Humanities I
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Course Description
Humanities I is a one-semester survey course that explores various forms of cultural expression and artistic imagination. The course emphasizes interpretation of individual works within their cultural and historical contexts. Various media such as drama, architecture, music, dance, film, literature, philosophy, and visual arts will serve as the basis for discussion and assignments. Humanities I will focus on the culture and influences of Prehistory, Classical Greece and Rome, and the Middle Ages.
Course Goals
Students will acquire a greater understanding of and appreciation for the creativity of humanity throughout history and will develop oral and written communication skills through their examination of the various aspects of the humanities. Students will learn to analyze and critically evaluate those aspects and will acquire an interest in learning more by asking questions and seeking answers.
Course Grading
Out-of-class essays, research paper, and oral presentation: 50%
In-class essays and semester exam: 30%
Reading tests & quizzes, homework, participation: 20%
English Department Grading Scale
100 – 93:
A
92 – 86: B
85 – 75: C
74 – 70: D
Course Policies
1. Academic honesty is integral to a learning community as is class participation. Therefore instances of plagiarism and cheating may result in automatic zeroes, and active participation in the classroom process will aid in finding success in the course.
2. Essays written outside of class will be subjected to a rigorous revision, proofreading, and editing process before they are turned in. Such a process aims to improve the essay's clarity, style, and depth; it also aims to rid the essay of errors in documentation, citation, and mechanics. Therefore, essays written out of class may not be revised after they have been graded.
3. Revisions of in-class may be required or students may choose to revise in-class essays provided they conference with the teacher first. All revisions of in-class essays must be typed and double-spaced.
4. All homework and class work must be submitted on time. No late work will be accepted without penalty unless the student receives the prior consent of the instructor. The standard penalty is a one letter grade deduction for any late work.
5. The English Department keeps cumulative grades for each student all semester long. We do not grade the first quarter as one half and the second quarter as another half. Every thing you do or fail to do from the first day of class has a bearing on your final semester grade.
6. Students should be prepared for class every day. They should bring their own textbooks and any required handouts that should have been printed out from the course CD.
7. Tardies and absences will be treated in accordance with the policies found in the Student/Parent Handbook.
Course Outline
Weeks 1 & 2 8/23 – 9/7
Introduction and Chapter 1 – The Ancient World
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Weeks
3 - 6
9/10 – 10/5
Chapters 2 & 3 – Archaic Greece and Classical Greece
“Tragedy” from Aristotle’s Poetics
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
Euripides’
Medea
Field
Trip: Oriental Institu
* out-of-class essay
Weeks
7 & 8
10/9 – 10/19
Chapter 4 – The Roman Period
selections from Virgil’s
Aeneid
selections
from Caesar’s
Gallic Wars
*out-of-class essay
Weeks
9 & 10
10/22 – 11/2
Chapter 5 – Judaism & Early Christianity
selections from The Jewish Wars
Weeks
11 & 12
11/5 – 11/16
Chapter 6
* in-class essay
Weeks 13 – 18 11/19 – 1/11
Chapters 7 & 8 – The Early & High Middle Ages
selections from Dante’s Inferno
The Romance The of Tristan and Iseult
*research papers and oral presentations
* in-class es
Course Objectives Aligned to Illinois State Learning Standards
--Write logically and critically: 1B, 1C, 2B, 3B, 3C, 5B
--Use proper grammar, punctuation, and usage: 3A
--Develop precise word choice: 3A
--Vary sentence lengths and structures: 3A, 3C
--Use proper paragraph and essay format: 3B, 3C
--Develop research strategies and techniques: 1A, 1B, 1C, 3C, 5A, 5B, 5C
--Assimilate constructive verbal and written criticism regarding assignments: 2A, 4A
--Learn to critique and analyze one’s own work: 4A
--Listen and speak effectively during classroom discussions and presentations: 4A, 4B
--Perfect research paper techniques and strategies: 1A, 1B, 1C, 3C, 5A, 5B, 5C
--Analyze various texts and media through a variety of perspectives: 1A
--Read and interpret a variety of texts in their cultural and historical contexts: 2B
Workplace Skills for English Elective
--Communicate orally with others: 4B1b, 4B2b, 4B3d, 4B4b, 4Bb
--Prepare written communication: 3C2a, 3C4a, 3C5a, 3C5b
--Follow written directions: 1B2a, 1B2c, 1B3c, 1C4c
--Work with others: 4B2c, 4B2d, 4B3d, 4B4d, 4B5d
--Solving problems and thinking critically: 5A2a, 5A3a, 1C2d, 1C3d, 1C4d, 1C5d, 5A3b, 5B5a, 1C4c, 1C5c, 2B4ab, 1B5c, 5A3b, 5A4b, 5A5b, 5B5
--Work with team members and evaluate results: 4B3b, 4B4a, 4B5a, 4B5b