SIENA COLLEGE Spring 2002 |
FOUNDATIONS 105 Foundations Sequence, Part II |
Dr. Boisvert Office: SH 406 Office Hours: M-W 3-5 TH, 1-2, and by appointment Tel: 783-2501 (office) 783-9608 (home) |
TEXTS
Paul Kurtz, A Secular Humanist Declaration Ursula Goodenough, The Sacred Depths of Nature Feodor Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor, Guignon ed. The Dhammapada, Easwaran trans. The Bible Peter Balakian, Black Dog of Fate Assorted Photocopied Materials |
AIMS OF THE COURSE
| This course continues the work begun in the first semester. We will once again be studying material from various disciplines in relation to three themes. This semester’s themes are: Secular World Views, Religious World Views, and the American Experience. The course materials are meant to highlight some important questions: What does it mean to be persons living at the turn-of- the-century? How do we make sense of the world? What should be our relations to each other, to nature, to transcendence? How do science, stories, and art help us respond to such questions? This course aims at providing a secure foundation from which such issues can be explored on a serious intellectual level. Because all first year students will be exposed to texts in common, it is hoped that discussions will be continued outside of class with students from other sections. A major unifying thread, as was the case last semester, will be the topic of love. |
STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE
| Students are expected to be active participants, not mere spectators in this course. The class will succeed only if students (1) come to class prepared, and (2) take an active part in classroom discussions. Genuine intellectual development, like development of athletic or musical talent, cannot be handed to someone from the outside. Only personal participation, effort, and practice can bring this about. Our work will involve the 4 R’s (four ‘R’ sounds at least): read, reflect, react, write. Serious reflection involves sharing our reaction with others, listening to what others have to say, articulating our positions in writing, and getting comments on our formulations from others. Class sessions will be structured to maximize these sorts of activities. Two analytical papers will be assigned in conjunction with material we will be reading this semester. A third paper, based on an assigned topic will be due at the end of the term. The topics involve research in a particular film that is representative of one genre, either "screwball comedy" or "film noir."As was the case last semester, students will make oral presentations on this topic. |
GRADING
| Students will be evaluated on the basis of a variety of criteria: formal writing will count for 40% of the grade. Preparation for class will count for 60% of the grade. Such preparation will be judged on (i) the quality of participation in daily discussions, (ii) results on quizzes, (iii) response papers to two out-of-class events (approved by the instructor), and (iv) oral presentations. There will be three essays worth a total of 400 points. Class preparation will be worth 600. Writing articles for the school newspaper (maximum of 2) will provide a way to enhance a student's grade. Grades will be distributed according to the following scale: A= 940-1000; A- = 900-939; B+ = 870-899; B = 840-869; B- = 800-839; C+ = 770-799; C = 740-769; C- = 700-739; D+ = 670-699; D = 640-669; D- = 600-639; F = 599 and below. Essays turned in late will be marked down by 5 points for each calendar day they are late (this includes weekend days). |
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY
| This course can only succeed if students take an active part in making each class successful. Because of this, regular attendance is expected. There is no fixed penalty for absences, but since the preparation/participation grade is based on the total of grades assigned in each class session, this grade will be adversely affected by failure to attend class. Because tardiness is disruptive, please make every effort to arrive on time. |
ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE TERM
| Jan. 23 Leon Kass Essay "The End of Courtship" First Essay Assigned, Research Project
Reviewed Jan. 28 Secular Humanist Declaration Jan. 30 Secular Humanist Declaration; Feb. 4 Film: The Third Man; Drafts of First Essay Due Feb. 6 4:00 lecture on Secular Humanism Feb. 11 Goodenough, The Sacred Depths of Nature, pp. ix-17, oral presentations Feb. 13 Goodenough, pp. 18-47 Feb. 18 "The Creation of the Universe" video by Timothy Ferris, First Essay Due, Second Essay Assigned Feb. 20 Goodenough, pp. 47-88 Feb. 25 Goodenough, pp. 81-129, oral reports Mar. 4 Goodenough, pp. 130-174 Mar 6 Genesis excerpts, oral reports Mar 11 Genesis excerpts, oral reports Mar. 13 The Grand Inquisitor, pp. 1-18 Mar. 18 The Grand Inquisitor, pp. 19-38 (good background can be found in the Introduction) Mar. 20 Film: Crimes and Misdemeanors Drafts of second essay due. Apr 3 The Grand Inquisitor, pp. 39-55, 69-80, discussion of film Apr 8 New Testament Selections Apr 10 Study Guide for Buddhism Reading FSR, lecture notes on Buddhism, Second Essay Due Apr 15 The Dhammapada Apr. 17 The Dhammapada, oral reports Apr. 22 Balakian, pp. 1-58 Apr. Film Casablanca Drafts of Final Paper Due Apr. 29 Discussion of film, Balakian, pp. 59-146 May 1 Balakian, pp. 261-289 Final Essay Due May 6 Wrap-up and quiz Apr. 26 Balakian, Black Dog of Fate, pp. 1-59, 59-146 May 1 Balakian, pp. 261-289 Final Essay Due May 3 Wrap-up and test |