COLLIN COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS – HUMN 1301 – FALL 2009

M/W and T/TH Classes

WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME!

COURSE NUMBER: HUMANITIES 1301

COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMANITIES

PROFESSOR: Dallie Clark

OFFICE: B-117 Spring Creek Campus (Inside the B-115 Office Suite)

PHONE: 972-578-5533 (but email is the best way to reach me)

FAX: 972-881-5629 (to my attention)

OFFICE HRS: T/TH 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., M/W 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. and by appointment

WEBSITE: http://iws.ccccd.edu/dclark

EMAIL: dclark@ccccd.edu

LEC: 3 hours CR: 3 hrs.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the Humanities focuses on the study and appreciation of representative examples of visual and performing arts, literature, music and religion of various world cultures. The exploration of interrelationships of the arts and their philosophies emphasizes the nature of humankind and the need to create.

TEXTBOOKS/Materials:

· Sayre, Henry & Bonds, Mark – Discovering Humanities (Collin College Custom Edition)

(Note: You'll be using the online resources for this textbook as well)

· Pearl, Matthew – The Poe Shadow (This is our 2009 Collin “Book-in-Common”)

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES FOR THE HUMANITIES DISCIPLINE:

· Analyze primary works in the arts and humanities in terms of how they contribute to the meaning of human experience.

· Demonstrate knowledge of the skills involved in creating art and performance.

· Identify aesthetic principles of the arts and humanities.

· Select and use the vocabulary of the humanities at an appropriate intellectual level.

· Identify works in the arts and humanities within a historical framework.

· Describe a personal response to works of the arts and humanities from within an intercultural context

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Ø Museum Field Trip/Review OR Live Performance/Review

Ø Book-in-Common Participation and Assignment(s) Completion

Ø Creative Project (instructions TBA)

Ø Group PowerPoint Research Presentation (instructions TBA)

Ø Two tests and a final exam

Ø Active class participation/regular attendance and cooperation in group activities

Ø Participation will including using the "MyHumanitiesKit" online resources

METHOD OF PRESENTATION: This course will include lecture, film, PowerPoint, open discussions, collaborative group work, music, possible guest speakers, and participation in art.

METHOD OF EVALUATION:

Field Trip/Review or Live Performance/Review 100

Book-in-Common Assignment(s) 100

Test #1 100

Test #2 100

Creative Project 100

Group Research Project - Group Grade 100

Individual Grade 100

Attendance/Participation 100

Final Exam - Part One 100

Part Two (Separate Take-Home) 100

Total possible 1000/10 = Final Grade

Divided by 10, a total of 1000 points translates to a “100,” and so on. The grading scale is as follows: A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=59 and below. A “D” may not be transferable to another college or university. All grades will be posted on Blackboard CE, which you can access through Cougarweb. Extra credit points TBA! Yea!

COLLIN COLLEGE STUDENT HANDBOOK – You are responsible for reading and understanding the information provided in the most current Collin College Student Handbook. These are free of charge and available at the Student Life office - plus they feature a great calendar!

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY: I take attendance at every class. Please make every effort to be on time so you won’t disturb others. Excessive tardiness (15 minutes) may result in a marked absence. Sleeping in class or leaving early without reason may also result in a marked absence. Although your attendance/participation comprises only 10% of your grade, excessive absences (7 or more) may result in failing the class, so speak to me if you're having attendance issues/problems.

· 0 absences=100 pts, 1=95 pts, 2=90 pts, 3=85—and then your absences are more weighted - 4 missed classes = 75, 5 missed classes = 65, and 6 missed classes = 55, and 7 or more = subject to fail the entire course with a “0” for attendance. An engaged spirit of participation or lack thereof can affect this final calculation.

· Friendly Suggestion: Get the names and email addresses of at least TWO classmates (“study buddies”) in case you miss a class. Always check the calendar since you are responsible for any work you miss. For an absence not to negatively affect your grade, please contact me and I will consider the circumstances. Therefore, a doctor’s note, funeral info, etc. is helpful. The key is to communicate with me.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – Important! Check your Cougarmail often for any general announcements and information. If I send a group email to the class, it will be through Cougarmail.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: If you plan to observe a religious holy day during the semester, please follow the procedures as outlined in the most current Collin Student Handbook, which includes filing a written request with me during the first 15 days of the semester for an excused absence. See the handbook for other pertinent details.

FREE COUNSELING SERVICES: Life happens…need to talk with someone? The purpose of the Collin College counseling offices is "to promote the personal growth of students within an environment that encourages empowerment through responsibility and choice." Professional counselors are available to all Collin students on every campus about any issue you are dealing with…stress, substance abuse, time management, etc. The SCC Counseling office is located in C-225, and the number is 972-881-5126.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: Withdrawal procedures are your responsibility. Friday, October 16, 2009, is the last day to withdraw with a W.** See info from the Fall 2009 Registration Guide, p. 5: "Prior to withdrawing, students should talk with their professor(s) and/or their advisors. Students who need to drop or withdraw from class(es) may do so in the Student Development Center at any campus. Students may also drop or withdraw by mail…The postmark date is the official drop/withdrawal date. Signatures are required on mailed requests. Note the withdrawal dates in the calendar (see p. 3) and consult the current Collin College Catalog for more details.  NOTE: Failure to drop or withdraw on or before the Last Day to Withdraw will result in a performance grade…Classes dropped after the Census Date [Sept. 8, 2009] will appear on the student’s official transcript with a “W” but have no effect on grade point average. Contact the Admissions and Records Office for details. Transfer students should contact Academic Advising for further information." (Fall 2009 Registration Guide, p. 6)

REPEATING COURSES: “A course in which a grade (including ‘W’) has been received can be repeated only one time to replace the grade. Registration holds will be placed on courses that have been attempted twice.” (Fall 2009 Registration Guide, p. 6)

**WITHDRAWAL LEGISLATION: Please read the information outlined in the most recent Collin College Handbook and Registration Guide regarding withdrawal dates and Texas Legislation TEC51.907.  “TEC51.907 states that students who enroll for the first time during the fall 2007 semester or any subsequent semester are subject to the course drop limit of six course drops.  This includes any course a transfer student has dropped at another institution.  Collin College will begin to count dropped courses starting with the fall 2009 semester.” (Fall 2009 Registration Guide, p. 5)

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE: It is the policy of Collin College to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. This college will adhere to all applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required affording equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the ACCESS Office, SCC-G200 or 972-881-5898, (V/TDD-881-5950) in a timely manner if he/she desires to arrange for accommodations.

OTHER POLICIES AND INFORMATION:

In-Class Behavior - I enjoy a lively, conversational class, as long as you behave with dignity and show respect for everyone around you, i.e. no profanity, rude behavior, or derogatory remarks. Students who do not comply with these rules will be reported to the Dean of Students and possibly removed from the class. Notify me immediately if someone is disturbing your learning environment. Let's enjoy the semester together!

All electronic devices must be completely turned off in class, i.e. laptops, cell phones, cameras, recorders, etc. See me regarding special circumstances.

Email – Please send me email through the regular Cougarmail, not through Blackboard, which I do not see as often. It is your responsibility to check your "Cougarmail" often since I frequently use it to communicate with the entire class or with students on an individual basis. NOTE: If you are sending me an email, please write in clear, concise sentences using proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Please don't “text” me! J

Blackboard CE – You are responsible for keeping track of your own grades via Blackboard CE and notifying me of any discrepancies/issues you encounter.

Due Dates: Assignments should be turned in to me in class on respective due dates. As a rule, I do not accept late work unless you have petitioned me about an extremely extenuating circumstance. If I accept late work, it will be docked 10% for each calendar day (not class day) it is late. If you are absent on the day an assignment is due, it is still your responsibility to make sure I’ve received it on or before the due date in my mailbox (B-189 before 5 p.m.) or via email and then followed up with a printed copy by the next class period. Don't assume I've received an email assignment unless I've acknowledged receipt of it. Any exceptions to the late work policy will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

Exams – As a rule, no make-up exams will be allowed unless you have contacted me regarding an extremely extenuating circumstance. Any exceptions to the exam policy will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. To optimize exam grades, attend class regularly, do assigned readings, take proficient notes of all class discussion, and use study resources (e.g. "My Humanities Kit").

MLA format for Citations – "Modern Language Association” style should be used for papers unless otherwise noted. I will discuss this in class with you and give you online resources.

Computer Labs and Writing Centers are available on every campus for students who do not have access to a computer and/or need help with grammar, content, editing and other writing issues. All campuses have computer and writing labs. The SCC Writing Center is on the second floor of the library – and I highly recommend you use this helpful resource!

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism and/or dishonesty are serious offenses. Other than sources documented and cited according to MLA standards, all work submitted for a grade must be your own original work and never before submitted for a grade in any previous or current course. Submitting works by other writers (especially Web-based) as one's own original work in this course, i.e. plagiarism, constitutes grounds for failure on the assignment and/or the course. The “Student Code of Conduct,” which can be found in the current Collin College handbook is below. Please feel free to ask me or a Collin librarian about any concerns/questions about this issue.

7-2.3 Scholastic Dishonesty

The College District may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one (1) or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, and/or falsifying academic records.

Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.

Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet files, using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.

Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; and allowing a classmate to copy answers. Students found guilty of scholastic dishonesty will receive an authorized disciplinary penalty from the Dean of Students Office, and they may also receive an academic penalty in the course where the scholastic dishonesty took place. The professor will determine the appropriate academic penalty.

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Ø Questions? Please let me know if anything on this syllabus is unclear to you. Let's enjoy a challenging, eye-opening semester together! I look forward to working with you!

Ø I've made a genuine attempt to be sure the information in this syllabus is correct and will enhance your learning environment. Please notify me of any discrepancies or concerns.