THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS Course Information: HUMA 1301.012 Exploration of the Humanities Spring 2017 TR 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. JO 4.102 Instructor’s Contact Info:
TA Contact Info:
Dr. Shazia Ali
[email protected] 972-391-1067 Office: JO 5.109 Office Hours: TR 12:00 – 1:00 (Please email me to make an appointment)
Sherwin Nourani
[email protected] Office: JO 5.410D Office Hours: Thursday 11:00 – 12:30
Course Pre-requisites: None Course Description: HUMA 1301 - (HUMA 1301) Exploration of the Humanities (3 semester hours) An introduction to the concept of cultural tradition through the study of selected works of literature, philosophy, music, and visual art. Emphasis on the relations among various forms of cultural expression and developing students' ability to interpret complex artistic works in their historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts. General education core course. (3-0) S HUMA 1301.012 Description: This class explores the cross cultural interpretations of the identity of a hero and a heroine by studying the historical origins and significance of heroes as cultural icons. Students will compare the evolving identity of a hero through history with the contemporary definition of “heroism.” This comparison will include an in-depth study of both genres of literature and film. General Education Core Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate competency in the following core objectives: Critical thinking skills – Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. Communication skills – Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. Social responsibility – Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and global communities.
Personal responsibility - Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequence to ethical decision-making.
HUMA 1301.014 Course Objectives: Students will learn: Critical thinking skills; to examine and analyze a variety of works from the humanities, particularly those connected to literature and philosophy (assessed via the analysis paper) Communication skills; to apply and respond to works in the humanities as an example of human expression and aesthetic and philosophical principles (assessed via the required discussion boards and class participation) Social responsibility; to analyze and critically evaluate humanistic works in the context of culture and society (assessed via the analysis paper and midterm exam) Personal responsibility; to compare and contrast the works with each other in terms of personal ethics and values (assessed via the analysis paper and final exam) Required Textbooks and Materials: 1). Foster, Epic of Gilgamesh 2). Shakespeare, Julius Caesar 3). Shelley, Frankenstein 4). Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea 5). Ali, The Greatest, My Own Story ***Please do not purchase the books until after first class meeting. Requirements and Assignments:
4 Exams @ 10% each (40%) There will be 4 Exams through the course of the semester. Each exam may consist of multiple-choice questions, short answers, and/or essay questions.
Textual Analysis Essay (10%) Students will write a 4 – 5 page Textual Analysis Essay using one of the texts that we have discussed in class. The Essay will be in MLA format.
10 eLearning Discussion Boards (20%) There will be 10 Discussion Boards posted on eLearning. Students will have to post a respond to the prompt and then post one response to a peer. The prompt response must be a minimum of 300 words and the peer response must be a minimum of 100 words. There is no make-up for a missed Discussion Board.
10 Quizzes (20%) There will be 10 (or more) pop quizzes in class. These will be based on either the readings or the discussions in class. There is no make-up for a missed Quiz.
Class participation and attendance will be 10% of your final grade (10%) Remember: Students who rarely miss classes and are engaged in the class material will find it easier to succeed in this course.
Grading Policy: 98 – 100 A+ 93 – 97 A 90 – 92 A88 – 89 B+ 83 – 87 B 80 – 82 B78 – 79 C+ 73 – 77 C 70 – 72 C68 – 69 D+ 63 – 67 D 60 – 62 DBelow 60 F UT Dallas Policies and Procedures: It is every student’s responsibility to review UTD’s policies and procedures, including academic integrity, attendance, copyright, disability services, email use, religious holy days, and withdrawal from class. See http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies. NOTE : Course syllabus, requirements, and calendar are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor. Comet Creed: This creed was voted on by the UT Dallas student body in 2014. It is a standard that Comets choose to live by and encourage others to do the same: “As a Comet, I pledge honesty, integrity, and service in all that I do.”
Spring 2017 Academic Schedule 01/09 – Classes Begin 01/16 – MLK Holiday 01/25 – Census Day (Last Day to drop a class without a W) 03/06 – Midterm Grades available 03/13 – 03/18 – Spring Break 04/30 – Last day of classes
Theme
Week
Date/Day
Schedule
Introduction to Heroism
1
Tuesday 01/10
The value of Humanities Heroes and Heroism
1
Thursday 01/12
The Epic Hero
Music and Humanities
2
Tuesday 01/17
The Hero’s Journey
2
Thursday 01/19
Epic of Gilgamesh History and The Epic Hero Discussion Board # 1 Due
3
Tuesday 01/24
Epic of Gilgamesh Tablets 1 – 7
3
Thursday 01/26
Epic of Gilgamesh Tablets 8 – 12 Discussion Board # 2 Due
The Super Hero
4
Tuesday 01/31
Film: Thor I
4
Thursday 02/02
Film: Thor I Discussion Board # 3 Due
The Tragic Hero
5
Tuesday 02/07
Exam 1
5
Thursday 02/09
Julius Caesar William Shakespeare
6
Tuesday 02/14
Julius Caesar William Shakespeare
6
Thursday 02/16
Julius Caesar William Shakespeare Discussion Board # 4 Due
The Romantic and Byronic Hero
7
Tuesday 02/21
Frankenstein Mary Shelley
7
Thursday 02/23
Frankenstein Discussion Board # 5 Due
The Unwilling Hero
8
Tuesday 02/28
Frankenstein
8
Thursday 03/02
Exam 2
9
Tuesday 03/07
Film: Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring
9
Thursday 03/09
Film: Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring Discussion Board # 6 Due
10
Tuesday 03/14
Spring Break
10
Thursday 03/16
Spring Break
11
Tuesday 03/21
The Unwilling Hero and Pseudo-Choice
The AntiHero
11
Thursday 03/23
Wide Sargasso Sea Discussion Board # 7 Due
12
Tuesday 03/28
Wide Sargasso Sea Analysis Paper Due
12
Thursday 03/30
Wide Sargasso Sea Discussion Board # 8 Due
Marvel’s Conflicted Heroes
13
Tuesday 04/04
Exam 3
13
Thursday 04/06
The Marvel Hero
14
Tuesday 04/11
Film: The Avengers
14
Thursday 04/13
Film: The Avengers Discussion Board # 9 Due
The American Hero
15
Tuesday 04/18
The Greatest: My Own Story By Muhammed Ali
15
Thursday 04/20
The Greatest: My Own Story By Muhammed Ali Discussion Board # 10 Due
16
Tuesday 04/25
The Greatest: My Own Story By Muhammed Ali
16
Thursday 04/27
Exam 4
UT Dallas Syllabus Policies and Procedures
http://coursebook.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies/ Decorum, Classroom Citizenship, and Extra-curricular matters: All written work and class discussion for this course must employ gender-neutral, nonsexist language, and rhetorical constructions. Such practice is part of a classroom environment according full respect and opportunity to all participants by all others. These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.
