Instructor: Dr. Daniel Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Voice: 951.343.4288 / Fax: 951.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu
Honors Seminar I
Hon
100 (Main Campus)
Wed, 2:30 - 5:30pm, MHAL 125
California Baptist University
Fall Semester, 2004
This seminar is the first 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. This seminar and all seminars in the Honors Program cycle are open only to students accepted into the Honors Program.
The guiding theme for this initial cycle, and so for this first seminar, is “liberty.” By the end of the semester, students should grasp the fundamental associations of the term “liberty” across the academic disciplines; understand the development and use of categories of thought generated by the theme of liberty; and be able to demonstrate how to identify and analyze the presence or absence of liberty 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 borad impact of liberty across the disciplines;
· learn what academic research and research writing requires; and
· become sensitive to diverse disciplinary perspectives.
Required Texts
Isaiah Berlin, Liberty (Henry Hardy, ed.) (Oxford University Press, 1969/2002) {B}
Chaim Potok, The Chosen (Ballantine,
1967/1982) {P}
Copies are available through the CBU Bookstore, and are also available through Internet shops such as Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
Web pages and
hardcopy handouts will likewise be referenced throughout the term, contents of
which you also will be responsible.
Class Readings & Discussion Schedule
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Week #1 |
Introduction to Honors Program: scope, methods, procedures, expectations |
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Week #2 |
Discussion of Hardy’s opening essay, The Editor’s Tale, in B: ix-xxxiv |
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Week #3 |
Web and email discussions with
instructor on Introduction in B: 3-54 |
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Week #4 |
Political Ideas in the 20th Century, in B: 55-93 |
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Week #5 |
Historical Inevitability, in B: 94-165 |
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Week #6 |
Two Concepts of Liberty, in B: 166-217 / Second essay due at the beginning of class: “The Meaning of Freedom and Determinism” |
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Week #7 |
John Stuart Mill and the Ends of Life, in B: 218-251 |
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Week #8 |
From Hope and Fear Set Free, in B: 252-279 |
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Week #9 |
Liberty and The Birth of Greek Individualism, in B: 283-321 |
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Weeks #10 |
The Chosen, P: ch. 1-8 (3-170 in Ballantine edition) / Third essay due at the beginning of class: “The Meaning of Two Concepts of Liberty” |
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Week #11 |
Web and email discussions: continue
discussion of P |
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Week # 12 |
Thanksgiving Break |
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Week #13 |
The Chosen, P: ch. 9-18 (171-291 in Ballantine edition) |
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Week #14 |
Open discussion of research paper topics |
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Final Exam |
There is no final exam, but your individual research papers are due no later than midnight, Wednesday, Dec 15, through Turnitin |
Caveat
This syllabus is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, assignments and discussions that will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as necessary for the overall enterprise of the course. 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.
Assessment & Grading Scale
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Journal Entries = 25% |
90 - 100 = A range (90-94 = A-) |
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Short Essays = 30% (3 @ 10% each) |
80 - 89 = B range (80-83 = B- / 87-89 = B+) |
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Participation on Web = 15% |
70 - 79 = C range (70-73 = C- / 77-79 = C+) |
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Research Paper = 30% |
60 - 69 = D range (60-63 = D- / 67-69 = D+) |
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Participation in seminar = expected |
0 - 59 = F |
Journaling Project
Students should begin compiling an electronic journal related to this class. This means that one should be journaling (that is, preparing written entries in some digital format that can be transmitted to the instructor via email) for each week—beginning with Week 2 and concluding Week 13, inclusive—irrespective of whether the student actually attended that week’s session. A minimum of eight (8) substantive entries timely-submitted are required for a student to be eligible for a passing mark.
A substantive entry is ~150 words (minimum, lengthier entries are welcome) summarizing some key points from a particular week’s readings and class discussions, perhaps relating to some real world circumstance or event, some recently read piece of literature in another class, or simply ideas provoked. 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.
To be considered timely, any entry should be sent to the instructor’s email account (dskubik@calbaptist.edu either as plain text within the body of the email or as a Word attachment) no later than midnight on the Sunday after each seminar session for which credit is sought. Thus, for example, a journal entry for Week 2—when we meet on Wednesday, September 15th—is due no earlier than the class meeting itself and no later than midnight (local time) on Sunday, September 19th. Entries for Week 2 that are received before class actually convenes or after that Sunday will be accepted as part of the overall journaling project, but that entry will not be counted towards the minimum number of entries noted above. (Journal entries for the two weeks we are not meeting face-to-face will follow the same submission formula, though we are not holding a formal seminar session, and should be responsive to the readings and online discussions set.)
Short Essays
There will be three (3) short essays due per the syllabus schedule during the semester. Each essay is worth 10%, for a total of 30% towards your final grade. The first essay is a brief (1-2 page) terminological and bibliographical investigation of the term “liberty” and is due at the beginning of class on Sep 15, Week 2. The second essay is a short (3-4 page) terminological and bibliographical analysis of the concepts of “freedom” and “determinism” as captured by Berlin’s thought. This essay is due at the beginning of class on Oct 13, Week 6. The third essay is a short (3-4 page) terminological and bibliographical analysis of the two concepts of “liberty” as captured by Berlin’s thought. This essay is due at the beginning of class on Nov 10, Week 10.
Research Paper
Each student will prepare a research paper, running ~3500 words (~10 pages) in length, following MLA format guidelines. This paper is worth 30% of the final course grade, and is due as an electronic submission no later than midnight, Wednesday, Dec 15 (the day set for our final exam). The specific topic for the paper should be chosen in consultation with the instructor. An outline of your research paper is due to me via email no later than midnight, Nov 17, Week 11. We will also take time to discuss each of your papers as they are being drafted/finalized on Dec 8, Week 14. Papers will then be submitted through Turnitin.com for my review and marking. [The Turnitin Account ID for this course is 1164099 and the join password is honorsfa04. Students are strongly encouraged to take the Turnitin tutorial before creating an account and submitting a paper for this class. Go to http://www.turnitin.com for details.]
Participation on Web
During the two weeks we will not be meeting face-to-face, you are expected to read and discuss the assigned readings online. We will use the Jenzabar system if it is operational, or a designated alternative site as necessary. Active web participation will constitute 15% of your final grade: 5% for each week’s readings while we are not meeting face-to-face, and an additional 5% for online contributions during the remainder of the semester. “Active” means reading others’ contributions and submitting your own thoughts and replies at least 3 times during each of the nominated weeks, and 3 additional times during the other periods of the term.
Make-Ups
Short Essays – essays can be turned in up to one week late, but they can earn no more than half-credit maximum (or 5% towards the final grade).
Research Paper –papers will be accepted through the Turnitin service only until midnight, Wednesday, Dec 15. Late papers cannot be submitted for credit.