Course Information
Course Overview
Note: This course is no longer being offered. This page is being left on the Web so that people interested in designing similar courses can use it for ideas.
Note: Because this is a discussion
class in which exchanges between students are crucial, participants should
expect to set aside adequate time to do the work consistently. The minimum
expected for a 3-credit class at WSU is 9 hours per week, but some students
may find they need longer. This is not a "flex-time" course which
can be done on your own schedule.
This on-line class is a version of a course
offered as part of a sequence of courses in the humanities in Europe which
are taught in the Department of English at Washington State University,
Pullman, Washington. Humanities 101 covers the ancient world, 302 the Middle
Ages and Renaissance, and this course the period from roughly 1750 to 1914.
The period since 1914 is covered by the last course in the sequence,
Humanities 304.
All are designed to be international and
interdisciplinary, focusing on literary works outside of the Anglo-American
tradition, on philosophy, and on art, architecture, music and--in the case of
304--film. While it helps to have some general historical knowledge of Europe
before 1750, none of the other Humanities courses is a prerequisite for this
one.
303 is the only one of these courses to have a
descriptive subtitle that does more than indicate a period to be discussed.
Obviously a course such as this cannot possibly "cover" such rich
and varied material; and it has been designed to concentrate on certain
crucial themes. What holds the course together is its focus on revolutionary
movements and ideas which have had a lasting impact on western civilization
and on the world at large. Much that we think of as "modern" began
in the 18th and 19th centuries.
"Reason" refers to the French
Enlightenment, that movement to use rationalism as a weapon against the
forces of repression embodied in the monarchy and the church. Voltaire was
the most popular if not the most influential of all the Enlightenment
writers, and his Philosophical Dictionary contains lucid and entertaining presentations of all his major ideas.
The rationalist tradition also influences later writers studied in this
course, including especially Nietzsche and Marx. The rationalists are often
associated with classical era music and neoclassical painting, which we will
also explore.
"Romanticism" is the label for a
literary-philosophical-artistic-musical-political movement which is often
seen primarily as a rebellion against the stifling intellectualism and rigid
logic of the Enlightenment, but it is much richer than that. It had a rich,
multifaceted effect on Europe, more so than any movement since Christianity
first swept over the area in the Middle Ages. Unlike the Enlightenment, which
was at first confined principally to a few elites, it changed the way
ordinary people viewed themselves, their relationships with each other, and
their relationship to the natural world. It still largely shapes the way we
think and feel today. It was not a simple revolt against reason in favor of
emotion--though this stereotype has some truth in it--instead it was a major
shift in values. No other movement in the last three centuries has affected
so many different aspects of life, spread so widely, nor lasted so long.
Goethe's Faust is the perfect work for illustrating the multifaceted, often
self-contradictory nature of this movement. Reason and passion struggle
together, tragedy blends into comedy, and the bounds of literature itself are
stretched as a new form struggles to be born.
Much of the most popular music in the traditional
concert repertory is still that which was first written in the romantic
style. In some way or other, all succeeding styles either build on or react
against romanticism. Neo-romanticism is a powerful force in contemporary
music, in composers as different as Witold Lutoslawski and Alan Hovhaness. We
will also be looking at romantic painting.
Any of the works studied in this course could be
described as "revolutionary," but Zola's Germinal and Marx's Communist Manifesto are especially helpful in understanding the
background to the great socialist revolutions which swept across much of the
world in the first half of the 20th century. In contrast, Dostoyevsky's Notes
from Underground stands as a cry of
anguish against socialism, against rationalism, against modernism generally.
Dostoyevsky's powerful case against the notions of progress and utopia still
provides major weapons for conservatives and reactionaries today. Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring are examples of revolutionary music.
Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra in a sense sums up the entire course. Infused with
both rationalism and romanticism, profoundly revolutionary and anti-political
at the same time, leaving influences in philosophy, psychology, theater,
fiction, art and music in a bewildering variety of directions, Nietzsche's
work continues to be a powerful influence on many thinkers today.
These are some of the movements and creative
minds who have made the modern world what it is. They are not buried in
history, but alive in the ways we think, feel, and perceive the world around
us. By understanding them, we can better understand ourselves.
All of the study guides and other materials for
this class are available in the online environment WebCT. Be careful to read
ahead in the syllabus so you see what assignments are coming up. Don't wait
until the night before the due date. All assignments are due by 8:00 AM
Pacific Time on the Monday the week after you are supposed to have done the
work, but may be turned in any time previous to that. Students whose online
work is consistently late will not pass the course because they are not
allowing the other participants to interact with them in the discussions.
Note that in some assignments DDP students are
required to write longer minimum contributions to the threaded discussions than
Pullman students to substitute for the extra writing on paper that Pullman
students do and the in-class discussions they participate in.
Please be aware that although WebCT is not open
to the world at large, access is being provided to a few support personnel in
the library, DDP and the Center for Teaching and Learning. This warning is
required by privacy regulations.
Hardware and Software requirements:
- All
students must use a browser which supports pop-up windows for the
Bridge to work, and the pop-up feature must not be turned off.
- Internet
Explorer for the Macintosh does not work properly with WebCT. Please
use a copy of the current version of Netscape (6 or later) to do your
work in WebCT.
- To
play the music in this course you will need to use a computer with a
sound card and good speakers (or headphones). A fast Internet
connection will help, though lower-quality, lower-speed music samples
are provided for those who must dial up.
- To
the view the art for this course you will need a color monitor.
Important note: You will want to print this syllabus out for use away from your
computer, but note that not everything you need to know is on this page. You
must also follow the links which explain the details of individual
assignments, while working at a computer. Note that the information on each
week's assignment is also reproduced in the "Information" document
in each Bridge assignment page.
Papers are submitted via My DDP at https://distance.wsu.edu/courses/submit.asp.
It is your responsibility to log in here and familiarize yourself with the
procedure for submitting papers well before the first due date.
Each week's assignments are due no later than
8:00 AM Pacific Time on Monday (except for the final assignment, which is due
on Wednesday of week 16), but you are encouraged to work throughout the week
and to post answers to study questions well before the deadline. This is not
a class in which you can scramble together a whole week's work in one long
evening just before the due date. Remember that each of these weekly
assignments is the equivalent of two daily assignments done by the students
on the WSU campus for which they are expected to do a minimum of 9 hours of work. Because this is an online
discussion course, it is important that you keep up with the syllabus so you
can be exchanging thoughts with other students on the same materials at the
same time. Students who fall substantially behind will fail the course. This
is very different from the flex-classes you may have previously taken through
Distance Degree Programs, where you are free to set your own schedule. Be
clear before you begin that you have substantial time available each week to
devote to the work in this course. Because DDP students are not present for
the in-class discussions and don't do the same daily writings, they are
required to write longer on-line assignments.
All assigned papers (including the research
paperâ both first and revised drafts) must be completed to pass the course.
For this course, there is a cultural event
assignment involving art, music, literature, or theater of Europe from the
18th or 19th centuries. Read about this assignment
now.
Goals
When
you have successfully completed this course, you should:
1. have
a general grasp of major trends in Western European art history from the 17th
century to World War I
2. be
able to listen with increased understanding to classical music from the same
eras
3. understand
some of the basic over-arching themes in philosophy and literature of the 18th
and 19th centuries.
4. be
able to discuss fairly complex and sophisticated ideas such as are treated in
the works assigned
Course Outline
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Due January 15
Week 1
1.
Course Overview
2.
Read "The
Enlightenment", then go to WebCT threaded discussion for "The
Enlightenment" and do the assignment.
3.
Set up your computer now to prepare to do the music
assignments as explained below in the Week 3
assignments.
Due January 22
Week 2
1.
Art Assignment #1 Watch the videotape: "The Art of
the Western World, 5: Realms of Light-The Baroque" (Bernini, Cortona,
Caravaggio, Borromini, Fischer von Erlach,Vel‡zquez, Vermeer, Rubens,
Rembrandt, etc.). Then go to the to the WebCT threaded discussion for this
assignment and do the writing. Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to
what someone else has written.
2.
Voltaire Assignment #1. Do this assignment only after
having read "The
Enlightenment" in the "Materials" area. (Read the
following articles from Voltaire: Philosophical Dictionary: AbbŽ, Ame, Amour-propre, AthŽe,
athŽisme, Beau, beautŽ, Bien (tout est), Bornes de l'esprit humaine,
CatŽchisme chinois, Certain, certitude, Cha”ne des Žvenements, Credo and try to answer as many of the study questions
in the Study Guide as you can as you go along.
Go to WebCT threaded discussion for "Voltaire Assignments" and
write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
Be sure to include an exploration of the "Problem
of Evil" site and relate what is there to Voltaire's writing.
3.
Read the "Knowledge or
Certainty" Study Guide, watch the videotape, and do the writing
assignment in the "Knowledge or Certainty" Bridge threaded
discussion. Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else
has written.
4.
Choose your research paper topic (read the
instructions online and write your choice in WebCT in the threaded
discussion titled "Research topic sign-up."). If someone else has
already taken your topic, please choose another. No two students may use
the same topic.
Due January 29
Week 3
1.
Baroque Music Assignment. Be warned that if you are a
Macintosh user, you cannot use Internet Explorer for this assignment.
Netscape works fine. Some other browsers like Safari also work. Windows
users can use any recent browser. First, if you have not already done so,
configure your browser for WSU library access and create your library PIN.
The Distance Degree Library Services Web Site can assist you with this: (http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/electric/library).
Then go to Griffin at http://griffin.wsu.edu/search/
and click on "Course Name" and enter "hum 303", or use
the "Course Instructor" button and enter "brians." The
first entry is a set of videotapes for use on campus. Click on the second
and then click on "Humanities 303 recordings" and use your PIN
and password to access the music for the Introduction to Baroque Music and
the asssignment on Johann Sebastian Bach. Read the online material, listen
to the music, and write your responses in WebCT under "Pachelbel,
Vivaldi and Handel" and "Bach." Write 50 words minimum on
each of these two assignments, and then respond to what someone else has
written. You need to have a recent version of RealPlayer installed to listen
to these assignments.
2.
Voltaire Assignment #2 (Voltaire: Philosophical
Dictionary: have the following articles
read: ƒgalitŽ, Enthousiasme, ƒtats, gouvernements, Fanatisme,
Foi, Guerre, LibertŽ de pensŽe, PrŽjugŽs, Secte, ThŽiste, TolŽrance,
Tyrannie), using the study guide
and taking notes. Then go to WebCT threaded discussion for "Voltaire
Assignments" and submit your writing. Write 50 words minimum, and then
respond to what someone else has written.
3.
Research
paper proposal and annotated bibliography (Research paper proposal and
annotated bibliography due: a paragraph outlining the topic and a list of
sources to be used, with comments for each explaining why the sources will
be useful to you. Be sure to include all three elements: the proposal itself,
the list of sources, and the comments. Submit them to me through My DDP.
Due February 5
Week 4
1.
First paper due, on Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary, 600 words, worth 10 points. Design your own
topic or choose one of the following, using details from Voltaire which
demonstrate your understanding of his writings: freedom, free will and
determinism, religion, tolerance, government, relativism. You may argue
with him, but only if you present fully all relevant evidence on both
sides. You must use material from two or more articles in the Philosophical
Dictionary. If you have trouble
choosing a topic or are uncertain whether your topic is acceptable, ask for
help! Send your paper to me via "My DDP."
2.
Read the page
about Romanticism and go to the Romanticism Bridge threaded discussion
to write your comments.
3.
Goethe Assignment #1: In the Bible, Job: Chapters 1 &
2; Goethe: Faust: Introduction,
Prologue in Heaven. Use the Faust study
guide. Then contribute to WebCT threaded discussion for "Goethe
Assignment #1." Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what
someone else has written.
Due February 12
Week 5
1.
View the videotape "The Art of the Western World, 6:
An Age of Reason, An Age of Passion" (Antoine Watteau: Departure
from Cythera, Robert Adams, Franois
Boucher, Jean-Baptiste Greuze, Jean-Baptiste Chardin, Nicolas Poussin,
Jacques Lemercier: Palais-Royal, Charles Perrault: Colonnade of the Louvre,
Germain Soufflot: PanthŽon, Giambattista Piranesi: drawings of Paestum,
Jacques-Louis David: Death of Marat & The Sabine Women, Vignon: La Madeleine, Dominique Ingres: Odalisque, Jean-Antoine Gros, Francisco de Goya: The
Horrors of War, GŽricault, Eugne
Delacroix: Liberty Leading the People, ThŽodore GŽricault: The Raft of the Medusa) Do the writing part of this assignment in Bridge
threaded discussion called "Art of the Western World, #6." Write
50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
2.
Mozart & Beethoven Assignment: Listen to the Mozart
and Beethoven pieces in the online audio reserves. Do the writing
assignment in WebCT threaded discussion called "Mozart &
Beethoven." Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone
else has written.
3.
Goethe Assignment #2: Faust: Night, Before the City Gate,
both scenes titled "Study," Witch's Kitchen. Try to answer as
many of the questions in the Faust study guide
as you can. Then go to the Goethe Assignment #2 Bridge threaded discussion
and write a minimum of 50 words about this assignment. Write 50 words
minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
Due February 19
Week 6
1.
Do
women artists assignment.
2.
Goethe Assignment #3: Faust: Street, Evening, Promenade, The Neighbor's House, Street, Garden,
A Garden Bower, Wood and Cave, Gretchen's Room, Martha's Garden, At the
Well, City Wall (study guide in the "Materials" area). Try to
answer as many of the questions in the Faust study guide
as you can. Then go to the Goethe Assignment #3 Bridge threaded discussion.
Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
Due February 26
Week 7
1.
Goethe Assignment #4: (Goethe: Faust: Night: Street in Front of Gretchen's Door,
Cathedral, Walpurgis Night, Dismal Day, The Bible: 1 Kings 21; Goethe:
Faust: Night: Open Field, Dungeon, Charming Landscape, Open Country. Try to
answer as many of the questions in the Faust study guide
as you can. Then go to the Goethe Assignment #4 Bridge threaded discussion
and write a minimum of 50 words about this assignment. Then respond to what
someone else has written.
2.
Do the Romantic Music assignment in the online reserves.
Do writing assigned in the "Romantic Music Assignment" threaded
discussion.
Due March 5
Week 8
1.
Videotape: Verdi: La Traviata. Read the Study Guide for La
Traviata and view the tape, taking notes as you watch. This
production is best viewed on a large-screen television with good color and
sound (preferably hooked to a stereo system, played back on a stereo VCR).
Then go to WebCT threaded discussion for La Traviata and do the writing assignment, 100 words minimum.
Then respond to what someone else has written.
2.
Goethe Assignment #5: Goethe: Faust: Palace, Deep Night, Midnight, Large Outer Court
of the Palace, Entombment, Mountain Gorges: Forest, Rock and Desert. Try to
answer as many of the questions in the Faust study
guide as you can. Then go to the Faust Assignment #5 Bridge threaded
discussion and write a minimum of 50 words about this assignment, and then
respond to what someone else has written.
3.
Read "Realism and
Naturalism." Go to WebCT threaded discussion for this assignment.
Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
Due March 12
Week 9
1.
Zola Assignment #1: Germinal: Parts 1-3. Try to answer as
many of the questions in the Germinal study guide for these pages as you
can. Then go to the Zola Assignment #1 Bridge threaded discussion and write
a minimum of 50 words about this assignment and then respond to what
someone else has written.
2.
Paper on Goethe's Faust, 1200 words. Design your own topic or choose one of the following,
remembering that you will be expected to define your topic further, since
most of these are very broad: Faust and Mephistopheles , Faust and
Gretchen, Thought vs. Action, Religion, Humor, Music, Magic, Classical
Mythology. Again, if you have trouble choosing or defining a topic, ask for
help. See instructions under "Second paper
assignment."
Due March 19
Week 10
1.
Listen to the music by women composers in the online
reserves, and do the assigned writing in WebCT under "Women
Composers." Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone
else has written.
2.
Zola Assignment #2: Germinal: Parts 4-5. Try to answer as
many of the questions in the Germinal study guide for these pages as you
can. Then go to the Zola Assignment #2 Bridge threaded discussion and write
a minimum of 50 words about this assignment, and then respond to what
someone else has written.
Due March 26
Week 11
1.
Zola Assignment #3: Germinal: Parts 6-7. Using the study guide,
read the assigned pages and take notes, trying to answer as many questions
as you can. Then go to WebCT threaded discussion for this assignment and do
the assigned writing there. Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to
what someone else has written.
2.
Read the Impressionist Art
study guide. View the videotape: "The Art of the Western World,
7: A Fresh View-Impressionism and Post-Impressionism" (Courbet, Degas, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Whistler,
Pissarro, Sargent, Cassatt, Gauguin, Seurat, Van Gogh, Signac, Bernard,
Toulouse-Lautrec, Valadon, CŽzanne) Go to WebCT threaded discussion for
this assignment and write a minimum of 50 words about this assignment, and
then respond to what someone else has written.
Due April 2
Week 12
1.
Read "19th-Century Russian
Literature". Go to WebCT threaded discussion for this assignment
and do the assigned writing. Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to
what someone else has written.
2.
Dostoyevsky: Notes from Underground: Afterword, pp. 90-203. Using the study guide,
try to answer as many of the questions as you can. Then go to WebCT
threaded discussion for this assignment and do the assigned writing there.
Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
Due April 9
Week 13
1.
French
Impressionist Painting Assignment. Do the assignment and go to WebCT
threaded discussion for this assignment and do the assigned writing there.
Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
2.
Listen to the Impressionist music in the online reserves
and write about it in WebCT under "Impressionist Music." Write 50
words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
3.
The
Influence of Nietzsche. Read this page and then go to WebCT threaded
discussion for this assignment and do the assigned writing there. Write 50 words
minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
4.
Nietzsche Assignment No. 1 (Nietzsche: Thus Spoke
Zarathustra: Translator's Preface, pp.
9-54, from the beginning through "On the Flies of the
Marketplace"). Using the study guide,
try to answer as many of the questions as you can. Then go to WebCT
threaded discussion for this assignment and do the assigned writing there.
Try to focus in on specific arguments rather than giving general reactions.
Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
5.
Research
paper due, 1200 words minimum. Re-read "The Research Paper"
online at http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/research.html
and "Helpful
HInts for Writing Class Papers," particularly checking to make sure
you are following proper procedures for citing sources and quoting.
Remember, you must cite sources for all facts and ideas, not just words
quoted. Submit your paper via My DDP at https://distance.wsu.edu/courses/submit.asp
and post a copy in WebCT (click on the "create object" tool and
use the "File" tool to post your paper).
6.
Some time during the coming week, read at least one of the
other research papers that has been posted as a document and make useful
comments for improving it, avoiding generalizations, and giving specific
suggestions wherever posssible. Give this feedback in the "Research
Papers" threaded discussion. Avoid giving feedback only on a paper
that has already been discussed by someone else. You may make comments on
as many papers as you wish, but at least one of them should be a paper that
no one else has commented on yet.
Due April 16
Week 14
1.
Listen to the 20th century music in the online reserves
and write about it in WebCT under "20th C. Music." Write 50 words
minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
2.
Nietzsche
Assignment No. 2 (Nietzsche: Thus Spoke Zarathustra: pp. 54-79, from
"On Chastity through the end of the First Part). Using the study guide,
try to answer as many of the questions as you can. Then go to WebCT
threaded discussion for this assignment and do the assigned writing there.
Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
Due April 23
Week 15
1.
Read "Introduction
to 19th-Century Socialism". Then go to WebCT threaded discussion
for this assignment and do the assigned writing there. Write 50 words
minimum, and then respond to what someone else has written.
2.
Read Misconceptions,
Confusions, and Conflicts Concerning Socialism, Communism, and Capitalism.
Then go to WebCT threaded discussion for this assignment and do the
assigned writing there. Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what
someone else has written.
3.
Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels: The Communist Manifesto,
Prologue, Sections 1, 2, & 4. Using the study guide for
the Manifesto, try to answer as many of the questions as you can. Then
go to WebCT threaded discussion for this assignment and do the assigned
writing there. Write 50 words minimum, and then respond to what someone
else has written.
Due WEDNESDAY May 2 Week 16
End of semester (note extended deadline)
1.
Revised
research paper due, if you are revising. Submit your paper using My DDP.
2.
Third
paper due, on Zola's Germinal,
Dostoyevsky's Notes from Undergrouund, Nietzche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, or Marx's Communist Manifesto, 600 words minimum. If you wrote on one of these
authors for your research paper, choose a different one to write on for
this assignment.
3.
Final date for cultural event
report. Submit report via "My
DDP."
4.
All revised papers due.
Note:
All assigned papers (including both versions of the research paper) must be
completed to pass the course.
Feel free to call via the DDP toll-free number (800 222-4978) and leave
messages when I am out; but e-mail may reach me more efficiently, though if
it's something we really need to discuss back and forth, you should try
phoning first.
Direct phone: 509 335-5689, English Dept. phone: 509 335-2581, FAX: 509
335-2582, email: brians@wsu.edu
If I am not in, the phone may be answered by the automated voice mailbox
service. Please leave a message including your name and phone number
(speaking s-l-o-w-l-y, please).
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Resources
Books
Note: Students must use the assigned translations
of the books studied in this course. Outdated public-domain translations
available on the Web are not adequate substitutes.
If your financial aid is delayed, borrow money if
you must to buy the textbooks. You cannot begin the course without the
Voltaire in hand; and other books will be unavailable late in the semester.
Buy them all as early as possible. Write me immediately if you have any
problems securing the textbooks at brians@wsu.edu.
Voltaire: Philosophical Dictionary, translated by Theodore Besterman
Goethe's Faust, translated by Walter Kaufmann
Zola, Germinal, trans. Pearson (Penguin).
Dostoyevsky: Notes from Underground, translated by Andrew R. MacAndrew
Nietzsche: Thus Spoke Zarathustra, translated by Walter Kaufmann. (Note Penguin also
publishes other translations that are not as good--be sure to get the
Kaufmann. DO NOT USE the 1892 public-domain translation by Thomas Common.)
Marx & Engels: The Communist Manifesto (International Publishers) Note: Although
this edition is very cheap and the study guide is easier to use with the
assigned edition, you may substitute any other edition if you wish--there is
only one standard translation of the Manifesto.
Various online editions are available, including one at http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch01.htm.
Online Resources
Hum 303
home page: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/humindex.html
Paul
Brians' home page: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/
Common Errors in English: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/
The Purdue OWL guide to MLA documentation style: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
Instructions for doing the research
paper assignment: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/research.html
Study Guides for the
above books and other resources for the study of works in this course: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/hum_303_study_guides.html.
Online streaming music: available through http://griffin.wsu.edu/search/.
Under "Course Reserves" click on "Course Name" and enter
"hum 303." You will get two hits. Choose the second one: "Humanities 303 Recordings." Click
on that link, then on the assignment you want to do, and log on using your
name, WSU ID number prefixed by a zero, and your Griffin PIN. To listen to
the music you will need 1) a sound card in your computer, 2) good external
speakers or headphones, 3) an up-to-date copy of RealPlayer, with the
appropriate plug-in installed in your Web browser. You can download the
RealPlayer at http://www.real.com/.
Course Work and Grading
Grades
Voltaire paper: 10 points
Faust paper: 20 points
Third paper: 20 points
Research paper: 20 points
Cultural event report: 10 points
Bridge threaded discussion contributions: 20 points
Total: 100 points.
Written assignments
Threaded discussions
For each of the reading assignments, the study guide in the Bridge
contains a series of study questions which I want you to think about. It is
your assignment to answer as many of these questions as you can while you
read, and to write the assigned amount on each week's reading in the The
Bridge. Cover more than a couple of questions, and make sure you can discuss
all parts of that week's assignment--not just the beginning. Show that you
are thinking seriously about these questions. Typically you are asked to
write something of your own, then respond to at least one other person. These
Bridge assignments are graded pass/fail (I will let you know quickly if you
have done an inadequate one). The idea is to promote class discussion online.
This is where you will be interacting with the students on the WSU campus as
well. When other members of the class ask questions, try to reply to them.
You are welcome to keep up the discussions we start here as long as you want,
but please remember to be polite. Not everyone has the same views and
assumptions. You must miss or fail no more than five of these Bridge
discussion assignments to pass the course.
Contributions to the online threaded discussions will be judged by the
following criteria:
- They
must be made in a timely fashion.
- They
must demonstrate a careful and thoughtful reading of the assigned writings,
including the study guides and supplementary critical and historical
material.
- When
discussing fiction or philosophy, they must attempt to answer at least
some of the questions in the related study guide (but please don't write
answers to all the study questions; leave some room for other students
to contribute). Feel free to develop the discussion in other directions
as well, and to relate what we are reading to other relevant topics; but
remember that the minimum assignment is to demonstrate that you have
read and understood both the assigned selections and the study guide.
- When
discussing music and art, they should not dwell on what you like or
dislike; instead they should express what you have learned by reading,
viewing, and listening, and raise questions about the material that can
promote further discusssion. Try if you can to relate this material to
other material you have studied or experienced. Be sure to identify
specific works you are talking about, avoiding vague generalizations.
- For
each assignment each student is also expected to respond to one or more
of the points raised by another student, saying more than "I
agree" or "I disagree." Offer examples, additional
arguments, counter-arguments, comparisons, related ideas, do
comparisons.
- Posts
should act as the opening comments in an ongoing discussion, not seeking
to close off debate with the last word, but inviting responses. It is
perfectly legitimate to ask questions or ask for clarification of points
you don't understand.
- Contributions
should whenever possible bring in useful comparative material from other
readings, films, discussions with other people, etc.
Responses to other students' posts in the online threaded discussions
will be judged by the following criteria:
- Students
are expected to take part continuously in discussion by making responses
over the course of a week, not logging in just once a week to do
everything at once. The due dates are final deadlines, but students are
encouraged whenever possible to do their work earlier so that others
have plenty of time to respond.
- You
must go beyond merely agreeing or disagreeing to make substantial
points.
- You
must express yourself in civil language, avoiding insults and
dismissiveness.
- Your
posts should contribute to ongoing discussion, helping to develop ideas
and themes raised in the original posts. Whenever possible try to tie
together different viewpoints or make comparisons.
- Reponses
should not be made constantly to the same individual or small group. Try
to spread responses around. If challenging or difficult posts have been
made, try to respond to them rather than choosing easier ones.
Short Papers:
For this course you will be required to write three brief papers. Note the
length specified by your course syllabus, which does not include notes or
list of sources. Minimum paper lengths are so extremely short in this class
that anyone desiring a high grade would be advised to write a somewhat longer
one. Any paper shorter than the minimum assigned will receive a 0 for an incomplete
assignment. Except for meeting the very low minimum number of words, don't
concentrate on length, but try to make your papers as detailed,
well-organized, and interesting as possible. All papers must be typed on a
computer and submitted electronically. The regular papers are not necessarily
research papers, and it is possible to receive maximum points on a paper
without doing research for it, although papers incorporating good library
work will normally receive higher grades. Suggested topics are listed on your
syllabus. You should choose a topic you are particularly interested in, not
try to guess what I want you to write. When I can learn something new from a
paper, I am pleased. If you have difficulty thinking of a topic, first read
Chapter 1 of Sylvan Barnet's Short Guide to Writing About Literature, and if you still have problems, see or call me. I
am also happy to look over rough drafts and answer questions about proposed
topics. In addition, one paper per semester will be a required library research
paper incorporating information gathered from scholarly books and articles
(not just Web pages and reference books like dictionaries and encyclopedias).
Papers must be received by 8:00 AM Pacific Time on the due date. Papers may
always be submitted before the due date if you wish. There is no midterm or
final examination in this class.
The following elements are taken into consideration when I grade your
papers:
- All
assigned papers must be turned in to pass the course.
- You
must convince me that you have read and understood the book or story.
- You
must have something interesting to say about it.
- Originality
counts--easy, common topics tend to earn lower grades than difficult
ones done well.
- Significant
writing (spelling, punctuation, usage) errors will be marked on each
paper before it is returned to you. If there are more than a few you
must identify the errors and correct them and turn the paper back in
before a grade will be recorded for you.
- I
look for unified essays on a well-defined topic with a clear title and
coherent structure.
- I
expect you to support your arguments with references to the text, often
including quotations appropriately introduced and analyzed (but quote
only to make points about the material quoted, not simply for its own
sake).
- You
must do more than merely summarize the plot of the works you have read.
See Sylvan Barnet's Short Guide to Writing About Literature, and my "Helpful
Hints" online for more information (consulting this document is
mandatory, not optional, and papers will be judged according to how well
they follow the guidelines in it).
Grading standards for specific letter grades:
The number of points for each paper is indicated on the syllabus with the
paper assignment. For a 10-point paper:
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9.5 or
above=A
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7.8-7.9=C+
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9.0-9.4=A
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7.3-7.7=C
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8.8-8.9=B+
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7.0-7.2=C
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8.3-8.7=B
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6.5-6.9=D
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8.0-8.2=B-
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anything below
6.5=F
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Double these numbers to get the appropriate scale for a 20-point
assignment.
A Topics are challenging, often
original; papers are well organized, filled with detail, and demonstrate a
thorough knowledge of the topic. Examples are chosen from several portions of
the work. Opinion papers are carefully argued, with detailed attention being
paid to opposing arguments and evidence. Papers receiving an "A"
are usually somewhat longer than the minimum assigned, typically a page or so
longer, though this all depends on the compactness of your writing style--a
paper which is long and diffuse does not result in a higher grade and a very
compact, exceptionally well-written paper will occasionally receive an
"A." The writing should be exceptionally clear and generally free
of mechanical errors. An "A" is given for exceptional, outstanding
work.
B Topics are acceptable, papers
well organized, containing some supporting detail, and demonstrate an
above-average knowledge of the topic. Examples are chosen from several
portions of the work. Papers are at least the minimum length assigned.
Opinion papers are carefully argued, with some attention being paid to
opposing argument and evidence. Writing is above average, containing only
occasional mechanical errors. A "B" is given for above-average
work.
C Topics
are acceptable, but simple. Paper are poorly organized, containing inadequate
detail, demonstrating only partial knowledge of the topic (focusing only on
one short passage from a work or some minor aspect of it). Papers are at
least the minimum length assigned. Opinion papers contain unsupported
assertions and ignore opposing arguments and evidence. Writing is average or
below, and mechanical errors are numerous. Paper does not appear to have been
proofread carefully. A "C" is given for average work.
D Inappropriately
chosen topic does not demonstrate more than a minimal comprehension of the
topic. Papers are at least the minimum length assigned. Opinion papers contain
unsupported assertions and ignore opposing arguments and evidence. Writing is
poor, filled with mechanical errors. Paper does not appear to have been
proofread. A "D" is given for barely acceptable work.
F Paper
is shorter than the minimum length required. Topic is unacceptable because it
does not cover more than an incidental (or unassigned) portion of the work or
does not reveal a satisfactory level of knowledge . Generalizations are
unsupported with evidence and opinion papers contain unsupported assertions
and ignore opposing arguments and evidence. Writing is not of acceptable
college-level quality. Paper does not appear to have been proofread. An
"F" is given for unsatisfactory work.
Research paper
Research papers will be judged according to the following criteria
besides those applied to the short papers:
- Coherent,
well-defined topic--should be about a narrow aspect of the work under
discussion and should not read like a broad encyclopedia article giving
an overview.
- Thorough
research, carefully incorporating sources the professor has approved or
suggested you use. Papers neglecting to use sources agreed upon between
the professor and the student will be severely graded down unless a
justification is provided explaining why the source turned out not to be
useful.
- Papers
must use articles and books from the library. Papers using only Web
sites are not acceptable.
- Papers
must follow MLA citation format. (See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html)
- Papers
will be judged on clarity, unity, logic, and readability.
- Papers
must demonstrate comprehension of the material being studied and ability
to discuss it intelligently.
For more details
on how to write the research paper for this class, see the page entitled
"Research
Paper Assignment" in The Bridge (this is not optional: you must read
and use this page).
Tips
for Collaboration and Netiquette
You are expected to read and make notes
on the assigned material, meet deadlines, actively participate in the Bridge
discussion activities, and collaborate with fellow class members to achieve
the course objectives. Appropriate professional behavior demonstrating
respect for classmates and instructors is expected.
Late Policy and Paper Revisions
Since your interaction with your
classmates is crucial to this class, any initial posts in any discussion made
after the due date for an activity will not be counted for grading purposes.
You may always submit work before the deadline if you wish; in fact, you are
encouraged to do so, and to later continue a discussion you have begun on
time. The deadline is simply the final date by which you must have the week's
work done.
In rare cases involving true emergencies I will
give permission to make up work in a threaded discussion, but in that case
your contribution to the discussion must consist of answers to all of the study
questions in the associated study guide to make up for having failed to
contribute to the ongoing discussion. Generally, if you miss a discussion
deadline, you just lose the credit associated with that assignment.
You may not make up a paper which you
have failed to hand in on time. However, if you do hand in a paper and are
dissatisfied with your grade, after consulting with me, you may revise
your paper and have your grade raised if it is significantly improved. It is
normal to revise the research paper at least once (first drafts very
frequently get a "C" or lower. Revisions will be handled on an
individual basis, and limits will be set as to the number of revisions
allowed and the time allowed to hand them in. Simply substituting phrases
that I have suggested to improve your writing does not result in an improved
grade. You have to make the sort of substantial changes I suggest in the note
I make on your paper.
Papers submitted on time may be later revised for
a possible higher grade, but not submitting a paper at all will result in an
immediate F in the course.
Incomplete Policy
- Incompletes
will be granted rarely; only in the case of unexpected dire
emergencies. The demands of other work or studies will not be accepted
as excuses for requesting an incomplete. Students should confirm that
they have plenty of free time during the period covered by the course
to work intensively on it.
- Students
who have substantially finished the course but still have a small
amount of work undone when a genuine emergency arises may request an
incomplete in writing from the professor.
- The
request must be made via regular post (snail mail), must be signed
and dated by the student, and must explain the reasons behind the
request for the incomplete. Timelines for completion will be
negotiated.
- Requests
for Incompletes will be considered only from those students who are
achieving a passing grade in the course and who have a small amount
of work left to complete.
Academic Integrity
You
are expected to uphold the WSU standard of conduct relating to academic
integrity. You assume full responsibility for the content and integrity
of the academic work you submit. The guiding principle of academic
integrity shall be that your submitted work, examinations, reports, and
projects must be your own work.
Plagiarism is: 1) submitting someone else's
work as your own, 2) copying something from another source without putting
it in quotation marks or citing a source (note: you must do both), 3) using an idea from a source without citing the source, even
when you do not use the exact words of the source. Any time you use a book,
article, or reference tool to get information or ideas which you use in a
paper, you must cite it by providing a note stating where you got the
information or idea, using MLA
parenthetical annotation. No footnotes are used in papers for this class. You do not need to cite
material from classroom lectures or discussions. If you are not certain
whether you need to cite a source, check with me in advance. See
"Helpful Hints" and Barnet (pp. 73-86) for details on how to cite
sources. Anyone caught plagiarizing will receive an "F" for the
entire course (not just the paper concerned) and be reported to Student
Affairs. If you feel you have been unjustly accused of plagiarism, you may appeal
to me; and if dissatisfied, to the departmental chair.
Disability Statement
Students with Disabilities: I am committed to providing
assistance to help you be successful in this course. Reasonable accommodations are
available for students with a documented disability. Please visit the
Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first two weeks of every
semester to seek information or to qualify for accommodations. All
accommodations MUST be approved
through the DRC (Admin Annex Bldg, Rooms 205). Call 509 335 3417 to
make an appointment with a disability counselor.
Library Support
All students enrolled in Washington State
University distance courses can use the WSU Libraries online databases
(accessible at griffin.wsu.edu) and
receive reference and research assistance from the Distance Degree Library
Services (DDLS). You can also borrow books and other circulating material
and receive photocopies of journal articles.
Visit the DDLS Web page at
www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/electric/library/index.html for library support
information, including specific information and resources for select
courses (see the list of courses using the drop down menu on the left hand side
of the page under "Find Your Course").
To complete work for this course, you may want to access WSU Library
databases. In order to do this, you will need to
- establish
a WSU Library "PIN." Create
a WSU library pin.
Go to the DDLS Web site early in the course to configure your browser and
establish your PIN. You can use the step-by-step "EZ-Guide" to
help you with this process.
The On-line Writing Lab
The
OWL is WSU's On-line Writing Lab. It is an asynchronous service that
connects you with a trained WSU Writing tutor who will provide you
narrative feedback that will help you to improve your writing. The OWL
tutors are trained to respond to the conceptual and structural issues of
your writing before they comment on issues of convention and correctness.
Expect that the tutor's comments will primarily be about the focus of your
essay, the supporting details you have provided and the organization of
those details. Tutors will comment on issues of proofreading, convention
and correctness if there are obvious patterns of error, but they will not
correct your essay for you. To share a piece of writing on the OWL, go to http://owl.wsu.edu, click on the instruction
to Introduce Yourself (login).
E-mail
I will be
returning papers and sending out occasional class announcements via e-mail
using the WSU system. However, this means that you must have a valid e-mail
address that you actually use in the WSU directory, though much important
official mail, like library fine notices, is sent out using this system. To
make sure you are listed in the directory go to http://www.wsu.edu/ and click "Find
People" and search for your name (last name first, no comma). If the
Email field is blank or lists an address other than the one you actually
use, you need to go to the eInfo Center at
http://www.it.wsu.edu/AIS/SIC/cgi-bin/info_ctr.cgi?site=SIC
Then click on "ADDRESS & E-MAIL" on the left-hand side of
the page and click on either "Change address or phone" or
"Forward my email." If you want a free WSU e-mail account, click
on "Create an e-mail account."
If you have not
received any e-mail from me by the end of the first week of class, that
means you are not using e-mail properly for this course and should get in
touch with me immediately at brians@wsu.edu.
Papers will not be graded or returned via DDP. You must use these e-mail
procedures to complete the course satisfactorily.
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