Course Overview and Policies




REQUIRED TEXTS


The Bedford Anthology of World Literature, Compact Edition, Volume 2, Davis, et al.
Art History, Khan Academy (online)

COURSE DESCRIPTION & GOALS


Honors Humanities 3 explores the major intellectual and cultural movements of the last two centuries. We will focus primarily on works from Western civilization with occasional forays into other parts of the world. The syllabus organizes topics by historical period (Romanticisim, Realism, Modernism, Post-Colonialism), though we will not always proceed in strictly chronological order. We will attempt to put key texts and ideas from this period into conversation with each other as we consider and reflect on different cultural and historical perspectives. By attending to voices from the past, from different parts of the world, we will ask, what can we learn about others and about ourselves?



HONRS 203 fulfills the UCC Humanities Tier 2 requirement. It is also considered a “writing intensive” course. Upon completing the course, students should be able to

  • critically read texts from the Nineteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first Centuries, isolating elements relevant to the study of major ideas, philosophies, and modes of thought of this period
  • knowledgeably examine works of art of the Nineteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first Centuries, recognizing their inherent form and relevance to the study of major ideas, philosophies, and modes of thought of this period
  • synthesize elements from various sources (including both literature and the fine arts) to formulate new understandings of core ideas and attitudes within their period or across periods
  • critically analyze competing hypotheses to form a judgment supported by a substantiated rationale, and evaluate the judgments and rationales of others
  • critically analyze the impact of the Nineteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first Centuries upon today’s society
  • solve problems and make decisions both independently and collaboratively
  • demonstrate effective, refined writing skills
  • further develop their lifelong learning skills in critical analysis and effective communication

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

  • Two Essays (20% each)
  • Final Project (25%)
  • Presentation (10%)
  • Attendance, participation, and quizzes (10%)
  • Online response journal (15%)

COURSE POLICIES


Attendance

Regular attendance is required.

  1. You are allowed three absences free and clear, no excuses necessary. You don’t need to provide any documentation to explain your absence, but you only get three, so use them wisely. Absences may be excused for the following reasons, with documentation: 1) travel for athletic or academic activities and 2) funeral and bereavement leave (see the Student Code).
  2. After your three absences, any and all absences, regardless of the reason, will adversely affect your grade as follows. For each absence after the third, your attendance and participation grade (10% of the total course grade) will be lowered by 10 percentage points (one full letter grade).
  3. If you are absent, you are responsible for submitting the assigned homework, for screening any film shown in class, for making arrangements to get the materials for the next class, and for coming prepared to discuss the next class materials. Students whose illness or family responsibilities require a long absence should contact me as soon as possible (NOT after an unexplained absence of several weeks).

Late Assignments

Keep in mind:
  • In-class writing and quizzes cannot be made up.
  • Absence is not an excuse for late work: assignments must be turned in the day they are due. If you will be absent when an assignment is due, arrange to have someone turn in the assignment for you. If you cannot make such arrangements, contact me before the due date.
  • Technology is not an excuse for late work. Plan ahead for the inevitable problems with printers, flash drives, etc.
  • A late essay will be penalized one full letter grade (e.g., from a B to a C) for each class day it is late (e.g., the essay is due Friday but not turned in until Monday).

Academic Dishonesty & Plagiarism

All work submitted for this course must be your own and must be written exclusively for this course. Using someone else's ideas or words as your own on any assignment is plagiarism. It is a violation of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities as defined in the Student Code and will be treated as such. In addition, recycling your own work from previous courses is a form of academic dishonesty. If you are concerned about inadvertently violating this policy, please see me before completing the assignment.

Accommodations

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please contact me as soon as possible. Ball State's Disability Services office coordinates services for students with disabilities; documentation of a disability needs to be on file in that office before any accommodations can be provided. Disability Services can be contacted at 765-285-5293 or dsd@bsu.edu.