HMXP 102: THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE:  WHO AM I?

Spring 2009

Dr. Mary E. Martin

Office—208 Bancroft               E-mail:  martinme@winthrop.edu

Office phone:    323-4554                     Home phone:    366-7795

Web address:  http://faculty.winthrop.edu/martinme

Office Hours:    MW 12:00 PM-1:00 PM; T/TH 10:00 PM-11:00 PM; 1:00-3:30 PM and by appointment                                

Class Meetings:

MW 2:00-3:15 PM, Owens Hall G05

GOALS:

• Engage in serious consideration of various ways of defining and understanding the “self.”
• Accomplish the above by reading material thoroughly and reflectively and by making connections between the material and your understanding of yourself and other selves.
• Share your reactions and understanding with your classmates and learn to understand and appreciate other perspectives by listening carefully and communicating clearly.
• Gain an understanding of the ways in which knowledge—of oneself and other selves—is constructed, including the value and the limitations of such constructions.
• Learn to develop and communicate ideas by reading carefully, listening intensely, and writing and speaking clearly.

All of these will take place in an environment where the teacher is not present as an expert to convey important information, but rather as a co-learner who explores the topics with the students.  Student preparation and participation are therefore essential for the class to succeed.  Readings, discussions, and papers should all come together to help you clarify your thinking about key questions, such as

1. What is the role of education in your life?  What is your responsibility toward educating yourself?  What is the state’s responsibility?
2. What is personal responsibility, and how do we come to achieve a sense of it?
3. Where do we come from, and why are we here?
4. What is the role of nature in your life?  What do we as a society owe to nature?  How do we define what is natural?
5. What is the role of the community in your life?  Into which communities are you born, and which communities can you choose?  What does the individual owe to the community?  What does the community owe the individual?
6. What is your ultimate concern?  How does it shape your life?  Your sense of self?

TEXTBOOKS:

• Sinn, Jeffrey, et al, Eds. The Human Experience: Who Am I? 5t^h ed.
• Harris, Muriel.  Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage

GRADING:

Grades will be based on a ten point scale (94-100= A, 91-93=A-, 88-90=B+, 80-87= B, 81-83=B-, 78-80=C+, 74-77=C, 71-73=C-, 68-70=D+,  64-67=D, and 0-60=F).  The plus and minus will be used in grading. You are welcome to talk with me at any point in the semester about your grades and should feel comfortable doing so.  The assignments and their respective weights are as follows:

·         Participation and engagement: 10%  This includes demonstrating understanding of the assigned readings, asking thoughtful questions, making critical comments, listening carefully to others, demonstrating curiosity about new ideas, being on time, and maintaining a positive attitude.  Contributions to class discussion should focus on the ideas being discussed and the logic behind your reactions to them. I will be calling on each student at least twice during the semester to offer a thoughtful contribution to a class discussion of an assigned reading.  Students will not know ahead of time when I will call on them, so everyone should be prepared and listening in each class.  Those students not prepared to respond in class will receive a "0" for class participation that day. Students will also be required to respond to their graded papers by writing  "error"  notes, defining errors in their writing and how they may solve them.

·         Class discussion group leaders for a day: 15% I will create five groups in the class, each group  signing up for a day to lead class discussion on an assigned  reading in your book.  You should investigate the reading carefully and fully and come to class on your assigned day ready to stimulate discussion with at least five insightful questions or ideas.  Make sure to get the class discussing, not just summarize the reading for us. A handout for group presentations outlining the expectations for  introducing a reading and leading the class in discussion will be posted on the website.

·         Individual  and Pair Presentations: 10% Your course calendar designates one individual presentation day.  Each of you is responsible for being present on  the day designated for the presentations in order to receive credit.  Guidelines will be given for the presentation. You will also be  placed in teams of two to give a class writing activity for one  assigned reading which you will collect and evaluate.

·         Papers: 55% You will write four papers.  The first  and second will count 10%, the  third  will count 15%, and fourth will count 20%.  The assignment for each paper will be made well in advance of the due date, and you will have a minimum of two weeks to write each paper.  Each paper is due in hard copy to me at the beginning of class on the due date and must be submitted electronically through Turnitin.com by 12:00 that evening.  I will not read a paper until it is turned in through Turnitin.com.  You may revise the first three papers for a new grade, which will then be averaged with the original grade for that paper.  The original graded paper should be turned in with the revision. 

Final Exam:  10%  Your exam will be an oral presentation based on the major insights you've learned in HMXP 102, employing one or more readings as support from the class.  You will also present the main points from your last paper. Exam time is 3:00 PM, Monday, May 4.

REMEMBER:  ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE CLASS.

LATE PAPERS:

Papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates specified on the course calendar.  Late papers will be penalized one letter grade for each class day late.

PLAGIARISM:

I will not tolerate any form of plagiarism.  I will provide each of you with a handout describing the correct use of borrowed information before you incorporate any outside information into a paper.  Until then, please see your student handbook or your Prentice Hall Reference Guide, p.346.  A paper containing any un- or misdocumented material will earn an F at best and a 0 at worst.  Second offenses or extremely serious cases of plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the course. An excellent way to avoid potential problems with plagiarism is to bring drafts of papers to my office before the due date so that you and I may go over them.

ATTENDANCE:

Absences will lower grades for class participation.  Four absences will reduce your final grade in the class by 10%.  Five absences will mean you fail the course.  Students who must miss class should take full responsibility for all material covered during their absence.

AID & ENCOURAGEMENT:

Please remember that I am available to meet with you not only during my scheduled office hours but also by appointment.  The Writing Center, located in Bancroft 220, also offers FREE assistance to any and all students who want help with writing.  Please call ahead for an appointment.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and need accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290, as soon as possible.  Once you have your Professor Notification Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first paper.