The Idea of Origins  and the Origin of Ideas

The Honors College at FIU

Spring 2007 - IDH 1002 Sections 9, 10, 11, & 12

Mondays & Wednesdays 3:30 – 4:45

 

 

Faculty

Name

Email

Office

Office Hours

Phone

Sec

Prof. Gren Draper

draper@fiu.edu

PC 316

TTh 3:30-4:30

305-348-3087

11

Prof. John Bailly

baillyj@fiu.edu

GL422

MW 9:45-10:45

305-348-0297

9

Prof. Suman Kakar

kakars@fiu.edu

M 10-3-30 W1:30-3:30

305-348-

10

Prof. Gwyn Davies

daviesg@fiu.edu

DM

MW 10-12

305-348-2974

12

 


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.  Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson

2.     City of a Hundred Fires by Richard Blanco

3.     The Price of Glory by Alistair Horne

4.     Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

 

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:

4 quizzes of 5 pts each: 20 pts
4 projects of 10 pts each: 40 pts
Class participation: 20 pts
Final project: 20 pts (10 pts for individual paper & 10 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: Mother Tongue (Draper Lecture)
W 1/10: MT Discussion

Mother Tongue Project Due on 1/22:

Week 2
M 1/15: No Class: MLK Day
W 1/17:  Meet in large group. QUIZ: Mother Tongue (Draper Lecture)

Week 3
M 1/22: QUIZ: Richard Blanco (Bailly Lecture)
W 1/24: RB Discussion

Blanco Project Due on 2/19 & 2/21: Explore the origin of yourself. Project must be in a slide show or movie format.

Week 4
M 1/29: Multicultural Identity in Art (Bailly Lecture)
W 1/31: Discussion

Week 5
M 2/5: Introduce Semester Group Projects
W 2/7: Meet in groups for Semester Group Projects

Week 6
M 2/12: Northup Guest Lecture on Creation Myths Origins
W 2/14: Discussion

Week 7
M 2/19: Watch student films
W 2/21: Meet in large group. Watch student films

Glory Project due on 3/12:  

Week 8
M 2/26: QUIZ: The Price of Glory (Davies Lecture)
W 2/28: Discussion

Week 9
M 3/5: The Price of Glory (Davies Lecture)
W 3/7: Discussion

Week 10
M 3/12: Kakar & Bailly Professional Presentations
W 3/14: Discussion (Bailly Section: No class to make up for visit to Margulies)

Inheritance Project due on 4/4

Week 11
M 3/19: Spring Break
W 3/21: Spring Break

Week 12
M 3/26: QUIZ: The Inheritance of Loss (Kakar Lecture)
W 3/28: Discussion

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

Week 13
M 4/2: The Inheritance of Loss (Kakar Lecture)
W 4/4: Discussion (Bailly Section: No class so students can attend SRAI Conference)

Week 14
M 4/9: Student presentations
W 4/11: Meet in large group. Student presentations

Week 15
M 4/16: Student presentations
W 4/18: Meet in large group. Student presentations