HONORS 115
World Thought and Experience, Round II
Instructor: Professor Jaclyn Costello, MFA
Contact: costello@unlv.nevada.edu
Office Hours: T/Th 2:30-4 p.m. (best to make appointment)
This course focuses on issues of contemporary global importance and asks you to consider how these ideas have been explored at
different moments and places in global history. Further, you will have the opportunity to forge creative connections between
disciplines and cultures in order to create awareness that will help us respond to today’s challenges.
Over the course of the semester, we will explore the following units/sub-units:
Government and Citizenship
Sub Topic: War on Drugs; a global perspective (technology theme will also link here)
-instructor will provide hand-outs, book excerpts, and Ted Talk reference materials
Economics and Justice
-Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins
U.S. Solider patrolling opium field in Afghanistan
Secularism and Religion
Sub Topic: Eco-feminism
-Awakening Shakti by Sally Kempton
-Graham Hancock
What is a drug?
As you can see, there are two required books listed above. Whether you purchase these either via the UNLV book store, be sure to
have them in your hands for our start date! As well, you are required to have these two text books for both 110 and 115:
Austin, Michael, Reading the World: Ideas that Matter (Norton)
Miller & Spellmeyer, The New Humanities Reader (5th edition, Cengage)
This is a reading, writing and discussion intensive course that will meet the requirements for the UNLV Second Year Seminars Course
Objectives. Each of our Course Objectives accords with a particular UULO:
Intellectual Breadth and Life-Long Learning: Students will compare and contrast key ideas and ethical issues drawn from different
cultures and time periods.
Inquiry and Critical Thinking: Students will read and critically analyze texts from ancient to contemporary times.
Communication: Students will effectively communicate ideas and opinions through writing and public speaking.
Global/Multicultural: Students will identify and analyze questions of diversity at home and abroad.
Citizenship/Ethics: Students will prepare themselves to serve as active, thoughtful decision-makers in their homes and communities.
Grade Breakdown
Two 5-page formal essays (20% each)
Group Presentation
Attendance
Participation/Journal
Test
40%
30%
10%
10%
10%
Assignments
40%
Two Essays (5 pages each)
MLA, double-spaced. Thesis-driven but also reflective, outlandishly brilliant, unique! Must have at least three sources, one of which is
a text we discuss during the semester… but other than that, your topic can be anything. I want you to care about your topic and learn
more about it/yourself/life as you are writing.
30%
Group Presentation of a Chosen Topic
15 minute presentation on topic of your choice. A visual component, research component, and unique thesis component are all
required. Be creative! Think beyond a ―Presi‖ (though that is okay, too.) Create a short movie/song/anything in order to represent your
topic in an abstract form, along with the more academic component of this project.
10%
Attendance
Show up on time. Stay alert. Don’t eat in class. No texting.
10%
Daily Participation + Journal
Raise your hand and speak. You have something bring to say. Also: a sketchbook or bound-paper-book filled with creative responses
to the ideas, philosophies, and texts we are exploring this semester—at least two entries per unit (can be drawings, poetry, related
article clippings, creative musings, etc.)
10%
Test
There will be a test on Awakening Shakti; details to come.
*Hey! As your Professor, I reserve the right to change/alter this syllabus at any time. Come to class, pay attention, and you’ll be fine.
Attendance: Class attendance is required, and absences will be recorded. Coming to class late, leaving early, being unprepared, or
failing to participate may each be counted as a half absence. If you are going to miss class for any reason, please e-mail me in
advance—and do keep up with your reading! We are covering a good deal of material this semester, and you will be responsible for
getting notes from one of your classmates if you miss a lecture. Students who will miss class because of UNLV official activities
should refer to http://catalog.unlv.edu/content.php?catoid=4&navoid=164.
If you miss three classes, unexcused, your final grade drops one letter. If you miss five classes, unexcused, you fail.
Academic Misconduct – Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in
upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the
UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices
to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with
UNLV’s function as an educational institution. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or
ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy
(approved December 9, 2005) located at: http://studentconduct.unlv.edu/misconduct/policy.html.
Disability Resource Center (DRC) – The Disability Resource Center (DRC) determines accommodations that are ―reasonable‖ in
promoting the equal access of a student reporting a disability to the general UNLV learning experience. In so doing, the DRC also
balances instructor and departmental interests in maintaining curricular standards so as to best achieve a fair evaluation standard
amongst students being assisted. In order for the DRC to be effective it must be considered in the dialog between the faculty and the
student who is requesting accommodations. For this reason faculty should only provide students course adjustment after having
received an ―Academic Accommodation Plan.‖ If faculty members have any questions regarding the DRC, they should call a DRC
counselor. UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC-A), Room 143, phone (702) 895-0866 , fax (702)
895-0651 . For additional information, please visit: http://drc.unlv.edu/.
Religious Holidays Policy – Any student missing class quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance
of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. The make-up will apply to the
religious holiday absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor no later than the end of the first week
of class, of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays which do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. This
policy shall not apply in the event that administering the test or examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on
the instructor or the university that could not reasonably been avoided. For additional information, please visit:
http://catalog.unlv.edu/content.php?catoid=4&navoid=164.
UNLV Writing Center— One-on-one or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to UNLV students at the
Writing Center, located in CDC-3-301. Although walk-in consultations are sometimes available, students with appointments will
receive priority assistance. Appointments may be made in person or by calling 895-3908. The student’s Rebel ID Card, a copy of the
assignment (if possible), and two copies of any writing to be reviewed are requested for the consultation. More information can be
found at: http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/ *I strongly encourage students to visit the Writing Center before turning in final drafts of term
papers.
Incomplete Grades - The grade of I – Incomplete – can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed all course work up to
the withdrawal date of that semester/session but for reason(s) beyond the student’s control, and acceptable to the instructor, cannot
complete the last part of the course, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the course without repeating it. A student
who receives an I is responsible for making up whatever work was lacking at the end of the semester. If course requirements are not
completed within the time indicated, a grade of F will be recorded and the GPA will be adjusted accordingly. Students who are
fulfilling an Incomplete do not register for the course but make individual arrangements with the instructor who assigned the I grade.
Tutoring – The Academic Success Center (ASC) provides tutoring and academic assistance for all UNLV students taking UNLV
courses. Students are encouraged to stop by the ASC to learn more about subjects offered, tutoring times and other academic
resources. The ASC is located across from the Student Services Complex (SSC). Students may learn more about tutoring services by
calling (702) 895-3177 or visiting the tutoring web site at: http://academicsuccess.unlv.edu/tutoring/.
Rebelmail – By policy, faculty and staff should e-mail students’ Rebelmail accounts only. Rebelmail is UNLV’s official e-mail
system for students. It is one of the primary ways students receive official university communication such as information about
deadlines, major campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after they have been admitted
to the university. Students’ e-mail prefixes are listed on class rosters.
Cell Phones in class – The use of your phone in class, including receiving or sending text messages, counts as an absence for that day.
If you have a circumstance that requires you to keep your phone on vibrate, please inform me at the start of the semester. Thank you!