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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover
HON 111-‐0005: Civilizations—Past, Present, and Future I
Preceptor: Robert Glover Preceptorial Time/Location: Office Hours: Tues. 11-‐1, Wed. 3-‐5 or MW 12:10-‐1:00 Colvin 107 by appointment in North Stevens 113B Email: [email protected] General Session: Phone: (207) 581-‐1880 Tu 3:30-‐5:00 Neville 101
Overview: Welcome to Honors 111! This is the first installment in the “Civilizations: Past, Present, and Future” course-‐series in Honors. These four courses (HON 111, 112, 211, and 212) follow a chronological trajectory from earliest recorded human history to the present examining philosophy, history, literature, the arts, as well as the natural, physical, and social sciences.
By incorporating primary sources, small group discussion, and multiple perspectives these courses explore the ways in which civilizations and cultures have been developed and interacted with one another. This course provides you with the
opportunity to read a set of important texts that influence our civilization today as they have done for generations. This will require us to read closely, reflect, and above all, to THINK (both as individuals and as collectively). We will undertake this through discussion, reflection, and writing. I look forward to a fun, engaging, and exciting semester!
This course requires that you attend class twice a week, attend weekly lecture, and participate in online activities facilitated using Blackboard, an asynchronous web-‐based system designed to support instruction and continued interaction outside of the classroom. Learning Objectives: This course has four principal objectives. These objectives are interconnected and interdependent. At the close of this course, you should…
• have a starting point to explore the development of civilizations, cultures, and intellectual achievements though diverse disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.
• have critically engaged in academic discourse through study of primary texts and active engagement with classmates, faculty, and the texts themselves.
• have developed communication skills—specifically in areas of written and oral exposition and analysis.
• have a grounding in the liberal arts as expressed in the University of Maine’s “Human Values and Social Context” General Education requirements.
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover Required Readings: All sections of HON 111 have the same basic reading list. The reading list can be found on the UMaine Honors College website and I will pass out paper copies on the first day of class. Over the course of 4 semesters in Civilizations, you will read more than forty “texts.” While some of these texts are groups of visual images and others are articles or excerpts, most of the texts in this course are books. However, they are not “textbooks”—they are original primary texts. F
Technical Requirements: You will need internet access to take this class. In addition to the lectures and our in-‐class activities, you will be accessing audio and video files in various formats so a fast connection is essential. Any documents or readings on Blackboard will be available in pdf format so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. It is available for free at: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Blackboard: This course makes extensive use of Blackboard—an online portal that provides access to course materials, assignments, discussions, etc. This tool is only available to registered students, the instructor, and administrators. Note that you should see two HON 111 Blackboard sites. One is the “PRIMARY” Blackboard site for all HON 111 students; the other is only for students in this preceptorial. A detailed guide to accessing Blackboard appears at: http://www.umaine.edu/it/software/tutorials/blackboard/ Log onto Blackboard at: https://www.courses.maine.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
Technical Assistance: If you need Blackboard Technical assistance, please contact UMaine IT.
Phone: (207) 581-‐2506 Email: [email protected] or “Help Center” on FirstClass.
Note that I do not have access to your login information and I am not the resource to assist you with Blackboard access issues. You will need to contact IT for help logging into the course and all other technical issues.
Schedule: All reading for the week should be completed by Monday so we can begin to examine the new material. Please note that I post reading questions (available in the “Content” section of the Blackboard site). Consult these during and after your reading. We meet as a preceptorial twice a week. On Monday, we will begin to discuss the new material. Your “general session” will be on Tuesday, in Neville 101. This will consist of a lecture which engages core themes of the material, situates it in its historical and intellectual context, and which pushes you to think critically about the implications of the “texts” for that week. Wednesday, we will finish our discussion and I will spend the last 10-‐15 minutes talking about themes to consider for Wednesday’s new text. Your “reflections” on the previous week’s texts/lectures discussion should be posted to Blackboard no later than Friday at 11:30 pm. (Sounds complicated, but I swear once we get up and running a rhythm develops).
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover GRADING & EVALUATION Grading is a necessary and important component of any college course. It is how I signal to you the adequacy of your academic performance and identify areas where we can work together, in order to help you intellectually grow and develop.
Your grade for the course will be comprised of the following components: • Class Participation 20 % • Weekly “Reflection” Blackboard Posts 25 % • Analytical Paper # 1 15 % • Analytical Paper # 2 20 % • Final Exam 20 %
Class Participation (20%) Within this preceptorial, you should be prepared to engage in discussion and exploration of ideas. While attendance is obviously necessary to participate, it does not by itself constitute participation. Contributing to discussion is essential, as is reflective and respectful listening to your peers, and the creation of space allowing them to participate.
Additionally, in the course of our discussions, it is imperative that you engage respectfully with your fellow students. At times, we will be discussing contentious and controversial questions to which there are no easy answers. It’s important that you understand that everyone comes to the class with different experiences that shape their belief-‐systems. I expect, and will not condone anything short of, an attitude of collegial and scholarly respect.
As far as grading and assessment of participation are concerned, think of it in the following way. At the end of each class, ask yourself these three questions:
1) Did I contribute an original idea or question to today’s discussion? 2) Did I respond to or offer my thoughts on the idea or question of a classmate? 3) Did I make space for others to respond, being careful to not dominate discussion?
If you can answer YES to those three questions, you will get full credit for participation on that day of class. Anyone who wants to go over his or her performance on class participation can come see me during office hours and we can discuss it. In addition, during the Fall Break Week, I will provide you all with “Mid-‐Semester Participation Progress Reports” via email which outline how you are doing in the course thus far in terms of participation. Weekly “Reflection” Blackboard Post (25%) After Wednesday’s class, take some time to reflect the last week’s lecture and discussions. Think broadly and expansively. What did you find most interesting and why? Was there something you felt that we talked about but could have more systematically explored? What connections do you see between this week’s themes and those from earlier in the course? What bearing do the themes discussed this week have on contemporary issues?
Describe/explain your thoughts in a 500-‐word (minimum) post on “Discussion” section of the class Blackboard site. I will post some opening thoughts each week and questions that you might consider thinking about, but you have freedom in these posts to systematically explore whatever themes or ideas you choose, but keep in mind that these reflections are formal pieces of writing visible to your classmates and available for comment and question.
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover The weekly reflections are designed to help you become a better writer. Thus, I expect clear and thoughtful writing that shows engagement with the material and the themes discussed. In grading your responses, I am looking for evidence that you read carefully and paid attention in lecture. I am also looking for evidence of improvement in your writing throughout the semester.
Students will be able to monitor their performance via the Blackboard “Gradebook” feature. If you have any questions about your performance, I’d be happy to meet with you and discuss it. These weekly reflections constitute a significant chunk of your grade, so take them seriously. Write these somewhere other than Blackboard and then “copy and paste” them so that if some tragic glitch should occur, you do not lose your reflection. Reflections should be posted by Friday at 11:30 pm (while the material and the discussions are fresh in your mind).
(2) Analytical Papers (15% & 20% of your final grade, respectively) You will be writing two analytical papers this semester. The first paper (5-‐7 pages) is worth 15% of your final grade and the second (7-‐10 pages) is worth 20%. For each paper, students are expected to draw from course materials and submit high quality work, attending to conventions of grammar and style. Clear and precise analytical paper guidelines will be posted to the Blackboard site early in the semester. Please consult the course schedule at the end of this syllabus for paper due dates.
If you have any questions whatsoever about how to approach the assignment, please do not hesitate to stop by my office hours and talk with me. I am happy to look at rough drafts or discuss the assignment in advance of the due date. In addition, you have the option of “revising and resubmitting” the paper for a better grade based on my feedback. This is entirely optional, but I will always provide feedback and comments on your writing. If you choose to resubmit, you will have one week from when the assignment is returned to complete your revisions.
Final Exam (20%) Honors 111 has a two-‐hour final essay examination which is scheduled during Finals week. This Final is common to all preceptorials. About a week before the exam, you will receive a list of approximately eight questions, then at the final examination you will be told which questions you will answer. We will have a review for the final exam at our last class meeting. Time and location of the exam are still to-‐be-‐determined. As soon as I know, I will announce this in class and on Blackboard.
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover On Excused Absences/Late Assignments I expect you to be in class. Obviously, if you are not in class, you cannot participate (an important component of your course grade).
However, I understand that there may be emergencies which arise and cause you to miss class, and that these cannot be helped. The only acceptable justifications for an unexcused absence is a) a death in your immediate family, or b) a severe personal accident or medical emergency. In both of these instances, I request that you notify me personally of your situation and produce confirmation of the absence.
If you who will miss class because of participation in a University-‐sanctioned event (e.g., varsity athletics, band, drama, special field trips, etc.), you should talk directly with me BEFORE THE ABSENCE OCCURS to arrange making up the material missed. You can obtain an official absence slip from your academic dean.
Also, please note that I do not accept assignments submitted electronically. Any assignments that you need to submit must either be turned into me personally or placed in my mailbox in the Honors College or in Political Science (N. Stevens 229). In the event that I’m not there when you turn in your assignment, please have someone in the office initial it with the date and time that you turned it in. Assignments submitted after the deadlines are subject to the following point deductions:
• after the end of the class in which it was due (-‐5) • one calendar day late (-‐10) • two calendar days late (-‐20) • NO ASSIGNMENTS ACCEPTED MORE THAN 2 CALENDAR DAYS LATE Electronic Access to General Session Lectures Attendance at the weekly General Session lectures is mandatory and expected. However, if you are unable to attend the lecture due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can set up electronic access to video of the lectures with Sam Paradis, the Coordinator for HON 111. Please do not contact Sam directly as electronic access can only occur with my permission. Support for Students with Disabilities Students who may need assistance due to a disability are encouraged to promptly contact Anne Smith at the Disability Support Services Office in 121 East Annex, (207) 581-‐2319, TTY: (207) 581-‐2325.
The University of Maine & Academic Honesty The University of Maine has very precise definitions about what constitutes academic dishonesty, and expectations that we rigorously ensure that such actions don’t take place. I consider this a formality, as most you never have and never will engage in such behavior, and all of you ought to understand the potential repercussions of any such action. Furthermore, understand that I take such violations extremely seriously and will pursue disciplinary options to the fullest extent.
In the event that you are unfamiliar with the university’s policies on academic honesty, see: http://umaine.edu/studentaffairs/jad/ academic-‐honesty-‐and-‐dishonesty/
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover Preceptorial Schedule* (Texts for the week to be read prior to the beginning of class on Monday and weekly Blackboard reflections due Friday at 11:30 pm unless otherwise noted)
WEEK 1 Monday, Sept. 2: No Class, Labor Day. Tuesday, Sept. 3: General Session—Introduction & the Honors Journey Wednesday, Sept. 4: Introduction to the course, your instructor, and each other. Texts: No reading for this week (although please wrap up Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow, if you have not already done so). WEEK 2 Monday, Sept. 9: Opening preceptorial discussion of The Sparrow. Tuesday, Sept. 10: General Session—Jordan LaBouff (Pscyhology and Honors). Wednesday, Sept. 11: Closing preceptorial discussion of The Sparrow/intro. to Inanna. Texts: Read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. WEEK 3 Monday, Sept. 16: Opening preceptorial discussion of Inanna. Tuesday, Sept. 17: General Session—Sharon Tisher (Economics and Honors) Wednesday, Sept. 18: Closing preceptorial discussion of Inanna/intro. to Genesis and Exodus. Texts: Read selections from Innana by Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer in this order: -‐Sumerian History, Culture, and Literature by Samuel Noah Webster (115-‐126) -‐“The Huluppu-‐Tree” (3-‐10) and interpretation (136-‐146) -‐“Inanna and the God of Wisdom” (11-‐27) and interpretation (146-‐150) -‐“The Courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi” (29-‐49) and interpretation (150-‐155) -‐Discovery and Decipherment of Descent of Innana by Samuel Noah Webster (127-‐135).
-‐“The Descent of Inanna” (51-‐89) and interpretation (155-‐63)
WEEK 4 Monday, Sept. 23: Opening discussion of The Torah. Tuesday, Sept. 24: General session—Rabbi Darah Lerner (Congregational Beth El, Bangor) Wednesday, Sept. 25: Closing discussion of The Torah/intro. to The Torah. Texts: Read Genesis and Exodus in The Torah (1-‐281)
WEEK 5 Monday, Sept. 30: Guest speaker on Honors & Study Abroad Opportunities (tentative). Tuesday, Oct. 1: General Session—Sarah Harlan-‐Haughey (Honors and English) and Melissa Ladenheim (Honors) on “Orality and Literacy.” Wednesday, Oct. 2: Opening preceptorial discussion of The Odyssey Texts: Start to read The Odyssey (By week 6 you should have read the full text of the story itself, pgs. 77-‐485. For this first week, try to get through at least Book 4).
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover WEEK 6 Monday, October 7: Second preceptorial discussion of The Odyssey. Tuesday, October 8: General Session—Kristina Nielson (Classics) Wednesday, October 9: Closing preceptorial Discussion of The Odyssey/Intro. to Dao De Jing. Texts: Finish reading The Odyssey (full text of the story itself, pgs 77-‐485). Note: A hard copy of analytical paper assignment # 1 will be passed out on Monday, October 7th and we can spend as much time as you like discussing how to approach the assignment as a group. In addition, I will circulate “Participation Progress Reports” during weeks 6-‐7. WEEK 7 (NO CLASS, NO LECTURE)—FALL BREAK Note: There will be no preceptorial and no lecture this week. However, I will be available during my regular office hours and during our regular class time (in my office in N. Stevens 113B). We can discuss your ideas for the paper, look over drafts, etc. Please feel free to come see me in order to discuss your paper or anything else related to the class thus far. WEEK 8 Monday, October 21: Opening preceptorial discussion of Dao De Jing.
Note—analytical paper # 1 is due on Monday, October 21st. See pg. 5 of this syllabus for my policy on late assignments.
Tuesday, October 22: General Session—Jim Behuniak (Colby College) -‐-‐LECTURE BEGINS AT 6 PM-‐-‐ Wednesday, October 23: Closing preceptorial on Dao De Jing/intro. to Presocratics Reader. Texts: Read Dao De Jing by Laozi (translation & commentary by Moss Roberts). WEEK 9 Monday, October 28: Opening preceptorial discussion of Presocratics Reader Tuesday, October 29: General Session—Mike Howard (Philosophy) Wednesday, October 30: Closing preceptorial discussion of Presocratics Reader/Intro. to If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho. Texts: Read selections from Presocratics Reader (edited by Patricia Curd). -‐Intro (1-‐10),
-‐The Milesians (13-‐22), -‐Pythagoras and Early Pythagoreanism (23-‐30) -‐Heraclitus of Ephesus (39-‐54) -‐Parmenides of Elea (55-‐65) -‐Zeno of Elea (66-‐72) -‐Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (101-‐108) -‐Diogenes of Apollonia (138-‐ 143) -‐The Sophists: Intro, Protagoras, and Gorgias (144-‐153).
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover WEEK 10 Monday, Nov. 4: Opening preceptorial discussion of If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho. Tuesday, Nov. 5: General Session—Jennifer Moxley (English) Wednesday, Nov. 6: Closing preceptorial discussion of If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho/Intro. to The Acropolis & Pericles’ Funeral Oration. Texts: Read If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho (edited by Anne Carson) WEEK 11 (Nov 12): Monday, Nov. 11: Opening preceptorial discussion of The Acropolis (visual text) and Pericles’ Funeral Oration. Tuesday, Nov. 12: General Session—Michael Grillo (Art) Wednesday, Nov. 13: Closing preceptorial discussion of The Acropolis (visual text) and Pericles’ Funeral Oration/Intro. to The Republic. Texts: “Read” The Acropolis (visual text) and Pericles’ Funeral Oration (available via Blackboard). This is a relatively light week in terms of reading. Please get a start on The Republic as this is quite a lot of reading.
WEEK 12: (Nov. 19): Monday, Nov. 18: Opening preceptorial discussion of The Republic Tuesday, Nov. 19: General Session—Michael Palmer (Political Science) Wednesday, Nov. 20: Second preceptorial discussion of The Republic. Texts: Read The Republic (Books 1-‐7, 9—in other words, pages 3-‐220, 251-‐276). WEEK 13 (THANKSGIVING WEEK—no lecture) Monday, Nov. 25: Closing preceptorial discussion of The Republic/Intro. to Early Irish Myths and Sagas. Note: The Republic is a massive and important text, and it seemed “unjust” to limit our discussion to only two preceptorials. On Monday, I will also be passing out a hard copy of your analytical paper assignment # 2. There will be no class on Wednesday, as this is the beginning of Thanksgiving Break. Texts: Revisit The Republic in light of our first week’s discussions and lecture. WEEK 14 (Dec 3): Monday, Dec. 2: Opening preceptorial discussion of Early Irish Myths and Sagas. Tuesday, Nov. 3: General session—Sarah Harlan-‐Haughey (Honors and English). Wednesday, Nov. 4: Closing preceptorial discussion of Early Irish Myths and Sagas. Texts: Selections from Early Irish Myths and Sagas (electronic texts available via Blackboard).
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HON 111—Civilizations I Robert W. Glover WEEK 15 (Final Week of Classes: No lecture) Monday, Dec. 9: Closing discussion of Civilization—Past, Present, and Future 1.
Note—analytical paper # 2 is due on Monday, December 9th. See pg. 5 of this syllabus for my policy on late assignments.
Tuesday, Dec. 10: No lecture. Wednesday, Dec. 11: Review for final exam & course evaluations. Texts: None for this week. The “review sheet” for your final exam will be passed out Monday, December 9th at the latest and we will discuss it on the last day of class. If you have questions about the final exam which you would like to discuss one-‐on-‐one outside of class, please contact me via email. We can meet during my office hours or at another time that works for you. FINAL EXAM: As noted above, the final exam for HON 211 is a two-‐hour in class final examination, common to all preceptorials, which will take place during Finals Week. The exact time and location has not yet been set. I will announce this in class and post it on Blackboard as soon as these details are confirmed.
-‐-‐ Final Grades should be posted to MaineStreet by December 22. Those of you who have questions about the breakdown of your final grade can contact me via email at [email protected] -‐-‐
HAVE A GREAT WINTER BREAK!!!
*All dates in class schedule are tentative and subject to change. In the event of an extended disruption of normal classroom activities, the format for this course may be modified to enable its completion within its programmed time frame. In that event, you will be provided an addendum to the syllabus that will supersede this version.
