General Studies (GNST) 300 - Lecture 60
GNST 300 - Heritage I: Perspective
Summer 2006
Lec MTWR 14:00 Tut TBA

 

Instructor:	Ms. Sharon Mah
Office Location:	SS351
Office Phone:	210-8164
E-Mail:	mahs@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	By Appointment

Course Description

In General Studies 300 we will examine texts from Western civilization to understand some of the core concepts underlying Western cultural values, beliefs, and perceptions. Fundamental concepts such as knowledge, love, justice, and freedom have shaped how individuals, communities, and governments perceive themselves, others, and how they act in the personal, national, and global arena. These concepts, however, are not static; rather they are open to challenges. As students in the course, you will be asked to question and to develop new ways of understanding these core concepts.

Objectives of the Course

1) To develop an understanding about Western cultural ideas 2) To learn to evaluate and critique Western ideas

Textbooks and Readings:

GNST 300 Reading Package (Summer, L60)

Knoebel, Edgar E. (ed.). (1998). Classics of Western Thought, Vol. 3– The Modern World, 4th Edition. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Thompson, Karl E. (ed.). (1988). Classics of Western Thought, Vol. 2 – Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, 4th Edition. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Assignments and Evaluation

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

Course Method:

1) Lectures and tutorials are organized around the readings in the syllabus, which should be read before class. Lectures and tutorials will provide a direction towards understanding the course. However, they are not substitutes for reading.

2) Assignments: There are 2 essays, 2 exams and 1 quiz in this course to help students synthesize the ideas they have learned.

3) Completion: All assignments, quizzes and exams must be completed in order to get credit for the course.

Summary of Assignments and Exams:

Assignments

Essay1: Review, 15%, July 17, 10-12 pages

Essay2: Synthesis, 25%, Aug. 8, 10-12 pages

Quizzes and Exams

Quiz # 1: 10%, July 4, In class

Midterm Exam: 20%, July 26, In class.

Final Exam: 25%, TBA, Registrar Scheduled

Tutorial Participation: 5%, Ongoing

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.