General Studies (GNST) 300 - Lecture 98
GENERAL STUDIES 300 - HERITAGE I:PERSPECTIVE
Fall 2006
Saturday 0800-11:45  

Instructor:	Dr. Margo Husby Scheelar
Office Location:	SS 310
Office Phone:	220-4846
E-Mail:	husby@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	by appointment

Additional Information

General Studies 300 is a full-year course running from September 2006 to the end of the Winter term 2007.

Fall 2006 class dates are:

September 16, 23, 30

October 14, 21, 28 (Please note that October 28 is not on the regular WU schedule.)

November 4, 18, 25

Winter 2007 class dates are:

January 13, 20, 27

February 3, 10

March 3, 10, 24, 31 (Please note that the March 31 class is not on the regular WU schedule.)

Students will also have the opportunity to work with peer mentor, Steve Robinson, in ongoing study group meetings at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Course Description

General Studies 300 is an exciting, albeit often frustrating, exploration of ideas that are seen as the foundations of Western Civilization. Our lives are, in part, defined by everything that has gone on before us. We are influenced by the past whether or not we know it; so we may as well know it. 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: xi) 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.

Instructional staff and students are expected to prepare for and contribute in class by reading, thinking, researching and questioning. Discussion will be encouraged in tutorials in an atmosphere in which differing ideas and beliefs are treated with respect even while being debated. Your participation in class discussions is crucial in understanding this material.

Objectives of the Course

1. Thinking critically about the fundamental cultural assumptions of Western Civilization;

2. Gaining a perspective on the development of ideas in Western Civilization;

3. Learning how to read, critically appraise and imaginatively synthesize ‘classic’ texts; and

4. Developing the ability to create and support a thesis about the ideas in Western Civilization.

Textbooks and Readings:

1) Book of Readings for GNST 300 L02 and L98 -- available at the bookstore -- be certain you get the Fall 2006 & Winter 2007 one with "Instructor: M. Husby Scheelar, PhD" on the cover. This text will be referred to in the reading schedule as RP.

2) "Classics of Western Thought, Volumes II and III" custom publication from Thomas Nelson compiled specifically for GNST 300 L02 and L98. This text will be referred to in class and in the reading schedule as CWT.

3) Huntsman, Jon M. (2005) "Winners Never Cheat: Everyday Values We Learned As Children (But May Have Forgotten)". Wharton School Publishing. This book is required for writing both the Fall and Winter term papers.

Recommended but *not* required:

Cunningham, Lawrence and John J.Reich. (2002) "Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities (Alternate Edition with InfoTrac)". Wadsworth. This text contains background information on the centuries covered in GNST 300. Material in it is not included in examinations so is for your information only; such information is very useful in contextualizing the material we do study.

Assignments and Evaluation

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

STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE.

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.

Please do NOT use any digital drop-box or email; hard-copy only.

Participation: 15%

Class Presentation 15% (signed up for and done throughout the year)

Papers:

10% - December 9, 2006 (WU exam date)

20% - March 17, 2007

Exams:

10 % -- November 18

10% -- February 3

20% -- April 14 (WU final exam date)

The A+ grade is reserved for superior work, generally that which is above and beyond what is normally expected of a student in a 300 level course.

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

Good communication skills are essential. Grammar, spelling and formatting abilities may not be accurate measurements of intellectual depth but errors are distractions at best and, unfortunately, communicate laziness and sloppiness. 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 (see the section in this outline on Plagiarism).

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+/A (4.0); A- (3.7); B+ (3.3); B (3.0); B- (2.7); C+ (2.3);
C (2.0); C- (1.7); D+ (1.3); D (1.0); F (0)

 

Plagiarism

Academic integrity is the cornerstone of genuine learning. For this reason, I have a policy of zero tolerance of plagiarism or cheating on exams.

Plagiarism is the ultimate denial of one’s own intellect, the ultimate academic betrayal of self, the ultimate academic cowardice. There is no excuse for plagiarism, especially in this course since it encourages and validates individual thinking, expression and creativity. 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.

The penalty for plagiarism is an automatic F in the course and the potential for suspension or expulsion. The explanation of plagiarism is included in this course outline and students will be held responsible for knowing the information contained therein; ignorance will not be considered an acceptable excuse. Consider the development of citation skills to be something you must have in order to pass the course. The Effective Writing office has handouts on MLA and APA standards, either of which is acceptable in this course.

The University Calendar describes plagiarism as follows:

Essentially plagiarism involves submitting or presenting work in a course as if it were the student’s own work done expressly for that particular course when, in fact, it is not. Most commonly, plagiarism exists when: (a) the work submitted or presented was done, in whole or in part, by an individual other than the one submitting or presenting the work (this includes having another impersonate the student or otherwise substituting the work of another for one’s own in an examination or test); (b) parts of the work are taken from another source without reference to the original author; (c) the whole work (e.g. an essay) is copied from another source, [including the internet]; and/or (d) a student submits or presents work in one course which has also been submitted in another course (although it may be completely original with that student) without the knowledge of or prior agreement of the instructor involved. While it is recognized that scholarly work often involves reference to the ideas, data and conclusions of other scholars, intellectual honesty requires that such references be explicitly and clearly noted. Plagiarism is an extremely serious academic offence. (http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/How/HOW_LB.htm, emphasis mine)

Information on the definition of, penalties for and consequences of Academic Misconduct may be found in the University Calendar, on the University’s website, and at www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS110) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Additional Information

GNST 300 also has a zero tolerance policy re any type of non-academic misconduct, including but not limited to abuse or harassment of students or faculty. Genuine learning can only take place when everyone feels safe and is safe. Mutual respect is possible even when we strongly disagree with each other: attacking issues is acceptable; attacking each other is not. Questioning and even disagreeing with how an exam or assignment has been graded is acceptable; insulting, threatening or stalking faculty members is not.

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 posted on Blackboard.