Course Syllabus: HUM 1020 Critical Thinking and Ethics

Arts & Philosophy Department – West Campus

Course Syllabus: HUM 1020 – Critical Thinking and Ethics

Term: 16 Week Syllabus

What is a syllabus?

• A contract between the student and the instructor
• A written guide and orientation to the course and its expectations
• A written document of the policies and procedures relative to the course

MDC Mission Statement

• The Mission of Miami Dade College is to change lives through the opportunity of education.
• As democracy’s college, MDC provides high-quality teaching and learning experiences that are accessible and affordable to meet the needs of our diverse students and prepare them to be responsible global citizens and successful lifelong learners. The College embraces its responsibility to serve as an economic, cultural and civic beacon in our community.

Course Description

• An integral approach to the humanities: creative ideas, works, and accomplishments of various cultures from the areas of art, architecture, dram, music, literature and philosophy are presented. (3 hr. lecture)
• Gordon Rule class
• 3 Credits

Course Objectives

Course Requirements:

Attendance: Regular attendance is the primary requirement to success in this course. We will be carrying out a dialogue with each other, as well as with the authors of the various readings. Lectures will contain most of the needed material for tests. Classroom discussion will be determined by active participation in the discussions and by attendance (i.e.-a very vocal person who hardly comes to class will not score as highly as a reserved person who always attends class). Do not enter the class if more than 30 minutes late, if prior to 30 minutes enter quietly or do not enter at all. Habitual lateness (3 or more) will count as an absence and your grade will suffer as laid out below. Additionally, if lateness becomes an issue with several students the policy will change to one of zero tolerance and no one will be allowed in after class starts. 2 absences will not count against you, however the third and consecutive ones will take points off of your participation grade for this class and will impact your overall grade. Pre-arranged absences, lates and emergencies MAY be discussed on a case by case basis

Miami Dade Learning Outcomes

As graduates of Miami Dade College, students will be able to:

1. Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
2. Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.
3. Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.
4. Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.
6. Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.
8. Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.
9. Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
10. Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the

environment.

- Assignments: Assignments are due in that class week, if turned in the following week, you will lose points. Late assignments are accepted at a lower grade for each week that they are late. You will be expected to complete the reading assignments before they are discussed in class. It will also be helpful to re-read the assignments after the class discussion to make sure you have understood the important points. As always, questions on the readings or the discussion are encouraged. Class attendance is required by the College - I also require that you come to class for the entire time. You will find that if you do not do the readings or come to class, you will not pass the tests that I give.

- Exams: There will be approximately 5 tests, 4 quizzes and 3 papers in the 16 weeks, which means almost every two weeks you will have a test or assignment on material covered which will be due, yet another good reason not to miss class. One of the exams will be a comprehensive final examination covering all the material covered in the course: do not attempt to learn it all in one week at the end!

- Preparation: Do the reading assignments on time, be ready to discuss them in class - as part of your grade depends on it. Have paper and writing utensils before you come to class. Bring a dictionary, highlighter and anything else you may need ahead of time.

- Papers: You will have a research paper due at the 5th. There will be two additional written assignments due at the 10th and 15th weeks respectively.

Field trips and/or guest speakers: Any field trips, when arranged, will be mandatory and will earn grades for attendance and any written assignment that may go along with it. Guest speakers, when possible, will be arranged and attendance and deportment will be graded. There is generally a self-transported trip to a local museum that you will be required to go to at least once per semester.

Library assignments: A term paper which will be assigned early in the course and due the 5th week will involve library work and research on your part. Two additional written assignments or presentations will be required toward the middle and end of the course respectively.

Introduction to course:

I look forward to a challenging and thought provoking semester. Please keep in mind that the subject matter covered in this class requires extensive and concentrated readings and writingsthroughout the semester and focused research as assigned. It is not enough to just attend lectures and participate now and then. Students must be ready to do the readings, classwork and the homework in a serious and committed manner. Science and its relationship with the hmanities will be given a fair amount of time. The intricate and often intimate relationship between the other disciplines as well as modern research in DNA and contemporary discoveries in archeology will also be examined for interdisciplinary relevancy and meaning in our quest for understanding the nature of self and our place in the scheme of things. The main requirement for this course is a sincere desire for knowledge and a love of the search. If you are of a sensitive nature in regards to matters of usually touchy subjects such as race, sexuality, politics and religion, then I would suggest you examine yourself closely before taking this course. This course discusses all these areas in a logical, rational manner and as such I would suggest those who are easily offended take another humanities course (i.e. Music Appreciation, Art Appreciation, etc.).

Textbook and course requirements (there are 2) :

• ISBN: 9781259333613
• Title: Experience Humanities HUM1020 (w/Access Code)
• Author: Matthews
• Copyright Year: 2014
• Edition: 8th
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill

• ISBN: 9781323235638
• Title: English & Communication Pearson Writer Blackboard with Custom Integration for Miami Dade College West Campus -- Standalone Access Card, 1/e
• Author: Pearson Learning Solutions
• Copyright Year: 2016
• Edition:
• Publisher: Pearson Learning Solutions

For textbook rental, see the link below

Access to internet for additional readings.

Academic Lab Hours (English and Math):

M, T, W, R – 8:00AM – 9:00PM; F-8:00 AM – 4:30PM; S 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Attendance Policy:

In order to succeed in this course, students are required to attend each class ON TIME and participate in the discussions.

• Missing more than 2 classes will directly affect your participation grade. Any absences

must be excused in order to turn in make-up work or late work.

• Missing the first 2 classes will get you automatically withdrawn.
• Missing 3 classes in a row will get you automatically withdrawn
• Missing more than 5 classes will drop you from the course
• Habitual tardies will be treated as absences
• Failure to attend 3 classes in a row without written notification and documented evidence as to the valid reason (to be determined by the professor), will result in automatic withdrawal. If this happens after the W date, then you will receive an F for this class. Please be responsible and advise your instructor if something comes up. Anyone with 5 or more cumulative absences will also be automatically withdrawn. Imagine if you will have the same attendance issues with your work.5 absences in 16 weeks would not keep your job and it will not keep your class.

Plagiarism Policy:

Please make yourselves aware of the student policy 4035 on academic dishonesty found on page 18 :

• A student who intentionally plagiarizes will receive an F on the course
• A student who accidentally plagiarizes will receive an F on the assignment or be asked to re-submit if the offense is not flagrant

Assessment:
The final grade for this course will generally be determined as follows:
Discussion/class participation – 200 points

Midterm – 150 points

Comprehensive Final Exam – 200 points

Quizzes (4 at 50 points each) – 200 points

Exams (4 at 50 points each) -200 points

Papers (3 at 100 points each) – 300 points

Total possible points = 1250

Grading Scale

# OF POINTSGRADE EARNED

1250 – 925A

924 – 795B

794 – 695C

694 – 600D

594 - 0F

If you have over 975 points before the final examination then you are exempt!!

Additionally, there will be extra credit opportunities during the semester.

1. Papers:

Essay topics will be chosen by the students and approved by the instructor at least 2 weeks prior to the due date. The specific instructions for each of the 3 papers are found on

The papers should be handed in at the beginning of the class period on the due date.

In general, unless the student can provide a documented excuse, late paper assignments will not be accepted.

Papers must be double-spaced, in a folder and paper clipped.

Students should keep copies of all papers.

2. Exams:
There will be four (4) exams for this course. In general, unless a student can provide a justifiable and documented reason for missing the exam deadline, she or he will not be able to turn in a ‘make up’ exam. These are hand written (not typed) assignments on the historical periods and topics covered in that section in class.
3. Course Participation/Discussions:
Class participation grades are primarily based on the frequency and quality of a student’s in-class comments and questions. Additionally, there will be discussions on specific topics to be given that week by the instructor. Students will be required to analyze the topic together (in small groups) and then with the instructor.Frequent absences and/or lateness will be considered in calculating final course grades.

4. Quizzes:

There will be four (4) quizzes on the assigned home reading requirements. These will be take home quizzes that will determine that the material was read and understood. You will be writing brief essays for these quizzes on the work that is being read and discussed. These quizzes, if done properly can lead to the introduction and development of the larger midterm and final papers. Quizzes will be due on the last class meeting of the week they were assigned. Quizzes may be turned in late, but they will be for a lower grade and will be expected to be superior to those turned in on time.

5. Midterm and Final Exams

There will be one midterm and one final examination required of each student on a day assigned by the professor. These should be handed in on the due date at the beginning of the class period. You cannot miss your examination date, unless you have documented proof that you could not make it that day. In general, unless the student can provide a documented excuse, late assignments are not accepted.

Withdrawal:

• If you feel that you will be unable to complete the requirements for passing this class, you have the option to withdraw from the class by the College’s “drop date”. However, there are consequences of which you need to be aware if you drop a class or stop attending and you should always speak to your instructor or an advisor first. For example, you must earn at least two-thirds or 67% of the total credits for which you have registered and that failure to comply with this requirement will adversely impact your financial aid status with MDC. If after considering the possible consequences, you still opt drop the class, keep in mind that it is your responsibility to do so (not the instructor’s) and failure to withdraw will result in you earning a grade of “F” for the course you stop attending.

• If extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, accident, change in employment situation, etc.) prevent you from continuing to attend your class before the drop date, speak to your instructor first and if needed, to the Chairperson to assess your options.

Additional Course requirements and expectations:
Keep up with the reading. Students are expected to come to class having done the assigned reading. If you think that you couldn’t explain some aspect of the reading, raise a question about the issue in class. NOTE: you will not have to read entire chapter(s) or novels, I will tell you in class which parts to read for the upcoming week.

Document your sources. It is very important that you document the claims that you make about the views you say each author holds. You can use either footnotes or parenthetical references in the text. Give page references for direct quotations; and indicate what set of pages you are summarizing even if you are not directly quoting anything. Failure to acknowledge sources is plagiarism and is a serious offense.In most cases you will, at a minimum, fail the course. The principle here is: you cannot cheat on a course and be allowed to pass it.

Keep track of the schedule. Every effort will be made to follow precisely the course outline as specified below. Nonetheless, changes may be necessary. It is your responsibility to keep up-to-date on any changes.

Respect. Philosophy places special emphasis on argumentation. However, what philosophers mean by argumentation is primarily the activity of providing and listening to reasons. The emphasis on argument is certainly no excuse for rudeness, even if one is in strong disagreement with another person’s perspective.

• Disabilities: Students should contact ACCESS:
• Learning Outcomes:

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (subject to change if a topic seems to interest the class more we may spend more time or less time on each area):

Course Outline: This schedule reflects my best effort to estimate the amount of time we will need to devote to each chapter of the text, but significant adjustments might be required. It is the student’s responsibility to know of such changes—check with the professor as necessary.

Week I – Course Introduction: Go over syllabus, class assignments and expectations. Begin first lectures on why study humanities; language of art and prehistory. Prehistory and the Ancient Near East. Lectures, class notes, reading assignment discussion and class writing. Assign art analysis report due week V, Concert Review Week X and Film paper Week XV and reading Epic of Gilgamesh and Hammurabi Code and quizzes due week II. Chapter 1.

Week II –.Egypt: Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. Quiz 1(Gilgamesh) and Quiz 2 (Hammurabi) Due. Lectures, class notes, reading assignment discussion and class writing.Chapter 1.Assign Test 1 due Week III

Week III – Greece. Test 1 Due. Lectures, class notes, reading assignment discussion and in class writing. Assign Reading and Quiz 3 – Iliad and Odyssey. Chapter 2 and 3.

Week IV – Etruscans and Rome.Collect Quiz 3 (Iliad/Odyssey).Lectures, class notes, reading assignment discussion and in class writing.Assign Test 2. Chapter 4.

Week V – Judaism, Christianity and Byzantine.Collect Test 2. Collect Art Analysis Paper. Lectures, class notes, reading assignment and in class writing.Assign Reading and Quiz 4 – Euthyphro due Week VII.Reminder Concert Paper due week X. Chapter 5.

Week VI – Islam, India.Lectures, class notes, reading assignment and in class writing. Assign reading Sura 1 and Sura 5 from Koran due week VIII. Chapter 6 and 7.

Week VII – China, Japan, the Americas part 1. Quiz 4 due (Euthyphro). Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing.Chapter, 8, 9, 10.Assign test 3, due Week VIII.

Week VIII – China, Japan and the Americas Part 2.Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing.Chapter, 8, 9, 10. Collect test 3 Due Week VIII.

Week IX – Early Middle Ages and Romanesque. Lectures, class notes, reading. Chapter 11.

Week X – Late Middle Ages and Gothic. Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing.Assign Test 4 due Week XI. Chapter 12.Collect Concert Review Paper.

Week XI – Renaissance and Mannerism.Collect Test 4. Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing.Chapter 13.

Week XII – Northern Renaissance and Baroque. Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing, Chapter 14 and 15.Remind film analysis due Week XV. Assign test 5 Due Week XIII

Week XIII – 18th century, Rococo, Neo-Classicism, Realism and Romanticism. Collect Test 5. Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing.Chapter 16 and 17.

Week XIV – Pre-Impressionism and Impressionism. Post Impressionism. Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing.Chapter 18.

Week XV – Modern Art.Collect Film analysis paper. Lectures, class notes, reading assignments and in class writing.Chapter 20, 22, 24.

Week XVI – Final Exam