General Studies (GNST) 500 L02
Heritage II: Integration
Fall/Winter 2008/2009

 

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, preferably, by appointment

Prerequisite General Studies 300.

Additional Information

General Studies 500 is required for all students in Major programs in the Faculty of Communication & Culture.

General Studies 500 is a full course, running from September 2008 to the end of Winter semester in April 2009.

Course Description

General Studies 500 picks up where General Studies 300 leaves off, at the end of the eighteenth century when Western Civilization seemed positively agog at the potential of human reason. From there we move to the 21st century, from which vantage point we can see how reason has both served humanity well and contributed to global chaos. In order to provide structure for the examination of ideas, we will use the framework of mythic questions as outlined by Sam Keen and Anne Valley-Fox (1989). 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 the texts being examined. We will also explore the consequences to individuals, families, communities and cultures when those stories, rituals, rites and customs no longer provide meaning.

Objectives of the Course

Students who take active responsibility for their learning will complete the course knowing how to:

--utilize appropriate critical communication skills;

--determine the relationships among ideas in Western civilization

--apply appropriate cognitive skills to the evaluation of Western civilization;

--begin to hypothesize solutions to ongoing challenges faced by Western civilization.

Textbooks and Readings:

Gochberg, Donald S. ed. (1980) "Classics of Western Thought, Vol. IV--The Twentieth Century". San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Harrison, Charles Yale (2007) "Generals Die in Bed." Annick Press. (Reprint edition)

Knoebel, Edgar E. ed. (1988) "Classics of Western Thought, Vol. III--The Modern World". 4th edition. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Levi, Primo (1995) "Survival in Auschwitz." Touchstone Press.

Mowat, Farley (1982) "And No Birds Sang." Seal Books.

B: Suggested supplementary reading:

Benton, Janetta Rebold and Robert DiYanni. (1998) Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities, Volume II. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, Inc. OR

Benton, Janetta Rebold and Robert DiYanni. (1999) Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities, Combined Edition. Upper Saddle River: Prentice- Hall, Inc.

C: Interesting and enjoyable extra-curricular reading suggestion:

Gaarder, Jostein (1991) "Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy". Paulette Moller, trans. Berkley Books.

Assignments and Evaluation

All assignments and exams are deliberately constructed to help students develop their thinking skills per Bloom's Taxonomy that is posted on the class Blackboard site under "Course Information."

Complete assignment details will be on Blackboard under "Course Information."

There are four (4) types of assessment:

1) In class quizzes @10% each: 20% total

October 29, 2008 & February 25, 2009

 2) Registrar Scheduled Term Exams:

December 2008 15%; April 2009 20%

3) Participation project: 15%

4) Final synthesis & evaluation question: 30%

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor. If it is not possible to do so because of illness or other unexpected event, 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

I have a zero tolerance policy towards any kind of academic misconduct. Academic misconduct includes cheating during exams and all forms of plagiarism. 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 that encourages and validates individual thinking, expression and creativity. The penalty for plagiarism is an automatic F in the course and the potential for suspension or expulsion from the University. Consider this a practical skill you must have in order to pass the course; ignorance is not an acceptable excuse.

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.

NOTE: All assignments and quizzes will be graded with the understanding that students have read and integrated academic policies into their writing processes and products.

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.

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