Syllabus

** 2011-2012 SY ** ** Introduction to Humanities ** ** Classroom/Online Course **
 * Barnsdall Public Schools **

Instructor: James Patrick email: jpatrick@barnsdall.k12.ok.us
 * Instructor Information **

Students will be able to contact me at the email addresslisted above. I check my emailthroughout the class day, at 7:00 p.m. in the evenings, and twice a day overthe weekend. If you have a question youcan leave a message and I will respond as soon as possible.

However, I do not check my email on holidays.

Introduction to Humanities is an alternative course that canbe used to fulfill graduation requirements set by the Barnsdall Board ofEducation. The course goes beyond theart history curriculum taught in art history courses as it takes the studentinto the world of Humanities where the study of all the arts comes tolight. Students will be listening to thehundreds of different styles of music, reading poetry, performing plays,reading imaginative books, studying films, studying architecture, and also studyworks of art. The class will begin withthe dawn of man through to today's world of music and art.
 * Course Description **

This will be a class much different from classes you havehad before. True, we do things unlikeother classes. One thing is that youwill be learning in a collaborative learning environment. In this type of learning environment it isimportant that students do both individual work and work with others in theirgroup. It is a proven fact that studentsare excellent at helping each other learn. Every student in your group must complete the weekly assignment beforeyou can move on to the next assignment. If one student lags behind, the entire group falls behind. If a group falls more than one week behindschedule, the parent/guardian will be contacted and the entire group will be heldover after school until they are caught up. This will come before any extra-curricular activities (footballpractice, softball practice, etc.) Theonly thing that will take precedence is after school detention for Mr. Smith.

//Arts and Culture – An Introduction to the Humanities//by Janetta Rebold Benton/Robert DiYanni
 * Textbook **

The main part of this course will be conducted online withstudents being allowed to do their computer work in the classroom. Students will be able to access work at home,if they need to, with our new service provider. Students will have several assignments throughout the week including:Weekly reading assignment, answer two discussion questions each week,responding to two discussion questions each week, answering one performanceobjective each week, posting one reflection, posting one web link that relatesto the reading material.
 * Course Structure **

On top of this we will be performing plays within theclassroom, writing poetry, and will conclude the course with a “CulturalExperience Report Portfolio.”


 * Grading Policy **
 * 1) Students are to answer a minimum of two Discussion Questions each week. Students will be graded on the quality of their answer and will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10. A maximum of 20 Points each week is possible. (20-18 = A, 17-16 = B, 15-14 = C, 13-12 = D, 11-0 = F)
 * 2) Students are to respond to a minimum of two Discussion Questions each week. Students will be graded on the quality of their answer and will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10. A maximum of 20 Points each week is possible. (20-18 = A, 17-16 = B, 15-14 = C, 13-12 = D, 11-0 = F)
 * 3) Students will Post one Reflection each week over the material they have learned. Students will be graded on the quality of their answer and will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10. A maximum of 20 Points each week is possible. (10-9 = A, 8 = B, 7 = C, 6 = D, 5-0 = F)
 * 4) Students are to answer one Performance Objective for each week of reading. Students will be graded on the quality of their answer and will be scored on a scale of 1 to 20. A maximum of 20 Points each week is possible. (20-18 = A, 17-16 = B, 15-14 = C, 13-12 = D, 11-0 = F)
 * 5) Students are to respond to a minimum of two Performance Objectives that was answered by your peers for each week of reading. Students will be graded on the quality of their answer and will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10. A maximum of 20 Points each week is possible. (20-18 = A, 17-16 = B, 15-14 = C, 13-12 = D, 11-0 = F)
 * 6) Students are to post a Museum Tour that pertains to the weekly subject from the reading material of that week. Students will be graded on the quality of their answer and will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10. A maximum of 10 Points each week is possible. (10-9 = A, 8 = B, 7 = C, 6 = D, 5-0 = F)
 * 7) Nine Week Test: 100 points
 * 8) Semester Test: 100 points
 * 9) Cultural Experience Report Portfolio – 200 points
 * 10) Participation in Plays – 20 Points
 * 11) Writing Poetry – 10 Points

The following outline contains a sequence of the majortopics which will be examined in this course.
 * Course Outline **

Aug 11 – Review of safety drills, books assigned, computersassigned, review of Syllabus. Aug 12 – Getting familiar with the computer system. Aug. 15-18 Introduction Aug. 22-25 Chapter1 The Dawn of Culture Aug. 29 – Sept. 1 Chapter2: Ancient Egypt Sept. 5 NO CLASSES – LABOR DAY Sept. 6 – 8 Chapter3: Aegean Culture and the Rise of Ancient Greece. Sept. 12 – 15 FinishChapter 3: Aegean Culture and the Rise of Ancient Greece. Sept. 19 – 22 Chapter4: Classical and Hellenistic Greece Sept. 26 – 29 Chapter5: The Roman World Oct. 3 – 6 Monday:Prep for 9 Week Test Tuesday:9 Week Test Wednesday:Short Play Thursday:Short Play Oct. 10 – 13 Chapter5: Complete Roman World Oct. 17 – 18 Poetry Week: Students will read three poems of theirchoice and then create four poems oftheir own. Wednesday:NO CLASSES – Parent/Teacher Conferences Oct. 20-21 FALLBREAK Oct. 24 – 27 Chapter 6: Judaism and the Rise ofChristianity Oct. 31 – Nov. 3 Chapter7: Byzantine and Islamic Civilizations Nov. 7 – 10 Chapter8: Indian Civilization Nov. 14 – 17 Chapter9: Early Chinese and Japanese Civilizations Nov. 21 – 22 ShortPlay Week THANKSGIVINGBREAK Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 Chapter10: The Civilizations of the Americas Dec. 5 – 8 Chapter11: The Early Middle Ages and the Romanesque Dec. 12 – 15 Monday:Prep for 9 Week Test Tuesday:9 Week Test Wednesday:Prep for Semester Test Thursday:Semester Test Dec. 19 – 20 ShortPlay Week CHRISTMASBREAK Jan. 2 – 5 Chapter12: The Gothic and Late Middle Ages Jan. 9 – 12 Chapter13: The Renaissance and Mannerism in Italy Jan. 16 – 19 Chapter14: The Renaissance in the North Jan. 23 – 26 Chapter15: The Baroque Age Jan. 30 – Feb. 2 Chapter16: The Eighteenth Century Feb. 6 – 9 Chapter17: Romanticism and Realism Feb. 13 – 16 Chapter18: The Belle Epoque Feb. 20 NOCLASSES - PROFESSIONAL DAY Feb. 21 – 23 LongPlay Week Feb. 27 – Mar. 1 Monday:9 Week Test Prep Tuesday:9 Week Test Wednesday:Continue Long Play Week Thursday:Complete Long Play Week Mar. 5 – 8 Chapter19: Chinese and Japanese Civilizations Mar. 12 – 14 Chapter20: Russian Civilization Mar. 15 NOCLASSES: Parent/Teacher Meetings Mar. 19 – 23 SPRINGBREAK Mar. 26 - 29 Chapter21: The Age of Anxiety Apr. 2 - 5 Chapter22: Modern Africa and Latin America Apr. 9 – 12 Chapter23: The Age of Affluence Apr. 16 – 19 Chapter24: The Diversity of Contemporary Life Apr. 23 – 26 CulturalExperience Report Portfolio Apr. 30 – May 3 CulturalExperience Report Portfolio May 3 Graduation? May 7 – 10 Monday:Prep for 9 Week Test Tuesday:9 Week Test Wednesday:Prep for Semester Test Thursday:Semester Test May 14 – 18 Monday: Present Cultural ExperienceReport Portfolio Tuesday:Present Cultural Experience Report Portfolio Wednesday:Elections/SB Game Thursday:PROFESSIONAL DAY Friday:Awards Assembly
 * Week 1**
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 * Week 7**
 * Week 8**
 * Week 9**
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 * Week 2**
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 * Week 5**
 * Week 6**
 * Week 7**
 * Week 8**
 * Week 9**
 * Test Week**
 * Week 1**
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 * Week 3**
 * Week 4**
 * Week 5**
 * Week 6**
 * Week 7**
 * Week 8**
 * Week 9**
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 * Week 9**
 * Final Week**

The instructor provides guidance to the student throughclassroom/online interaction. Asstudents respond to discussion questions the instructor will follow along withyour peers. The instructor will offerclarification to questions or if the discussion goes into the wrong directionwith students getting off target the instructor will step in and give properguidance.
 * Mode of Teaching **

Students will make an initial post to two DiscussionQuestions for each week. Students willalso post a minimum of two responses to Discussion Questions. The use of Discussion Questions allows forstudents to exchange ideas and knowledge to certain subjects. It is also important that students read eachof their entries, even if it doesn’t pertain to the question that theyaddressed. The reasoning for this isthat the exchange of information allows for further learning and a betterunderstanding of the material.
 * Discussion Questions **

Students are to answer a minimum of two Discussion Questionseach week. Students will be graded on the quality of their answer and will bescored on a scale of 1 to 10. A maximumof 20 Points each week is possible. (20-18 = A, 17-16 = B, 15-14 = C, 13-12 = D, 11-0 = F)

Students are to respond to a minimum of two DiscussionQuestions each week. Students will begraded on the quality of their answer and will be scored on a scale of 1 to10. A maximum of 20 Points each week ispossible. (20-18 = A, 17-16 = B, 15-14 =C, 13-12 = D, 11-0 = F)

When posting your answer you are to use proper etiquette, nocursing, no symbolism, no use of texting, you are to write in whole, clear,well thought out sentences. You must putsome thought into your post and be willing to support it with facts. A simple “I agree/disagree” won’t do it.Those who are lazy will get a lazy grade. When posting responses to others, again use proper etiquette, don’t tellsomeone their work is “stupid, dumb, that they are idiots, or crazy” It is not the place to be-littlesomeone. State your business, supportit, and be willing to be criticized. That is part of life!

Each week students will be required to perform one of thePerformance Objectives listed for the week. If someone else has posted to a question you can also answer the samequestion but you must take a different approach. In other words, you must make the questionand answer your own work. DO NOT COPYAND PASTE SOMEONE ELSE”S WORK! Thepurpose of the Performance Objective is to take the information you havelearned to another level through researching the material through onlinesources and posting the additional information in your answer. This means that you will become the expert onthis subject to when questions are raised by your peers you will need to answerthem to the best of your ability.
 * Performance Objectives **

Students will also be required to post a response to two ofyour peers Performance Objectives giving you a chance to ask questions andcomment on the material so that you can learn more about the subject.

Reflecting on what you have learned is a very important stepin the learning process. The student isto write a 1 to 2 page paper telling about their learning experience and thematerial that was covered that week. This is an excellent time for the student to ask questions about areasthey had difficulty understanding, that wasn’t answered in their discussionquestions.
 * Reflections **

After reading the material for the week students are to do aweb search to find additional information on a subject that was covered in thereading. Example would be the Mona Lisaby Leonardo da Vinci. The student could take a tour ofthe Love and tell about the experience of this virtual tour of the museum andseeing the Mona Lisa on Display. Thestudent will be required to share this information by posting their thoughtsabout the tour and also post the web link for others to have an opportunity totake the tour. Invariably, students willpost the same link from time to time, but your interpretations should bedifferent as each of your opinions will reflect the likes and dislikes of theindividual.
 * Museum Web Link **

There will be several plays that the students will performin class. The participation of thestudents is valuable in that you gain an experience in being able to bring tolife a character that is nothing but words on a paper. There is an art to being able to showexpression as and actor would in a movie. Students will be given a script and parts will be given tostudents. Those everyone will have anopportunity to take part in all the plays. Some as narrators, actors, sound effects, etc. It is the desire to bring the play to life inour classroom.
 * Plays **

This will be the final paper you will complete for thisclass. There will be much moreinformation about this project when the time comes. This is not a paper to be taken lightly as itdisplays your learning for the year in a nicely written paper.
 * Cultural Experience Report Portfolio **

Plagiarism (using someone else’s work as your own) will notbe tolerated. The use of plagiarism isan offense that comes with a drastic grade reduction. To avoid conflict, if you are ever in doubtas to whether you should cite or not, it is best to cite the work. Do not try to pass someone else’s work off asyours. This is nothing more than“cheating” and in doing so does not reflect what you have learned, or yet tolearn.
 * Statement on Academic Integrity **