UCCP 101 Cultural Perspectives I Samford University

Syllabus Fall 2003

COURSE SECTIONS

UCCP 101-23 meets in Brooks 223B, TR 8:00-9:50

UCCP 101-32 meets in Brooks 223B, TR 1:00-2:50

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor: Shannon Flynt, Department of Classics

Email: srflynt@samford.edu - OR - srflynt@yahoo.com

Office: Brooks 210

Phone: 726-2551

Office Hours: TR 3:00 — 4:00, and by appointment

UCCP 101 WEB SITE

http://www.samford.edu/schools/artsci/history/UCCP101.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

“UCCP 101 is the first in a two-semester sequence that views the Western intellectual tradition within a global context. Through interdisciplinary study, students will increase their awareness of the cultural, historical, literary, philosophical and religious influences upon the development of civilizations.”

As a required course, Cultural Perspectives is intended to serve as a basis for the rest of a student’s education at Samford. It expects students to acquire both a specific body of knowledge, as well as certain skills and tools that will be useful during their academic career and after they leave Academia.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

· To develop a true love of learning

· To be culturally and intellectually literate

· To develop critical listening, thinking and analytical skills

· To value a variety of cultures, historical periods, and types of literature; as well as a variety of ideas, beliefs and opinions

TEXTS TO BE PURCHASED

R. Fisk and J. Mayfield, Cultural Perspectives: A Sourcebook , Volume I (2002)

Homer, The Iliad (Fagles translation)

Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays (Fagles translation)

Virgil, The Aeneid (Mandelbaum translation)

Saint Augustine, Confessions (Chadwick translation)

Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

Leon-Portilla, ed., The Broken Spears

ON RESERVE AT THE SU LIBRARY

All of the above texts

The Koran

Herrigel, Zen in the Art of Archery

Wilken, The Christians As the Romans Saw Them

Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization

The Lais of Marie de France

Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales

Machiavelli, The Prince

Booth, Colomb & Williams, eds., The Craft of Research

Any additional and/or supplemental readings for the course

COURSE REQUIREMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING

Final letter grades for the course will be plus/minus, and are based on the following:

Attendance and Participation	10%
Quizzes	10%
Thoughtful Essay	15%
Two Regular Exams	20% each
Final Exam (comprehensive)	25%

Grading Scale

A	93 - 100	C	73 - 76
A-	90 - 92	C-	70 - 72
B+	87 - 89	D+	67 - 69
B	83 - 86	D	63 – 66
B-	80 - 82	D-	60 - 62
C+	77 - 79	F	0 - 59

Your grades are always available for your inspection; all you need do is make an appointment with your instructor to check them.

Assignments

Assignments are due on the dates listed on the course schedule. Late assignments will not be accepted. No assignment may be submitted by email; all work must be handed in, printed out, in person. Be sure to keep an extra hard copy of all the work that you submit in this course.

Make-up Policy

Class participation grades are not eligible for any kind of make-up exercise, nor are the quizzes on the readings. In the case of a missed exam, a make-up exam will be given only in the case of an excused absence, and with prior notification.

All make-up exams will be given Wednesday, December 3.

Students will not be permitted to reschedule the final exam.

CLASS POLICIES

Attendance and Participation

The Cultural Perspectives courses are based in part on class discussion and student participation. It is essential that each student attend every class and, having done the assigned reading, be ready and able to participate. More than four absences over the course of the semester will result in a failing grade in this course.

( Please consult your 2003-2004 Samford University Catalog, p.37, for more information on attendance policies at Samford.)

Each day we meet you are evaluated on your participation during that class period. These individual grades form the basis for the overall participation grade in the class. While actively listening and paying close attention are always required and are certainly highly valued, you are also expected to verbally participate (when it is appropriate!) in discussion with your instructor and your colleagues. If you have not done the reading and are not prepared for the day's discussion, you may be asked to leave the class.

Classroom Etiquette

Your demeanor in the classroom also influences your participation grade. You are expected to be on time for class and stay the entire period. Common (but essential!) rules of courtesy always apply. Only one person talks at a time. Our class meetings are not the place for naps, extracurricular reading or drawing, working on assignments for other classes, personal grooming, or personal conversations. Cell phones, pagers, CD players, personal satellite systems, etc., etc., must be turned off while you are in class. If one of these electronic devices goes off during the class period, the owner of the offending machine loses all participation points for that week.

You are required especially to show the proper respect to your colleagues while you are in this class. While there may be differences of opinion from time to time, during class discussions, these disagreements occur only on the intellectual level, and no personal comments or attacks will be tolerated.

Academic Integrity

"Students, upon enrollment, enter into voluntary association with Samford University. They must be willing to observe high standards of intellectual integrity; they must respect knowledge and practice academic honesty. Those who cheat on an examination or class assignment are not only academically dishonest, but also completely deficient in the scholarly maturity necessary to college study. Those detected in dishonesty are subject to severe punishment. The more dependence on cheating, the more inevitable becomes ultimate failure, often accompanied by public disgrace."

(Samford University Catalog, 2003-2004, p.36)

Inclusive Language Statement

"Language - how it is used and what it implies - plays a crucial role in Samford University's mission to 'nurture persons.' Because verbal constructions create realities, inclusive language can uphold or affirm those whom we seek to nurture, while exclusive language can damage or defeat them. We therefore actively seek a discourse in our University community that supports the equal dignity and participation of men and women; we seek to avoid verbal constructions that diminish the equal dignity of all persons. It is an affirmative - and affirming - part of our mission to educate students, staff, and faculty in the creation of a community of equality and respect through language."

(Samford University Catalog, 2003-2004, p.2)

Students with Disabilities

Samford University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who seek accommodations must make their request by contacting Disability Support Services located in Counseling Services on the lower level of Pittman Hall, or call 726-4078. A faculty member will grant reasonable accommodations only upon written notification from the Disability Support Services.

In addition, students with special needs should speak with their instructor as soon as possible, so that every effort can be made to accommodate all reasonable requests.

** Every effort will be made to adhere to the schedule of readings and assignments listed for this course; however, your instructor reserves the right to make any modifications that may become necessary over the course of the semester.**