General Studies (GNST 300) - Lecture 02
GENERAL STUDIES 300 - HERITAGE I: PERSPECTIVE
Fall/Winter 2008/2009
T&R 1400-1515

 

Instructor:	Margo M.Husby, PhD
Office Location:	SS 310
Office Phone:	403-220-4846
E-Mail:	husby@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	W 1200-1300 or by appointment

 

Additional Information

General Studies 300 is a full-year course running from September 2008 to the end of the Winter term in April 2009

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 might 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"). 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

Students who actively engage the learning process will complete the course knowing how to:

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

2. Expand their perspectives on the development of ideas in Western Civilization;

3. Read, critically appraise and imaginatively synthesize ‘classic' texts; and

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

Textbooks and Readings:

1)  Barnet, Sylvan & Hugo Bedau "Critical Thinking Reading and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument".

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.

NOTE: Students whose programs require GNST 500 may prefer to purchase separate copies of "Classics of Western Thought II" and "Classics of Western Thought III". GNST 300 uses only a small portion of CWT III; the rest is required in GNST 500 and is not included in the custom publication.

3) Internet sites as posted by the instructor.

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

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

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

Participation: 15%

Papers:

October 2, 2008: 5%

December 4, 2008: 15%

March 12, 2009: 20%

Exams:

November 6, 2008: 10%

February 12, 2009: 10%

Registrar Scheduled Final: 25% sometime between April 20 and April 30, 2009

All exams are cumulative to some extent.

The grade of A+ is used to indicate the highest calibre of work, that which is generally above and beyond what is expected of students in a 300 level course.

Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor. If it is not possible to do so because of illness or some unexpected difficulty, 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

 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 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:

(Revised, effective September 2008)

 

	Grade Point	Grading Scale
A+	4.0	96-100
A	4.0	90-95.99
A -	3.7	85-89.99
B+	3.3	80-84.99
B	3.0	75-79.99
B-	2.7	70-74.99
C+	2.3	65-69.99
C	2.0	60-64.99
C-	1.7	55-59.99
D+	1.3	53-54.99
D	1.0	50-52.99
F	0	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

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. 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.

NOTE: 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, one of which *must* be properly used for each written assignment.

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 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 (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.

Additional Information

1)     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.

2)     GNST 300 students will have the benefit of peer mentors, namely students who have completed the course and are returning to help other students with material and a learning process they loved.  They are taking a course GNST 501.35/.38 in which they report and reflect upon their experiences as  peer mentors. Confidential information will not go to your instructor. They will not be using your name or quoting you without your written or emailed permission. However, if academic or non-academic misconduct is suspected or occurs, they must make a full report thereof. Take advantage of opportunities to work with these mentors as they are not only good students but truly delightful, supportive and kind people.

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.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site: http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

Will be posted on Blackboard