Dr.
jford@rsu.edu
HONS-1113 [ZAP 1395]
Office: Health
Sciences 244
Fall 2009
Office Phone: (918)
343-7749
TTh
11-1:45 W; 12:15-2 R; 8-noon F. No prerequisites.
KNOW
THYSELF
Orientation to the
Prerequisite:
Enrollment in Honors Program.
By the end of the course, every student should be able:
1. to articulate the goals and objectives of general education.
2. to articulate the benefits of a University degree.
3. to articulate a vision of the relationship between education and happiness.
4. to synthesize reading and research in area(s) of career interest.
Jane Austen,
Pride and Prejudice.
Kate Chopin,
Awakening.
Philip K. Dick,
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Ernest Hemingway,
The Sun Also Rises.
Nick Hornby,
About a Boy.
Steven Johnson,
Everything Bad is Good for You.
Jon Krakauer,
Into the Wild.
J.D. Salinger,
Catcher in the Rye.
William Shakespeare,
Hamlet.
Available at the RSU
Bookstore in Claremore.
The Rogers State University Honors Program supports the larger vision and
mission of
The specific mission of the Rogers State University Honors Program is to provide
an education in a collaborative, experiential, learning-based environment of
faculty and students and to produce graduates of the program who act as agents
of change in their academic, professional, and personal lives, cultivate the
community approach to life and learning, hold lasting commitments to academic
and social responsibility, integrate creative and critical thinking in diverse
approaches to problem solving, embrace the principles and practices of the
life-long learner, value pluralism and informed civic discourse, and explore
technology and information literacy as critical resources for life in the
twenty-first century.
This course will
emphasize discussion and writing. I will regularly suggest questions pertaining
to the material we will be discussing in the following class. Students should
come to class prepared to address these questions.
You will have to participate to pass this
class. Always bring to class the
book we are discussing.
There will be three
three-page critical essays (approximately 1000 words each), an in-class midterm
exam, a group presentation, and a final exam. Students will be assigned to a
group by the professor later in the semester.
All essays must be
typed and double-spaced, with margins of 1.25 inches. Unexcused late work will
be penalized 10% per day. All essays are due at the beginning of the class
period. Further details on the nature of these assignments will be given in
class. Failure to complete any exam or
to make a group presentation on your assigned date will be grounds for failure
of the course as a whole.
Essays
30% (each essay=10%)
Exams
30% (each exam=15%)
Presentation
15%
Participation
25%
GRADING SCALE
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
Every student will
be assigned to a group of 3-4 students later in the semester. During the last
few weeks of the semester, each day one group will make their presentation.
Basically, those students lead class for that day. Each group should begin by
making a 7-10 minute presentation, and will then lead class in discussion the
rest of the period. This presentation is 15% of your grade.
Every member of the group must be in
class the day of the presentation. Further information on these
presentations will be given in class.
ATTENDANCE
As discussion is a
major portion of your grade (25%) as well as the heart of this class, your
attendance is required. More than two absences will adversely affect your grade;
five or more absences are grounds for
failure of the course as a whole.
Students are
expected to follow university policies as put forth in the institution’s
Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct. In accordance with Title 12 of
The Student Code, instances of alleged academic misconduct will follow
the policies and procedures as described in Title 12. As a general rule, Faculty
at
Note especially RSU’s official plagiarism statement:
“Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s
own, including: direct quotation without both attribution and indication that
the material is being directly quoted, e.g. quotation marks; paraphrase without
attribution; paraphrase with or without attribution where the wording of the
original remains substantially intact and is represented as the author’s own;
expression in one’s own words, but without attribution, of ideas, arguments,
lines of reasoning, facts, processes, or other products of the intellect where
such material is learned from the work of another and is not part of the general
fund of common knowledge.”
Deliberate
plagiarism and/or other forms of cheating are grounds for failure in the course
as a whole.
NON-ACADEMIC
MISCONDUCT
In order to maintain
an effective learning environment, students are expected to fully comply with
The Student Code. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. It is the
responsibility of each student to read and become familiar with the policies of
The Student Code.
Rogers State University is committed to providing students with disabilities
equal access to educational programs and services.
Any student who has a disability that he or she believes will require
some form of academic accommodation must inform the professor of such need
during or immediately following the first class attended.
Before any educational accommodation can be provided, it is the
responsibility of each student to prove eligibility for assistance by
registering for services through Student Affairs.
My office hours are
listed above. Please feel free to come by, call, etc., during those hours. If
that doesn’t work, I would be happy to schedule an appointment at another time.
Communication by email is especially welcome (moderation in this, as in all
things...).
Finally, realize that it is not unusual for a course like this one to raise challenges to and doubts about some of our most cherished beliefs. It is important that each of us is sensitive to the views of those around us. At the same time, each of us should also be aware that controversial issues, arguments, and positions will be discussed in this course. If something bothers or offends you, let me know and I will do what I can.
Course Schedule
Aug 13
Th
Introduction
Aug 18
T
Plato, The Apology
Aug 20
Th
Plato, The Apology
Aug 25
T
Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I
Aug 27
Th
Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act
II-III
Sep 1
T
Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV-V
Sep 3
Th
Meet in Auditorium
Sep 8
T
Austen, Pride and Prejudice,
Introduction & Vol. I
Sep 10 Th
Austen, Pride and Prejudice,
Vol. II
Sep 15 T
Austen, Pride and Prejudice,
Vol. III
Sep 22
T
Chopin, The Awakening
Sep 24 Th
Chopin, The Awakening
First Essay Due
Sep 29 T Meet with Judge Robert Henry, in Centennial Center A
Oct 1
Th
Meet in Auditorium
Oct 6
T
Hemingway,
The Sun Also Rises
Oct 8
Th
Hemingway,
The Sun Also Rises
Oct 15 Th
NO CLASS—FALL BREAK
Oct 20
T
Salinger, Catcher in the Rye
Oct 22
Th
Dick, Do Androids Dream of
Electric Sheep?
Oct 29
Th
Hornby, About a Boy
Second Essay Due
Nov 3
T
Meet in Auditorium
Nov 5
Th
Krakauer, Into the Wild
Nov 10
T
Johnson, Everything Bad is Good
for You
Nov 17
T
Group Presentations
Third Essay Due
Nov 19
Th
Group Presentations
Nov 24 T
Group Presentations
Nov 26 Th
NO CLASS—THANKSGIVING BREAK
Dec 1
T
Group Presentations
Dec 3
Th
Group Presentations
Dec 8
T
FINAL EXAM
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Note: This schedule
subject to change as necessary.