COURSE SYLLABUS
HUMANITIES I
(HUMN 2113, Section 317)
Call Number 14152
Room: SE 7102
Days: Wednesdays
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m.
Autumn 2014
Instructor: Dr. Swiney
Office of Academic and Campus Services
Room: SE 2202
918-595-7673
918-596-7748 (City Hall)
e-mail: mswiney@cityoftulsa.org
Liberal Arts Office
Room SE 4107
ph: 918-595-7780
Catalog Description, Humanities I
“An interdisciplinary survey designed to strengthen the student’s fundamental grasp of
human values, ideas, discoveries, and creative achievements. Areas of consideration
may include architecture, cosmology, dance, drama, film, history, literature, music,
mythology, painting, philosophy, religion, and sculpture.”
Course Materials
Text: Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, Volume 1, Sixth Edition (6e), McGraw Hill
Instructional Methods
Text, lecture, note-taking, discussion, map study, literary selections, research and
reports. Students should read and study the designated chapters in the textbook before
class, then take appropriate notes during the instructor’s lecture. Supplemental
research is necessary.
Course Objectives
1.
Knowledge of the development and significance of the humanities in civilization,
from pre-history through the Middle Ages.
2.
An understanding of the elements and technical terms used in the study of the
humanities.
3.
An appreciation of the humanities, so they make our lives richer and more
enjoyable.
4.
A basis for continued study in the humanities.
PLEASE SILENCE AND PUT AWAY ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE IN
CLASS.
NO TEXTING IN CLASS.
NO FOOD ALLOWED IN CLASS.
Tobacco Free College: Tulsa Community College is a Tobacco Free college in accordance with the Governor’s
Executive Order 2012-01 and Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, Section 1-1523 which prohibits smoking or the use
of any tobacco products in all public places, in any indoor workplace, and all vehicles owned by the State of
Oklahoma and all of its agencies and instrumentalities. This Order includes property leased, rented, or owned by
TCC including, but not limited to, all grounds, buildings, facilities, and parking lots. Tulsa Community College’s policy
includes a tobacco free environment on all campus and off-campus locations conducting TCC credit or non-credit
classes. The TCC Campus Police is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Tobacco-Free Environment Policy.
Violations of the policy may be addressed through issuance of campus or state citations.
Evaluation Techniques
1.
Tests: Five short tests will be administered on the days listed on the attached
calendar. Each test carries a maximum value of 100 points. There is no
comprehensive “final” exam.
2.
Book Report: Two book reports, of books read this semester, are due on the
dates shown on the attached calendar. The reports must be typed or wordprocessed, double-spaced, stapled, and must be 4-5 pages in length. One report
must be of an “ancient/medieval” work (i.e., written during the period being
studied), the other of a “modern” work (i.e., written during the modern era, but
written about the period being studied). Books listed on the reading list and your
textbook’s “Literary Credits” (pp. 508-509) are already approved; other works
may be used with permission of the instructor. Each book report carries up to
100 points. See note re Plagiarism.
 In place of one Book Report, a student may write a Film Research Report. The
report must be of a film on the list, and must conform to the specifications and
format on the attached sheet.
3.
Oral Report: Each student must deliver an oral report of approximately 10-15
minutes, on the date shown on the oral report handout. The oral report carries a
maximum value of 100 points.
Grading System
Out of 800 possible points, final grades will be computed as follows:
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is expected at all times (test questions are taken both from the
text and from the lecture). Roll call will be taken at each class; excessive absence can
affect your grade.
Late Assignments and Makeup Policy
Missed tests may not be made up, unless prior arrangements are made. Permission to
take a test on a day other than on the assigned day is in the discretion of the instructor.
Students are encouraged to notify the instructor of emergencies. Book reports will not
be accepted late.
DISABILITY RESOURCES: It is the policy and practice of Tulsa Community College to create
inclusive learning environments. Accommodations for qualifying students in compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are available.
To request accommodations, contact the Education Access Center (EAC) at eac@tulsacc.edu or
call (918) 595-7115 (Voice). Deaf and hard of hearing students may text (918) 809-1864.
CALENDAR, HUMANITIES I, AUTUMN 2014
Wednesdays
August
September
20
Chapters 1, 3
3
Chapters 2, 3

December
Test #1 (Chaps 1, 2, 3), then begin Chapters 4, 5
17
Chapters 4, 5
24
Chapters 4, 5
1
Book Report 1
8
Test #2 (Chapters 4, 5), then begin Chapters 6, 7
Chapters 4, 5
15
Chapters 6, 7
22
Chapters 6, 7
29
November
Introduction
27
10
October
Introduction
Test #3 (Chapters 6, 7), then begin Chapters 8, 9, 10
5
Chapters 8, 9, 10
(November 7: Last day to withdraw or change to audit)
12
Test #4 (Chapters 8, 9, 10), then begin Chapters 11-14
19
Book Report 2
26
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY—NO CLASS
3
10
Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14
Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14
Test #5 (Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14)
PLAGIARISM
When asked to define plagiarism, many students respond by saying that it involves copying
another person’s writing “word for word.” While this definition is accurate, it is not complete.
Whenever you mislead your readers to believe that another person’s ideas, words or sentence
structures are your own, you have committed plagiarism. If you copy a passage that someone
else wrote—published or not—and do not properly credit the author, you have committed
plagiarism. If you include another writer’s ideas in your essay without giving that writer credit,
even if you state those ideas in your own words, you have committed plagiarism. Simply using
another author’s writing as a guide to your own writing may also be considered plagiarism.
Plagiarism is not only dishonest; it is a form of theft and, in some institutions, can result in
expulsion. At TCC, if you are guilty of plagiarism, whether intentional or accidental, your
professor may either give the plagiarized assignment an F or allow you to rewrite it according to
specifications. Additionally, your name may be reported to the Division Chair. A second offense
will result in more severe penalties.
To avoid plagiarism, you should first understand what needs to be documented. Your own ideas,
interpretations, observations, and expressions do not need to be documented. Information that
most people know, or that can be found in at least three sources (such as when Mozart lived, or
who won the first Super Bowl) is called “common knowledge” and does not need to be
documented, even if you have to look up the information. Any other information you present in an
essay, however, needs documentation. This includes another person’s writing or ideas, statistics,
little-known facts, and information based on someone’s primary research. You may present
information such as this by quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing.
To quote directly, you enclose in quotation marks the exact words of the original, then in
parentheses, provide information to refer your readers to an explanation of the source, located on
the Works Cited page. For longer quotations (more than four typed lines), you should indent ten
spaces and include parenthetical documentation at the end of the quotation. You do not need to
put quotation marks around the indented material since the indentation tells readers you are
presenting a direct quote. Sometimes, the information in the parentheses consists of the author’s
last name and the page number(s) on which the words appeared. If you give the author’s name as
a lead-in phrase (According to Smith…) then you need only include the page numbers in the
parentheses. With quotations, a lead-in phrase is not necessary, since the quotation marks tell
the reader where the quotation begins. However, you should strive to smoothly incorporate the
quoted material into your own writing rather than simply “dumping” it into your essay.
When you paraphrase, you set forth an author’s meaning in your own words. You CANNOT use
words, phrases, or clauses that resemble those of the author. In other words, paraphrasing
involves more than simply “plugging in” synonyms or rearranging phrases and clauses; it
involves changing the original substantially, so that the author’s ides are conveyed in your own
voice. With a paraphrase, a lead-in phrase is necessary so that readers will know when the
paraphrase begins. After the paraphrase, you should include information in parentheses that
refers the readers to an explanation of the source located on the Works Cited page.
To summarize, you must extract the author’s main ideas and present those ideas in your own
words. A summary condenses longer passages to give readers the author’s basic message. As
with paraphrase, a summary requires that you substantially change the words, phrases and
clauses to convey the author’s ideas in your own words. You must also use a lead-in phrase to
introduce a summary, and provide parenthetical documentation that will lead the reader to an
explanation of the source on the Works Cited page.
TCC Student Manual for Composition I and II, Fall 1996, pages 21-22
Reading List (suggested)
“ancient/medieval” works
“modern” works
(Egyptian)
Epics:
(Sumerian)
Homer
Edith Hamilton MYTHOLOGY
BOOK OF THE DEAD
EPIC OF GILGAMESH
ILIAD
ODYSSEY
Virgil
AENEID
(Old English) BEOWULF
(Indian)
MAHABHARATA
BAGHAVAD GITA
Bulfinch
Plays:
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Mary Stewart THE CRYSTAL CAVE
THE HOLLOW HILLS
AGAMEMNON
OEDIPUS THE KING
ANTIGONE
Euripides
THE TROJAN WOMEN
MEDEA
Aristophanes LYSISTRATA
_____________
Plutarch
MYTHOLOGY
Mary Renault THE KING MUST DIE
THE LAST OF THE WINE
THE MASK OF APOLLO
THE PRAISE SINGER
Barbara
THE MARCH OF FOLLY
Tuchman A DISTANT MIRROR
Robert
Graves
I, CLAUDIUS
GREEK MYTHS
LIVES OF THE ANCIENT J. Bronowsky THE ASCENT OF MAN
GREEKS AND ROMANS
Epictetus
THE ENCHIRIDION
J. & F. Gies MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
(The Handbook)
IN THE MIDDLE AGES
Ovid
METAMORPHOSES
LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL
Marcus
CASTLE
Aurelius
MEDITATIONS
Desmond
Augustine
CONFESSIONS
Morris
THE NAKED APE
Sheherazade THE 1001 NIGHTS
(The Arabian Nights)
C. Willis
DOOMSDAY BOOK
Omar
Khayyam THE RUBAIYAT
Mort. Adler ARISTOTLE FOR
Aesop
FABLES
EVERYBODY
Chaucer
CANTERBURY TALES
Gene Wolf
SOLDIER OF THE MIST
LEGENDS OF GOOD
Ken Follett PILLARS OF THE EARTH
WOMEN
Thomas
Marie
Cahill
HOW THE IRISH SAVED
De France LAÏS
CIVILIZATION
Confucius
ANALECTS
Sun Tsu
THE ART OF WAR
Time/Life
WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE
ON THE BANKS OF THE
NILE
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A BOOK REPORT
All book reports must be typed or word-processed; no hand-written book report will be accepted.
Book reports should be 4-5 pages of text, double spaced, and stapled in the upper left corner. No
covers, binding, plastic, or paperclips please. Your name, the class, the date and the name of the
book should appear at the top. Please state the author, the edition of the book, its publisher, date
of publication, and translator (if applicable).
Below is a suggested format for your book report. These are only guidelines. Feel free to
explore the book in your own style, but be careful to obey the rules of good essay writing.
1. A summary of the book (no more than one page). Observe the rules of summarizing; beware
of plagiarism. Remember that a summary is an overview; do not recite every little detail of the
book. Demonstrate that you have read the book. (Hint: If you own the book, make notes of
important items, in the margins as you read).
2. An objective analysis of the book. What is the point of this book? How does it fit into the
culture that produced it? How does it illustrate the thinking of the writer? The mind-set (value
system) of the culture that produced it? How does this book compare to other works of this
type? Other works of its time? Other works from this culture? What is its theme? What do you
think the author is trying to say? To teach? To entertain? Why is this book important to us
Humanities students? Had you ever heard of this book before? If you were the teacher, would
you leave this book on the reading list? Does the book have any flaws? (If translated into
English) Is the translation a good one? Are there any other translations of this book that you can
find? How do they compare to this one?
3. Your personal reaction to the book. Did you like it, or not? (Note: You are not required to
like the book that you read.) What did you like about it? Or, why did you not like it? Is there
something unusual or special about this book? Do you have a favorite part of the book? An unfavorite part? Can you imagine yourself acting like any of the characters in the book? Would
you act differently from the way the character acted, if you were in a similar situation? Does the
story remind you of anything, from your own life perhaps? Are the characters or situations in the
book similar to people or occurrences in the modern world? In the news? If you were going to
make a movie or TV show based on this book, what actor(s) or actress(es) would you cast to play
the characters? Would you recommend this book to a friend? To your mother? Why, or why
not? Does this book cause any feelings in you? Sorrow, sympathy, anger, fear etc.? Did the
book make you think about anything that you had not thought about before? Did anything about
this book puzzle you? Is there anything that this book makes you wonder about? Do you think
you would like to do some research to learn more about something based on this book? Would
you be interested in learning about the author? Reading other works by the author? Other books
on the same subject?
FILM RESEARCH REPORT
In place of the book report, a student may complete a motion picture film research
report. The report must be of a film on the list (or approved substitute), and must
conform to the specifications and format below.
Most theatrical films are not serious scholarly works. Therefore, you must supplement
your viewing of the film with additional research. The additional research may be from
the book or story from which the film was adapted (e.g. Aladdin, Robin Hood), a
biographical dictionary, historical encyclopedia, or encyclopedia of myth and legend.
Prehistoric
The Croods (2013)
10,000 B.C. (2008)
Clan of the Cave Bear (1985)
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
Ice Age (2002)
Quest for Fire (1981)
Ancient
Pompeii (2014)
Wrath of the Titans (2012)
The Immortals (2011)
Percy Jackson (2010)
The Story of India (2007)
Troy (2004)
Alexander (2004)
Gladiator (2000)
Prince of Egypt (1998)
The Odyssey (1997)
The Trojan Women (1971)
Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Antigone (1962)
Ulysses (1956)
Noah (2014)
The Eagle (2011)
Clash of the Titans (2010) (1981)
Agora (2009)
300 (2006) Rise/Empire (2014)
Spartacus (2004) (1960)
Passion of the Christ (2003)
Cleopatra (1999)(1963)
Hercules (2014) (1997) (1957)
Little Buddha (1993)
Julius Caesar (1970) (1953)
Duel of the Titans (1963)
Ben Hur (1959)
Quo Vadis (1951)
Medieval
Thor (2011)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Tristan and Isolde (2006)
Sinbad (2003)
The Thirteenth Warrior (1999)
First Knight (1995)
Aladdin (1992)
Henry V (1989) (1944)
Excalibur (1981)
Robin Hood (1973)
Becket (1964)
The Vikings (1958)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Robin Hood (2010)
Prince of Persia (2010)
Beowulf (2007)
King Arthur (2004)
A Knight’s Tale (2001)
Merlin (1998)
Braveheart (1995)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Ladyhawke (1985)
Robin and Marian (1976)
The Lion in Winter (1968)
The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Ivanhoe (1952)
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A FILM RESEARCH REPORT
(4-5 pages, typed or printed, double-spaced, stapled)
1. State the film’s name, studio, release date, director, producer, description, running
time, featured players.
2. Identify your supplemental work (the book or story that the film is based on, an article
in an encyclopedia, biography, history etc.), either in the body of the report or in the
“Works Cited” page. Where does this film’s story come from? Do the film credits have a
“Based on the book…” statement?
3. A brief review (no more than a page) of the film and what it’s about.
4. What does the film tell us about the time and place in which it is set? What are the
differences/similarities between the setting of the film and our own time and place?
5. What are the differences between the film and the supplemental work? Why, in your
opinion, did the film-maker make these changes? Did the film-maker “get it right”?
6 How does the film-maker use his/her art and production values to comment upon
human experience in the film?
7. What historical indicators (art, technology, costume, custom, religion) appear in the
film? Are they presented authentically? Are there any historical anomalies (e.g., steel
in the stone age)?
8. What ultimate value does this film have to a Humanities class?
9. Would you recommend this film to a friend? Would you recommend the
supplemental work?
10. If you were the film-maker, how could you have improved on the product? To make
it more entertaining? More educational? More interesting? More authentic?
11. Does this film help you to understand human nature, behavior, the human
experience or your own life any better?
12. Are there any similarities, reminders or relationships between this film and modern
life, public figures, or common situations? Are they intentional, in your opinion? Why,
or why not?
YOUR ORAL REPORT
You will be “the teacher” for 10-15 minutes.
Be prepared.
Organize your report into its logical or time-sequential components.
Know the correct pronunciation of foreign words and difficult names.
Consult several sources and use them in your report.
DO NOT READ YOU REPORT! (Unless you are quoting)
DO NOT READ YOUR POWERPOINT!
Use lecture notes, an outline, or note cards, so you can glance down and then address
the class face-to-face.
“A picture is worth a thousand words”. Feel free to use the chalk-board, Powerpoint,
posters, maps, artifacts, physical objects, models etc. Sometimes a time-line, diagram,
film-clip or family tree can be helpful to the class in understanding.
Relax. Be pleasant and positive. Watch posture.
“Spread the wealth”. Make eye contact with everyone in the room. Look at your
classmates.
Clothing should be serious.
Watch diction. Speak clearly. Project your voice, and vary your tone and pacing to
avoid monotony.
If you plan to use audio-visual equipment, practice to become familiar with its operation.
If necessary, ask a friend to be your Vanna White.
HUMANITIES I
August 27
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24
October 1
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 29
ORAL REPORTS SIGN-UP
The Invention of Bread
__________________________________
The Invention of Writing
__________________________________
Zoroastrianism
__________________________________
Mummification
__________________________________
Pre-Columbian America
__________________________________
Author Mary Renault
__________________________________
Volcano/Earthquake at Thera
__________________________________
Greek Sailing, Colonization
__________________________________
Heinrich Schliemann
__________________________________
The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
November 12
November 19
December 3
____________________________
The Olympics
__________________________________
The Riace Bronzes
__________________________________
Alexander the Great
__________________________________
The Invention of Theatre
__________________________________
Romulus and Remus
__________________________________
The Roman Military
__________________________________
Cleopatra
__________________________________
Asterix
__________________________________
Marcus Aurelius
__________________________________
Early Chinese Inventions
__________________________________
Mithraism
__________________________________
Roman Persecution of Christians
November 5
WEDNESDAYS
____________________________
The Teachings of Buddha
__________________________________
The Quran
__________________________________
Charlemagne
__________________________________
Author Mary Stewart
__________________________________
Knighthood
__________________________________
Eleanor of Aquitaine
__________________________________
The Black Death
__________________________________
Gunpowder Comes to Europe
__________________________________