harcum syllabus1

8/3/2019 Harcum syllabus1

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HUM121-1 Spring 2012

HARCUM COLLEGE

Academic Affairs Division

Spring 2012

I. Course Title: The Humanistic Tradition

II. Course Number: HUM 121-1III. Lecture-Lab-Credit: 3-0-3

IV. Semester/Time: Spring 2012 / Mondays and Wednesdays

2:30-3:50, Room 210 ACDEMIV. Course Instructor: Tim Hayburn

610-841-6752

[email protected]

[email protected]

Office Hours: By appointment.

School closing code: 300

V. Prerequisites: None

VI. Course Description:

This course is designed to educate the student and promote awareness about the

major art works and cultural aspects inherent in the humanities from prehistory to theRenaissance. Aesthetic and formal elements, styles and ideas as experienced in these art

forms will be studied.

VII. Course Objectives:

The overall course goal is for students to achieve global cultural literacy.Upon the completion of this course, students should be able to:

demonstrate a recognition of philosophy and art as components of the humanitiesand as interrelated manifestations of human creativity.

describe and discuss the characteristics of the various artistic and cultural

movements of Western Civilization from Prehistory to the Renaissance.

relate the art and culture of each period to the appropriate historical context: the

important developments in science, technology, economics and politics.

use maps and time charts to acquire and demonstrate the ability to place artistic

and cultural periods in geographical and chronological context.

demonstrate an understanding of cultural diversity and relevance of culturalachievements.

show evidence of how a fuller understanding of culture in general increasesunderstanding of one's own role in contemporary society.

describe the importance of arts and ideas as a step toward a lifelong appreciation

for art.

articulate how values are manifested in art and ideas.

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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develop and describe an informed set of personal values by examining those of

other times and places

VIII. Course Activities:

1. Teaching techniques: Lecture, inductive discussion, writing exercises,assigned readings, collaborative activities, peer feedback,

2. Student Responsibilities: Reading assignments, writing three reaction

papers, active and consistent participation in discussion areas, groupwork, completion of chapter quizzes, library/Internet research,

collaborative group work.

3. Students are expected to complete reading assignments, writing

assignments, and other homework prior to discussion sessions and groupsubmission of assignments.

4. Students are expected to conduct themselves responsibly in class. This

includes responding with respect, commenting thoughtfully on othersworks and opinions, and not engaging in activities that disrupt the

learning environment for others.

5. Students are expected to spend an additional nine hours per week workingon course activities. This equates to the standard study guidelines that for

every hour you spend in class, you spend three hours studying.

6. Students are expected to work in small groups on collaborative activities.

7. Discussion: The purpose of the discussion is to establish a discoursecommunity which embodies the ideals of collaboration, shared

ownership, and shared authority; collaboratively evaluate readings and

the comments of others; integrate ones own ideas with those of others;

analyze texts as complex systems and structures and as expressions ofdistinct cultures; and represent through discussion a heightened

awareness of culture and cultural differences.

8. Special Instructional materials: PowerPoint presentations, databases,Internet, web-based instructional aids.

.9. Anyone needing extra help is invited to make an appointment to meet with

me on campus, contact me by e-mail, and/or have a telephone consultation /

conference.

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Plagairism

Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and is unacceptable in this and allHarcum courses. Plagiarism constitutes violation of academic and personal

integrity. For a discussion of violations of academic and personal integrity at

Harcum, refer to the Student Handbook (p. 65 - 66)

IX. Requirements for assignments:

Reaction Papers: Choose one topic from the list provided for each Reaction Paper(total of two papers). Papers should be 2 pages in length (500 word

minimum), double-spaced, and follow standard college level

writing conventions. Papers should be well-organized; express aclear central idea and purpose; demonstrate an understanding of

subject, occasion, audience, and purpose; use appropriate types of

development; and include basic research techniques including theanalysis and evaluation of primary and secondary sources. Sources

must be properly documented in the body of the paper and cited ina list of references at the end of the paper. References to the text,The Humanistic Tradition, should also be included and properlydocumented. Standard conventions of academic English such as

proper grammar, sentence structure and punctuation must be

observed.(See Reaction Papers Description and Topics at end of syllabus)

Total: 2 reaction papers

Exams: During the course of the class, there will be 3 in class

exams.

These exams will test you on your knowledge of the materialcovered in class and what is found in the textbook. Each of theexams will only grade you from the material that we covered since

the last class meeting. The dates are listed in the course schedule

below. Because all of the examination dates are announced well inadvance, make-up exams will be given only to students with

legitimate medical excuses. Cases of illness will require a signed

medical excuseotherwise this explanation is invalid. Moreinformation on the actual format of the exams will be given

later in the course.

Group Project: With the members of your group select a theme that has some sortof universal significance. It should cut across geographical and

temporal boundaries, but you may choose a narrower focus. It is up

to your group to state and establish why this theme is important inthe study of the humanities. This project should evaluate and/or

compare some aspects of culture or art that contributes to the

humanistic tradition. Support your assertions about this theme bydeveloping a presentation using images, graphics and text. Select a

format to present your project: PowerPoint, WebPage (MS Word

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Total 1000 pts.

Due Dates for Major Assignments:

Reaction Paper 1:____________March 5, 2012

Group Project:____ ___________ Apr. 30, 2012

Group presentations_________Apr. 30 and May 2, 2012

Reaction paper 2:____________April 23, 2012

Evaluation Criteria for Reaction Papers:

1. Unity

2. Coherence

3. Support4. Sentence Skills (Grammar, Sentence Structure, Diction)

5. Relevance to TopicSee Checklist for Writing an Effective Reaction Paper at the end of the syllabus

Harcum grading scale

Letter Grade Numerical Grade

A 95-100A- 90-94

B+ 87-89

B 83-86B- 80-82

C+ 77-79

C 73-76C- 70-72D+ 67-69

D 63-66

D- 60-62F below 60

W Withdrawal (assigned when a student withdrawsbefore midterm)

WP Withdrawal Passing (assigned when a student

withdraws from a course after the midterm and is

passing at the time of withdrawal)WF Withdrawal Failing (assigned when a student

withdraws from a course after the midterm and is

failing at the time of withdrawal)

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Checklist for Writing an Effective Reaction Paper

Unity

Is there a clearly stated thesis (usually, but not always, placed in the introductory

paragraph)? Do all supporting paragraphs back up your thesis?

Support

Do you have three supporting points for the thesis?

Is there enough specific evidence for each of those three supporting points?

Coherence

Is there a clear method of organization (chronological, spatial or progressive

order)?

Have transitions and other connecting words been effectively used?

Are there an effective introduction, conclusion and title?

Sentence Skills

Fragments eliminated

Run-ons eliminated

Correct verb forms

Subject and verb agreement

Faulty parallelism and faulty modifiers eliminated

Faulty pronouns eliminated

Adjectives and adverbs used correctly

Capital letters used correctly Proper punctuation

Needless words eliminated

Effective word choices

Sentences varied

Spelling errors eliminated

Careless errors eliminated through careful proofreading and editing

Sources

Have primary and secondary sources been used as support and properly

documented? Is there a list of References?

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Group Project Description and Topics

Your task: to select and present a theme that cuts across geographical and/or temporal

boundaries, a theme that has universal significance.

Your product: A PowerPoint presentation, Webpage or Word document that describesand illustrates the theme you have chosen in words, pictures, charts, graphics, etc.

Criteria:

PowerPoint: minimum 10 slides with at least 2 clipart/images/graphics

Webpage (Create in Word): 5 linked pages with text and clipart/images/graphics

Text document: 3 double spaced pages of text (may include images if needed, but

do not count as part of three page requirement)

Suggested themes

Articulate how the values of a certain culture are manifested in the art and ideas

of that culture

Discuss the impact of technology on different cultures: you could

compare/contrast ancient with modern times, for instance

Trace the history and impact on culture of documents from early cave painting tothe printing press

Describe how women have been depicted in art and/or text throughout one or

more periods. What does this depiction say about the culture and its attitudetoward women? Pick one era / culture to explore in depth or compare / contrast

different cultures.

Compare / contrast the influence of nature on culture and art in two or morecultures

Compare / contrast different cultures view of the afterlife and how it reflects the

attitudes and/or values of those cultures

Compare/contrast gender differences across cultures

What were Romes most important contributions to the humanistic tradition?

How did they differ from the Greeks?

Research the role and significance divination played in ancient cultures

Compare / Contrast some major themes in the sermons of Buddha and Christ

Discuss the relationship of important figures of the 5th and 6th centuries (Zoraster,

Socrates, Pythagoras, and Confucius)

Evaluate the Greek doctrine of ethos; do you think music influences humanconduct? Do certain kinds of music generate distinct kinds of behavior or

feelings? Relate these considerations to current efforts to monitor and censorsome styles of popular music.

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Reaction Papers Description and Topics

Requirements for Reaction papers:

Choose one topic from the list provided for each Reaction Paper (total of two papers).

Papers should be approximately 2-3 pages in length (500 word minimum), double-

spaced, and follow standard college level writing conventions. Papers should be wellorganized; express a clear central idea and purpose; demonstrate an understanding of

subject, occasion, audience, and purpose; use appropriate types of development; and

include basic research techniques including the analysis and evaluation of primary andsecondary sources. Sources must be properly documented in the body of the paper and

cited in a list of references at the end of the paper. References to the text, The HumanisticTradition, should also be included and properly documented. Standard conventions ofacademic English such as proper grammar, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation

must be observed.

Submit Reaction Papers as MS word attachments in e-mailInclude name, title, date, and topic you have addressed.

Topics

Reaction Paper #1 (chapters 1 9) - Choose one (1)

1. Assess the role of tradition in Egyptian culture and history. To what extent didthe traditional order operate to give stability to Egyptian culture?

2. In what ways did the Persian empire preserve the culture of Mesopotamia? Whatunique contributions did they make to the humanistic tradition?

3. Given Platos view of education, what would a good teacher be like?

4. How did the Greeks idealize nature?

5. Is the observance of ritual in itself inferior to inner purity or does the performanceof rites and rituals have its own value in religious practice? Answer as Jesus might

have, as Siddhartha might have, and offer your own views.

6. Discuss the use of allegory in the writings of Augustine. Does allegory functionin a manner similar to symbolism in the visual arts? If so, how so? How do

symbolism and allegory work to convey abstract ideas?

Reaction Paper #2 (Chapters 10-17) - Choose one (1)

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1. Research Muslim attitudes toward women as based on the Koran and as actually

practiced in Muslim countries today. Research women of achievement in Islam.Have women become heads of state in any Islamic countries?

2. How barbaric were the barbarians? Evaluate them on the basis of theirtechnology, traditions, and art. IsBeowulfmore barbaric than the Song ofRoland?

3. Give some examples of the medieval synthesis in specific works discussed in

Chapter 13, explaining how each constitutes a synthesis.

4. In your view, how does the Western student benefit from learning about the

cultural life of India, China, and Japan?

5. Why is Machiavelli often called the first political realist? Do nations and their

rulers today operate in the manner described by Machiavelli?

6. Research the symbolism of Botticellis Venus inBirth of Venus. Is there generalagreement on the meaning of the painting?

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Day Topic Assignments

Day 1: 1/16 Introduction to classand syllabus

discussion

Prehistory

Read pp. 2-15 focus on 14-15 readings.

Day 2: 1/18 Review

Chapter 1:

Mesopotamia

Read pp. 16-41; focus on

Readings in the chapter 1.1-

1.3

Day 3: 1/23 Review

Mesopotamiacontinued

Readings in the chapter

1.4a-eJournal #1 due

Day 4: 1/25 Review

Ch2:Africa

Read pp 44-62

Day 5: 1/30 Review

Africa Chapter 3: India

Readings in chapter 2; 2.1-

2.2Readings pp. 63-67

Journal #2 due

Day 6: 2/1 Chapter 4: China and

the Americas

Read pp 67-75

Day 7:2/6 Review

Quiz 1

Read pp. 76-8

Review chps. 1-3 for quizJournal #3 due

Day 8: 2/8 Greece Read pp. 90-111

Day 9: 2/13 Classical Style Read pp. 113-136

Journal #4 due

Day 10: 2/15 Rome Read pp. 137-155Day 11: 2/20 Quiz 2

China

Read pp 155-180Journal #5 due

Day 12: 2/22 EXAM 1 Study Book One

Day 13: 2/27 Christianity and

Buddhism

Symbolism and the

arts

Read Book 2: pp.2-15 &

pp.16-22;

Journal #6 due

Day 14: 2/29 Symbolism and the

arts

Islam

Read pp. 21-42

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Day 15: 3/5 Islam Read pp. 44-78

Reaction paper 1 due

No journal due this week

Day 16: 3/7 Review

Quiz 3

Medieval Life

Read pp. 78-93

Day 17: 3/12 Medieval Life

Christianity and the

Medieval Mind

Read pp 94-110

Journal #7 due

Day 18: 3/14

NOTESpring Break

(3/19 & 3/21)

Christianity and theMedieval Mind

Medieval Synthesis inArt

Quiz 4

Read pp. 110-143

Day 19: 3/26 Review

Fourteenth Century

Transition

Review Book 2

Read Book 3: pp.1-19

Journal #8 due

Day 20: 3/28 EXAM 2 Review Book 2

Day 21: 4/2 Classical Humanism

in the Renaissance

Read Book 3, pp. 20-41

Journal #9 due

Day 22: 4/4 Renaissance Artists Read pp.42-60

Day 23: 4/9 Renaissance Artists

Quiz 5

Cross-CulturalEncounters

Read pp.60-94Journal #10 due

Day24: 4/11 Cross-Cultural

Encounters

Read pp. 94-115

Day25: 4/16 Protest and Reform Read pp. 116-131

Journal #11 due

Day 26: 4/18 Protest and Reform

Review

Quiz 6

Read pp. 131-148

Day 27: 4/23 Review Review & Reaction Paper

2 due

No journal dueDay28: 4/25 Review

Exam 3

Review everything! (at

least the first half)

Day 29: 4/30 Group Presentation Group Project due

Day 30: 5/2 Group Presentation

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