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 VIII
Reality: Capstone
Hon 450 (Main Campus)
Wednesdays (tba)
California Baptist University
Spring Semester, 2009
This seminar is the final course 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 capstone seminar, students will compose and share their major writing projects with the instructor and each other as the works develop during the term.
Required Texts: Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th
edition (
Class Readings & Discussion Schedule
|
Week #1 |
Introduction to course, requirements and
expectations |
|
Week #2 (Jan 14 ) |
no class meeting |
|
Week #3 |
Bibliographies (standard, working, annotated,
selected) |
|
Week #4 |
Introductions & Conclusions (how’s,
why’s, and wherefore’s) |
|
Week #5 (Feb 4) |
First set of presentations by each student |
|
Week #6 (Feb 11) |
no class meeting |
|
Week #7 (Feb 18) |
no
class meeting |
|
Week #8 (Feb 25) |
Second set of presentations |
|
Week # 9 (Mar 4) |
no class meeting |
|
Week #10 (Mar 11) |
Third set of presentations |
|
Week #11 |
Spring
Break |
Week #12 (Mar 25) |
Fourth set of presentations |
|
Week #13 (Apr 1) |
no class meeting |
|
Week #14 (Apr 8) |
Fifth set of presentations |
|
Week #15 (Apr 15) |
no
class meeting |
|
Week #16 |
Concluding Class Session (location: tba) |
Assessment & Grading Scale
|
Presentations = 15% (5 x 3% each) |
90 - 100 = A range (90-94 = A-) |
|
Discussion/Participation in Class = 10% |
80 - 89 = B range (80-83 = B- / 87-89 = B+) |
|
Final Capstone Submission = 75% |
70 - 79 = C range (70-73 = C- / 77-79 = C+) |
|
|
60 - 69 = D range (60-63 = D- / 67-69 = D+) |
|
|
0 – 59 = F |
Individual Presentations
Students should be prepared to share some portion of his/her project work on the five designated evenings, whether in written or outline form, detailing current progress on themes or topics related to the individual capstone project, along with questions or concerns outstanding that are yet to be covered and on which specific feedback, advice or direction is sought.
Final Capstone Submission
Per the demands of one’s major discipline(s),
the student should submit a final version of the project for marking, both for
this course and, where appropriate, for completion of the capstone work in the
student’s major field(s). Each student should confirm with instructor all
separate, additional written portions that must comprise final submitted
product.
Discussion/Participation
Each student is expected to help his/her classmates, by listening attentively to presentations made, and offering helpful feedback in the form of specific or general observations, suggestions, criticisms, and questions that arise from each presentation.
To give direct
incentive to so engage, 10% of your mark for the course will be comprised of
the instructor’s and fellow students’ assessments
of your 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 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: 2008-2009 Undergraduate University Catalog,
at p.51
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.