General Studies (GNST) 300 - Lecture 96
HERITAGE I - PERSPECTIVE
Fall 2006
FALL / WINTER 2006-2007 SATURDAY 13:00 - 17:00  

Instructor:	Dr. Lynda Hall
Office Location:	SS 1039
Office Phone:	220-8175
E-Mail:	lhall@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	by appt.

Additional Information

PRE-SESSION STUDY: Given that the first class in Weekend University is four hours long, it is essential that students prepare for the class by reading the material that will be discussed in the class. Please read the following before our first class on Sept. 16th:

Rollo May, “What is a Myth?” in the Book of Readings

Sam Keen, “Preface”. Your Mythic Journey in the Book of Readings

Excerpt from The Epic of Gilgamesh in Culture & Values Vol. I. pp. 30-31.

Homer and the Homeric Age in C & V Vol. I. pp. 35-39.

Excerpt from Homer’s Iliad in C & V Vol. I. pp. 56-64.

Sappho, selected poems in C & V Vol. I. p. 64.

Read the selections in the order listed, so that the questions raised in the first two inform your reading of the rest. On pages xv-xvi of the Keen selection, Keen provides a list of questions that all mythologies answer. Consider these. There will be a half-hour test on the 1st day of class based on the readings above worth 5% of the final grade.

Course Description

General Studies 300 is an exciting exploration of ideas that are seen as the foundations of Western Civilization. Heritage I is a critical engagement with the evolving fundamental assumptions of Western Civilization from the Ancient World to the outbreak of the French Revolution (1789). Our lives are, in part, defined by everything that has gone on before us. By examining the readings that our society views as exemplary, we can gain insight both into the past as well as into our own lives. To address this extensive material we will use the framework of mythic questions as outlined by Sam Keen and Anne Valley-Fox (“Your Mythic Journey" in Book of Readings). We will examine the "intricate set of interlocking stories, rituals, rites and customs that inform and give the pivotal sense of meaning and direction to a person, family, community, or culture" (Keen & Valley-Fox: xv-xvi) as those stories, rituals, rites and customs are revealed in some of the many classic texts that have informed, and formed Western Civilization over the centuries. The approach is strongly interdisciplinary inasmuch as the fundamental assumptions are drawn out through an analysis and synthesis of 'classic' texts from diverse fields: myth, philosophy, political theory, literature (poetry, drama, satire), economics, theology, etc.

Attending class is crucial to your success in this course. Students are expected to prepare for and contribute in class by reading, thinking, researching and questioning. Discussion will be encouraged in an atmosphere in which differing ideas and beliefs are treated with respect even while being debated.

Objectives of the Course

(1) thinking critically about the evolving cultural assumptions of Western Civilization by confronting the underlying questions and answers articulated by classic texts;

(2) gaining a 'perspective' on the whole by learning how to create overviews of the evolution of the West through a comparative analysis of fundamental assumptions;

(3) becoming more conscious through the development of skills associated with reading, writing, discussion, critical analysis, and imaginative synthesis.

Textbooks and Readings:

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

Lynda Hall, ed. GNST 300 L96 Book of Readings Fall 2006-Winter 2007. The Book of Readings is available at the Bookstore.

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

Assignments:

1. Pre-Session Study Test, 5%

2. Class Presentation, 5%. Each student will complete one class presentation at one point throughout the course. The presentations are based on readings in Culture & Values and in the Book of Readings. Length: ten minutes for the oral presentation; 1000 words for the written presentation.

3. In-Class Critical Writings, 10%. The Critical Writings are based on readings in Culture & Values and in the Book of Readings. The best 10 out of 11 will comprise the mark.

4. Term Paper #1: Comparison, 15%; Due Nov. 25 (in lecture); 7-8 pages (double-spaced);

5. Term Paper #2: Synthesis, 20%; Due March 24 (in lecture), 10-11 pages (double-spaced)

6. Midterm Exam, 20%, Dec. 9, 2 hours

7. Final Exam, 25%, April 14, 3 hours

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

A+ (96-100)

A (92-95) Excellent, superior performance, showing comprehensive understanding of subject matter

A- (86-91)

B+ (81-85)

B (77-80) Good, clearly above average performance with knowledge of subject matter generally complete

B- (71-76)

C+ (65-70)

C (62-64) Satisfactory, basic understanding of subject matter

C- (59-61)

D+ (55-58) Minimal Pass, marginal performance

D (50-54)

F (0-49) Fail, unsatisfactory performance or failure to meet course requirements

Students must complete all assignments and examinations for a passing grade in the course, with the exception of the In-Class Critical Writings.

Note: Please return assignments directly to the instructor if possible. 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.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: Yes

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may 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 wish help with your writing at any stage, including drafts, you are invited to contact the Writing Centre, SS110, 220-7255.

Grading System

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

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. 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 (SS110) 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/info

"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.