Humanities 211 Syllabus

Dr. L. Adam Mekler
Humanities 211.01
Spring 2021

Office: Holmes 228

Office Phone: (443) 885-4032

Email@Morgan: adam.mekler@morgan.edu
Secondary Class Homepage: http://l-adam-mekler.com/211links.htm

Go To Assigments For:

Jan/Feb

March

April

May

Any revisions to this syllabus will be posted on our Canvas class page. Please check Canvas regularly for any announcements.

Course Requirements:

Required Texts:

All assigned readings are provided as pdf's in Canvas

Required Technology:
Computer with microphone and camera
Software:

Microsoft Word (available in Office 365 for Morgan students: Visit http://portal.office.com and enter your MSU email to get it. Office 365 may be installed on personal devices only.)

All written assignments must be submitted through Canvas in order to receive credit.

Pdf-reading Software (such as Adobe). Most of the files for the course are presented as pdf's, so reading them will require the proper software.
Respondus Lockdown browser: Instructions for the acquisition and use of this software can be found here.

We will have two separate assessments, including the midterm and the final exams, that must be performed using this program.

Please email or call me as soon as possible if you have any questions or concerns.

In addition to assigned readings and homework questions, there will be one (1) brief (1000-word minimum) critical response paper, one brief (800-word minimum) museum paper, and one (1) documented research paper (2500-word minimum) that uses a minimum of six documented secondary sources. There will also be a mid-term and a final examination.

Students are expected to attend every class. If you are forced to miss class, written verification for the reason for your absence is expected. Because of the importance of regular attendance, excessive (more than three) unexcused class absences will result in the loss of points from the final average. Excessive lates will also lower your grade. The complete attendance policy can be found on the class homepage

. Please come speak with me if you have any questions. You are expected to arrive prepared to provide thoughtful discussions of the daily readings, responding to questions from the instructor or your classmates as they arise.

**N.B.: I plan to record all class sessions to allow students the opportunity to go over anything that occurred, especially if they missed a class. Please let me know ASAP if you have any concerns about this practice. **

All papers will follow MLA format: Typed, double-spaced, using parenthetical citations and when necessary, a list of works cited, including references made to the textbook. (See sample MLA Paper ) The main point of the response papers is to allow you the opportunity to explore specific aspects of texts that you find interesting in terms of the literary terms we discuss: metaphor, imagery, symbolism, setting, theme, etc.. Basically, you will be exploring the ways in which use of such devices helps to develop the important themes of the works, etc., but the specific focus is largely up to you.

** Plagiarism on any assignment will have dire consequences. **
Please familiarize yourself with the policy and let Dr. Mekler know if anything is unclear.
Homework must be submitted through Canvas.
Late Homework Assignments will receive half credit, but opportunities for "makeup" or "extra" credit will be available.

See the full homework policy here .

Papers are due by the end of business on the due date.
Late Papers will lose 2/3 of a letter grade for each class day.
Papers will not be accepted after the final class date.

Grading:

Participation	10%
Critical Response Paper	10%	A: 90-100
Homework	10%	B: 80-89
Museum Paper	10%	C: 70-79
Research Paper	20%	D: 60-69
Mid-Term Exam	20%	F: 0-59
Final Exam	20%

Reading List (Subject to Subtle Revision):

Feb	1	Course Introduction Review information and policies posted in Canvas Literary Terms (See List )
	3	Grammar Review Exercise Due
	5	Reading: Sample Homework Responses
	8	*Gilgamesh* Background Homework Questions Due in Canvas. Corrected Grammar Review Exercise Due
	10	Gilgamesh, Chs. 1-3: , pp. 1-18 Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	12	Gilgamesh, Chs. 1-3, cont.
	15	Gilgamesh, Chs. 4-7: , pp. 18-33 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	17	Gilgamesh, concl. Respondus Quiz Due
	19	African Tales and Myths Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	22	*Sundiata* Background and Preface, vii-xxiv, "Narrative in Africa During the Middle Ages" and "Sundiata: Background," 97-101 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	24	Sundiata , pp. 103-120 and notes, 143-46 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	26	Sundiata, pp. 103-120, cont.
March	1	NO CLASS
	3	Sundiata, 121-43 and notes, 146-48 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	5	Greek Background Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses Bulfinch's Mythology (Ch. 16) Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	8	Oedipus Rex Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	10	Oedipus Rex, concl.
	12	Aristotle, *Poetics* Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	15	Discussion of In-Class Essay/Critical Response Paper/Research Paper
	17	Mid-Term Review
	19	Midterm Exam Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences for First Part of Class
	22	Reading: Sample Research Paper Reading: Research Paper Hints Research Paper Topics Due in Canvas.
	24	NO CLASS Critical Response Paper (1000-word minimum) Due in Canvas
	26	Research Paper Exercise Due in Canvas
	29	Bhagavad-Gita Background Bhagavad-Gita, Preface & Introduction, iv-vii Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	31	Bhagavad-Gita, 1-12 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Critical Response Paper (1000 word min.) Due in Canvas
April	2	Bhagavad-Gita, 13-28 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	5	Chaucer Background Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	7	Canterbury Tales: General Prologue Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	9	NO CLASS
	12	Canterbury Tales: "Wife of Bath's Tale" Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	14	Chaucer Quote Exercise Due
	16	Europe and the "New World" Background , pp. 1902-4 Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	19	Letters of Columbus, pp. 1921-25 Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	21	Works Cited Page Due in Canvas. Deadline to Change Research Paper Topics
	23	Letters of Cortes, pp. 1926-36 Homework Questions Due in Canvas. Columbus and Cortes Discussion Due
	26	Pratt, "Arts of the Contact Zone" Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	28	Florentine Codex, pp. 1936-42 Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	30	Museum Paper Discussion
May	3	Popol Vuh, Homework Questions Due in Canvas.
	5	Research Paper (2500-word minimum) Due in Canvas
	7	Museum Paper Due (800-word minimum) in Canvas.
	10	TBA
	12	Reading: Final Review
	14	Final Exam Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences for Second Part of Class

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