Instructor: Dr. Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Office: J266 /
Voice: 951.343.4288 / Fax: 951.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu
Honors Seminar II
Reality: Love, Life, Heaven &
Hell
Hon 150 (Main Campus)
Mondays,
California Baptist University
Spring Semester, 2008
This seminar is the second in a series of eight CBU Honors
Program seminars that will investigate ideas systematically, progressively and
in interdisciplinary fashion. All eight
seminars of any single cycle will be thematically linked, so that students will
have the opportunity for intensive, focused study from historical,
philosophical, religious, sociological, political, literary, economic and
scientific/technological perspectives.
The guiding
theme for our cycle, and so for this seminar, is “reality.” By the end of the
semester, students should grasp the fundamental associations of the term
“reality” across the academic disciplines; understand the development and use
of categories of thought generated by the theme of reality; and be able to
demonstrate how to identify and analyze the presence or absence of reality
discourse in primary and secondary academic materials and literary works.
As developing scholars in the CBU Honors Program, students
will
·
learn how academic disciplines organize around
key generative ideas;
·
begin and develop personal academic journaling;
·
appreciate the broad impact of reality across
the disciplines;
·
learn what academic research and research
writing requires; and
·
become sensitive to
diverse disciplinary perspectives.
More
specifically with regard to this seminar on love, life, heaven and hell,
students will be introduced to and begin investigating foundational dimensions
of reality that link various literatures with key elements of our
humanity/being. Particular focus will be given selected terms such as love,
life/death, and associated expressions for journeys to heaven and hell.
Required Texts
In addition,
there is one strongly recommended text, for students to purchase:
Website pages for online viewing and
hardcopy handouts may be referenced throughout the term, contents of which all
students also will be responsible.
Class
Readings & Discussion Schedule
|
Week #1 |
Introduction to course, requirements and
expectations |
|
Week #2 |
MLK
Remembrance |
|
Week #3 |
Discussion of Plato: 55-177 (Bloom’s
Commentary) |
|
Week #4 |
Discussion of Augustine: 3-89 (Books I – V) |
|
Week #5 |
Discussion of Augustine: 90-110 (Book VI) &
133-178 (Books VIII – IX) |
|
Week #6 |
Discussion of Dante: 16-95 (Inferno, Cantos
I – XI) |
|
Week #7 |
Discussion of Dante: 96-216 (Inferno, Cantos
XII – XXVII) |
|
Week #8 |
Discussion of Dante: 286-310 & 519-581 |
|
Week # 9 |
Discussion of Dante: 596-637; 713-730;
& 869-895 |
|
Week #10-11 |
Spring
& Easter Break |
|
Week #12 |
Discussion of Camus:
3-164 |
Week #13 |
Discussion of Camus:
167-308 |
|
Week #14 |
Discussion of Kreeft:
13-114 |
|
Week #15 |
Review Session |
|
Week #16 |
Final
Exam |
Assessment & Grading Scale
|
Final Exam = 50% |
90 - 100 = A
range (90-94 = A-) |
|
Individual Presentations
= 20% (2 x 10% each) |
80 - 89 = B
range (80-83 = B- /
87-89 = B+) |
|
Journal
submissions = 20%
(10 x 2% each) |
70 - 79 = C
range (70-73 = C- /
77-79 = C+) |
|
Discussion/Participation in Class = 10% |
60 - 69 = D
range (60-63 = D- /
67-69 = D+) |
|
|
0 - 59 = F |
Individual Presentations
In consultation
with the instructor, students are to select a topic or theme related to one of
our evening’s readings for development into an individual presentation. The aim
is to help the instructor present key concepts from the selected week’s
readings to the seminar group, in order to aid group comprehension and
discussion. Each student will be responsible to present during two (2) separate
seminar sessions.
Final Examination
A final examination will be given on the date
noted in the syllabus. The exam is comprehensive, covering all materials and
discussions assigned during the term.
Specific
guidance as to length and specific requirements will be proffered before the
test date. Format generally will emphasize short answer and essay questions, requiring
application of generalizable concepts and principles
drawn from the key readings and discussions covered in/arising from class. The
exam is open books/open notes.
Journal
Submissions
Students
should begin compiling an electronic journal related to this class. This means
that one should be journaling (that is, preparing substantive written entries
in some digital format that can be transmitted to the instructor via email)
each designated week, irrespective of whether the student actually attended
that week’s session.
A
substantive entry is ~250 words (minimum, lengthier entries are welcome)
summarizing and reacting to some key points from a particular week’s readings
and class discussions, perhaps relating to some real world case or event, some
recently read piece of academic literature, or simply related ideas provoked by
life. These entries can form a series of reflections, so linking entries along
the way one to another like an intellectual diary, or can be independent
musings week-by-week.
To be considered timely, any entry should be
received in the instructor’s email inbox (dskubik@calbaptist.edu) either as
plain text within the body of the email or as a Word attachment) no earlier than Monday at 9:00pm (end of
class) and no later than 11:59pm of
the subsequent Sunday of each class session for which credit is sought. Thus,
for example, the first journal entry due for Week 3—when we meet on Monday, January
28th—is due no earlier than the end of that class period and no later than 11:59pm,
Sunday, Feb 3rd). Entries for any week that are received before the class
actually ends or after that Sunday deadline will be accepted for reading as
part of the overall journaling project, but will not be marked and counted
towards your final course grade.
Discussion/Participation
Although speaking in class, publicly putting and defending a position, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others' experiences and insights within the context of our discussions. In short, you are encouraged to demonstrate your internalization of our material for application in the real world. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching “right” conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in class.
To give direct
incentive to so engage, 10% of your mark for the course will be comprised of
our assessment of your classroom participation
during the semester.
CBU Statement on Academic Dishonesty
Faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) have
been asked to include the following statement in all our syllabi. Do speak with
your instructor if at any time you have questions or concerns about this
statement and its meaning for or application in your classes.
Academic
dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, copying, and other forms) will be reported to
the Dean of Students. Judicial sanctions for offense [sic] are handled on a
case-by-case basis depending on the seriousness of the violation, prior
violations and other factors. Judicial sanctions may include, but are not
limited to, loss of a letter grade or failure in the course in which the
offense occurred, suspension, and/or dismissal from the University. A detailed
discussion of academic dishonesty is located in the Student Handbook.
[Source:
2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog, at p.80]
Caveat
This syllabus is
composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, assignments and discussions
which will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the
right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall
enterprise of the seminar. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance
as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have
been made.