American University of Central Asia
First Year Seminar I
FYS-100 (2980)
Fall 2023
Syllabus
Section no.: 15
Instructor: Anton Markoč
E-mail: markoc_a@auca.kg
Meetings: Mon and Wed 10:50-12:05
Classroom: Online, via Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/97245652817, no password
Consultation hours: Mon and Wed 12:05-14:00 via Zoom, by appointment
E-course: https://ecourse.auca.kg/course/view.php?id=5901, enrollment key: Markoc
FYS I: Social Norms and Identity
Course Description
Overview
First-year Seminar is a yearlong course that introduces you to some foundational texts and
various genres from different cultural contexts. In the first and the second semesters, you will
engage with texts that address concepts of power, social norms, identity, control, resistance,
disobedience, nonconformism, and alike. Throughout the course you will learn how to read
critically through challenging and sometimes difficult primary texts. In addition, you will
improve communicating effectively and collaboratively. As FYS and English Composition
are deeply intertwined, you will learn how to express your analysis and scholarly
investigations in the academic context.
Course Pillars
Readings
All the required readings will be included in the Course Reader and be available in electronic
formats. It is required that you pay close attention to the texts and annotate them. You must
do the reading for every seminar and bring the Course Reader to the sessions. Some of these
texts are difficult and require reading more than one time. Note that although it is expected
that you will find difficulties in understanding, you are nonetheless responsible for reading
the required material ahead of class.
Discussions
Seminar discussions will always take place in the context of and through a text. Although the
issues raised by the readings have no fixed meaning, all of your interpretations must be
rooted in the texts. Formation and development of your personal opinions are encouraged but
always in relation to the class readings, which will be used as a base for class discussions and
writing activities. You will also be prompted to continue thinking about and discussing these
texts outside of the virtual classroom as part of your development as autonomous thinkers.
Writing
Writing is a key component of FYS. Throughout the semester you will practice two kinds of
writing, “low-stakes” and “high-stakes.” Low-stakes writing is largely ungraded. You will
generate this kind of writing in several kinds of ways: annotating texts; responding to in-class
prompts; and notes taken during discussion and from the virtual board. Just because it is not
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graded does not mean it does not have to be done and does not mean that it is not valuable,
since it will form the basis for your graded, high-stakes writing. For this, you will need both
an old-fashioned pen and notebook and a Google Doc, which you should be prepared to share
regularly with your instructor.
High-stakes writing will consist of formal assignments that are graded. Each of the
assignments will be scaffolded, i.e., they will consist of a series of steps, beginning with
brain-storming and continuing via outlining and drafts to the final version. You will work on
all these steps both inside and outside the classroom. You should participate in all the stages
because you will learn more about the complexity of the whole writing process and also
avoid the stress of rushing to complete formal assignments at the last minute!
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
● Read and annotate texts closely in order to identify main ideas, themes, and arguments
and their development through the texts.
● Express ideas and construct arguments through both low-stakes and high-stakes writing.
● Discuss and critique the texts in both collaborative and individual situations.
● Reach well-informed and logical value-based judgments about writers, texts, ideas,
views, and arguments.
Required Readings
Core texts:
Aeschylus. Prometheus Bound. Translated by Joel Agee, New York, New York Review of
Books Classics, 2014.
Han Fei. Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hsun Tzu, and Han Fei Zu. Edited and translated by Burton
Watson, New York, Columbia University Press, 1964.
Sophocles. Antigone. Translated by Don Taylor, New York, Bloomsbury Methuen Drama,
2012.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: The 1818 Text. New York, Penguin Books, 2018.
Discretionary texts:
Carson, Anne. Grief Lessons: Four Plays by Euripides, Preface (Tragedy: A Curious Art
Form). New York, New York Review of Books Classics, 2006.
Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince, Chapter XVIII (How a Prince Should Keep His Word).
Edited and translated by Peter Bondanella, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2005.
Milton, John. Paradise Lost, Book I. An illustrated edition with an introduction by Philip
Pullman. New York, Oxford University Press, 2005.
Freud, Sigmund. The Uncanny. Translated by David McLintock, London, Penguin Books,
2003.
Supplementary texts:
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Aitmatov, Chingiz. The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years, Mankurt Story (from Chapter
6). Translated by John French, Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 1983.
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery”. The New Yorker, June 26, 1948.
Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, written by Herself, Chapters 1-10. New
York, Penguin Books, 2000.
Course Outline/Schedule
Week
1.
Sept. 04–08
FYS Reading
Assignments/Deadlines
Introduction
Aeschylus. Prometheus Bound. Translated by Joel Low-stake writings, to be
submitted via Google Doc
Agee, New York, New York Review of Books
Classics, 2014.
2.
Sep. 11–15
Prometheus Bound, continuation.
Low-stake writings, via
Google Doc
3.
Sep. 18–22
Prometheus Bound, continuation.
Low-stake writings, via
Google Doc
Milton, John. Paradise Lost, Book I. An illustrated
edition with an introduction by Philip Pullman.
New York, Oxford University Press, 2005.
4.
Sep. 25–29
Sophocles. Antigone. Translated by Don Taylor, Low-stake writings, via
New York, Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, Google Doc
2012.
5.
Oct. 02–06
Antigone, continuation.
Low-stake writings, via
Google Doc
Carson, Anne. Grief Lesson: Four Plays by
Euripides, Preface (Tragedy: A Curious Art
Form). New York, New York Review of
Books Classics, 2006.
6.
Oct. 9–13
1st PAPER, high-stake
writing, to be submitted
via e-course
Antigone, continuation.
Due October 16th
7.
Oct. 16–20
Aitmatov, Chingiz. The Day Lasts More than a Low-stake writings, via
Hundred Years, Mankurt Story (from Chapter Google Doc
6). Translated by John French, Bloomington,
Indiana University Press, 1983.
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery”. The New Yorker,
June 26, 1948.
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8.
Oct. 23–27
Han Fei. Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hsun Tzu, and Low-stake writings, via
Han Fei Zu. Edited and translated by Burton Google Doc
Watson, New York, Columbia University
Press, 1964.
9.
Oct. 30–Nov. 03
Basic Writings of Han Fei, continuation.
Low-stake writings, via
Google Doc
Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince, Chapter XVIII
(How a Prince Should Keep His Word). Edited
and translated by Peter Bondanella, Oxford,
Oxford University Press, 2005.
10.
Nov. 06–10
FALL BREAK, no classes, no readings assigned
2nd PAPER, high-stake
writing, via e-course
Due November 13th
11.
Nov. 13–17
Basic Writings of Han Fei, continuation.
Low-stake writings, via
Google Doc
Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,
written by Herself, Chapters 1-10. New York,
Penguin Books, 2000.
12.
Nov. 20–24
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: The 1818 Text. New Low-stake writings, via
York, Penguin Books, 2018.
Google Doc
13.
Nov. 27–Dec. 01
Frankenstein, continuation.
Low-stake writings, via
Google Doc
14.
Dec. 04–08
Frankenstein, continuation.
Low-stake writings, via
Google Doc
Freud, Sigmund. The Uncanny. Translated by
David McLintock, London, Penguin Books,
2003.
15.
Dec. 11–15
Summary and synthesis, no readings assigned
3rd PAPER, high-stake
writing, via e-course
Due December 18th
Final Grades due January 9th, 2024
Attendance and Participation
AUCA Policy on Academic Leave: https://auca.kg/en/reg_academic_leave/
Attendance is expected for every synchronous session. As a matter of courtesy, you should
inform your professor in advance via email of any reasonable and foreseeable absences due
to external factors, e.g., medical appointments, technical problems. In the case of
emergencies and if it is impossible to forewarn your professor of your absence, please let
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them know and explain your reasons as soon as possible and make arrangements with them to
catch up on missed work.
Likewise, your professor will also give you advance warning of planned absences and will
issue you with instructions for how to continue with your work, either in the form of takehome assignments or make-up classes.
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to follow the AUCA ACADEMIC HONESTY code. All types of
plagiarism are strictly prohibited. If a student fails to observe this requirement, the instructor
may assign an “F” (or 0%) for the work or an “F” for the whole class, depending on the type
of assignment and relevant circumstances. Students are expected to read and follow the section
on Student Academic Dishonesty of the AUCA Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and
Conduct.
●
On the first occasion you are caught plagiarizing, you fail that assignment.
●
The second time, you fail the course.
●
The third time, you may be subject to more severe penalties.
The Registrar, your academic advisor, and the FYS Director will all be informed of your
plagiarism. You will also be required to arrange a session with a WARC tutor, who will
review your paper with you and help you avoid making the same mistake in the future.
Assessment
a. Attendance, Participation, & Annotations: 40% Your participation will be
evaluated through active engagement in discussions and in-class writing and reading
exercises. Merely being present in the classroom without actively and pertinently
contributing to in-class activities will only partially satisfy this portion of the
participation grade.
Attendance
10%
Annotations & Participation 30%
40%
b. “High-stakes” writing: 60%: You are required to write 3 papers over the course of
the semester; for details see syllabus for English Composition. The percentage of the
final grade and the prewriting for each assignment is as follows:
Essay #1 (Compare-Contrast)
Essay #2 (Cause-Effect)
Essay #3 (Argumentative)
15%
20%
25%
60%
at least 1000 words
at least 1500 words
at least 2000 words
Detailed prompts for each paper will be distributed by your instructor at least 2 weeks before
the due date. These prompts will describe in detail for you all the steps you will be required
to take in order to successfully complete the paper. Please keep in mind that good writing
requires time; participate in the whole process.
Late papers
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Late papers will be penalized unless well-supported by the required documentation. One third
of a letter grade (i.e. A to A-, or corresponding percentage) will be deducted for each day.
Assignments submitted five days past the due date will receive 0 percentage.
Writing and Academic Resource Center (WARC)
The WARC is an essential resource to help you improve all aspects of your writing. You can
make appointments to see tutors who will provide guidance on all stages of your assignments.
The link to the WARC site is warc.auca.kg
You can also access a variety of writing-related resources on the WARC
website: https://auca.kg/en/warcstresources. Recordings of workshops on academic writing
can be found on the WARC YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9LLcfb8S79-IKKWylQcWg.
Assessment
Your formal written assignments will be assessed on the following criteria
● Argumentation: thesis, claim, argument, counter-argument, logic, etc.
● Evidence: examples, data, quotations, citations, references, etc.
● Structure: organization, paragraphs, introduction/body/conclusion, transitions, “flow”,
etc.
● Mechanics: spelling, grammar, formatting (APA/MLA/Chicago), etc.
● Process: activities, planning, drafts, revisions, WARC tutorials, workshops, etc.
Grade categories
AUCA Letter-grades and GPA system explained: https://auca.kg/en/p2885/
Excellent work
94–100 (A)
90–93 (A-)
Good Work
87–89 (B+)
84–86 (B)
80–83 (B-)
Competent Work
77–79 (C+)
74–76 (C)
70–73 (C-)
Poor Work Deserving Some Credit
67–69 (D+)
64–66 (D)
60–63 (D-)
Failure to reach the minimum requirements for credit
<60 (F)
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Disclaimer: The professor reserves the right to change or modify this syllabus as
needed. Any changes will be announced prior or during class.
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