HUM& 101 Introduction to Humanities, 5.0 Credits, S. Hartwell Johnson

Instructor
S. Hartwell Johnson
Contact

Email: sjohnson@wvc.edu
Office: MET 1225L
Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday 1pm-2pm and by appointment.

Components Included

  • Lecture
Course
HUM& 101
Introduction to Humanities
Class Program
Humanities
Description

A study of art, history, philosophy, and literature that explores questions of meaning, value, and aesthetics. This course aims to investigate and critique the experiences of humanity by utilizing an interdisciplinary and interpretive approach that emphasizes reading, critical thinking, and writing.

Meets Degree Requirements For
Humanities
Course Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and devise strategies for independent inquiry.

    Level
    Beginner
Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Recognize the aesthetic and formal qualities of artistic, literary, and/or filmic texts.

    Level
    Beginner
Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills by synthesizing information from multiple sources.

    Level
    Beginner
Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze texts from historical, cultural, artistic, philosophical, and/or theoretical perspectives.

    Level
    Beginner
Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate reflective and metacognitive thinking about the humanities.

    Level
    Beginner
Grades

Grading Scale

100-93.5 A, 93.4-89.5 A-, 89.4-86.5 B+, 86.4-82.5 B, 82.4-79.5 B-, 79.4-76.5 C+, 76.4-72.5 C, 72.4-69.5 C-, 69.4-66.5 D+, 66.4-59.5 D, 59.4-0 F

Online Notice

This course is fully online and does not have required regularly scheduled Zoom meetings or recordings of lectures. If you’d like to discuss any aspect of the course’s content or assignments, I am more than happy to meet with you during my office hour or over Zoom or answer your questions through messages on Canvas. I will also have an optional Zoom check-in on Wednesdays at 10am. The Zoom ID is 511 813 9523. If you would like to meet with me over Zoom at a different time, then please contact me to schedule an appointment.

Course Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and begin to devise strategies for independent inquiry.
  • Begin to recognize the aesthetic and formal qualities of artistic and literary texts.
  • Demonstrate emerging critical thinking skills by synthesizing information from multiple sources.
  • Analyze texts from historical, cultural, artistic, and philosophical perspectives.
  • Demonstrate reflective and metacognitive thinking about the humanities.

Readings (all readings for this course will be provided to you)

Videos

  • Cave of Forgotten Dreams
  • Oedipus Rex
  • Sir Gawain & the Green Knight - BBC
  • Much Ado About Nothing
  • Heroes of the Enlightenment - BBC
  • The Romantics – BBC
  • USA Poetry: William Carlos Williams
  • WB Yeats: No Country for Old Men

Communication

My goal is to create an environment of open and respectful communication between students and teacher. To that end, if you are unsure about the instructions for an assignment or would like greater clarity about anything regarding the course, please feel free to contact me. Email and Canvas are great ways for you to communicate with me; however, if I don’t receive your message before 5pm it is unlikely that I will be able to respond before the next day. I will use Canvas to communicate with you on a regular basis, so it is your responsibility to check Canvas daily.

Accommodations

Please let me know if you need accommodations of any sort. I can work in conjunction with WVC’s Student Access Office (SAO) to provide what you require. If you need support or advice contact Lisa Foster: 509-682-6854, email: lfoster@wvc.edu

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism

Submitting writing from someone else as if it were your own can cause you to fail the assignment, the course, and/or be disciplined by the college (so can allowing others to use your work). If you’re having trouble with the coursework, contact me—I’ll help you personally. Don’t toy with plagiarism. It’s just flat out not worth it.

Assignments

Below is a brief outline of the coursework you’ll be asked to complete. Please see the assignment page for more information and due dates. All requirements are subject to change. In general, late work will not be accepted, but arrangements can be made to accommodate some circumstances.

  • Introduce Yourself (20 points)
  • The Humanities (20 points)
  • Weekly Responses (520 points)
  • Midterm Essay (150 points)
  • Reflection (40 points)
  • Final Essay (250 points)

 

Tentative Class Schedule

Check it regularly for updates.

Week

Readings and Videos

Topic

Coursework

Week 1

01/03-01/07

Introduction

Introductory assignments due by midnight on Wednesday and Saturday (01/05 & 01/08)

Week 2

01/10-01/14

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (video)

First Impressions (reading)

The Stone Age

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (01/15)

Week 3

01/17-01/21

Oedipus The King (reading)

Oedipus Rex (video)

Allegory of the Cave (reading)

Ancient Greece

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (01/22)

Week 4

01/24-01/28

Sir Gawain & the Green Knight (reading)

Sir Gawain & the Green Knight (video)

Medieval

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (01/29)

Week 5

01/31-02/04

Much Ado About Nothing (reading)

Much Ado About Nothing (video)

Renaissance

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (02/05)

Week 6

02/07-02/11

Midterm Review

Midterm Essay due by midnight on Saturday (02/12)

Week 7

02/14-02/18

What is Enlightenment? (reading)

A Modest Proposal (reading)

Heroes of the Enlightenment (videos)

Age of Reason

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (02/19)

Week 8

02/21-02/25

Poems by Blake (reading)

Poems by Wordsworth (reading)

The Romantics (videos)

Romantic Poetry

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (02/26)

Week 9

02/28-03/04

Poems by Williams (reading)

Poems by Yeats (reading)

USA Poetry: William Carlos Williams (video)

WB Yeats: No Country for Old Men (video)

Modern Poetry

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (03/05)

Week 10

03/07-03/11

The Metamorphosis (reading)

Modern Literature

Responses due by midnight on Saturday (03/12)

Week 11

03/14-03/18

Final Review

Final Essay & Reflection due by midnight on Saturday (03/19)

 

Core Topics
  1. The history and historical context of the art, literature, and philosophical ideas examined in throughout course.
  2. An exploration of visual arts, such as painting, architecture, and sculpture, which includes an inquiry into their meaning, value, and aesthetic qualities.
  3. An exploration of literature, such as poetry, novels, and dramas, which includes an inquiry into their meaning, value, and aesthetic qualities.
  4. An exploration of philosophical ideas, such as ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, which includes an inquiry into their meaning and value.

General Statements

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

“The Disability Support Services Office has been designated by the college as the primary office to guide, coach and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services (or think you should) through that office and require accommodations for this class, make an appointment with the Director of Student Access (509-682-6854 or sas@wvc.edu) as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Any information you share is kept in strictest confidence unless you give written permission to do otherwise.

If you need a referral to that office or have further questions, please contact the Director of Student Access to assist you. Following through on these services can help you be more successful in your academic endeavors at WVC. (Note: the Director of Student Access will require appropriate documentation of disability. The use of that office is voluntary).”

Bias Prevention Statement

WVC is committed to providing a safe learning environment. For your safety, the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) can connect you with resources/support to address bias-related incidents that may interfere with your academic success, particularly those directed at persons protected under WVC’s Non-Discrimination Policies and Procedures (https://www.wvc.edu/publicdisclosure/aa-eo-statements.html). Please visit the BIRT site at https://www.wvc.edu/bias to learn more and find out how you can report bias-related incidents.

Student Holidays for Faith or Conscience Policy

WVC students are entitled to two days of excused absences per academic year for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church or religious organization. Students’ grades may not be adversely impacted by absences authorized under this policy. Each holiday taken under this policy must be taken as a whole day, i.e. the day may not be divided into hours and taken piecemeal. Related Procedures 1400.610.

Academic Dishonesty

Any student who engages in any form of academic dishonesty may be subject to discipline. Common instances of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to): cheating; fabrication; plagiarism; facilitating, aiding or abetting others in academic dishonesty; collusion; or resubmitting work previously submitted for another course without instructor permission. Academic dishonesty may be subject to both academic sanctions and/or code of conduct sanctions.