Instructor: Dr. Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Office: J266 / MW 2:30-5pm; TR 11am-1:30pm
Voice: 951.343.4288 / Fax: 951.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

 


Honors Seminar VIII
Capstone

Hon 450 (Main Campus)
Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30PM

California Baptist University
Spring Semester, 2012

 

This seminar is the final course in a series of eight CBU Honors Program seminars that have investigated ideas systematically, progressively and in interdisciplinary fashion.  All eight seminars of any single cycle aim to 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.

 

By the end of this semester, students should grasp the fundamental linkages across the academic disciplines within the range of Honors seminars taken; understand the development and use of categories of thought generated; and be able to demonstrate how to identify and analyze the presence or absence of well-grounded 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 in draft form their major writing projects that grow out of their program majors and Honors studies, 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 (University of Chicago Press, 2007)

 

Recommended Texts:            Robert Perrin, Pocket Guide to APA Style 4th edition (Wadsworth, 2011); or Diana Hacker, Pocket Style Manual 5th edition with 2009 MLA Update (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009)

 

 

Class Readings & Discussion Schedule

  Week #1
  (Jan 10)

  Introduction to course, requirements and expectations
  Structure of major writing projects; writing manuals as guides

  Week #2
  (Jan 17) 

  Bibliographies (standard, working, annotated, selected)
  General discussion of questions/concerns on projects

  Week #3 
  (Jan 24)

  no class meeting 

  Week #4
  (Jan 31)

  First set of presentations by group 1  (45 min. max per presentation)

  Week #5
  (Feb 7)

  First set of presentations by group 2  (45 min. max per presentation)

  Week #6
  (Feb 14) 

  Introductions & Conclusions (how’s, why’s, and wherefore’s)
  General discussion of questions/concerns on projects

  Week #7
  (Feb 21)

  no class meeting

  Week #8
  (Feb 28) 

  Midterms Week: no class meeting

  Week # 9
  (Mar 6)

  Second set of presentations by both groups 1 & 2
  (30 min. max per presentation)

  Week #10
  (Mar 13)

  Spring Break: no class meeting

  Week #11
  (Mar 20)

  no class meeting


  Week #12
  (Mar 27)

  Third set of presentations by group 1  (45 min. max per presentation)

  Week #13
  (Apr 3)

  Third set of presentations by group 2  (45 min. max per presentation)

  Week #14
  (Apr 10)

  no class meeting

  Week #15
  (Apr 17)

  no class meeting

  Week #16
  (Apr 24)

  Fourth & Final Presentations by all  (30 min. max per presentation)
  Final corrections & completed submissions due to instructor by end of class

  Finals Week
  (May 1)

  Meeting mandated by University: location tbd

 

Assessment & Grading Scale

  Presentations = 20% (4 x 5% 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 = 70%

  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 during each of the four 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: 2010-2011 Undergraduate University Catalog, at p.53

 

 

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.