G=
REAT
BOOKS IV
S=
YLLABUS
S=
pring
2008
<= o:p>
Course Goals
The
primary objectives of this seminar course include the following:
1) &n=
bsp;
The
demonstration of devoted and close reading of the texts,
2) &n=
bsp;
The
production of writing that is creative and primarily analytical in nature, =
and
3) &n=
bsp;
Class
participation that demonstrates an honest dedication to an accurate
understanding of the text as well as a propensity to discuss the works as b=
ased
on interpretive questions.
4) &n=
bsp;
Since
this is the final great books course in the colloquium, each student is
expected to be full participatory and desirous of perfecting their abilitie=
s as
excellent writers, thinkers, speakers, and knowledge experts on the subject=
at
hand. Raise the bar for yours=
elf.
Ultimately, I desire that each one of you
attains a level of creativity and autonomy that will benefit you not only in
other classes, but in life itself.
Thus, our goal as co-learners in this class is to actively seek to
reinforce the idea that: "The goal of the Great Books program is to in=
still
in the student the habits of mind that characterize a self-reliant thinker,
reader, and learner."[1]
Instructor<=
/u>
Phone:
310.506.4831
Offices:
KSC 150, TAC 435
E-mail:
thompson@pepperdine.edu
Office Hours
By
appointment only. Please cont=
act me
directly to set up an appointment.
Reading List
Books,
1985.
Vintage Books. 1989.
Dostoevsky,
Fyodor. The Brothers Karamazov.
Trans.
Vintage
Books, 1975.
Szymborska,
Wislawa. View With a Grain of
Sand. Trans.
Discussion (5%)
Each student is expected to be participatory=
on
a daily basis. Make it a cons=
istent
habit to be prepared with several interpretive questions daily. Your participation will be graded =
each
day based on the quality, quantity, insight, textual application and knowle=
dge
that you offer.
Attendance<=
/u>
You have two free absences, following which =
your
final course grade will be lowered 1.5% per absence. Use the two free ones wisely.
C=
lass
Cancellation Days
I am out of town on January 24, February 21,
& April 10. For these three days, class will not meet, but I expect you=
to
keep up with the reading.
Biweekly Writing
Assignments (20%)
Each writing assignment is based on a prompt
given by the instructor, as a function of the current reading material we a=
re
covering. Each paper is to be=
two
pages in length, and is to be turned at the beginning of class on hard copy
adhering to basic MLA format. The
papers are due on the following dates:&nbs=
p;
January 14; February 11, 25; March 10, 24; April 7. Late papers receive a score of
zero. NO ELECTRONIC
SUBMITTALS. Be prepared to sh=
are
your writing with the class – that is, be prepared both to receive an=
d to
give constructive criticism.
The nature of each biweekly writing assignme=
nt
will be determined by the instructor.
They each will be one of the following: interpretive/analytic, genre mode,=
great
ideas “Syntopicon” based, instructor wildcard, or student frees=
tyle. Aim for professional quality writi=
ng
worthy of publication, wherein there is a distinct thesis, a clear argument,
and creative thought. Use text
judiciously and with discrimination.
Avoid using first person. Be
sure to form a definite position that can be explicated via the text. You may only use texts from the Gr=
eat
Books Colloquium reading list. Each
paper should be a product of analytical thought and careful analysis presen=
ted
in a creative form. Each pape=
r will
be graded as follows: Title a=
nd
Opening – 1 point, Thesis – 3 points, Argument – 3 points,
Text Selection and Analysis – 2 points, Editing – 1 point. Total
– 10 points.
R=
eading/Discussion
Schedule (days)
Kierkegaard
– 3, Nietzsche – 3, Dostoevsky – 11,
Extended Writing (=
75%)
You
must complete three extended writing assignments, in the form of papers that
represent a fully developed version of one or more of your biweekly writing
assignments.
The
first paper, worth 15%, is to be 4 -5 pages in length, and is to be based
solely on
The
second paper, worth 35%, is to be 8-9 pages in length, and is to be based o=
n Nietzsche and Dostoevsky. This paper is due by March 29 at midnight.
The
last paper, worth 25%, is to be 6-7 pages in length, and is to be touch on =
at
least three authors from this course, at least one of whom must be Kawabata, Szymborska, or Darwin. =
It is
due April 24 at midnight.
Each
extended writing submittal is graded on the following basis:
Thesis
Thesis Statement &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 10
Well Structured Plan &= nbsp; 10
Analysis &n= bsp;
Thesis Execution &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 10
&nbs= p; Logical Completeness &= nbsp; 5
&nbs= p; Logical Flow &nb= sp; = 5
Text =
&nbs= p; Appropriately Chosen &= nbsp; 10
&nbs= p; Sufficiently Explained 10
Risk/Interest
&nbs= p; Interesting Reading = 10
&nbs= p; Creativity &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = 5
&nbs= p; Strong Conclusion &nb= sp; = 5
Language
&nbs= p; Mature Vocabulary &nb= sp; = 5
&nbs= p; Varied/Interesting
&nbs= p; Sent= ence Structure <= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> 5
Mechanics
&nbs= p; Punctuation &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 5
&nbs= p; Spelling &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 5
Total &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 100
Anonymity
All
writing is to be submitted with no name. Instead, affix your university ID =
to
the paper on the back page, after the "Works Cited" section. DO N=
OT
USE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
This will ensure that I evaluate your writing objectively and honest=
ly.
Rough Drafts
Rough
drafts are always welcome and may be submitted up to 24 hours prior any pap=
er
deadline.