University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Syllabi Course Syllabi Summer 6-1-2003 LS 152L.01: Introduction to the Humanities Daniel T. Spencer University of Montana, daniel.spencer@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Spencer, Daniel T., "LS 152L.01: Introduction to the Humanities" (2003). Syllabi. 6868. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/6868 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Course Syllabi at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMANITIES Liberal Studies 152, Summer, 2003 MTWRF 12:30­2:00 pm Dr. Dan Spencer JRH102, Tel. 243­6111 Office Hours: 2­3 pm Mon­Thur or by appointment e­mail: dspencer@selway.umt.edu COURSE STRUCTURE AND OBJECTIVES This course has several goals. Most broadly it is designed to introduce the student to the study of the humanities as an important component of a liberal arts education through a focus on selective texts from the Medieval to the Modem periods that have shaped Western civilization. We will explore the formation and transformation of some western world views and themes, and reflect on how they have shaped and influenced society and culture today. The emphases of the course are engaging in close readings of the primary texts, discussing and writing about those texts. "A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say. A classic is something that tends to relegate the concerns of the moment to the status of background noise, but at the same time this background noise is something we cannot do without (Conversely) A classic is something that persists as a background noise even when the most incompatible momentary concerns are in control of the situation." • ltalo Calvino "Classics are certain texts, events, images, rituals, symbols and persons (in which we acknowledge) a disclosure of a reality we cannot but name truth... some disclosures of reality in a moment of 'recognition' which surprises, provokes, challenges, shocks, and eventually transforms us; an experience that upsets conventional opinions and expands the sense of the possible; indeed a realized experience of that which is essential, that which endures ­ the presence of classics in every culture is undeniable. Their memory haunts us. Their actual effects in our lives endure and await ever new appropriations, constantly new interpretations." • David Tracy REQUIRED TEXTS Dante, The Portable Dante (Penguin: Musa trans.) More, Utopia (Penguin) Descartes, Discourse on Method (Library of Liberal Arts) Shakespeare, The Tempest (Penguin) Shelley, Frankestein (Bantam Classic) Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor (Hackett Press) Freud, Civilization and its Discontents (Norton, The Standard Edition) Silko, Ceremony Fae Pac of readings REQUIREMENTS • Regular class attendance and participation that demonstrates a grasp of the reading assignments •Regular short written responses to the readings • Essay on a theme from the texts •Written final exam ­ 1 - ., ASSIGNMENTS AND CLASSES Cla~s Assigned Reading Day Session Week One: 6/30 M 1 Introduction: Laying out themes and structure of the course Introduction to the Medieval World of Europe 7/1 T 2 Dante's Divine Comedy: Inferno Cantos I­V, X­XI, XIII­XVI 7/2 W 3 Dante's Divine Comedy: Inferno Cantos XVIII­XIV, XXI­XXII, XXVI­XXVIII, XXXII, XXXIV 7/3 R 4 Dante's Divine Comedy: Purgatorio and Paradiso Purgatorio Cantos I­II, IX­X, XXVII, XXX­XXXIII Paradiso Cantos I, XXIX­XXXIII First Response Paper due 7/4 NO CLASS: F 4TH OF JULY Week Two: 7/7 M5 Christine de Pisan: Selections from "The Book of the City of Ladies Pico: "Oration on the Dignity of Man" FP#l FP#2 7/8 T Erasmus: Selections from "The Praise of Folly" Martin Luther: "The Freedom of a Christian" FP#3 FP#4 6 Second Response Paper due 7/9 w 7 Thomas More: Utopia Book I 7/10 R 8 Thomas More: Utopia Book II 7/11 F Shakespeare: The Tempest 9 Intro, Acts I­II Third Response Paper due Week Three: 7/14 M IO 7115 T 11 Shakespeare: The Tempest Descartes: Discourse on Method Acts III­V Intro and Part One Fourth Response Paper due 7/16 w 7/17 R 13 12 Descartes: Discourse on Method Parts 2­6 (you may skim pp. 7­11, 26­35, 44­45, 48­50) Immanuel Kant: "What is Enlightenment?" Mary Wollstonecraft: "Vindication of the Rights of Women" ­ ? - FP#5 FP#6 ... 7/18 F 14 Mary Shelley: Frankenstein Chapters 1­12 (pp. 1­100) Fifth Response Paper due Hand out Instructions for Major Paper Week Four: 7/21 M 15 Mary Shelley: Frankenstein 7/22 T Romantic Poets: William Wordsworth, and William Blake 7/23 W 17 Karl Marx: Selections from writings 7/24 R 18 Fyodor Dostoevsky: "The Grand Inquisitor" 7/25 F Sigmund Freud: Civili::,ation and Its Discontents 16 19 Chapters 13­24 (pp. 101­206) FP#7 &8 FP#9 1­37 10­52 Major Paper due Week Five: 7/28 M 20 Sigmund Freud: Civilization and Its Discontents 7/29 T 21 Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony 7/30 W 22 Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony 7/31 R 23 Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony and Wrap­up 8/1 F 24 Final Exam 53­112 GRADING POLICY 1. Five Short Response Papers to the Readings: 50% 2. Paper: 25% 3. Final exam: 25% Note Re Papers: Papers are due in class on or before the date listed in the syllabus. Unless you have made a prior agreement with me, I will take off one grade level (A becomes A­) for each class day an assignment is late. Papers with an undue number of errors of punctuation, spelling, or grammar will be returned ungraded for correction. Written work will be evaluated in terms of your depth of critical analysis, thoughtfulness of reflection, clarity of writing, and ability to address issues raised in the text and in class on the topic at hand. Grades given reflect the following criteria of judgment: F: D: C: B: A: Failure to meet minimum requirements Unsatisfactory, but some effort to meet minimum requirements Satisfactory; meet minimum requirements of assignment but not much more Good to Very Good: thoughtful reflection, good analysis, clear writing style Excellent depth of critical analysis, thoughtfulness of reflection, and writing style; demonstrate creativity and mature analytical skills in going beyond the primary requirements of the assignment ­~ - ~· Attendance: Regular attendance and participation in the class is expected. More than two (2) absences will result in losing any benefit of the doubt on your final grade. More than four (4) absences will result in one grade reduction. More than seven (7) absences will result in a failing course grade. Late arrivals in class will count as an absence. (Note: If you have a valid reason for missing several classes, such as illness or other conflicting commitments, you still must speak with the instructor). Academic Dishonesty and Pla!!iarism: All work submitted is expected to be the student's own. Any acts of plagiarism or academic dishonesty will result in automatic failure of the course, and may result in further academic punishment. If you have any doubts about definitions of plagiarism or academic dishonesty, please review the relevant sections of the University Catalog (p. 22). DESCRIPTION OF WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS 1. Five Bi­Weekly Short Response Papers to the Readings: choose one of the assigned readings that week for a short, typed two­three page critical response. After reading the text, write (1) a clear exposition of the reading (i.e., three or four paragraphs that summarize and explain the main points of the reading), (2) two or three paragraphs giving your thoughtful response and discussion of the main issues in the reading. The papers will be graded on a scale of 0 to 20 points. The cumulative score of these responses is a significant element in determining your final grade; they indicate to me the consistency and quality of your participation in the course. 2. Essay: A 5­6 page typed essay in which you consider a theme, key term, or other consideration(s) from the texts we read from the first three weeks of the course Use the text to support a well­constructed argument for the theme which you decide to pursue. We will discuss paper topics in class at least one week prior to the due date of Friday• .July 2Sth (in class). 3. Final Exam: The final will cover material from the entire course and will ask you to integrate your learning from across the semester. Friday. Aui:ust 1. Note: All written assignments are due in class no later than Friday, August 1. There will be no extensions for written work granted beyond this date. P/NP Grade option: A minimum grade average of C­ (70) is required for a P grade in the P/NP Grade option. Incomplete Grade: Please see the criteria that must be met for an Incomplete on p. 21 of the University Catalog. No exceptions will be made for these criteria ­ L1 -