School of Arts and Sciences


COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 Course Number

HU 201

Course Title

The Western Tradition I

 Fall Semester

           

Spring Semester

              X

Summer Semester

 

Year

     2014

Name of Instructor

William Miller

Meeting Day, Time, and Room Number

Tuesdays-Fridays, 2:00am to 3:15pm, Butler G132

Final Exam Day, Time, and Room Number

The final exam will be given in our regular classroom at the time listed in the University Final Exam calendar: Tuesday, May 6th, 3:00pm, Butler G132

Office Hours, Location, Phone

Tuesdays and Fridays 1:00 to 2:00pm and 3:30 to 4:00pm; Wednesdays 2:00-3:00pm & by appointment. My office in Ireton G107, my telephone number is 703 284 1687, but always email ahead of time!

 E-mail & Website

wmiller@marymount.edu (Email is always the best way to reach me! www.millerpolitics.info (All announcements and assignments are posted here, not on Blackboard.)

 

UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS

Academic Integrity

By accepting this syllabus, you pledge to uphold the principles of Academic Integrity expressed by the Marymount University Community. You agree to observe these principles yourself and to defend them against abuse by others.

Special Needs and Accommodations

Please advise the instructor of any special problems or needs at the beginning of the semester.  If you seek accommodation based on disabilities, you should provide a Faculty Contact Sheet obtained through the Office of Student Access Services, located in Rowley Hall.

Access to Student Work

Copies of your work in this course including copies of any submitted papers and your portfolios may be kept on file for institutional research, assessment and accreditation purposes. All work used for these purposes will be submitted anonymously. 

Student Copyright Authorization

For the benefit of current and future students, work in this course may be used for educational critique, demonstrations, samples, presentations, and verification.  Outside of these uses, work shall not be sold, copied, broadcast, or distributed for profit without student consent. 

University Policy on Snow Closings

Snow closings are generally announced on area radio stations. For bulletins concerning Marymount snow or weather closings, call (703) 526-6888. Unless otherwise advised by radio announcement or by official bulletins on the number listed above, students are expected to report for class as near normal time as possible on days when weather conditions are adverse. Decisions as to snow closing or delayed opening are not generally made before 5:00 AM of the working day. Students are expected to attend class if the University is not officially closed. 

 

 

 

1.    BROAD PURPOSE OF COURSE   (Include the catalog description)

 

This is the first half of an interdisciplinary humanities survey. It will focus on the seminal works (literary and artistic), figures, and ideas of Western Civilization, from its beginnings in the Middle East, through classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance.

 

 

2.    COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES : 

Course Specific Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course students will be expected to:

A. demonstrate in writing and in class discussions an understanding of the Greek contributions to the discovery of the human soul, the development of philosophy, and the understanding of justice;

B. demonstrate in like fashion a familiarity with the different understandings of the divine and of man’s relation to God throughout the ancient and medieval periods of Europe’s history;

C. demonstrate in like fashion a familiarity with the role of the Church, the monks, the Church Fathers, and the principal political leaders and institutions in the formation of Europe;

D. demonstrate an understanding of the required readings through active participation in discussions;

E. demonstrate a basic ability to read primary works in cultural history with critical understanding—i.e., to grasp the author's main points, to identify his supporting arguments and rationales, and to offer cogent internal and external criticism of the readings; and,

F. engage in the practice of writing and critical reasoning by composing well organized, acceptably written, logically argued essays relating to the main concepts that we study in this course.

3.    TEACHING METHOD   (lecture, laboratory, audio-visual, clinical experience, discussion, seminar, tutorial)

 

A combination of lectures, videos, and much class discussion will be employed in classroom presentations. Active participation is expected in class discussions.

 

4.    GRADING POLICY  (i.e., number of graded assignments, weight given to each)

The final grade is based on a possible total of 100 points that includes grades for class assignments (which includes answering questions in class and participating in class discussions) and quizzes, two short graded papers, two mid-term essay exams, and a final essay exam, as follows:

20% = Lower mid-term exam

25% = Higher mid-term exam

30% = Final exam

25% = Class assignments, quizzes, constructive contributions to class discussions

The usual scale of 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, and 59% and below=F will be used for all graded work.

The exams are all based on the primary readings of the course: not on the class lectures, which are intended to help you understand the readings and not to substitute for the readings. No grade of "I" or "Incomplete" will be given. If possible, exams will be graded and returned within two weeks. Quizzes are aimed at determining your familiarity with the assigned readings and class discussions.  

February 7 - Last day to withdraw from a class without academic record

March 21 - Last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W

ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY

 

Attendance: Beginning with the second week of classes, students are allowed a total of nine absences, excused and/or unexcused. Students who miss ten classes or more will receive an “F” in the course.    

 

Each unexcused absence beyond three—up to the absolute limit of nine—will result in a lowering of the final grade by one percentage point. To be excused, an absence must be explained to and approved by me, preferably before it occurs. Excused absences are typically those that are documented, such as medical-, legal-, or job-related excuses. Note: Occasionally coming to class late—even real late once or twice—is not considered an absence. Coming to class without hard copies of the text for the day or leaving class after taking an announced quiz without the prior permission of the instructor, however, is considered an absence.

 

Merely informing me ahead of time that you will be absent from class does not mean I excuse the absence, though I appreciate your courtesy. I will not excuse your absence because you are simply not feeling well or because you choose to do something worthwhile other than come to class even if you inform me ahead of time. If you are coughing and sneezing and coming down with a cold or the flu, and you don't want to spread your virus to your classmates, your fellow students and I salute you! Staying home may be the right thing to do, but it is not an excused absence. You all get three unexcused absences to use as you see fit, and it is your decision to use them to stay home when you don't feel well or want to attend some other event or need to prepare for another class instead of going to my class. Use them for good reasons: that's what they are for.

 

The limit of nine total absences recognizes that excessive excused absences may also be a problem. You should discuss such situations with me well before the last month of the semester. This is not a distance learning class. Any absence prevents you from participating in the class, but if your job or an illness keeps you away from class, it will significantly affect the class participation component of your grade and may be a good reason to drop the course and take it another time. All of us find ourselves in these situations from time to time and have to deal with them appropriately. You also have an obligation to report this to a University office (see the section on “Absenteeism in the 2013-2014 University Catalogue).

 

When in doubt about any of these policies, please come and talk to me. They have been formulated with our substantial commuter and working student population in mind and are intended to be fair to everyone. You should also review the University's policies on “Absenteeism” in the 2013-2014 University Catalogue.

 

Make-up Exams: The same basic rules about excused absences apply to taking mid-terms. My policy of giving makeup exams on the same day as the final does NOT mean that you may choose to take the mid-term exam on that day rather than on the regularly scheduled day: it is not an alternative test date. To be eligible for a makeup, you must qualify for an excused absence, and this you should do a reasonable time before the day of the mid-term, if that is at all possible. You may be excused from taking a mid-term if you are certifiably sick or your job prevents you from attending class or you have a serious family or personal or employment emergency on the day of the test. If one of these applies and I am informed in a reasonable time before the exam and you have written documentation to support your request, you may take the exam on the same day as the final exam. If none of these reasons apply, you may not take the exam at another time, and you will get a zero for the exam. If you are late for the exam because of events outside of your control, let me know immediately or as soon as possible that day, and I will let you take the exam later that same day if possible.

       

5.    CLASS SCHEDULE   (List topics likely to be covered with approximate dates of presentation)

This list is subject to change so always check the assignment page.

Week I. (1/14-17): Introduction to the course; Frankforts and Eliade readings. (For the specific assignment for each class during the rest of the semester, please see the link for "Western Tradition I (Fall 2014)" under "Weekly Assignments" on my web page millerpolitics.info.)

Week II. (1/21-24): Greek Sources of Western Culture: the discovery of the soul. Readings from ancient Greek writers: Homer, Hesiod, and the lyric poets.

Week III. (1/28-31): Readings from the tragic poets.

Week IV. (2/4-7): The development of philosophy; the pre-Socratics, the Sophists, and Socrates

February 7 - Last day to withdraw from a class without academic record!

Week V. (2/11-14): Classical Greece. Plato and Aristotle. Classical Greek art.

Week VI. (2/18-21): MID-TERM EXAM; Friday: The Hellenistic Period.

Week VII.(2/25-28): The Hellenistic Crucible: East meets West.  Hebrew and Christian Sources of Western Culture; Readings from the Old Testament.

Week VIII. (3/4-7): Readings from Christopher Dawson and the New Testament.

Week IX. (3/18-21): Hellenistic philosophies & religions. Stoics, Epicureans, Gnostics, and others

March 21 - Last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W!

Week X. (3/25-28): Roman philosophies and art; MID-TERM EXAM; Friday

Week XI. (4/1-4): The Formation of Europe. Readings from Dawson and primary sources.

Week XII. (4/8-11): Readings from Dawson and primary sources.

Week XIII. (4/15): Readings from Dawson and primary sources.

Week XIV. (4/25): Renaissance and Reformation Sources of Western Culture. Readings from Dawson and primary sources..

Week XV. (4/29-5/2): Readings from primary sources.

FINAL EXAM: The final examination will be given only at the time scheduled in the University Final Exam Schedule: Tuesday, May 6th, at 3:00pm. All make-up exams for missed mid-terms will be given only on the 6th, also. Make your travel plans accordingly!

6.    REQUIRED TEXTS

 

        Christopher Dawson. The Formation of Christendom. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1965, 2008.

 

7.    REQUIRED OR SUGGESTED READINGS OR AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS

There will be assignments of readings from the internet, handouts, opportunities to view artistic and cultural exhibits off campus, and in-class videos. The following sources are the foundation of the course; there are many additional sources and readings on the assignment link.

Frederick Copleston. Medieval Philosophy: From Augustine to Duns Scotus. Volume Three of A History of Philosophy. New York: Doubleday, 1993.

Christopher Dawson. The Dividing of Christendom. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2009.

Christopher Dawson. Religion and the Rise of Western Culture. New York: Image, 1950, 1991.

Mircea Eliade. The Sacred and the Profane. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1987.

Moses Finley. The World of Odysseus. New York: New York Review of Books, 1982.

________. The Ancient Greeks. New York: Penguin, 1977.

Henri Frankfort et al. The Intellectual Adventure of Ancient Man. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1946.

W. K. C. Guthrie. The Sophists. Part of Volume Three of A History of Greek Philosophy. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1969.

Homer. Iliad and Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin, 1999.

Werner Jaeger. Archaic Greece: The Mind of Athens. Volume Three of Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973.

________. Early Christianity and Greek Paideia. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University, 1961.

________. Humanism and Theology. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 1980.

Richmond Lattimore. Greek Lyrics. 2d. rev. ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1960.

Andrew M. Miller. Greek Lyric: An Anthology in Translation. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1996.

Bruno Snell. The Discovery of the Mind. New York: Dover Books, 1982, 1953.

M. L. West. Greek Lyric Poetry. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Video Series:  Eugen Weber. The Western Tradition. Annenberg Learner Series available via Youtube.com Video on Demand. 

Michael Wood. Art of the Western World. Annenberg Learner Series available via Youtube.com Video on Demand.

A FEW FURTHER RULES

For the benefit of the class and your classmates, the following rules regarding electronic devices also apply to this course:

·   Turn your cell phones off during the class. If you are expecting an important call, put your phone on “Vibrate,” sit near the door, and, when the call comes, answer it outside the classroom.

·   It follows from the foregoing rule, but it must be separately stated: no talking and no texting on cell phones during class. If you do not follow this rule, I will publicly ask you to leave the room for the remainder of the class, give you a zero for the class participation component of the final course grade, and do my best to have you removed from the course for the rest of the semester.

·   No open lap-top or other computers are allowed in class without my prior permission. Devices such as tablets, Ipads, Kindles, and Nooks that lie flat on the desk and onto which the readings can be loaded are permitted, but hard copies of the readings are better. You can mark them up and take notes on them in class. Again, if I find you are accessing websites other than those that are displaying the class readings, I will publicly ask you to leave the room for the remainder of the class, give you a zero for the class participation component of the final course grade, and do my best to have you removed from the course for the rest of the semester.

These rules are necessary to foster a suitable learning environment in the classroom during class. There are enough distractions with lawnmowers, air conditioners, and other outside forces to combat during lectures and discussions without these controllable distractions within the room.