Course Outline

Course: UNYP 41210 Great Books: Western
Credits: 3 semester credits / 6 ECTS
Length: 1 semester (15 weeks)
In-class contact hours: 45
Language of Instruction: English
Level: Lower-level course in a bachelor's degree program
Pre-requisites: C- or better in English Composition 1
Teaching methods: Lectures, readings, discussion

Class times, rooms
Tuesdays 12:00 - 15:00, Room 22

Instructor


Catalog Description
Examination of great books which have shaped cultures and values, or represent ways of life in the western tradition in classical, medieval, and modern times such as the Illiad, Aeneid, Bible, Divine Comedy, The Prince, Don Quixote, Faust.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
* describe in outline the intellectual history of the West;
* understand the requirements and characteristics of scholarly work;
* critically interpret and evaluate the major themes of the course readings;
* relate those themes to a social and historical context.

To successfully complete the course, students will:
* develop coherent, sustained arguments or interpretations in writing, supported by appropriate examples;
* use research skills to discover material relevant for course work;
* articulate ideas, and respond to the ideas of others, in the context of group discussions;
* manage self and time to successfully meet course requirements, including preparation (homework and studying), attendance, active participation, and the timely submission of assignments.

General Education Requirements
A grade of C- or better in this course satisfies the General Education requirements in the following categories:

Western Civilization
Students will:
* demonstrate knowledge of the development of the distinctive features of the history, institutions, economy, society, culture, etc., of Western civilization; and
* relate the development of Western civilization to that of other regions of the world.

Humanities
Students will demonstrate:
* knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least one of the humanities in addition to those encompassed by other knowledge areas required by the general education program.

The competencies of Critical Thinking / Reasoning and Information Management are infused throughout this course.

Critical Thinking / Reasoning
Students will:
* identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments as they occur in their own or others' work; and
* develop well-reasoned arguments.

Information Management
Students will:
* perform the basic operations of personal computer use;
* understand and use basic research techniques; and
* locate, evaluate and synthesize information from a variety of sources.

Required Readings, Viewings, Listenings
Chronological listing:
Plato, Apology (c. 399 - 387 BCE); orig. Attic Greek
Horace, Odes (selections) (23 BCE; 13 BCE); orig. Latin
Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532); orig. Italian
Michel de Montaigne, Essais (selections) (1580; 1588; 1595); orig. French
William Shakespeare, King Lear (c. 1603)
Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations (selections) (1776)
Jane Austin, Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (selections) (1835, 1840); orig. French
Walt Whitman, Song of Myself (1855)
Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents (1930); orig. German
Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media (1964)
Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49 (1966)

All readings are available on reserve in paper format in the UNYP library, and in electronic format on NetLearn (login and password required).

Course Requirements, with estimated workloads
* Quizzes (best 9 out of 11) - 1 hour of preparation per quiz, 9 hours total
* Homework (best 10 out of 12) - 1 hour preparation per short paper, 10 hours total
* Essays (3) - 10 hours preparation, writing, and revising per essay - 30 hours total
* Active participation in class meetings, individual meetings - 3 hours per week in class plus individual consultations, 37 hours total
* Weekly readings / viewings / listenings - 7 hours per reading week, 84 hours total

Total estimated workload for the semester: 170 hours

Criteria for Determination of Grade, including evaluation methods
* 15 % Quizzes
* 15 % Homework
* 15 % Participation
* 15 % Essay 1
* 20 % Essay 2
* 20 % Essay 3

Criteria for evaluating specific assignments are included with the assignment.

General Requirements
* All course work is governed by the UNYP Honor Code, and students are expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity in their work. All students are expected to be familiar with the UNYP Honor Code.
* All readings / viewings / listenings should be completed before that week's class meeting; they form the basis of that week's work in class.
* Students should have a copy (paper or electronic) of the week's readings at each class meeting.
* Mobile phones should be on silent; no calling or texting during class meetings (wait until the breaks).
* All media and communication devices, including computers, may not be used in ways that distract you or other students from our work during class meetings.
* Unless otherwise specified, papers / essays are due by email.
* Late work is not accepted.
* Missed work / assignments / assessments may not be made up.

Students with disabilities
Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact their teacher as soon as possible to discuss reasonable accommodation.

Grading scale
A: Outstanding work
B: Good work, distinctly above average
C: Acceptable work
D: Work that is significantly below average
F: Work that does not meet minimum standards for passing the course

Specific grading criteria are included with each assignment.

Technology Expectations
* Regular use of word processing software
* Regular use of internet
* Regular use of online databases
* Regular use of UNYP NetLearn
* Regular use of email.

Please note that this course makes substantial use of a course blog and electronic communciation via email. Regular checking of the course blog and the email address listed for you in UNYP's database is required.