Instructor: Dr. Daniel Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Voice: 909.343.4288 / Fax: 909.343.4437
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

 

 

Humanities I

 

HUM 213 / Fall 2002

Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9:30-10:50am

Wallace Lecture Theatre

 

 

 

Course Description & Purpose     [I, M, W]

 

Students explore the development and evolution of selected western (e.g. Greek and Roman) and non-western (e.g. Indian and Chinese) cultures spanning the eras from ancient civilization through the modern age. The focus of the first humanities section (HUM 213) covers ancient to the European Renaissance periods; the second humanities section (HUM 223) takes up the study from the Middle Ages and proceeds into the modern period. Students are led critically to reflect upon the contributions of these various cultural epochs and to reconsider current cultural and social issues in light of these insights. These courses focus upon developing a cohesive understanding of human history and potential, and so students are guided to engage in the interdisciplinary study of history, literature, art, music, and philosophy of these representative periods. Both humanities sections emphasize writing skills, and can be used to satisfy University general education requirements for multicultural and writing emphases, as well as interdisciplinary study.

 

 

Course Objectives

 

In light of the course description and purpose, the University’s educational goals and student outcome objectives, the course is structured so that by the end of the course the successful student should be able to

  1. Identify major historical events and discuss their significance;


  2. Identify major pieces of art, music, and literature and discuss their significance as representative examples of key movements and trends of a given period;


  3. Identify and critically evaluate major contributors to cultural development of selected western and non-western civilizations;


  4. Analyze and evaluate cultures today in light of cultures of the past;


  5. Discuss culture and civilization in an integrated manner recognizing the interconnectedness of one discipline with others;


  6. Differentiate between the traditions of a civilization that endure and influence how a people define themselves, and temporary or “pop” ways of life that leave no lasting mark;


  7. Develop intellectual and cultural stability, so as to be able to distinguish and appreciate one tradition or civilization--and one’s place in it--from that of another;


  8. Demonstrate an appreciation of the role of culture in our society through active participation in cultural events; and


  9. Demonstrate an understanding that the study of humanities is the study of what it means to be human in all our creative capacities around the world and across the ages.

 

 

Course Texts and Resources

 

Text:     Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities, Vol. I (with Cd-rom)

            J.R. Benton & R. DiYanni (revised 1st edition, 2002)

 

Students will be expected to follow the course schedule of readings, cd-rom and web usage, throughout the term as laid out, below. If you do not have access to a computer at home, or permission to use a workplace computer for personal study, the computer labs in the Library and on the second and third floors of the James building are periodically open for general use. Check each location for its schedule of open use periods.

 

 

 

Class Readings & Discussion Schedule

 

Weeks 1 & 2

   (Aug 29,

    Sep 3, 5)

Introduction to course: scope, methods, procedures, expectations

Introduction to publisher’s textbook website: http://cwx.prenhall.com/benton/

Introduction to humanities

B&Y, ch. 1: Dawn of Culture

Week 3

(Sep 10, 12)

B&Y, ch. 2: Ancient Egypt

No face-to-face this week; meet and work on the computer & Web only

Week 4

(Sep 17, 19)

B&Y, ch. 3: Aegean Culture and the Rise of Ancient Greece

On CD-Rom: Visual Arts (4 segments) + PDF files (2 Art files)

First essay due via email to me no later than 12:00noon, Thursday, 19th, covering themes from weeks 2 & 3

No face-to-face this week; meet and work on the computer & Web only

Week 5

(Sep 24, 26)

B&Y, ch. 4: Classical and Hellenistic Greece

On CD-Rom: Architecture (Classical segment) + PDF file (1 Architecture file)

Week 6

(Oct 1, 3)

B&Y, ch. 4: Classical and Hellenistic Greece (conclude discussion)

Second essay moved to next week

Week 7

(Oct 8, 10)

B&Y, ch. 5: The Roman World

Second essay due at the beginning of class on Thursday, 10th, covering themes from weeks 4 & 5

Week 8

(Oct 15, 17)

B&Y, ch. 5: The Roman World (conclude discussion)

And Mid-Term Review

Week 9

(Oct 22, 24)

Mid-Term Examination

(Date TBD by class)

Week 10

(Oct 29, 31)

B&Y, ch. 6: Judaism and the Rise of Christianity

Week 11

(Nov 5, 7)

B&Y, ch. 7: Byzantine and Islamic Civilizations

Week 12

(Nov 12, 14)

B&Y, ch. 8: Indian Civilization

Third essay due at the beginning of class on Thursday, 14th, covering themes from weeks 10 & 11

Week 13

(Nov 19, 21)

B&Y, ch. 9: Early Chinese and Japanese Civilizations

Week 14

(Nov 26)

B&Y, ch. 11: The Early Middle Ages and the Romanesque
On CD-Rom: Architecture (Romanesque & Gothic segment)

Week 15

(Dec 3, 5)

B&Y, ch. 11: The Early Middle Ages and the Romanesque (conclude discussion)

On CD-Rom: Architecture (Romanesque & Gothic segment)

Fourth essay due at the beginning of class on Thursday, 5th, covering themes from weeks 12 & 13

Week 16

(Dec 10)

Review for final examination

Final Exam

(Dec 12)

Final Examination per schedule in University catalog
Thursday, December 12, 11:00am – 1:00pm

 

 

 

 

Assessment & Grading Scale

 

Essays = 40% (4 x 10%/each)

90 - 100 = A range (90-94 = A-)

Final Examination = 30%

80 - 89 = B range (80-83 = B- / 87-89 = B+)

Extra Credit:
Cultural Events (Optional) = 5%
Online Quizzes (Optional) = 5%

70 - 79 = C range (70-73 = C- / 77-79 = C+)

60 - 69 = D range (60-63 = D- / 67-69 = D+)

Midterm Examination = 20%

0 - 59 = F

Participation in Class/via Email = 10%

Attendance: There are 24 face-to-face class sessions scheduled. You are to earn 18 points from daily quizzes in order to pass the course.

 

 

Essays

 

There are four (4) essay assignments during the term (due on Thursdays of weeks 4, 7, 12, and 15). Each essay will be drawn from a list of topics devised by the instructor that covers the themes investigated during the preceding two-week period (e.g. the essay due during week 6 will cover themes investigated during weeks 4 and 5). Each essay is worth 10% of your final grade for the course, and should run ~750 words in length: typewritten or computer-generated (handwritten work will not be accepted for marking), standard margins and font size.

 

 

Cultural Events (extra credit)

 

You are strongly encouraged to attend at least one cultural event during the term (e.g. art or history museum exhibitions and operatic performances). Extra credit (up to 5% towards your final grade) will be given for your attending and writing an essay analyzing the event. A list of acceptable events and essay criteria will be provided. The essay is due no later than 10 calendar days after the attended event. An event must be completed and its essay submitted for marking no later than Dec. 10th for credit to be awarded for the class.

 

 

Online Quizzes (extra credit)

 

You are likewise strongly encouraged to avail yourself of the online quizzes provided through the publisher’s website. Extra credit (up to 5% towards your final grade) will be given for your successfully completing quizzes with a score of 85% or better: 1% for each quiz from five (5) different chapters, each chapter quiz being taken and received by my email account no later than Friday midnight of the week that chapter is under discussion. Too, note that here are three (3) kinds of quizzes provided for each chapter of our text: a multiple choice quiz; timeline quiz; and a map quiz. You can take any one (1) kind of quiz no more than twice for extra credit. So, to earn all five (5) extra credit points, here, you must take five (5) quizzes for five (5) different chapters with two (2) of one kind of quiz, two (2) of a second kind, and one (1) of the third kind.

 

 

Attendance & Participation

 

You are expected to attend every face-to-face class session and to participate on the Web as required, having prepared (by completing the readings, etc) ahead of time and so being ready substantively to contribute to our discussions. (You can expect a daily quiz to earn attendance points, given at the beginning of each class. They won't be difficult, but will require preparation on your part.) 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 our class discussions. In short, you are encouraged to demonstrate your internalization of our readings and your search for practical wisdom with regard to our course topics. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching “right” conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in marshalling evidence and forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in class. To give incentive to this end, 10% of your final grade will be calculated based upon your attendance and participation throughout the term: 5% will be assessed for in-class participation; 5% will be assessed for Web-based participation during weeks 3 and 4, when we are not meeting face-to-face.

 

You are strongly encouraged to raise questions in class and via email on any readings and topics we cover. To give greater incentive to this, participation credit will also be given for email contributions that take the following form: at least 2 hours before our first class session each week, you are to send me an email note comprising a couple of sentences about our latest readings’ “muddiest point.” That is, tell me briefly what you understand least well with regard to that week’s readings. I will collect them, and if possible address them either in class or post them on the web for class response. In either case, I will keep names confidential, so no one in particular will be identified with any particular matter unless explicit permission is given.

 

 

 

Midterm Examination

 

There will be a midterm examination, as noted in our schedule at the midpoint of the term. It will cover all material assigned and discussed from the beginning of the course to date, and is worth 20% of your final grade. Details about format will be provided at our review session before the examination is given.

 

 

Final Examination

 

There will be a final examination, as noted in our schedule per the University catalog. It will cover all materials assigned and discussed from the midterm examination period to date, and is worth 30% of your final grade. Details about format will be provided at our review session before the examination is given.

 

 

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 deemed 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.

 

 

Late Submissions/Make-Ups

 

Late submission of essays will be accepted only upon good evidence of inability to complete the assignment when due (e.g. a written doctor’s note for illness, or supervisor’s note for out-of-town business trip). Late submissions are subject to a 10% penalty.

 

Make-up of the Midterm examination will be arranged only upon good evidence of inability to attend the examination period (e.g. a written doctor’s note for illness, or supervisor’s note for out-of-town business trip). Late examinations are subject to a 10% penalty and payment of a fee to the Academic Resources Center to proctor the examination.

 

Final Exams cannot be made-up. Take the final exam when scheduled.