hon 272: the human event - barrett, the honors college · paper 3 50 points class discussion (2) 40...

(Semester)***RepresentativeSyllabus:Assignments,Readings,andPolicieswillvarybysemester***

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HON272:TheHumanEvent(PartDeux)

“Idon’tknowwhattodo,”Coinsaid.“Noharminthat.I’veneverknownwhattodo,”saidRincewindwithhollowcheerfulness.“Beencompletelyatalossmywholelife.”Hehesitated.“Ithinkit’scalledbeinghuman.”

-TerryPratchett,SourceryInstructor: Dr.RobMackDay/Time: Section1 Section2 Section3 Section4Location: Willow112Email: [email protected]: SageSouth167OfficeHours: Willvarybysemester RequiredTexts: -James,Henry.TheTurnoftheScrew.Mineola,NY:Dover,1991. -Silko,LeslieMarmon.Ceremony.NewYork:Penguin,1977. -Sontag,Susan.RegardingthePainofOthers.NewYork:Picador,2003. -Voltaire.Candide,orOptimism.NewYork:Penguin,2005.CourseDescription&Objectives:TheHumanEventisanintensive,interdisciplinaryseminarfocusingonkeysocialandintellectualcurrentsinthedevelopmentofhumanityinitsdiversity.Studentsexaminehumanthoughtandimaginationfromvariousperspectives,includingphilosophy,history,literature,religion,science,andart.Courseworkemphasizescriticalthinking,discussion,andargumentativewriting.Exploringtextsfromapproximately1600C.E.tothepresent,HON272isthesecondhalfofatwo-semestersequencethatbeginswithHON171.Majorobjectivesofthecourseincludethefollowing: -Tobroadenyourhistoricalandculturalawarenessandunderstanding. -Todeepenyourawarenessofthediversityofhumansocietiesandcultures. -Toimproveyourabilitytoreasoncriticallyandcommunicateclearly. -Tocultivateyourabilitytoengageinintellectualdiscoursethroughreading,writing,anddiscussion. -Toinstillinyouintellectualbreadthandacademicdisciplineinpreparationformoreadvancedstudy.Giventherelativelywidescopeofthecourse,itmayhelptothinkaboutourtimetogetherintermsofasingleunifyingtheme.Theoverarchingprincipleofourexplorationthissemesterwillbethenotionofupheaval.Unit1—whichconsiderstheidealofafundamentalorderthatgovernstheuniverse,society,andindividuals—providesafunctionalistfoundationcontestedthroughouttheremainderofthecourse.Unit2looksatvariousexamplesofsocialrupture(frompoliticalrevolutionstointerpersonalrifts),aswellashowmechanismsofsuppressionandcontainmenthaveoftenrespondedtothisrupture.Unit3,finally,contemplatessomeauxiliarytopicsthathavehistoricallychallengedrationalapproachestorealityitself,includingtheoccult,haunting,theunconscious,andtheexperiencesoftraumaandaffect.Inthisway,thecoursefunctionsassomethingofa“boomerang”tomysectionsofHON171.Whilethatcoursetracedthehistoricalmovementfromineffableexperiencetosensibleorderinhumanaffairs,thiscoursepondersamirroredprogressionfromsensibleordertoineffableexperience.


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CourseStructureAllcoursecomponentswillbeaddressedingreaterdetailduringclass,buthereissomebasicinformationtogiveyouanideaofwhattoexpect.WrittenPapers:Youwillcomposethreeargumentativepapersof5-7pageseachoverthecourseofthesemester.Iwilldistributewritingpromptsapproximatelytwoweekspriortotheduedateofeachpaper.Togethertheseassignmentswillcomprise60%ofyourfinalgradeinthecourse.Thefirstessayisworth10%,andthesecondandthirdareeachworth25%.Pleaseconsiderthefollowingstandardstoguideyourwritingthissemester,asthesewillbethecriteriaIwillusetoassessyoursubmissions.A-levelworkwillfulfillallofthesestandardsexceptionally,B-levelworkwillfulfillmostofthemwell,C-levelworkwillfulfillthebasic/minimumrequirements,etc.

1.AHumanEventpapercontainsaclearthesisstatement. -Thethesisstatementmakesaspecific,text-basedclaim,notavagueorbroadobservation. -Thepapermusttakeasubstantiveposition,onethisisneithertrivialnorobvious. -Thethesisstatementshouldappearinthefirstparagraphofthepaper.

2.ThebodyofaHumanEventpaperdefendsthethesisviaaprogressionofarguments. -Theopeningofthepaperprovidesanoverallmapofitsdirection.

-Thebodyofthepapermirrorstheintroductorymap,andeachparagraphbuildsthecaseinlogicalprogression.-Thepapermakesanevidence-basedcaseinsupportofthethesis.Accordingly,thepaperalsoanticipatesandaddressespotentialobjections.

3.Evidencefrom/analysisoftheprimarytext(s)formthebackboneofthepaper’sdefenseofthethesis.-Textualevidenceconstitutesthefoundationofthepaper’sargument.Thepapercitesthesourcesofevidenceinaconsistent&recognizedacademicstyle.-Nooutsidesourcesarepermitted.-Analysisoffersplausibleexplicationsofthetextsthatshowhowthemeaningofthecitedevidencehelpsdeveloptheargument.

4.HumanEventpapersadheretofundamentalstyleelements. -Thepaperusespropergrammar&wordchoice(includinggenderneutral&inclusivelanguage).

-Theauthorproofreadsthepapertoavoiderrors,wordiness,unnecessarilycomplexphrasings,andexcessiveuseofpassivevoice.

Reading&Participation:Thiscourseisorganizedasacollegeseminar,whichmeansthatyouareasresponsiblefordevelopingitsqualityandrichnessasIam.Inpracticaltermsthismeanscomingtoclasseachdaypreparedtodiscusstheday’sassignedreadings.Yourcontributionsheremayinvolvebringinguppointsofclarification,voicingspecificpointsofdisagreementwiththeauthor(s),drawingconnectionsbetweenpresentandpastreadings,orprovidingotherstimulatingandilluminatingobservations.Youneednotagreewithorevenenjoytheassignedreadings,butyourcontributionstoourdailydiscussionshoulddemonstratecarefulpreparationandfamiliaritywitheachreading’sbasicideas.Classdiscussionisworth20%ofyourfinalgrade.Iwillassessyourparticipationheretwiceduringthesemester—atthemidpointandend—accordingtothefollowinggeneralcriteria:

A-Level:Youarriveeachdaythoroughlypreparedwithspecificcommentsandquestionsregardingtheday’sassignedreading(s).Thesecommentsandquestionsrevealcarefulobservationandthoroughinterrogationofthereading’svariouspoints.Inaddition,youoccasionallyinitiatediscussiononyourown(withoutmyprompting)andinviteyourpeerstorespond.Ratherthandominatingourtimetogether,youlistencarefullytoyourpeers’remarksandrespondtothemreadilyandconstructively.


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B-Level:Youparticipateinmostdiscussions,althoughnotasfullyorreliablyasthestudentdescribedabove.Itisclearthatyouhavedonetheassignedreading.Youpayattentiontoyourpeers’comments.C-Level:Youparticipateintermittently,andyouoftendisplaymorewillingnesstodiscussbroad/generalquestionsthanspecific/concreteelementsofthereading.Youdemonstratealackofpreparationand/oralackofinterestinyourpeers’ideas.Youmayparticipatequiteoften,butindoingsoyoutendtodominateconversationtothedetrimentofothers’contributions.D&E-Level:Youseldom(ifever)participate.Whenyoudoparticipate,youfailtodemonstratefamiliaritywiththeday’sreadings.Youmayalsofallinthisrangeifyouinappropriatelydemonstratehostilitytowardyourpeers’viewsorabasicunwillingnesstoconsiderperspectivesalternativetoyourown.

Insum,yourdiscussiongradeswillstemfromyourabilitytotaketheassignedreadingsasseriousopportunitiestocontemplatevariousperspectivesonhumanexperienceinagroupsetting.Giventhenatureofoursubject,thisdiscussioncanoccasionallybecomelivelyand/orheated.Inthesecaseswewillnotshyawayfromdisagreementorcriticism,butwewillmaintainacodeofrespectbetweendiscussantsinordertomaximizetheproductivityofsuchdissent.Criticizeideasratherthanpeople,andbesuretosupportyourdisagreementswithclearevidencefromthetext.Ratherthanattemptingto“winthedebate”ortoconvinceyourpeerstoadoptyourposition,beopentochallengestoyourownviewsandbepreparedtoweighyourpeers’contributionsfairlyinyourmind.Forfurtherinformationaboutdiscussionconduct,seethepolicyon“DisruptiveBehavior”inthissyllabus.

ANoteontheReadings’Substance:BecauseTheHumanEventisanHonorsseminar,thereadingsI’veassignedherearegenerallyofagreaterlengthandchallengethanmightotherwisebeexpectedina200-levelcourse.Youshouldbepreparedtodedicateasignificantamountoftimeeachweektoreadingandclasspreparation.Inaddition,oursubjectmatterdemandsthatweoccasionallylookatperspectivesortopicsthatyoumayfindoffensive.Again,whileIwillneverexpectyoutoalteryourfundamentalviewsonthesematters,Idoexpectyoutoapproachthemasanadultduringourtimetogetherinclass.ThismeansthatIexpectyoutobeabletooverlookpersonaldisagreementswiththetextandengageitasapieceofscholarship.Putanotherway,youareabsolutelypermittedtovoiceanysubstantivedisagreementswiththeassignedreadings,butyouarenotentitledtoignoreordismissthemwholeclothonthebasisofthesedisagreements.Ifyouhaveanyfurtherconcernshere,pleasefeelfreetocomechatwithme.

PeerReviewDays:Becauseonegoalofthiscourseistohelpyoudevelopyourabilitytowritearguments,twiceduringthesemesterwewillholdin-classreviewworkshopswhereyouwillexchangeessaydraftswithapeer.Thecommentsyoureceiveintheseworkshopsshouldhelpyourefineyourworkforfinalsubmission,butgeneratingthoughtfulcommentsforyourpeershouldalsohelpyoubecomemoreattunedtothestandardsofgoodwriting.Yourgradeforeachworkshopwillstemfromthequalityofyourprepareddraftandthequalityofthecommentsyouprovidetoyourpeer.Togethertheseworkshopsareworth10%ofyourfinalgrade.DiscussionQuestions:Foreveryclassmeetingyouneedtoprepareatleasttwoquestionsforgroupdiscussionthatwillhelpusunpacktheday’sassignedreading(s).Seethelastpageofthissyllabusforinformationaboutformulatingeffectivediscussionquestions.Youmaytypeandprintoutthesequestionsorhandwritethemonapieceofpaper(youmaynotbringthemtoclassinanydigitalform).TwelvetimesoverthecourseofthesemesterIwillrandomlycollectquestionsatthebeginningofclass,assessthem,andprovideyouwithfeedbackontheirqualityforfuturequestionformation.Togetherthesediscussionquestionsareworth10%ofyourfinalgrade.AttheendofthesemesterIwilldropyourquestionsubmissionswiththetwolowestscores.

NOTE:ShouldyoubeabsentonadaywhereIcollectdiscussionquestions,youmayonlysubmitquestionsforagradeifyouhaveanexcusedabsencefortheday(see“DueDates&LateWork”inthefollowingsection).Asaresult,itisinyourbestinteresttoattendclasseverydaywithpreparedquestions!


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PointsforAllAssignments(200Total): Paper1 20points Paper2 50points Paper3 50points ClassDiscussion(2) 40points(20pointsatmidsemester&20atendofsemester) PeerReviewDays(2) 20points(10pointseach) DiscussionQuestions(10) 20points(2pointseach) Grades:Lettergradesforthesemesterarecalculatedonastraightpercentagescalebasedonthenumberearnedoutofthetotalpointsinthecourse.

A+=200–195 (100%-97.5%)A=194–185 (97%-92.5%) A-=184–179 (92%-89.5%)B+=178–175 (89%-87.5%)B=174–165 (87%-82.5%)B-=164–159 (82%-79.5%)C+=158–155 (79%-77.5%)C=154–139 (77%-69.5%)D=138–119 (69%-59.5%)E=118andbelow (59%andbelow)NOTE:ScoresofC-,D+,orD-donotexistatASU.AnEisequivalenttothemoreconventionalFscore.

CoursePolicies&InformationGeneralClassroomBehavior:Iexpectyoutoarrivetoclassontimeandpreparedtodiscussandextendtheday’sassignedreading(s).Youshouldhaveaccesstothereadingsduringdiscussion,eitherviaprintoutoraPDFonalaptop/tablet/phone.Youareonlypermittedtouseelectronicdevicesinclassforaccessingreadings.Youmaynotusethesedevicesfortakingnotes,checkingsocialmedia,orforanyotherpurpose(includingaudiorecordingthediscussion).IfInoticethatyouareusinganelectronicdeviceforanyreasonotherthanaccessingreadings,Iwilldismissyoufromclassandyouwillaccrueanabsenceforthatday.Inaddition,pleasedonotattempttocompleteoutsideworkforothercoursesduringdiscussion,andrefrainfromhavingsideconversationswithpeers.RepeatedinfractionsoftheseruleswillresultindismissalfromclassandapossiblereportfiledwiththeDeanofStudents.CourseCommunication:Iwilldisseminateinformationaboutthecourseinclassandespeciallyviaemail.StudentsshouldmakeahabitofregularlycheckingtheirASUemailaccountsformessagesfromme.Attendance:ForHumanEventclasses,youarepermittedtwoabsencesoverthecourseofthesemesterwithoutpenalty.Thatistheequivalentofanentireweekofclass.Theseabsencesshouldhelpyouaccountforthevariousissuesthatcomewithbeingayoungadult:Inexplicableillnesses,automobiletroubles,romanticupsets,faultymorningalarms,andsimilarmatters.Becauseyoucannotadequatelyparticipateinclassifyouarenotpresent,eachunexcusedabsencebeyondtheinitialtwowillresultina1-pointdeductionfromyourparticipationscore(approximatelyhalfalettergrade).Inaddition,anyonewhoaccruessixormoreabsencesduringthesemesterwillreceiveafailinggradeinthecourseoverall.Pleasealsoseethefollowingsection(“DueDatesandLateWork”)foradditionalinformationaboutabsencesinrelationtosubmittedcoursework.Iwillpassaroundanattendancesheetatthebeginningofeachclass;itisyourresponsibilitytosignthissheeteachday.ThesesheetsaretheonlyrecordIwillhaveofattendancewhenassessingparticipationscores.


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ExcusedAbsences:Beyondthetwoabsencespermittedinthecourse,IwillexcuseadditionalabsencesinthecaseofaUniversity-sanctionedeventorunavoidableemergency(trulydebilitatingillness,deathofafamilymember,etc.).Ineithercaseyoumustprovidemewithdocumentationfromeitherauniversityofficialorarelatedprofessional(i.e.adoctor,psychologist,minister,etc.)thatexplainstheabsence.ReligiousObservances:Ifyouknowthatyouwillmissclassduringthesemesterforreligiousreasons,pleasecomeandchatwithmeduringthefirsttwoweeksofclassessothatwecanplanaccordingly.

DueDates&LateWork:Ifyoucanprovidemewithdocumentationsimilartotheabovethatexplainswhyyoucannotmeetanassignmentdeadline,Iwillworkwithyoutomakesurethatyouhavetheopportunitytoreceivefullpointsonthemissedassignment.Thismayentailanextensiononapaperortheacceptanceofdiscussionquestionsafterthedeadline.Otherwise,thefollowingstandardsapplytothevariousassignmentsinthecourseintermsofduedatesandlatework.Notethatthetwopermittedabsencesinthecoursedonotexcuseyoufromanyassignmentduedates—thesedatesarefirm!

WrittenPapers:AllthreeargumentativepapersmustbesubmittedonthedaysindicatedintheCourseScheduleviatheSafeAssigninterfaceinBlackboard.Allpapersareduebynoon;Iwillusethesubmissiontimestamptoassessthisdeadline.Ifyoumissthisdeadlinebutsubmitthepaperbeforemidnightonthesameday,Iwillacceptyourpaperbutreduceyourfinalscoreonitbyanentirelettergrade.Aftermidnightontheduedate,Iwillstillacceptlatepaperswithinthreedaysbutwillhalveyourfinalscoreonthem.Becausetechnologicalglitchesdooccurfromtimetotime,itisinyourbestinteresttosubmitpaperswellbeforenoonontheassigneddaytoensurethatyoumakethedeadline.DiscussionQuestions:AtthebeginningofmanyclassesIwillcollectyourprepareddiscussionquestions.Ifyouarelatetoclassonthesedaysormissthedayentirelywithoutadocumentedexcuse,youwillreceivea0scoreforthesubmission.PeerReviewDays:Peerreviewsrequirebothafullyprepareddraftandyourpresenceinclassontheindicateddayofthereview.Ifyoufailtobringpreparedmaterialstoclassorifyoufailtoattendclassonthedaywehaveawritingworkshopwithoutadocumentedexcuse,youcannotparticipateinthereviewprocessandyouwillreceivea0scorefortheassignment.

GradingofAssignments:Iwillassessgradesaccordingtotheexpectationsnotedinthissyllabusandclarifiedinclass.Thosewhoseekadditionalfeedbackonhowtoimprovetheirperformanceonfutureassignmentsshouldfeelfreetostopbymyofficehoursorscheduleanappointmentwithmetochat.Thosewhofeelasthoughtheyhavereceivedanunsuitablylowgradeonanassignmentshouldalsoplantomeetwithmeafter24hoursbutwithinoneweekofreceivingthegrade(Icallthisthe“24/7Rule”).Youshouldutilizetheinitial24-hourperiodtocomposeacogent,writtenargumentastowhyyoubelieveyoudeservedahighergradeontheparticularassignment.Thisargumentshouldrestontheexplicitstandardssetforthinthecourse.ItshouldNOTbebasedonapeer’sperformance,howthegradewillaffectyourGPA,etc.UnderextremelyrarecircumstancesIwillreevaluateanassignmentgrade,butyoushouldbeawarethatthisprocesscouldalsopotentiallyresultinalowerscorethantheoneyouinitiallyreceived.AcademicIntegrity:Allworkinthiscoursemustbetheproductofyouroriginalandindependenteffort.AsASUstudentsyouhaveagreedtoadheretoASU’sCodeofAcademicIntegrity,whichcontainsthefollowingstatement:“Eachstudentmustactwithhonestyandintegrity,andmustrespecttherightsofothersincarryingoutallacademicassignments.”Iwillnottoleratecheating,fabrication,plagiarism,recyclingscholarship,oranyotheractsofacademicdishonestyinthiscourse.EngaginginsuchactivitiesmayresultinafinalgradeofEorXE(academicdishonesty),aninvestigationorhearing,sanctions(suchaslossofregistrationprivileges),andpossibleexpulsionfromtheHonorsCollegeandASU.Formoreinformationseehttps://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrity.


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AcademicAccommodations:Thosewhofeelthattheymayneedanaccommodationbasedontheimpactofadisabilityshouldcontactmeprivatelyassoonaspossibletodiscusstheirspecificneeds.StudentsinthiscasemustberegisteredwiththeDisabilityResourceCenterandsubmitappropriatedocumentation.FormoreinformationpleasevisittheDRCwebsiteathttps://eoss.asu.edu/drc.TheBarrettWritingCenter:DirectedbyBHCfacultyandstaffedbyBHCwritingtutorswhothemselveshavecompletedbothsemestersofTheHumanEvent,theBarrettWritingCenteroffersindividualtutoringonwritingpapersforTheHumanEventandothercourses.TheCenter’sgoalistohelpyouimproveyourlifelongwritingandcriticalthinkingskills,sopleasetakeadvantageofitsservices.Formoreinformation,pleasevisittheCenter’swebsiteathttp://barretthonors.asu.edu/academics/barrett-writing-center/.Multiculturalism&EthicsatBarrett:Barrett,theHonorsCollegeatArizonaStateUniversity,iscommittedtocreatingamulticulturallearningenvironment,whichisbroadlydefinedasaplacewherehumanculturaldiversityisvaluedandrespected.Barrettcoursesintegratemulticulturalanddiversityissuesinwaysthataredesignedtoenhancestudents’honorsexperienceandpromotelearninggoals.Wehopethatourstudentswillcontributetheiruniqueperspectivestothiseffortbyrespectingothers’identitiesandpersonallifehistoriesandbyconsideringandraisingissuesrelatedtomulticulturalismanddiversityasappropriatetoindividualcoursecontent.Moreover,theBarrettcommunityiscommittedtoupholdingvaluesofacademic,professional,andpersonalhonestyofthehighestorder.Webelievethatethicalandrespectfulbehaviorisoneofthemostimportantmeasuresoftheworthofanindividualand,assuch,theoverallintegrityofourcommunityasawhole.FinalNoteonDisruptiveBehavior:Studentsareentitledtoreceiveinstructionfreefrominterferencebyothermembersoftheclass.Aninstructormaywithdrawastudentfromthecoursewhenthestudent’sbehaviordisruptstheeducationalprocessperthepolicy“InstructorWithdrawalofaStudentforDisruptiveClassroomBehavior”(youcanfindmoreinformationathttp://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/ssm/ssm201-10.html).Itisuptotheinstructortodefineappropriatebehavior,butthisgenerallyincludeskeepingcoursediscussionfocusedonassignedtopics,maintainingacordialatmosphere,andusingtactinexpressingdifferencesofopinion.TheOfficeofStudentRightsandResponsibilitiesacceptsincidentreportsfromstudents,faculty,staff,andotherpersonswhobelievethatastudentorstudentorganizationmayhaveviolatedtheStudentCodeofConduct

CourseSchedule

Changestotheschedulemaybemadeatmydiscretionandifcircumstancesrequire.Iwillnotifyyouofthesechangesinadvanceinclassandviaemail.ItisyourresponsibilitytonotethesechangeswhenIannouncethem.

WK1TU IntroductiontotheCourse

Unit1:OnOrderWK1TH Descartes:ExcerptfromDiscourseon(the)Method 1637 Blackboard Locke:ExcerptfromAnEssayConcerningHumanUnderstanding 1690 Blackboard WK2TU Hobbes:SelectionsfromLeviathan 1651 BlackboardWK2TH Leibniz:“TheMonadology” 1720 Blackboard Hume:Excerptsfrom“OfMiracles”&NaturalHistoryofReligion1748/57 Blackboard WK3TU Rousseau:ExcerptfromDiscourseonInequity 1754 Blackboard **DistributePaper1Prompts**


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WK3TH Voltaire:Candide,orOptimism(Ch.1-15) 1759 BookWK4TU Voltaire:Candide,orOptimism(Ch.16-30) 1759 BookWK4TH PeerReviewDay:BringacompletedoutlineofPaper1toclass.

**Paper1duebyNOONonMONDAY,WEEK5**

Unit2:Suppression&RebellionWK5TU Bentham:ExcerptfromPanopticon:Or,theInspectionHouse 1791 BlackboardWK5TH Wollstonecraft:ExcerptfromVindicationoftheRightsofWomen 1792 BlackboardWK6TU Bolivar:“AngosturaDiscourse”&“PanoramicView…” 1819/29 BlackboardWK6TH Douglass:ExcerptfromNarrativeoftheLifeofFrederickDouglass 1845 Blackboard WK7TU MarxandEngels:SelectionsfromTheGermanIdeology 1846 BlackboardWK7TH Selectionsfrom“FirstAnnualReportofOneidaAssociation” 1849 Blackboard **DistributionofPaper2Prompts** WK8TU Melville:“Bartleby,theScrivener” 1853 BlackboardWK8TH Nietzsche:“OntheAdvantageandDisadvantageofHistoryforLife” 1874 BlackboardWK9TU NoClass–SpringBreak WK9TH NoClass–SpringBreak

Unit3:TheReturnoftheRepressedWK10TU Martineau:SelectionsfromLettersonMesmerism 1845 BlackboardWK10TH PeerReviewDay:BringacompletedoutlineofPaper2toclass.

**Paper2duebyNOONonMONDAY,WEEK11**WK11TU Marryat:SelectionsfromThereisNoDeath 1891 BlackboardWK11TH James:TheTurnoftheScrew(Ch.1-10) 1898 BookWK12TU James:TheTurnoftheScrew(Ch.11-24) 1898 BookWK12TH Freud:OnDreams(abridged) 1901 BlackboardWK13TU Freud:“Anxiety” 1917 Blackboard Jung:“TheConceptoftheCollectiveUnconscious” 1936 Blackboard


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WK13TH Silko:Ceremony(pp.1-44) 1977 BookWK14TU Silko:Ceremony(pp.44-152) 1977 BookWK14TH Silko:Ceremony(pp.153-262) 1977 BookWK15TU Sontag:RegardingthePainofOthers(Ch.1-4) 2003 Book **DistributionofPaper3Prompts**WK15TH Sontag:RegardingthePainofOthers(Ch.5-9) 2003 BookWK16TU Fukasaku:BattleRoyale 2000 FilmWK16TH CourseWrap-Up

**Paper3duebyNOONonWEDNESDAY,FINALSWEEK**

FormulatingDiscussionQuestionsConsiderthefollowingstandardsasyoupreparediscussionquestionsforeachclass: 1.Agooddiscussionquestionisspecific—ithighlightsaparticularaspectofatextforexploration. Bad:WhatisLeibniz’smainpoint? Better:WhatpreciselydoesLeibnizmeanbytheterm“monad”? Good:HowdoesLeibniz’snotionofthe“monad”anticipatehisunderstandingofGod? 2.Agooddiscussionquestionissubstantive—itencouragesthoughtaboutatextalongnew,criticallines. Bad:WhatareyourpersonalfeelingsaboutBentham’spanopticon? Better:WouldtheinhabitantsofBentham’spanopticonreallyactasorderlyasheimplies?

Good:WhatassumptionsabouthumannaturedoesBenthamrelyonindiscussingthedisciplinaryutilityofinspection/surveillance?

3.Agooddiscussionquestionisopen—itpromptsamultitudeofpotentiallyinterestinganswers.

Bad:DoesSilkoconstructEmoastheprimaryantagonistinCeremony? Better:HowdoesEmo’santagonismtowardTayoreflectlargerissuesofraceinCeremony? Good:HowdosimilaritiesbetweenEmoandTayoexplainEmo’streatmentofTayoinCeremony? 4.Agooddiscussionquestionis(often)connective—itreferencesearliertextstoilluminatepresentones. Bad:HowdothedescriptionsofghostsinMarryatandJamesdiffer?

Better:WhymightMarryat’saccountsofspiritualistséancesresembleMartineau’saccountofmesmerichealing?

Good:HowdoesFreud’sparticularunderstandingofanxietyhelpilluminatetheactionsofthegovernessinTheTurnoftheScrew?

GeneralPrinciple:Gooddiscussionquestionsgobeyondmere“informationrecall”toinspireyourpeerstocontemplate,criticize,andsynthesizecoursematerialinacreativemanner.

hon 272: the human event - barrett, the honors college · paper 3 50 points class discussion (2) 40...

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