Required Texts:  The Humanistic Tradition, Books 1-3 (Fifth Edition), by Gloria K. Fiero

Course Purpose: To introduce students to significant ideas of Western and Non-Western cultures as manifest in art, literature, music, and philosophy.  As we explore a variety of artistic forms, students will be encouraged to reflect on their own cultural heritage and the heritage of other peoples in both analytical and creative ways.  Humanities 1 will cover the period beginning with the first cave paintings (c.15,000 BC) up through the year 1600.

Grading: All final grades will be based on a total system of 1000 points.  Here is the breakdown for grades:

A= 900-1000, B= 800-899, C= 700-799, D= 600-699, F= 599 and below.

To determine your final grade, exams and quizzes will be weighted as follows:  Four exams, including the final, are each worth 200 pts.  (20%) for a total of 800 pts. (80%); Quizzes and in-class writings, 200 pts. (20%).

Quizzes/In-class writings (200 pts):  There will be eight quizzes on literature readings (listed below).  You will be tested in each case on how carefully you have read and reflected on the reading assignment.  Each one of these will be worth 20 points for a total of 160 points.  In addition to these quizzes, frequent short writing exercises will be given in class.  These assignments will require students to reflect on/react to the day's assignment.  These assignments will be worth 10 points each, and can be given on any class day.  I will include 40 points of extra credit assignments so that a student could miss up to forty points and still receive 200/200 points. If you miss one of these assignments for any reason, including being late for class, you will  not receive credit for that day's work.  You do, however, have the option of attending outside events (art, music, theatre, lecture) to make up for any classes you have missed.  To make up for a missed in-class writing (10 points), you may attend any event in blue on the NSU events calendar.  You may also attend any area musuems, such as Gilcrease, the Philbrook, or the Cherokee Heritage Center, and I will also announce additional events when they are brought to my attention.  If you wish to attend any other event for credit, you must first ask permission or this event will simply not be counted.  To get 10 points of credit for any event you attend, you must turn in the ticket or program from the event (when available) and a written description of the event (about 1 page).  This description should also include any reflections you had on this event.  These written responses must be turned in within a week of the event, or they will not be accepted.  No exceptions.  Finally, no matter how many extra-credit assignments you turn in, you cannot earn more than 240 points for your total quiz score, so these extra credit events will only replace missed in-class assignments.  

Attendance: Attendance at all class meetings is required.  Please bring your book and prepare readings (and any assigned writings) for each class session.   Excessive absences will endanger the health of your grade and could result in failure and loss of credit for the course.  If you miss a class for any reason, you cannot make up the points for any quiz or in-class activity that takes place on that day.

Class Rules:  Always bring your text to class since we will be referring to it often.  You may sit where you wish, but if you talk during class you will be moved to another permanent seat.  Finally, anyone caught cheating in class will be reported and subject to disciplinary actions, which may include failure of the course.  

ADA Policy: If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations, please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.
 

Schedule (readings and writings should be prepared and are due on the date listed below)

5/13    The First Civilizations: Egypt (16-35)
           Quiz  on "Creation Tales," pp. 14-15 and "The Creation" from The Hebrew Bible, p. 48

5/14     Mesopotamia, The Epic of Gilgamesh (36-46)
           Quiz on Epic of Gilgamesh, pp. 38-41

5/15     The Hebrews, The Hebrew Bible (46-54); Ancient India (58-61); Exam Review
            Quiz on The Book of Job, pp. 51-53

5/27      Patterns of Medieval Life (69-92)
             Quiz on Lancelot (86-88)

5/30     The Medieval Period in India (pp. 145-51); Exam Review

6/2      Exam #3; Giotto's New Realism (Book 3: 15-17); Italian Renaissance Humanism (30-33)

6/3      Renaissance Artists (44-74),

6/4       Renaissance Music (77-81); Native American Cultures (103-108)

6/5       Protest and Reform (121-135); Exam review

6/6        Final Exam