GREAT IDEAS IN WESTERN CULTURE I: SYLLABUS
This Web page was created for the students of LS 195, sections 26 and
30
Class Information
Section 26 meets Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-10:45 in New Snell rm. 112
Section 30 meets Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-12:15 in New Snell, rm
112.
Dr. Melville's office is in room 278 in New Snell. My office phone
is 268-3966. Office hours are: Tuesday/ Thursday 8:00-9:30; and Monday/
Wednesday 10:00-11:30. I should be in my office most days so feel free
to drop by outside office hours. If you would like to ask a question
or make an appointment to see me, please contact me via e-mail here: Dr.Melville.
Required texts:
You are required to buy the following books and bring the appropriate text
with you to class.
Be sure your buy the correct edition of each book.
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Foster, B. (trans.) The Epic of Gilgamesh (Norton, 2001)
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Homer, The Odyssey (trans. R. Fagles. Penguin, 1996))
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Heaney, S. (trans.) Beowulf (Norton, 2001)
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Shakespeare, Macbeth (Bedford/ St. Martins, 1999.)
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Cleary, T. (trans.) The Code of the Samurai (Tuttle, 1999)
Required work
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One in-class writing assignments (100 points each)
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Weekly short writing assignments (10 points each)
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Class participation and preparation (50 points)
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Three papers (100 points each)
Grading.Your final grade will depend on the percentage of points
you have received out of the total number of points possible. Grading is
as follows: 92 and above is an A; 82-86 is a B; 87-91 is a B+; 72-76 is
a C; 76-81 is a C+; 62-66 is a D; 67-71 is a D+. F is 0-61
Please note: You may not make-up a missed exam or quiz, or turn in
an assignment late except under special circumstances. Don't expect
to be allowed to make up missed work. Late work will be strongly penalized.
All due dates are available in advance on the web page -- the sooner you
come to me with a scheduling problem, the more likely it is that you can
be accomodated. I encourage you to come see me about writing papers and
to hand in rough drafts of papers. You may only rewrite the FIRST paper
of the semester. Class time is primarily devoted to discussion. If you
don't talk in class, you will not do well. If you are not prepared for
class, you will get a zero for the class. Attendance is required.
Attending class means being prepared and participating -- taking up space
is not attending class. If you fall asleep, daydream, hide under your hat,
or otherwise show yourself to be absent, you will be counted absent. More
than 3 unexcused absences will seriously affect your grade.
Study Habits
In order to do well in this class, you will need to work regularly (at
least 5 days a week) and plan on spending a fair amount of time a week
on the course outside of class time. Figure out where this is going to
come from in your schedule. Read assigned material a couple of times: first,
skim it to get the general idea of what the topics and main points are,
then go through again in more detail. Read after you have checked the assignment/study
questions on our web page. Read with a pencil. Take notes. Think about
what you will say in class. Think about questions others may have. Think
about your responses to these questions. For most people it is probably
best to do the reading on your own, and somewhere quiet with few distractions.
You will often find it much easier to refine your thinking on various topics
by talking to other people in the class. Most people are nervous about
talking in class, and asking questions. Practice.
Objectives
The class is designed to help you develop your skills in critical thinking,
critical reading and communication skills (oral and written) -- each of
which will be necessary to your success in life, regardless of what career
you choose. The books I have chosen for first semester are designed to
introduce you to a variety of cultures and their notions of "right action"
vs. "wrong action", order vs. chaos, and the place of the individual in
society. We will also endevor to see our own society in relation these
and ourselves in relation to our society.
The class web site and assignments
All assignments will be posted on the web. I will not pass out assignments
in class. You are expected to refer to our web page on a daily basis, as
I will be updating it constantly. This will save a lot of paper. I encourage
you to e-mail me with questions and comments. I encourage you to e-mail
each other. All written assignments are to be typed/computer generated.
I will not accept hand-written work.You may NOT e-mail me your written
work!
Important dates:
September 11, Paper due
October 2, NO CLASS OCTOBER BREAK
October 11, Exam
November 6, Paper due
November 22, NO CLASS THANKSGIVING RECESS
December 11, FINAL PAPER DUE
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LS195 page