HIST 297 – Honors Introduction to the Humanities
Professor Brent Maner
Fall 2010
Office: Eisenhower Hall 213
MWF 9:30
Phone: 532-0381 E-mail: maner@ksu.edu
Eisenhower Hall 211
Office Hours: Wed. 10:30- 12, Thurs. 3-5, and by appointment
Introduction
Hist 297: The Introduction to the Humanities is a “great books” class that engages
twelve classic works in fifteen weeks. The course invites students to discuss the broad questions
about the human experience that philosophers, historians, literary figures, and other intellectuals
have pondered over many centuries. These questions include: What have human beings hoped to
gain from the pursuit of knowledge? What kinds of ideas have guided the social and political
organization of communities? How should we balance the pursuit of individual freedom and the
welfare of the larger community? The assigned readings provide masterful statements on these
questions. Our task will be to understand the arguments presented by the assigned authors and to
consider their relevance for the world we live in today. The key ingredients for success in this
course are a dedication to careful reading and a willingness to share your questions and thoughts
with our group.
This class forms part of the Freshman Honors Humanities Program. The other classes in
this program are ENG 297, PHIL 297, and MLANG 297. All of these classes have the same
reading list and will follow approximately the same schedule of readings and written
assignments. Because there will be some variation in details, you should consult this syllabus as
the guide for HIST 297.
There will be four occasions when the entire program will convene together from 7:009:20 p.m. These meetings are required for this class – note these dates and reserve them now.
Evening Session I—September 22—Hemisphere Room (Hale Library, 5th floor)
Evening Session II—October 20—location TBA (Leasure 013?)
Evening Session III—November 10—Hemisphere Room (Hale Library, 5th floor)
Evening Session IV—December 8—Hemisphere Room (Hale Library, 5th floor)
Course texts (Available for purchase at Claflin Books—1814 Claflin Road)
*Homer, The Iliad, ed. trans. Robert Fagles (Penguin) ISBN 978-0-140-27536-0
*Thucydides, On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: selections from History of the
Peloponnesian War, trans. P. Woodruff (Hackett) ISBN 978-0-87220-168-2
*Plato, Republic, trans. G.M.A. Grube (Hackett) ISBN 978-0-87220-136-1
*Dante, The Inferno, trans. Robert Pinsky (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) ISBN 978-0-374-52452-4
*Machiavelli, The Prince, trans. Luigi Ricci (Signet/NAL) ISBN 978-0-451-52746-2
*Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, ed. M. Mack (Penguin) ISBN 978-0-14-071452-4
*Descartes, Discourse on Method & Meditations on First Philosophy, trans D. A. Cress, 4th
edition (Hackett) ISBN 978-0-87220-420-1
*Goethe, Faust, trans. W. Kaufman (Anchor) ISBN 978-0-385-03114-1
*Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto (Int’l Publishers) ISBN 978-0-7178-0241-8
*Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, trans. Aylmer Maude (Signet) ISBN 978-0-451-52508-6
*Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents, trans. J. Strachey (Norton) ISBN 978-0-393-30158-8
*Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (Anchor) ISBN 978-0-385-47454-2
*ALSO REQUIRED and available at Claflin Books: A packet that contains photocopied
readings from Mary Wollstonecraft, “A Vindication of the Rights of Women”
Written work
(1) Homework: I will give each student a spiral notebook. For each class session, you
are to write out two discussion questions, each related to a specific passage in the day’s reading
assignment. During class you should note whether you asked this question and (briefly) what
answers it generated. You must bring this notebook to class each time. I will collect notebooks
randomly. (You do not need to write entries while I have the notebooks.)
(2) The first paper, 4-6 pages, typed double-spaced, is due in class on Monday,
September 27. You will provide a close reading of a short passage. Topics will be distributed
by Wednesday, September 8.
(3) The second paper, 4-6 pages, typed double-spaced, is due in class on Monday,
November 1. This paper is usually a comparison or discussion of an issue or theme from two
works. You may choose the topic, but it must be cleared by me by Monday, October 18.
(4) The third paper, 6-8 pages, typed double-spaced, is due in class on Monday,
December 6. You are responsible for generating your own topic involving a broad overview of
issues suggested by the course texts; your choice of topic must be cleared with me by Friday,
November 19.
(5) At the last evening session on December 8, you will receive a set of essay questions,
three of which you will answer as a take-home final examination. Like the papers, this
examination should be typed and double-spaced, and you should write about 3 pages for each
question. The take-home final is due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 13 in
the English Department office (English / Counseling Services Building, Room 107).
*When figuring final grades, I will weight the assignments in the following way:
First Paper: 15%
Take-Home Final: 25%
Second Paper: 20%
Homework and Class Discussion: 15%
Third Paper: 25%
*All papers and the take-home exam are due on the dates noted above. For every day an
assignment is late, I will lower the grade a full letter. Only in cases of genuine emergency, such
as serious illness or a death in the family, will I consider allowing a delay in submitting an
assignment. Any request for such a delay must include written documentation for your excuse.
*I intend to take roll in this class. I will reduce your final grade by one letter for three unexcused
absences; two letter grades for six; and so on by increments of three.
*I encourage you to use my office hours as an opportunity to discuss paper topics, my comments
on your work, and your experience in this course. I expect every student to attend my office
hours at least twice (to consult on the second and third papers).
Schedule and reading assignments
M Aug 23
Introduction to the course; “Great Books” in history
W Aug 25
The Iliad: bk 1; bk 2, lines 1-397; bk 3; bk 4, lines 489-end (pp. 77-110, 128-144,
159-163)
F Aug 27
The Iliad: book 5; book 6, lines 283-end; book 9; book 12, lines 322-381 (pp.
164-194, 203-213, 251-275, 334-336)
M Aug 30
The Iliad: book 14, lines 187-428; book, 16; book 17; book 18, lines 540-end (pp.
374-381; 412-466, 482-487)
W Sep 1
The Iliad: book 21; book 22; book 24 (pp. 520-558, 588-614)
F Sep 3
On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: Intro. and chs. 1-3 (pp. ix-xxxiii and 1-58)
M Sep 6
W Sept 8
F Sept 10
No Class--Labor Day
On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: chs. 4-8 (pp. 59-end)
The Republic: Book I and Book II up to 376c (pp. 1-51)
M Sept 13
The Republic: Book II from 376c to the end; Book III from the beginning to
389d; Book III from 402d to the end; and all of Book IV (pp.52-65 and 79-121)
W Sept 15
The Republic: Book V from 471c to the end; and Book VI from 502c to the end
(pp. 122, 146-156, 157, 176-185)
F Sept 17
The Republic: Book VII, 514a-521c (pp. 186-193)
M Sept 20
W Sept 22
F Sept 24
The Republic: Book IX and Book X, 608d-end (pp. 241-263 and 279-292)
Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Hale Library Hemisphere Room (ModLang)
The Inferno, Cantos I-IX (pp. 2-75)
M Sept 27
W Sept 29
F Oct 1
Artists’ visions of Dante’s Inferno; First Paper Due
The Inferno, Cantos X-XXII (pp. 76-185) – skip XVIII
The Inferno, Cantos XXIII-XXIX (pp. 186-253)
M Oct 4
W Oct 6
F Oct 8
The Inferno, Cantos XXX-XXXIV (pp. 254-303)
The Prince: Dedication to Lorenzo and chs. 1-6 (pp. 31-51)
The Prince: chs. 7-9 and 15-26 (pp. 52-66 and 84-127)
M Oct 11
W Oct 13
F Oct 15
Antony and Cleopatra: Acts I and II (pp. 1-59)
Antony and Cleopatra: Act III (pp. 59-92)
Antony and Cleopatra: Acts IV and V (pp. 93-139)
M Oct 18
W Oct 20
F Oct 22
Discourse on Method: parts 1-3 (pp. 1-18)
Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Leasure Hall 013 (English)
Discourse on Method: part 4-6 (pp. 18-44)
M Oct 25
W Oct 27
F Oct 29
Faust: pp. 65-209
Faust: pp. 209-353
Faust: pp. 355-503
M Nov 1
W Nov 3
F Nov 5
Finish Faust
Wollstonecraft; Second Paper Due
Wollstonecraft
M Nov 8
W Nov 10
Ivan Ilyich: chs. 1-4 (pp. 93-124)
Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Hale Library Hemisphere Room (Philosophy)
F Nov 12
Ivan Ilyich: chs. 5-12 (pp. 124-152)
M Nov 15
W Nov 17
F Nov 19
The Communist Manifesto: pp. 3-31
The Communist Manifesto: pp. 32-44
Civilization and Its Discontents, chs. 1-3 (pp. 10-52)
M Nov 22 - F Nov 26
NO CLASS--Thanksgiving
M Nov 29
W Dec 1
F Dec 3
discussion
Civilization and Its Discontents: chs. 4-5 (pp. 53-74)
Civilization and Its Discontents: chs. 6-8 (pp. 75-112)
Things Fall Apart: chs. 1-15 (pp. 3-142); Planning session for next Wednesday’s
M Dec 6
W Dec 8
F Dec 10
More planning; Third paper due
Evening Class from 7-9:20 p.m., Hale Library Hemisphere Room (History)
Finish Things Fall Apart: chaps. 16-25 (pp. 143-209) Reflections / conclusions
The take-home final is due no later than 4:00 p.m., XXXday, December XX, in the English
Department office (English / Counseling Services Bldg. Room 107).
University Notices
1. Academic honesty. Kansas State University has an Honor System based on personal
integrity, which is presumed to be sufficient assurance that, in academic matters, one's work is
performed honestly and without unauthorized assistance. Undergraduate and graduate students,
by registration, acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Honor System. The policies and procedures
of the Honor System apply to all full and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate and
graduate courses on-campus, off-campus, and via distance learning. The honor system website
can be reached via the following URL: www.ksu.edu/honor . A component vital to the Honor
System is the inclusion of the Honor Pledge which applies to all assignments, examinations, or
other course work undertaken by students. The Honor Pledge is implied, whether or not it is
stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this
academic work." A grade of XF can result from a breach of academic honesty. The F indicates
failure in the course; the X indicates the reason is an Honor Pledge violation.
Here’s the bottom line: I will punish all forms of plagiarism and cheating with a grade of
“XF.” This will irreparably damage your standing in the graduate program. You must do the
work yourself. I am interested in your ideas about the readings, not a second-run version of
someone’s paper or book review. Use this course to sharpen your skills of analysis and to
formulate informed views about some of the theorists who have shaped our discipline.
2. Academic Accommodations. Any student with a disability who needs an accommodation or
other assistance in this course should make an appointment to speak with me as soon as possible.
3. Classroom Conduct. All student activities in the University, including this course, are
governed by the Student Judicial Conduct Code as outlined in the Student Governing
Association By Laws, Article VI, Section 3, number 2. Students who engage in behavior that
disrupts the learning environment may be asked to leave the class.