Eurasia: Great Works
GW 123-4 2005-6 Faculty: Prof. Uschi Appelt, English; Prof. Dominique Battles, English; Prof. Nick Baechle, Classics; Prof. Bill Bettler, Communication; Prof. Melissa Eden, English; Prof. Dee Goertz, English; Prof. Frank Luttmer, History; Prof. John Martin, Art & Art History; Prof. Miriam Pittenger, Classics; Prof. Xiaolong Wu, Art & Art History
Winter 2006 Discussion Sections: Sec. J1 and K1 Prof. John Martin, Fine Arts 207, ext. 7333; Sec. J2 Prof. Melissa Eden, Classic 111, ext. 7203; Sec. J3 and K2 Prof. Dominique Battles, Classic 207, ext. 7086; Sec. J4 Prof. Frank Luttmer, Classic 113, ext. 7205; Sec. K4 Prof. Dee Goertz, Classic 206, ext. 7214
Section J4: Frank Luttmer
Classic 113, M W F: 10:00-11:00
866.7205 (office) 502.451.5351 (home)
historians@hanover.edu
Course Objectives
To evaluate patterns of continuity and change in the institutions and cultures of East and West from roughly 300 C.E. to 1600 C.E.;
To explore changing ideas over space and time of what it means to be human, especially in relationships between humans and the divine, between humans and nature, between humans and society, and among individual persons;
To examine the manifestation of these ideas and institutions in great works of literature, historical documents and events, and art, and make meaningful connections between them;
To reflect on the criteria for identifying what makes a work “great”;
To read closely, write clearly, speak effectively, and think critically;
To develop the analytic and rhetorical skills necessary for academic writing and speaking;
To communicate argumentative essays in formal prose;
To learn how to cite primary and secondary sources according to a defined style.
Assigned Texts
Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition. Vol 2 and 3. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002 and 2006.
Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004.
Machiavelli, Noccolo. The Prince. Trans. George Bull. London: Penguin, 2003.
Shakespeare, William. Tempest. Ed. Edward Seidensticker. New York: Pelican.
Shikibu, Murasaki. The Tale of Genji. Trans. Edward D. Seidensticker. New York: Vintage, 1990.
The Essential Quran. Trans. Thomas Cleary. San Francisco: Harper, 1993.
Evaluation
Final grades will be based on an evaluation of the following.
1. Three exams (15% each)
The exams will consist of short-answer questions and essay questions. In your essays, you will be expected (1) to isolate key themes and concepts, (2) to explain those themes and concepts with clarity and precision, and (3) to provide specific examples to reinforce and prove your general points.
2. Final draft of the research paper and formal presentation (20%)
The research paper may be on any topic related to the content of the course. The paper is to be analytical and interpretive, not simply descriptive. It should present a thesis and develop an argument (and include potential counter-arguments). The length of the paper should be 5-6 pages. It should include an updated bibliography. You are expected to use Interlibrary Loan when essential sources are unavailable at or through the Duggan Library.
The grade will be based on the quality of the (1) thesis and argument, (2) organization, (3) logic, (4) evidence, (5) alternative interpretations, (6) sources, (7) oral presentation, and (8) writing. Due April 14.
3. First full draft of the research paper (15%)
The first draft of the research paper, like the final draft, is to be analytical and interpretive, not simply descriptive. It should present a thesis and develop an argument (and include potential counter-arguments). The length of the paper should be 3-4 pages. It should include an updated bibliography. The grade will be based on the quality of the (1) thesis and argument, (2) organization, (3) logic, (4) evidence, (5) alternative interpretations, (6) sources, and (7) writing. Due March 27.
4. Prospectus of the research paper (5%)
The prospectus should include (1) a draft of the first paragraph of the research paper, (2) a thesis statement (typically the last sentence of the first paragraph), and (3) an outline of the entire research paper. The outline should convey the essential features of the argument, but should not be more than two pages. The grade will be based on the quality of the (1) thesis and argument, (2) organization, (3) logic, (4) evidence, and (5) alternative interpretations. Due March 15.
5. Bibliography of the research paper (5%)
The bibliography should identify the specific topic of the research paper (though not necessarily the thesis statement) and should include ten primary or scholarly sources (the number may vary depending on the topic). The sources should extend beyond those available at or through the Duggan Library. The bibliography of the research paper will be evaluated both on the quality of the sources and on proper citation. Due March 8
6. Class participation (10%)
The success of this class depends upon the quality of the dialogue in class. You will periodically be asked to introduce or lead class discussions. Class participation grades will reflect (1) your attendance, (2) the frequency of your contributions to class discussions, and (3) the quality of your questions, observations, and conclusions. Introducing and leading class discussion will be part of the class participation grade.
Grading Standards
A: Exceptional. Work is excellent in every way, in thought and execution. Not just acceptable, not just good. Excellent.
B: Good. Work is better than average in both substance and style. In papers and essays this means a clearly expressed and supported thesis, a clear and inevitable structure, and very few errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation.
C: Average. What we expect of a college freshman. In papers and essays this means a clear thesis, adequate organization, some flaws in logic, and numerous errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation or documentation.
D: Below average. In papers and essays this means having a topical indicator rather than a thesis, organization that is hard to follow, reasoning gaps, many grammatical errors, and shows fairly weak understanding of the subject.
F: Extremely poor. No thesis stated or no support for a stated thesis, paragraphing is random, reasoning faulty, extensive errors in grammar, word choice and shows very weak understanding of subject.
Attendance
In the course of the term you are expected to be consistent in attendance and prepared for discussion at both lectures and section meetings. Save absences for emergencies, as each absence after the third will drop your grade by one step. Remember that accidents, illnesses, and broken hearts may still come to pass in March or April, so don't miss class unnecessarily in January. If you miss a test because of unexcused absence you may not make it up and it will be recorded as F.
Please notice that college vacations begin at the end of the class day before the free days and no earlier. You are required to be in all of your classes on the day before and the day after vacations. Tell you parents NOW not to schedule family vacations or plan travel schedules that will require you to miss class.
Academic Honesty
To be a student is to be a scholar, one who seeks to learn and to understand, one who seeks wisdom. Honesty is one of the aspects of wisdom, and the educated person is assumed to be honest. Academic honesty is expected of all members of any academic community. Scholars would no more appropriate as their own the words or ideas of others than they would pick their pockets. Do not, then, ever use another's words or ideas as though they were your own. All work you submit is to be entirely your own. You must always give credit to those whose words or ideas you quote. The college statement on use of sources is to be applied to everything you write while you are a student here. Use of another's words or ideas without acknowledgment, in however short a portion of any paper, will result in an F grade for that paper, a course grade lower by one level than what you would otherwise receive with that F and in any case no higher than C, and automatic report to the College Academic Rules Board. This rule applies, by the way, to assistance from friends and relatives: do not let your mother, father, brother, or friend, revise your paper for you, because that too will result in
an F. Familiarize yourself with Trimmer's chapter on "Implications for Your Research and Composing." Remember that you are welcome to quote other writers or to take advantage of ideas or suggestions that come to you from other people. Just provide a note acknowledgment, footnotes, textual references, quotation marks, and bibliographies where they are appropriate.
Policies on Writing
All assigned essays must be typed, double-spaced, stapled, and titled. They are to follow standard essay form (with an introduction, a thesis sentence, paragraphs with evidence, a conclusion, and a Works Cited page). You do not need a separate title page, but you must be sure that your name is on the first page and that the pages are numbered. Hacker in Rules for Writing presents a model essay; your paper should look like that. Before you hand in your paper, place it in a cardboard folder with pockets (not a plastic binder) along with all your drafts and prewriting. Each paper may be slightly longer than what is suggested, but none may be shorter, so an essay assigned as 3 to 5 pages may not be any shorter than 3 without incurring a penalty. Do not adjust your paper's font, spacing, or margins to attempt to disguise its true length. Each paper is due at the beginning of class on the day it is assigned. The grade on any paper not handed in at that time will be lowered up to a letter grade depending on the amount of extra time involved. No paper may be submitted more than a week late.
Course Schedule
On days identified as Disc, meet with your assigned section. On days identified as Lec, meet in 107 Fine Arts. Please bring your assigned reading with you in either case. Exams will take place in the individual classrooms. Occasionally it may be necessary to change the day's plans, but we will announce any such change in advance.
I. Medieval and Renaissance Europe
Jan. 9 M Lec: History of the Medieval West (Luttmer)
Jan. 11 W Disc: Christinity; read Fiero 2: 3-11.
Jan. 13 F Disc: Early Christian and Byzantine Art; read Fiero 2:22-34.
Jan. 16 M Lec: Overview of Medieval Literature (Battles); read Yvain, vv. 1-2328.
Jan. 18 W Disc: Chretien de Troyes Yvain, le chevalier au lion; read vv. 2329-4634.
Jan. 20 F Disc: Chretien de Troyes Yvain, le chevalier au lion; read vv. 4635-end.
Jan. 23 M Lec: Song of Roland and the Crusades (Battles); read Fiero 2: 76-85.
Jan. 25 W Disc: Pilgrimage Art and the Romanesque Style; read Fiero 2: 117-123.
Jan. 27 F Lec: The Gothic Cathedral (Martin); read Fiero 2: 124-135.
Jan. 30 M Lec: History of the Renaissance (Luttmer); read Fiero 3: 23-28.
Feb. 1 W Disc: Renaissance Humanism; read Fiero 3: 28-36.
Feb. 3 F Disc: Early Renaissance Art; read Fiero 3:44-58.
Feb. 6 M Exam #1.
Feb. 8 W Disc: High Renaissance Art (Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo); Fiero 3: 58-75.
Feb. 10 F Disc: Machiavelli The Prince.
Feb. 13 M Disc: Machiavelli The Prince.
Feb. 15 W Lec: Shakespeare (Goertz); read Fiero 3: 143-148.
Feb. 17 F Disc: Shakespeare Tempest; read 7-13 and Acts 1 and 2.
Feb. 20 M Disc: Shakespeare Tempest; read Acts 3,4, and 5.
Feb. 22 W Library Orientation Day.
Feb. 24 F Library Session.
Feb. 27-Mar. 5 Winter Break
II. West and East Asia
Mar. 6 M Disc: Quran introduction, 1-43; Fiero 2:45-47
Mar. 8 W Disc: Quran 133-164; Bibliography due
Mar. 10 F Lec: Islamic Art (Martin); read Fiero 2: 60-65.
Mar. 13 M Disc: Sufi Poetry; read Fiero 2: 50-57
Mar. 15 W Disc: Islamic Prose; read Fiero 2: 57-60; Prospectus due..
Mar. 17 F Lec: Medieval Period Art in India (Martin); read Fiero 2: 147-153.
Mar. 20 M Exam #2
Mar. 22 W Lec: Overview of Tang and Sung China and Feudal Japan (Luttmer)
Mar. 24 F Disc: Tang and Song Poetry and Art; read Fiero 2: 154-166.
Mar. 27 M Disc: Tang and Song Poetry and Art; read Fiero 2: 154-166; First draft due.
Mar. 29 W Disc: Romance of the Western Chamber
Mar. 31 F Lec: Genji (Eden); read Shikibu Chapters 1 and 2.
Apr. 3 M Disc: Genji; read Shikibu, Chapters 3 and 4.
Apr. 5 W Disc: Genji; read Shikibu, Chapters 5 and 6.
Apr. 7 F Disc: Kanehira
Apr. 10 M Disc: Student Formal Presentations of Papers
Apr. 12 W Disc: Student Formal Presentations of Papers
Apr. 14 F Disc: Conclusion and review; Final draft due
Apr. 17-21 Exam #3