HON 3003 University Honors 3 SPRING 2008

Meeting times: TR 2-3:15 Room: 215 Varnell-Jones Hall

Instructor: Dr. Paul A. Mego Office: 200-D Varnell-Jones Tel: (425) 3269 Email: mego@lambuth.edu

Office hours: MW 8:15-9, 12:30-1:00; TR 8:15-9:15, 10:45-11:15; 12:30-2:00; F 8:15-9, 1:30-2:15; or by appt.

Website: http://eaglenet.lambuth.edu, go to faculty pages, click on my name

 

I. The purpose of this course is to continue the reading, discussion, and thinking about major issues and ideas that influence us as human beings, as introduced and explored in Honors 1 and Honors 2. The organization of this course is based on the principles of the diversity of the disciplines and the connections which can be made when intelligent, motivated people participate in a shared effort to learn. Students and faculty will try to achieve the following goals:

 

  1. To learn together;
  2. To encourage reflection rather than information
  3. To address the issues of fragmentation and specialization in academic life and in society;
  4. To confront the ethnical, social, historical, economic, international, and political topics of today by being aware that ideas do have consequences;
  5. To stress student responsibility for learning;
  6. To help students and faculty
    1. to compare, contrast, relate, and revise ideas,
    2. to analyze evidence and critically weigh material,
    3. to assimilate new material and form a more satisfying whole.
  7. To encourage students and faculty to respect others’ intelligence and opinions.

In order to help students to achieve these goals, students will discuss several different topics, and will write several short papers relating to these topics. Finally, the students will write a coherent, sophisticated, reflective paper on “being human” for the Honors 3 course. The paper will include content from Honors 1, Honors 2, and Honors 3.

 

II. Required text: Daniel Quinn, Ishmael; various handouts

 

III. Course policies: Attendance by all students is expected. You will not pass if you do not attend class. Assigned material must be read before coming to class as students will be expected to be able to discuss the readings and to ask, as well as to answer, questions pertinent to the readings for the day. In-class discussions comprise an important part of the course. Students may be asked to review for the class certain readings or concepts and may be asked to discuss individual papers in class. Be prepared.

·         Cheating or plagiarism will result in failure of the assignment and possibly the course with no opportunity for making up the plagiarized assignment. Serious incidents will be referred to the Academic Dean for further action.

·         Except in unusual circumstances, I do not allow electronic recording devices in the classroom.

Ř      NOTE: Any noticeable cell phone activity in class may cause the loss of points without notification.

Exceptions may be pre-arranged.

 

IV. Final grades are awarded on a 100 point scale as follows: 100-92=A; 91-82=B; 81-68=C; 67-58=D; 57-0=F

(+/- may be added to final grades)

Active participation, attitude, effort and attendance may also influence final grades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V. Topics/Discussions/Assignments – tentative schedule – due dates announced in class

A. Aristotle on citizenship; Assignment: article comparative analysis – may rewrite one time – 10 points     (2-3 pages)

B. Ishmael; Assignment: critical evaluation of Ishmael book – 10 points (3-6 pages)

C. Hardin; Assignment: critical comparative analysis with Ishmael – 10 points (2-5 pages)

D. Guest lectures (tentative);

Dr. Ashbaugh – on ecology

Dr. Cook – on the human genome and genetics

Dr. Hakim – on mathematics

E. Science and ethical decisions; Assignment: TBA

      Dr. Jacobson – on media and society

F. Discussion/conclusions

G. Final assignment: “On Being Human” incorporating material from all three Honors courses – 40               points (10-15 pages)

H. Class participation – 20 points

 

VI. Grades will be earned as follows: 100-92 = A; 91-81 = B; 80-69 = C; 68-58 = D; 57-0 = F

Informal presentations, class discussions, especially of written work for the class, will count in the final grade evaluation.