HIST 297 – Honors Introduction to the Humanities
Professor Brent Maner Fall 2010
Office: Eisenhower Hall 213 MWF 9:30
Phone: 532-0381 E-mail: Eisenhower Hall 211
Office Hours: Wed. 10:30- 12, Thurs. 3-5, and by appointment
Introduction
Hist 297: The Introduction to the Humanities is a “great books” class that engages twelve classic works in fifteen weeks. The course invites students to discuss the broad questions about the human experience that philosophers, historians, literary figures, and other intellectuals have pondered over many centuries. These questions include: What have human beings hoped to gain from the pursuit of knowledge? What kinds of ideas have guided the social and political organization of communities? How should we balance the pursuit of individual freedom and the welfare of the larger community? The assigned readings provide masterful statements on these questions. Our task will be to understand the arguments presented by the assigned authors and to consider their relevance for the world we live in today. The key ingredients for success in this course are a dedication to careful reading and a willingness to share your questions and thoughts with our group.
This class forms part of the Freshman Honors Humanities Program. The other classes in this program are ENG 297, PHIL 297, and MLANG 297. All of these classes have the same reading list and will follow approximately the same schedule of readings and written assignments. Because there will be some variation in details, you should consult this syllabus as the guide for HIST 297.
There will be four occasions when the entire program will convene together from 7:00-9:20 p.m. These meetings are required for this class – note these dates and reserve them now.
Evening Session I—September 22—Hemisphere Room (Hale Library, 5th floor)
Evening Session II—October 20—location TBA (Leasure 013?)
Evening Session III—November 10—Hemisphere Room (Hale Library, 5th floor)
Evening Session IV—December 8—Hemisphere Room (Hale Library, 5th floor)
Course texts (Available for purchase at Claflin Books—1814 Claflin Road)
*Homer, The Iliad, ed. trans. Robert Fagles (Penguin) ISBN 978-0-140-27536-0
*Thucydides, On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: selections from History of the
Peloponnesian War, trans. P. Woodruff (Hackett) ISBN 978-0-87220-168-2
*Plato, Republic, trans. G.M.A. Grube (Hackett) ISBN 978-0-87220-136-1
*Dante, The Inferno, trans. Robert Pinsky (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) ISBN 978-0-374-52452-4
*Machiavelli, The Prince, trans. Luigi Ricci (Signet/NAL) ISBN 978-0-451-52746-2
*Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, ed. M. Mack (Penguin) ISBN 978-0-14-071452-4
*Descartes, Discourse on Method & Meditations on First Philosophy, trans D. A. Cress, 4th edition (Hackett) ISBN 978-0-87220-420-1
*Goethe, Faust, trans. W. Kaufman (Anchor) ISBN 978-0-385-03114-1
*Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto (Int’l Publishers) ISBN 978-0-7178-0241-8
*Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, trans. Aylmer Maude (Signet) ISBN 978-0-451-52508-6
*Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents, trans. J. Strachey (Norton) ISBN 978-0-393-30158-8
*Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (Anchor) ISBN 978-0-385-47454-2
*ALSO REQUIRED and available at Claflin Books: A packet that contains photocopied readings from Mary Wollstonecraft, “A Vindication of the Rights of Women”
Written work
(1) Homework: I will give each student a spiral notebook. For each class session, you are to write out two discussion questions, each related to a specific passage in the day’s reading assignment. During class you should note whether you asked this question and (briefly) what answers it generated. You must bring this notebook to class each time. I will collect notebooks randomly. (You do not need to write entries while I have the notebooks.)
(2) The first paper, 4-6 pages, typed double-spaced, is due in class on Monday, September 27. You will provide a close reading of a short passage. Topics will be distributed by Wednesday, September 8.
(3) The second paper, 4-6 pages, typed double-spaced, is due in class on Monday, November 1. This paper is usually a comparison or discussion of an issue or theme from two works. You may choose the topic, but it must be cleared by me by Monday, October 18.
(4) The third paper, 6-8 pages, typed double-spaced, is due in class on Monday, December 6. You are responsible for generating your own topic involving a broad overview of issues suggested by the course texts; your choice of topic must be cleared with me by Friday, November 19.
(5) At the last evening session on December 8, you will receive a set of essay questions, three of which you will answer as a take-home final examination. Like the papers, this examination should be typed and double-spaced, and you should write about 3 pages for each question. The take-home final is due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 13 in the English Department office (English / Counseling Services Building, Room 107).
*When figuring final grades, I will weight the assignments in the following way:
First Paper: 15% Take-Home Final: 25%
Second Paper: 20% Homework and Class Discussion: 15%
Third Paper: 25%
*All papers and the take-home exam are due on the dates noted above. For every day an assignment is late, I will lower the grade a full letter. Only in cases of genuine emergency, such as serious illness or a death in the family, will I consider allowing a delay in submitting an assignment. Any request for such a delay must include written documentation for your excuse.
*I intend to take roll in this class. I will reduce your final grade by one letter for three unexcused absences; two letter grades for six; and so on by increments of three.
*I encourage you to use my office hours as an opportunity to discuss paper topics, my comments on your work, and your experience in this course. I expect every student to attend my office hours at least twice (to consult on the second and third papers).
Schedule and reading assignments
M Aug 23 Introduction to the course; “Great Books” in history
W Aug 25 The Iliad: bk 1; bk 2, lines 1-397; bk 3; bk 4, lines 489-end (pp. 77-110, 128-144, 159-163)
F Aug 27 The Iliad: book 5; book 6, lines 283-end; book 9; book 12, lines 322-381 (pp. 164-194, 203-213, 251-275, 334-336)
M Aug 30 The Iliad: book 14, lines 187-428; book, 16; book 17; book 18, lines 540-end (pp. 374-381; 412-466, 482-487)
W Sep 1 The Iliad: book 21; book 22; book 24 (pp. 520-558, 588-614)
F Sep 3 On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: Intro. and chs. 1-3 (pp. ix-xxxiii and 1-58)
M Sep 6 No Class--Labor Day
W Sept 8 On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: chs. 4-8 (pp. 59-end)
F Sept 10 The Republic: Book I and Book II up to 376c (pp. 1-51)
M Sept 13 The Republic: Book II from 376c to the end; Book III from the beginning to 389d; Book III from 402d to the end; and all of Book IV (pp.52-65 and 79-121)
W Sept 15 The Republic: Book V from 471c to the end; and Book VI from 502c to the end (pp. 122, 146-156, 157, 176-185)
F Sept 17 The Republic: Book VII, 514a-521c (pp. 186-193)
M Sept 20 The Republic: Book IX and Book X, 608d-end (pp. 241-263 and 279-292)
W Sept 22 Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Hale Library Hemisphere Room (ModLang)
F Sept 24 The Inferno, Cantos I-IX (pp. 2-75)
M Sept 27 Artists’ visions of Dante’s Inferno; First Paper Due
W Sept 29 The Inferno, Cantos X-XXII (pp. 76-185) – skip XVIII
F Oct 1 The Inferno, Cantos XXIII-XXIX (pp. 186-253)
M Oct 4 The Inferno, Cantos XXX-XXXIV (pp. 254-303)
W Oct 6 The Prince: Dedication to Lorenzo and chs. 1-6 (pp. 31-51)
F Oct 8 The Prince: chs. 7-9 and 15-26 (pp. 52-66 and 84-127)
M Oct 11 Antony and Cleopatra: Acts I and II (pp. 1-59)
W Oct 13 Antony and Cleopatra: Act III (pp. 59-92)
F Oct 15 Antony and Cleopatra: Acts IV and V (pp. 93-139)
M Oct 18 Discourse on Method: parts 1-3 (pp. 1-18)
W Oct 20 Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Leasure Hall 013 (English)
F Oct 22 Discourse on Method: part 4-6 (pp. 18-44)
M Oct 25 Faust: pp. 65-209
W Oct 27 Faust: pp. 209-353
F Oct 29 Faust: pp. 355-503
M Nov 1 Finish Faust
W Nov 3 Wollstonecraft; Second Paper Due
F Nov 5 Wollstonecraft
M Nov 8 Ivan Ilyich: chs. 1-4 (pp. 93-124)
W Nov 10 Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Hale Library Hemisphere Room (Philosophy)
F Nov 12 Ivan Ilyich: chs. 5-12 (pp. 124-152)
M Nov 15 The Communist Manifesto: pp. 3-31
W Nov 17 The Communist Manifesto: pp. 32-44
F Nov 19 Civilization and Its Discontents, chs. 1-3 (pp. 10-52)
M Nov 22 - F Nov 26 NO CLASS--Thanksgiving
M Nov 29 Civilization and Its Discontents: chs. 4-5 (pp. 53-74)
W Dec 1 Civilization and Its Discontents: chs. 6-8 (pp. 75-112)
F Dec 3 Things Fall Apart: chs. 1-15 (pp. 3-142); Planning session for next Wednesday’s discussion
M Dec 6 More planning; Third paper due
W Dec 8 Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Hale Library Hemisphere Room (History)
F Dec 10 Finish Things Fall Apart: chaps. 16-25 (pp. 143-209) Reflections / conclusions
The take-home final is due no later than 4:00 p.m., XXXday, December XX, in the English Department office (English / Counseling Services Bldg. Room 107).
University Notices
1. Academic honesty. Kansas State University has an Honor System based on personal integrity, which is presumed to be sufficient assurance that, in academic matters, one's work is performed honestly and without unauthorized assistance. Undergraduate and graduate students, by registration, acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Honor System. The policies and procedures of the Honor System apply to all full and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses on-campus, off-campus, and via distance learning. The honor system website can be reached via the following URL: www.ksu.edu/honor . A component vital to the Honor System is the inclusion of the Honor Pledge which applies to all assignments, examinations, or other course work undertaken by students. The Honor Pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work." A grade of XF can result from a breach of academic honesty. The F indicates failure in the course; the X indicates the reason is an Honor Pledge violation.
Here’s the bottom line: I will punish all forms of plagiarism and cheating with a grade of “XF.” This will irreparably damage your standing in the graduate program. You must do the work yourself. I am interested in your ideas about the readings, not a second-run version of someone’s paper or book review. Use this course to sharpen your skills of analysis and to formulate informed views about some of the theorists who have shaped our discipline.
2. Academic Accommodations. Any student with a disability who needs an accommodation or other assistance in this course should make an appointment to speak with me as soon as possible.
3. Classroom Conduct. All student activities in the University, including this course, are governed by the Student Judicial Conduct Code as outlined in the Student Governing Association By Laws, Article VI, Section 3, number 2. Students who engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment may be asked to leave the class.