General Studies (GNST) 300A  - Lecture 03
Heritage 1 - Perspective
Fall 2008 - Winter 2009  (Weekend University)
Saturday: 8:00 a.m-12 p.m. SH 202

Class dates: September 13, 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25; November 1, 15, 22, 29; January 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14, 28; March 7, 21, 28; April 4

 

Instructor:	Dr. D. M. Nault
Office Location:	TBA
Office Phone:	TBA
E-Mail:	dmnault@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	http://blackboard.ucalgary.ca/webapps/login
Office Hours:	TBA

Course Description

General Studies (GNST) 300 provides students with an opportunity to explore and understand the origins and trajectory of Western thought from the beginnings of Western civilization to the present age. Interdisciplinary in perspective and utilizing readings on diverse themes in philosophy, religion, science, literature, economics, political theory, and art, the course focuses on the key thinkers, events and ideas that have shaped how contemporary Westerners perceive the world around them. The course does not privilege any particular ideological stance but rather aims, in an open-ended fashion, to enable students to grasp the Western mind's rules of reason, root metaphors, background assumptions, and ordering principles and how they came to be through a process of conflict and compromise over time. Where possible, efforts will be made to compare and contrast Western intellectual and aesthetic traditions with those of other world regions and assess the contributions of non-Western cultures to the evolution of the Western mindset.

Objectives of the Course

By the end of the course students should be able to

l     identify the central tenets of Western thought and their underlying assumptions

l     see commonalities between contemporary Western ideas and practices and those from the distant and recent past

l     situate their own thoughts and opinions within the Western tradition

l     develop more sophisticated viewpoints on the world around them

l     significantly improve their critical and creative thinking skills

Textbooks and Readings:

Lawrence S. Cunningham and John J. Reich, Culture and Values, Vols. I & II, 6th Edition. Belmont, Calif.: Thomson Wadsworth, 2006.

Karl F. Thompson, Classics of Western Thought: Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation, Vol. II, 4th Edition. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.

Edgar E. Knoebel, Classics of Western Thought: The Modern World, Vol. III, 4th Edition. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.

Other reading materials, when required, will be made available through the course web site at Blackboard (http://blackboard.ucalgary.ca/webapps/login).

First term Paper proposal (5%) (Due date: Oct. 4) Research paper (20%) (Due date: Nov. 29) Mid-course Exam (20%) (Dec. 6) Participation (5%)(ongoing)

Second term Paper proposal (5%) (Due date: Feb. 7) Research paper (20%) (Due date: Apr. 4) Final exam (20%) (April 18) Participation (5%)(ongoing)

Assignments and Evaluation (2 terms)

Paper proposal: Students will submit a proposal for their paper that includes the paper's title, an abstract of 150-180 words, and a bibliography of at least ten sources. A maximum of two Internet sources are permitted and they must be of high scholarly quality or value (i.e., cannot be Wikipedia or a personal web site). All other sources must be books (except for textbooks, including those used in the course) or academic articles from reputable journals. If in doubt about the validity of a source, consult the instructor. The proposal should state what the paper will be about, what the structure of the paper will be, and what the main argument will be. A template for the proposal will be provided to students once the course commences.

Research paper: The length of the paper will be 2,500 to 3,000 words. A list of possible research topics will be provided, though students may also select their own in consultation with the instructor. As this course is intended to help students see connections between the past and present regarding Western assumptions, values, and perspectives the paper should be reflective of this objective. It should also demonstrate the student's ability to think critically, support arguments with evidence, and synthesize sources. High quality papers are those that go beyond mere description by posing thought provoking questions and providing insight. They are also free of grammatical errors, logically structured, cohesive, and concise in style.

Note: Please hand in your research paper directly to the instructor in class. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of the paper before submitting it.

Mid-course/Final exam: Will test students' ability to work with the major ideas and concepts covered in the course. It will include the course readings, lecture material, and films and will consist of a combination of definitions, short and long answer questions, and exercises where students must match quotations to individuals. The mid-course exam and the final exam will be scheduled by the registrar.

Participation: Students should attend regularly and participate in class and group discussions to the best of their ability. Although lectures will form the core of the course, time will be made for students to reflect and offer their views on course themes. Depending on class size and time availability students may be asked to make brief presentations.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  YES

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline will be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

 

	Grading Scale
A+	96-100	C+	65-69.99
A	90-95.99	C	60-64.99
A -	85-89.99	C-	55-59.99
B+	80-84.99	D+	53-54.99
B	75-79.99	D	50-52.99
B-	70-74.99	F	0-49

 

Where a grade on a particular assignment is expressed as a letter grade, it will normally be converted to a number using the midpoint of the scale.  That is, A- would be converted to 87.5 for calculation purposes.  F will be converted to zero.

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be handed out in class and posted on Blackboard.