The Idea of Origins  and the Origin of Ideas

The Honors College at FIU

Spring 2007 - IDH 1002 Sections 5, 6, 7, & 8

Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 – 12:15
Mondays - PCA 150

 

 

Faculty

Name

Email

Office

Office Hours

Phone

Sec

Prof. David Chatfield

David.chatfield@fiu.edu

CP 336

M 2-4

305-348-3977

6

Prof. John Bailly

baillyj@fiu.edu

GL422

MW 9:45-10:45

305-348-0297

5

Prof. William Ritzi

ritziw@fiu.edu

ZEB 356

 

305-348-2022

7

Prof. Bennett Schwartz

Bennett.Schwartz@fiu.edu

DM 281A

Tuesday, 10 –12

305-348-4025

8

 


Course Description
This course is the first of a series of four, two-semester Honors College courses. These courses are very different from most other courses in the University, in that we will explore not only the what, but also the how and why of knowing.  The present course is less about content, and more about discussions of the context of, and connections between, ideas. The very broad (and not particularly comprehensive) theme of the course is origins, and how ideas of origins affect our perception of both ourselves and the world around us. 

Class Objectives

- To exit with many, many more questions than entering.

- To question and re-examine “knowledge” and  what we perceive as “reality”; to realize that there are pluralities of knowledge and reality.

- To appreciate that knowledge, debate, pleasure and fun are mutually compatible phenomena.


Required Readings

1.  The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan

2.     The Power of Babel by John McWhorter

3.     Among the Thugs by Bill Buford

4.     Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

5.     Art and Physics by Leonard Shlain

 

Class Assignments

- Be prepared in each class session by having completed assigned readings.

- Written assignments are expected to have correct grammar and punctuation unless the assignment calls for something else.  You may contact the FIU Writing Lab for assistance or guidance on what this means.

Regularly monitor WebCT for assignments, announcements, discussion, etc. 

- All assignments must be submitted to TURNITIN.COM.  Instructions will be given later.  In addition, you will provide a paper copy to your professor.

 

Grade calculation

Your grade will be determined based on points earned as follows:

5 quizzes of 6 pts each: 30 pts (12 questions with each worth .5 pts)

4 projects of 7 pts each: 28 pts

Class participation: 20 pts

Final project: 22 pts (11 pts for individual paper & 11 pts for group presentation)

 

Letter grades correspond to the following point scale:

 

A   

94-100

 

A-

90-93

 

B+

87-89

 

B

84-86

 

B-

80-83

 

C+

77-79

 

C

74-76

 

C-

70-73

 

D+

67-69

 

D

64-66

 

D-

60-63

 

F

< 60

 

 

 

Participation policy

As this class involves discussion, attendance and class participation is essential. Unexcused absences will result in a lowering of your grade as follows:

 

# of  Unexcused

Absences

ESTIMATED GRADE

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

F

0-2

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

F

3

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

F

 

4

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

F

 

 

5

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

F

 

 

 

6 or More

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

 

 

 

 

 

Participation also means no distractions. THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS PROHIBITED. All cell phones, iPods, Blackberries and laptops should be turned off.

 

Other Class Policies

Academic Integrity

In this learning community, we are expected to act as moral beings governed by a sense of ethics. These ethics are outlined in the University Code of Academic Integrity (www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/academicintegrity.html) and the Honors College policy on plagiarism (http://honors.fiu.edu/current_policy_plagiarism.html).  In simple language, in this course you will not cheat, misrepresent others' work as your own (plagiarism), or lie to the instructor or others in this learning community. One act crossing that boundary and you will be recommended for expulsion from the Honors College.

 

Physical, mental and sensory challenges

Every effort, where feasible and practical, will be made to accommodate students who are so challenged. Should you require accommodations, contact your instructor or the Disability Resource Center if you have not done so already.

 

Religious observances

Every effort, where feasible and practical, will be made to accommodate students whose religious practices clash with class requirements or scheduling; i.e you practice a religion whose holidays fall on days the University is open or if an exam is scheduled during a day of high spirituality. Contact your instructor if such a situation arises well before the holiday.

 

 

Class Schedule
Please note that the class schedule is subject to change. In addition, all four sections faculty leaders are likely to be away for small portions of the Semester as their other assignments so dictate. All such changes, will be announced in class.

 

Week 1

M 1/8: QUIZ: Botany of Desire

W 1/10: BD Discussion 

 

Week 2

M 1/15: No Class: MLK Day

W 1/17: Class pot luck (large group); recipes with apples and/or potatoes only.

 

Week 3

M 1/22: QUIZ: The Power of Babel

W 1/24: Discussion

 

Babel Project: Due on Feb 5th

                                                                                                                                                                                   

Week 4

M 1/29: Babel 2:  Chomsky’s approach to linguistics. Language as community

W 1/31: Discussion

 

Week 5

M 2/5: Introduction of Community Project

W 2/7: Form groups and start Community Project 

 

Week 6

M 2/12: QUIZ: Among the Thugs

W 2/14: Discussion

 

Thugs Project due on 2/26 & 2/28:  Thugs as community Project.  Must be done in slide show or movie format.

                                                                                                                                                              

Week 7

M 2/19: Community Identity in Art

W 2/21: Discussion

 

Week 8

M 2/26: Watch student films

W 2/28 Watch student films (meet in large group)

                                                                                                                                                              

Week 9

M 3/5: QUIZ: Reading Lolita

W 3/7: Discussion (Schwartz & Bailly switch sections)

 

Lolita Project due on 3/26: 

 

Week 10

M 3/12: Reading Lolita

W 3/14: Discussion (Bailly Section: No class to make up for visit to Margulies)

                                                                                                                                                              

Week 11

M 3/19: Spring Break

W 3/21: Spring Break

 

Week 12

M 3/26: Professional Presentations

W 3/28: Group work on Communities Project

 

Bailly Section: Saturday 3/31: Meet at the Margulies Collection at 1:30pm.

591 NW 27th St | Miami, FL 33127 |305-576-1051

http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/

Art & Physics Project due on 4/11:

 

Week 13

M 4/2: QUIZ: Art and Physics

W 4/4: Discussion (Bailly Section: No class so students can attend SRAI Conference)

 

Week 14

M 4/9: Art and Physics (Ritzi & Chatfield Lecture)

W 4/11: Student presentations

 

Week 15

M 4/16: Student presentations

W 4/18: Student presentations