
COURSE OVERVIEW: In HUMAN 105, you will examine fundamental issues faced by humans throughout their history, exploring various models of thought concerning those issues, and you will analyze and evaluate those thoughts in light of modern ideas. The course centers on critical thinking: You will read diverse selections, many of them by classic authors; write thesis-based essay examinations; write reports based on movies, museum visits, extended reading, or research; participate in active discussions; and deliver an original oral report.
GOAL: You are challenged to analyze information, synthesize what you have learned in light of our world today, and propose original ideas through the media of reading, discussion, and writing. You will gain an understanding of other cultures, foreign in both time and place.
Course Entry Expectations
Skills Level Ranges: Reading 6; Writing 6; Listening/Speaking 6; Math 1
Prior to enrolling in this course, the student should be able to:
- organize and write thesis-based essays
- use detailed examples, facts, logical explanations, and other appropriate support for thesis statements
- critically analyze selected prose works dealing with important contemporary issues
- summarize, analyze, and synthesize information, express and apply standards for judgment, compare and contrast, and evaluate evidence in order to form and state reasoned opinions
- gather and organize information through library research
- demonstrate a command of grammar, diction, syntax, and mechanics sufficient for college level work as specified by the English 120 rubric.
Course Exit Standards
Upon successful completion of the required coursework, the student will be able to:
- read critically and write critical, thesis-based essays from rhetorical perspectives,
- compare and contrast relationships among literature and various disciplines,
- analyze, synthesize, distinguish fact from opinion or belief, seek credible sources, propose original ideas, and reach logical conclusions,
- examine many of the bases for important human values, identify bias and prejudice, and respect the views of others,
- evaluate objectively the ethics and principles of social, political, philosophical, and economic doctrines,
- develop the skills of literature and language analysis through use of original sources
- develop progressively more sophisticated written communications skills emphasizing meaning and substance.
SLOs for Humanities 105: The Human Struggle
Reading: Read, give examples, apply, analyze interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts related to the human struggle.
Core Competencies: 1a, 1b, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f
Expected Exit Level: 6
Writing: Compose critical thesis-based essays that analyze and synthesize information from multiple texts, lectures and class discussion dealing with human values and dilemmas.
Core Competencies: 1a, 1b,1c, 1d, 1e 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f
Expected Exit Level: 6
Assessment Methods: Final Exam question (Exam 4)
TEXTBOOKS:Note that many of the course readings will be done online. There will be other outside readings and research as well.
- The Dalai Lama, with Jeffrey Hopkins.How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life. Atria Books, 2003. ISBN 9780743453363
- Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving. Harper Perennial Classics, 2000. ISBN 0060958286
2. Policies
Faculty Lateness or Absence Policy: While I do not anticipate missing any classes or being late to class, emergencies, illnesses, and other unplanned issues do occur. For instance, a major factor for me is the ongoing and increasing health issues that both of my parents are facing, so I may need to go to help and attend to them. If I know about an absence in advance, I will post an announcement on the main page of my website at I will let you know about assignments to do for the next class. A note from Instructional Services should be posted on the classroom door as well.
If I am not there at class time, and no information has been posted on the classroom door or on the GCC Website under Classes Cancelled Today, please wait 15 minutes and then do one or more of these things for more information and guidance: Contact me directly at (626) 372-2326 (please use my number judiciously). Check my website. Contact the English Division Office (LB 215) at (818) 240-1000 x5606. Contact Instructional Services (AD 145) at x5904.
Attendance Policy: The GCC attendance policy states that students are expected to attend all class meetings. Attendance is a factor of the Participation grade. There are no excused absences at GCC, other than documented medical or personal emergencies—verified by a responsible doctor or official, in writing on his or her official stationery. You may be dropped if you miss the first class meeting or if you miss more than 6 class hours total. After the drop deadline, too many absences, that is, more than a week of classes in a row, or more than 6 hours missed after the halfway point of the semester (the end of week 8), prevent a passing course grade. For this reason, it is absolutely imperative that you not only attend consistently, but also communicate with me just as consistently. Let me know immediately when you have a problem, and we can work things out.Partial Attendance: If you arrive in class after the beginning time, or if you leave early, or if you are not paying attention during class, you are subject to being marked as Partially Attending for that day. 3 Partial Attendance marks count as one Absence. Having necessary books and materials in class is also part of the Attendance grade, and not being prepared counts against the Attendance & Participation grade, too.
Dropping the Course: If you must drop this course, do so through the Admissions and Records Office by the drop deadline of February 28, 2015without a mark of W, Saturday, May 16, 2015with a mark of W. Before you do any such thing, though, I encourage you to see me so that we both are sure about what must be done. Note that you are responsible for dropping.
Make-Up Policy: All work missed due to excused absences may be made up. For other work missed, I will decide on a case-by-case basis. If at all possible, contact me immediately when you know you’ll be absent to arrange for the making up of work beforehand. If you are sick or otherwise have an unexpected absence, see me or contact me ASAP. For excused, documented absences (a letter on official stationery written by the attending doctor, supervisor, etc. not written by you, a relative, a friend, etc.), we will arrange for you to make up the work with no penalty. For other absences, you and I will discuss the circumstances of your absence, and we will then make a plan for making up the missed work. Usually, we’ll make some kind of arrangement so that out-of-class essays may be turned in late (penalties or not decided on a case-by-case basis), and I will prepare a make-up exam that is different from the original but equivalent. You’ll take the make-up in one of my other classes, or in the Assessment Center (SF 112, call x5329). Made-up quizzes and other work may count only for credit, not for scores. All make-up work will need to be completed within a week of your return, unless we make another arrangement.
Completing Assignments/Late Policy: All readings and assignments must be completed by the date listed in the syllabus to be on time. All work turned in later than the class time on the due date is subject to being counted late. The very steep penalty for late work is one full grade reduction per day late—a penalty designed to be a deterrent to late work! This penalty is automatically imposed unless I hear from you.
Participation: You will also be evaluated for your involvement in the class and your contributions to it. This involvement and contribution can come in many forms: bringing the day’s readings and required materials to class; completion of all assignments both in and out of class; verbal questions & discussion, both in whole-class and small-group activities; individual consultations with me; willingness to read or share written work; and the many kinds of attentive, helpful, and respectful behaviors that are expected in the college classroom. Simply put, if you are not attentive in class, you are not participating. The Participation grade is reflected in the attendance marks: full, partial, or 0 for the day. Then at the end of the course, the grade is determined from the percentage of full attendance/participation marks in relation to the total number of class days. Off-task use of cell phones, laptops, and tablets, or other distracted behaviors, bring failing Participation grades, and possible course disqualification or failure if they persist after the first warning that I am giving here and now on the first day—you have been informed! On a much more positive note, between my efforts to plan for an active and interesting class, and your efforts to engage in it, you will have a fulfilling learning experience, one that I also plan and hope for you to enjoy.
Conduct: I expect everyone to adhere to GCC Administrative Regulation 5500, Standards of Student Conduct, Section C (Prohibited Conduct), which are found under Board Policies and Administrative Regulations, Chapter 5, Student Services, at Our class must be an environment that allows everyone to concentrate and feel comfortable. Disruptions, intimidation, profanity, and other forms of disrespect are not tolerated.
No Cell Phones, Laptops, Tablets, etc.: In class, please be sure that all cell phones and other devices are turned off or silent, out of respect for everyone. Because of persistent problems with academic dishonesty and distractions during class, laptops, tablets, phones, and other devices are not permitted for use in the classroom. This is the policy as of now. If you repeatedly use your devices in class or otherwise distract yourself and others, I will have to impose consequences, including removing you from class and/or lowering your grade.
Having established this policy, I am nonetheless open to the idea that there may be a way to work out using other devices for access to class readings, but I have not yet seen it work consistently or satisfactorily. For instance, maybe people could sit in such a way that your screen is always visible to me; that would be a possibility. The best way to participate starts by you having a printed copy of every reading with you in class as assigned.
Academic Honesty: This course adheres to the official GCC Academic Honesty Policy, available at policy focuses on plagiarism and other problems, including giving or receiving help or information and claiming it as your own. One of the most common problems on papers comes when passages from online sources are copied and pasted without quotation marks or citations of the sources. Or work by other students is sometimes copied and used for a cheater’s own purposes. In general, we assume that you take responsibility for doing your own work, and that you understand the difference between collaboration and cheating. In essays, writing on your own and documenting all outside sources that you use solve such problems: quote all passages taken from a source, and correctly cite the source, in MLA format, for all quotations, paraphrases, or summaries of ideas (not just quotes). If you have any doubts about the use of source material, show me your work in progress and I’ll help you be sure that you are managing the sources correctly and fairly. If you do cheat, the assignment in question is given a failing grade without the opportunity for revision, and the entire course grade may end up being an F. In addition, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Instruction, who may decide to take even more drastic action, which includes expulsion from GCC. This is too much of a risk! I routinely check papers for plagiarism, and make sure to prevent over-collaboration or unauthorized Internet use during in-class essays. In all cases, I follow the GCC Policy on Academic Honesty.
Special Needs: Official Statement: “All students with disabilities requiring accommodations are responsible for making arrangements in a timely manner through the Center for Students with Disabilities.” If you have any special needs, such as those addressed by the Disabled Student Center or High-Tech Center, please feel free to discuss them with me early in the course so that you can file the necessary paperwork. If you qualify, we can make arrangements to allow you more time on in-class assignments, for example.
QUIZZES: A quiz over reading matter may be given on any day at the start of class. Most quizzes should be completed within 15 minutes or so. Do not expect to enter class late and take a quiz. All quiz grades are added and averaged for that part of your course grade.
OUTSIDE REPORT: For oneof the course’s 4 units, you will select one movie (or museum to visit or another activity, depending on the unit) from the list that will be provided early in the course. By your selected unit’s due date, you are to write a report that has three parts: 1. a very brief summary of the movie/activity; 2. An explanation of how the movie/activity relates to one or more themes of the unit, making specific references to as many of the unit readings as possible; and 3. an application of the theme(s) you explained in the second part to published nonfiction, research, and scholarly writing (not novels, blogs, or encyclopedias). Your success on each Outside Report depends largely upon how effectively you connect ideas in the movie/activity to those in the readings for that unit, as many of the readings as possible. It will also be important for you to find relevant research/scholarly information and explain how it applies to the ideas you have pointed out. MLA documentation of sources is required. The Outside Reports are worth 50 points each. Note: You do not do the Outside Report for the unit in which you are presenting an Oral Report. More information will be provided on a separate handout.
ORAL REPORT: For one unit other than your Oral Report unit, you will select one topic from the list and signup sheet provided and present an Oral Report to the class at the appropriate time during the semester. Your report should inform the class of important ideas and show how they are connected to the particular unit readings very specifically. You are the expert on your chosen topic, the only person who can provide the needed information on it. You will provide class copies of a clear summary of your main points and sources. This summary becomes part of the readings and information for the unit, and as such, all information from Oral Reports may be used on exams. The Oral Report is worth 50 points. More information will be provided on a separate handout.
EXAMS: Exams are subjectively graded essays on topics central to each unit. Having said that, let me add that the standards of thesis-based essays apply here as they do in any course involving writing, following MLA standards. There will be 3 in-class exams: the Unit 1 Exam in 2 separate parts; the Unit 3 Exam, and the Unit 4 exam as the final. The Unit 2 Exam is a paper to prepare outside of class. Notes on readings and from class, as long as theywritten by you, may be brought to in-class exams, but not any outside sources. If possible, the exams will take place in computer labs, but internet access will be shut off there. The GCC Academic Honesty Policy will be strictly enforced (see below).