Humanities 101
Introduction to the Humanities
Spring 2016
Monday 4:00-6:45
Reynolds 114
Western Nevada College
Lane Simonian
Office Hours: By appointment
Box: Bristlecone 350
HomePhone: 825-8937
E-mail: Lane.Simonian@wnc.edu
Number of Credits: 3
Transfers to the University of Nevada-Reno as a General Core Fine Arts
Prerequisite: None
Division Information
Liberal Arts Division Director: Scott Morrison
Office: Bristlecone Building, Room 350A
Phone: 445-4401
E-mail: scott.morrison@wnc.edu
Liberal Arts Division Administrative Assistant
Katy Edmonds
Office: Bristlecone Building Room 350D
Phone: 445-3290
Text: Matthews, Platt, and Noble, Experience Humanities: Beginnings Through the
Renaissance, Volume One, Eighth Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2014.
Catalog Course Description
Humanities 101: Introduction to the Humanities
Offers an interdisciplinary approach to the humanities. Students study major works in
art, music, literature, and philosophy with historical framework.
Course Content
Through lectures, readings, audio-visual materials, and discussions, students will be
introduced to the cultural achievements of the Middle East and Europe in the areas of art,
architecture, literature, music, and philosophy. The course will cover the contributions of
the peoples of the Middle East (including the peoples of Mesopotamia, the Egyptians,
Persians, Hebrews, and Arabs), the ancient Greeks, the ancient Romans, Medieval
Europeans, and the Italians of the Renaissance. Students will also learn of the historical
and cultural legacy of the main religions which originated in the Middle East: Judaism
Christianity, and Islam. Some of the main historical developments of the period from
antiquity through the Renaissance will also be examined.
Course Value
Through this course, students will gain a greater appreciation of the cultural
achievements of the peoples of the Middle East and Europe. They will learn about the
historical impetus behind developments in the arts. Students will have the opportunity to
improve their writing and research skills.
Requirements
Tests
There will be two tests during the semester, each consisting of essays and identifications.
The final exam will only be on material from the second half of the course. The
instructor will provide a study guide for both the midterm and final exams. No notes or
books are allowed during the exams, with one exception: students whose first language is
not English can use an English-foreign language dictionary.
Paper
Each student will prepare a paper on an approved topic in the Western Humanities. The
paper should be approximately five pages in length and double-spaced.
Attendance and Interest
Regular attendance is an important part of the course. Students will not be penalized for
shyness. Instead, they will be judged upon their level of interest and respectfulness.
Discussion Question
During the semester, students should turn in one question on a subject relevant to an
upcoming class (questions will be accepted up until the beginning of the last lecture).
Students who turn in a question will have one point added onto their attendance and
interest grade (which equals a percentage point added onto their final grade). Students
who don’t turn in a question will have one point deducted from their attendance and
interest grade.
Important Dates
April 4
April 25
May 16
Midterm Exam
Paper Due
Final Exam
Grading
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Paper
Attendance and Interest
30%
30%
30%
10%
Class Policies
Grading
Points will be given for all assignments. At the end of the semester, each student will be
assigned a grade based upon the following percentage scale.
94-100
90-93
87-89
84-86
80-83
77-79
74-76
70-73
67-69
64-66
60-63
Under 60
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Absences
Students with legitimate reasons for missing class should notify the instructor as soon as
they can and no later than the last day of the course (the final exam).
Assistance
If you miss a class, try to obtain notes from one of your classmates when you return.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating on an exam will result in a test score of zero. Plagiarism on a paper (presenting
other people’s work as your own) will result in either a poor grade or the redoing of the
assignment.
Incompletes and Withdrawals
Students who officially drop the class on or before April 1st will receive a withdrawal
grade. Otherwise, students who stop attending the class will receive an F, unless they
qualify for an incomplete or if they can provide evidence to Admissions and Records of
extreme hardship. In order to receive an incomplete, a student must have completed 75%
of the course requirements with a grade of C or better and must have a compelling reason
for not being able to complete the class. Students who have to take an incomplete should
contact the instructor before the end of the semester.
Make-Up Exams
Arrangements to make up excused absences from exams should be made in advance if
possible. Otherwise a student should contact the instructor as soon as possible to explain
why he or she was unable to take the regularly scheduled exam and to arrange a time to
take the make-up exam. Make-ups will not be given for inadequate preparation.
Late Papers
Your paper should be turned into me at or before the due date. Two points will be
deducted for each weekday (excluding holidays) that a paper is late. Exceptions will be
made in the event of an illness or emergency, or if prior arrangements have been made.
Students who don’t turn in a paper will lose 30 points from their final grade.
Points of Courtesy
Please be on time to class. If possible, let me know if you have to leave class early.
Keep cell phones on silent. No extraneous talking. No food, open beverage containers, or
cigarettes are allowed in the classrooms, except where food and drinks are needed for
medical reasons.
Western Humanities Schedule
Spring 2016
Text: Experience Humanities: Beginnings through the Renaissance—Matthews, Platt,
and Noble, Volume One, Eighth Edition.
Readings should be completed before the lecture.
Week 1
Mon. 1/25
Introduction: objectives, requirements, and grading
Week 2
Mon. 2/1
Civilizations of the Ancient Near East
Readings: pp. 3-30
Week 3
Mon. 2/8
The Minoans and the Ancient Greeks
Readings: pp. 33-55, 57-81
Week 4
Mon. 2/15
President’s Day
No Class
Week 5
Mon. 2/22
The Hellenistic Era
Readings: pp. 83-101
Week 6
Mon. 2/29
Rome
Readings: pp. 101-127, 151-155 (skip section on Constantinople), box on
157, 163-173 (skip sections on Christianity)
Week 7
Mon. 3/7
Film: Rome: the Ultimate Empire
No Readings
Week 8
Mon. 3/14
Judaism and the Rise of Christianity
Readings: pp. 129-149, 157-173 (skip sections on Rome)
Week 9
Mon. 3/21
Spring Break
No Class
Week 10
Mon. 3/28
Review for Midterm Exam
Week 11
Mon. 4/4
Midterm Exam
Week 12
Mon. 4/11
Islam
Readings: pp. 203-224
Week 13
Mon. 4/18
The Byzantine Empire and the Early Middle Ages
Readings: pp. 155-156, 175-201, 228-230
Week 14
Mon. 4/25
The High Middle Ages and the Late Middle Ages
Readings: pp. 227, 230-261, 263-293
Paper Due
Week 15
Mon. 5/2
The Renaissance and Mannerism
Readings: pp. 305-333
Week 16
Mon. 5/9
Review for Final Exam
Week 17
Mon. 5/16
Final Exam
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
“Qualified students with physical or documented learning disabilities have the right to
free accommodations to ensure equal access to educational opportunities at Western
Nevada College.” For assistance contact Susan Trist from the Office of Disability
Support Services at 445-4459. The office is located in Cedar Building 209.