THE PREMODERN WORLD

This course will examine the cultural roots of Western civilization, by considering cultural movements and individual artifacts both specifically and generally, locally as well as globally. Architecture, art, drama,  literature, music, philosophy and religion will be analyzed in a historical context.

* Oral reports, group and individual, based on class readings and on the end-of-term research project (see below), respectively.

* Midterm and Final Examinations, comprehensive, essay in format, open book.

* Annotated Bibliography of at least three secondary sources (one must be hard copy) to be used in the Term Paper (see below and see:  http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma/samplebibliographyentry.html).

* Term Paper Announcement (including title, thesis statement, one-paragraph description of writing strategy, and bibliography of three or more secondary sources).

* Term Paper Prospectus (including title, thesis statement, one-paragraph summary, one-paragraph description of writing strategy, one thousand-word précis ([i.e., sample essay], and bibliography of three or more secondary sources).

* Term Paper (two drafts) of four thousand words (each), which will be analytical in nature (this paper must draw upon, and therefore will cite within the essay proper, at least three secondary sources—for purposes of this assignment, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other textbooks or reference books can be used as sources but will not be considered as legitimate secondary sources).  The term research paper topic must be approved ahead of time by the instructor prior to submitting the Annotated Bibliography. The Term Paper must be preceded by, in order, the Annotated Bibliography, Term Paper Announcement, and Term Paper Prospectus, in order to receive credit for each assignment. (See http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma/writing.html.)

* All papers must be word processed on 8 1/2" x 11" paper, double-spaced with one inch margins, spell-checked, and to the best of one's ability grammar-checked.  If on occasion use is made of the ideas or words of someone else in one's writing, then the source(s) of those ideas and/or words must be cited; that is, when appropriate, papers must be fully documented (you must cite sources—using footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical documentation, which include specific page numbers keyed to particular passages in your text, and complete bibliographical information). Use MLA formats (see  http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma/documentation.html).  PAPERS NOT MEETING ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE READ AND WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT. It should be evident from the above statement that plagiarism will not be tolerated. To gain a full understanding of plagiarism and how to avoid it, the course documentation guidelines webpage should be consulted (see http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma/documentation.html) as well as the NJIT Honor (see: http://www.njit.edu/academics/honorcode.php) and other related matters (see: http://integrity.njit.edu).

* Students are expected to abide by the NJIT Honor Code; violations of the Code will be reported to the Dean of Students.<>

9/6:      B&D Introduction & Starter Kit, Ch. 1, pp. xviii-xxix, 2-23.

9/8:      B&D Ch. 2, pp. 24-53.

9/13:    B&D Ch. 3, pp. 54-77, 79-86, 90.

9/15:    Homer, The Odyssey, Books 1, 8, 10 and 11.

9/20:    B&D Ch. 4, pp. 92-121, 144-51. Annotated Bibliography due.

9/22:    Sophocles, Oedipus the King.

9/27:    B&D Ch. 5, pp. 152-90 (this includes part of Book 1 and Book 2 of the Aeneid, to which must be added Books 4 and 6, available at http://classics.mit.edu/Virgil/aeneid.html), 191-94 (Ovid and Marcus Aurelius only), 198-201.

9/29:    B&D Ch. 5, pp.152-90 (this includes part of Book 1 and Book 2 of the Aeneid, to which must be added Books 4 and 6, available at http://classics.mit.edu/Virgil/aeneid.html), 191-94 (Ovid and Marcus Aurelius only), 198-201 .

10/6:    B&D Ch. 6, pp. 203-31, 232-34 (optional), 234-44, 246-52.

10/11:  B&D Ch. 7, pp. 254-74. Term Paper Announcement due.

10/18:  Midterm Examination.

10/20:  B&D Ch. 8, pp. 276-301.

10/25:  B&D Ch. 9, pp. 306-31, 333-35.

11/1:    B&D Ch. 11, pp. 366-93.

11/3:    B&D Ch. 12, pp. 394-425, 437-39. Term Paper Prospectus due.

11/8:    Dante, The Comedy, Inf. Cantos 1, 3, 5, 12, 28 33, 34; Purg.

            Canto 30; Par. Canto 33. (Inf. 1, 3, 5, 12, 28 in B&D, pp. 427-36;

            the rest of the cantos at: http://www.bartleby.com/20).

11/10:  Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue, Knight’s Tale,

            Miller’s Tale.

11/15:  B&D Ch. 13, pp. 454-99, 503-06.

11/17:  B&D Ch. 13, pp. 454-99, 503-06.

11/29:  Shakespeare, Hamlet. Term Paper Draft 1 due.

12/1:    Shakespeare, Hamlet.

12/6:    Oral reports on research projects.

12/8:    Oral reports on research projects.

Final:   Final Examination. Second draft of Term Paper due.

                            COURSE GRADE

Class Participation                    -                          5%
Oral Reports                            -    (10% each)  20%
Annotated Bibliography            -                         5%
Term Paper Announcement      -                         5%
Term Paper Prospectus            -                         5%
Term Paper, Draft 1               -                          10%
Term Paper, Draft 2              -                           15%
Midterm Examination                -                       10%
Final Examination                      -                       25%
 
 

ABBREVIATIONS FOR MARKING PAPERS

Key: Abbreviation - Meaning

 A  -   Article
 Agr  -   Agreement
 CS  -   Comma Splice
 Dic  -   Diction
 Exp   -  Explain
 FS  -   Fused Sentences
 RO  -   Run On Sentence
 SF  -   Sentence Fragment
 Sp  -   Spelling
 SS   -  Sentence Structure
 Syn  -   Syntax or Word Order
 Tr   -  Transition
 Un   -  Unclear
 Uncl   -  Unclear
 Us  -   Usage
 V  -   Verb
 Va    - Vague
 VF  -   Verb Form
 VT  -   Verb Tense
 WW -   Wrong Word
 

COURSE PORTFOLIO

At the end of the term an organized and otherwise neatly arranged portfolio must be submitted, consisting of ALL your work, including all drafts of essays as well as materials used in preparing for and delivering oral reports.

1. Punch holes in your papers to coincide with the holes in, and bind the papers within a three-ring binder. The papers must be bound on the side.

2. Make sure your name, class including section number and date are shown on or immediately inside the binder.

3. All papers should be arranged with the latest revised version of a paper on top of earlier versions, followed by the previous version, and so on (i.e., in “descending” chronological order), as a working principle of organization. The Portfolio should be arranged in sections (in “ascending” chronological order), with the first section comprised of the first paper assignment, the second section the second paper assignment, and so on. However, place the Term Paper Announcement draft(s) just prior to the Term Paper Précis, which should come just prior to the first iteration of your Term Paper including all its drafts if there is more than one draft, followed by the final version of your term paper, each of these listed distinctly on the Table of Contents page. Following these, place the evidence of your oral reports, and, finally, your midterm exam. Again, all of the above is to be indicated on the Table of Contents page.

4. At the front of the portfolio place a Table of Contents that lists each assignment, the draft number of the paper (i.e., was it your first draft or attempt that received a grade, your third, or what?), and the grade (if any) it received.

5. Indicate which papers need still to be graded, on the Table of Contents page and by placing a post-it sticker on the first page of each paper that needs grading, as a sort of a tab.