LBST 301

LBST 301: Inquiry and Composition in Liberal Studies FALL 2008 TR 11:30-12:45 UH-304 Prof. Brad Starr Office: UH-310 Office Hours: TR 10-11; R 2:30-3:30; T 5:30-6:30 bstarr@fullerton.edu PH: 714-278-3917 LBST DEPT: H 214 PH: 278-2794 Course web site: http://faculty.fullerton.edu/bstarr		*CLICK FOR*
		ANNOUNCEMENTS 12-2-08
		READING RESPONSE SHEETS
		LINKS
		ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
		STARR'S OTHER CLASSES
		IRAQ / AFGHAN CASUALTY UPDATE

COURSE GOALS: This course is a rigorous upper division reading and writing course. The books we’ll be reading were chosen in part because they exemplify clear writing and careful inquiry. We’ll try to learn all we can from the authors by analyzing the form and content of their work, and by undertaking writing projects of our own related to their themes. Our tasks are to explore the course theme (see next section), improve inquisitional and analytical skill, fine-tune reading comprehension, and strengthen our capacity for clear and well-organized writing and expression. Please note that this class is an upper division writing course. The instructor will assume that each student possesses the basic writing skills taught in the lower division university composition course.

WW I enemy soldiers fraternizing Xmas 1914

COURSE THEME: The theme of this course is war and human nature. We will begin by reading two books, both published in 2007, on the question of whether human beings are instinctively violent and warlike. The authors of these books—one a philosopher, the other an anthropologist--take opposite views on this topic. We will finish the course with a third book that details a remarkable incident that occurred on December 24, 1914, on the front lines of World War I. We will watch a documentary and a feature film in class as part of our study of this famous incident, the so called "1914 Christmas Truce." Finally, in discussion and writing, we will examine this incident in light of the insights gained from reading the earlier two books.

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an exploration of selected thematic interconnections between the arts and humanities, science, and the social sciences through reading, discussion, and composition. Satisfies the upper division writing course requirement for majors in Liberal Studies. PLEASE NOTE: Students must receive a grade of “C” of better to satisfy the upper division writing course requirement.

REQUIRED READING

Stack of books

David Livingstone Smith, The Most Dangerous Animal: Human Nature and the Origins of War.
Douglas Fry, Beyond War: The Human Potential for Peace.
Malcolm Brown & Shirley Seaton, Christmas Truce: The Western Front, December 1914.
Jeffrey Strausser, Painless Writing.
Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, 6^th edition [or 5^th].
Handouts on grammar, usage, and composition from online writing labs and other sources.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Three Formal Papers, 1000-1200 words each. Papers are to be typed using a computer, 12-Times New Roman font, double spaced, with 1” margins. First draft of each paper due on Peer Draft Review dates. Four copies should be printed: one for yourself, two for your peer reviewers, the fourth for the instructor. “Final” drafts due as indicated in the course calendar. Final drafts will be graded on content and form. The content of these papers is to be drawn from assigned readings. The point of the writing assignment is to construct or discover thematic interconnections by way of critical and interpretive contrast and comparison of the material.

Student with lightbulb over his head

NOTE: By 5 PM of the Final Exam Day, you are to place your third paper in the instructor’s mailbox in either H-214 or UH 313. (Do not slide your paper under the instructor’s office door.) Requirements are the same as in the first two papers.

Picture of student reading her assignment

2. Reading Response Sheets: The reading assignments for this course average about 70 pages per week during the reading periods of the course (see Course Calendar below). Each reading assignment requires a completed response sheet, found on the course web site. Sheets are to be downloaded, completed using a computer, printed out, and brought to the class session for which the assignment is due. Only computer generated, typed, and printed response

sheets will be accepted. These sheets will be evaluated on a scale from 0 -10, based on evidence of comprehensive understanding, clarity of expression, and reasoned interaction with the text. Meager evidence will result in a meager grade. It is expected that grammar and sentence construction will conform to guidelines in Hacker. Late RRS will be accepted only in the case of excused absences. Grades on the response sheets will be averaged for 50% of your grade. Missing sheets will be given a grade of "0."

3. Writing Panel Participation: While the entire class will participate on Writing Panel days, 9 students (about 1/3 of the class members) will take the lead in each panel, presenting for discussion key and questions ideas from their first draft essays. Panel participation will be graded on a 0-10 scale. Note: Writing panels are not group projects. They are purely discussion panels, constituted at the time of the respective class session, the aim of which is to lead, spark, and focus class discussion. Each student must, however, sign up for one session in advance.

4. Writing Workshops: Each student will be assigned to a three-member editing team. Using the Peer Editing Worksheet, each peer editor will give careful, specific, and critical in-class feedback to the other two authors regarding the grammatical, compositional, and thematic mechanics of each of their formal essays. The instructor will be present as a consultant to peer editors. All peer editing worksheets must be signed by the peer editor and turned in with the final draft of the edited paper. Peer editing worksheets will be graded on a 0-10 scale for thoroughness and accuracy in the editing process.

5. Reading, Class Participation and Participation

a. Students are expected to be in class, on time, and prepared to participate. Faithfulness in this regard is essential to passing this course. Bring the relevant reading assignments to class.

b. Attendance is required, and the roll will be called on a regular basis at the beginning of each class. There will be no penalty for the first two unexcused absences. For the next three absences, two points will be deducted from your semester average. Students with five (including the initial two) total unexcused absences will receive an F or U for

the semester. For an absence to be excused, verification of a medical, personal, or employment related emergency or necessity will be required. Absent students must contact me either prior to the absence or within 48 hours of the missed class. Persistent tardiness will result in each tardy being counted as ½ an absence. Tardy students are responsible for reporting in after class in order to receive attendance credit. Please note: To receive at least a C in this course, you must submit all papers, peer review sheets, and writers’ panel assignments.

*c. General Participation:* There is no participation grade per se, but participation will be taken into account as part of the semester grade. There are many ways to participate, including noting materials from other courses or the media related to class materials, asking valuable questions (in class, by email, etc.), bringing up points in class discussion, answering questions raised by instructor or students in class, making reference to specific passages or issues from the readings related to the above, giving thoughtful consideration to the ideas of other students in class discussion, etc.

d. In-class writing worksheets, quizzes, and material from other activities may be collected and graded during the semester.

6. Computer and Internet Access: Some materials, such as the Reading Response Sheets and the Peer Review Sheet, are available on the course web site. All written material (except for the peer review sheets and in-class writing exercises) must be composed using a computer.

7. MAKE-UPS and OTHER SIGNIFICANT DETAILS: *No unexcused late work is accepted.* Excuses are strictly limited to cases of verifiable emergency or when prearranged. In the former case, documentation will be required. Incompletes are almost never given by this instructor. CSUF policy on academic dishonesty will be strictly followed. If a student is caught cheating in any form, the result will be a “0” on that exam or assignment, and the incident will be promptly reported to Judicial Affairs Officer in the Office of the Dean of Students. Normal university policy requires that such reports are placed in the student’s permanent university file.

8. Grading:

(a) Papers will each be graded on a numerical scale: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 0-59=F

(b) Writers’ Panel participation, Peer Review Sheets, RRS, and in-class materials will be graded on

a scale of 0-10.

· Average of Three Papers = 50% of semester grade

· Average of RRS Pages, Writer’s Panel Participation, Peer Review Worksheets = 50 %

(d) Numerical scale for semester grade: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 0-59=F

NOTE: > + / - designations will not be used for this course

> There are no exams in this course.

> There are no extra credit opportunities offered in this course.

(e) VERY IMPORTANT: To receive at least a C in this course, all papers, peer review sheets, and writers’ panel assignments. MUST BE COMPLETED.

9. SPECIAL NEEDS: The University requires students with disabilities to register with the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS), located in UH-101 and at (714) 278 – 3112, in order to receive prescribed accommodations appropriate to their disability. Students requesting accommodations should inform the instructor during the first week of classes about any disability or special needs that may require specific arrangements/accommodations related to attending class sessions, completing course assignments, writing papers or quizzes/tests/examinations.

10. Note the following expectations related to class courtesy and respect for other students. Violations will be noted by the instructor and will adversely affect your grade.

	Each student's right to learn, question, and communicate must be respected by all students.
	Distracting conversations or other inappropriate social activities during class time are not permitted.
	Use of laptops in this class is prohibited. Only DSS authorizations are accepted.
	Electronic devices and phones must be stowed and muted during class session. Use during class is prohibited.
	Except in emergencies, students are not permitted to move in and out of the classroom during instruction.
	Work for any other class is not permitted when class is in session.
NOTE:	Students may audio record class proceedings for their personal use.

COURSE CALENDAR

The schedule has been changed (9-30-08). Changes are shaded in light blue.

Date	Due	Reading Assignment / Class Activity
8/26		Intro to course
8/28	Bring Strausser to class !	Intro lecture; Strausser Chapter 1
9/2	RRS	Smith 1-39 In his book, Smith argues that human beings are naturally warlike, our minds having been shaped by natural selection in the prehistoric struggle for existence. He adds, however, that we also have other innate instincts that can provide restraints on our aggressive instincts. Drawing upon the latter is currently essential, since the very aggression that assured the prehistoric survival of our species now threatens to bring about our extinction.
9/4	RRS	Smith 40-59 [59]
9/9	RRS	Smith 60-92
9/11	RRS	Smith 93-128 [68]
9/16	RRS	Smith 128-182
9/18	RRS	Smith 183-215 [87]
9/23	Bring Strausser to class !	Writing – Strausser Chapter 2
9/25	Bring Strausser to class !	Writing – Strausser Chapter 3
9/30	Draft to peer	Writers’ Workshop
10/2	Writers’ Panel	Discussion of Papers
10/7	RRS	Fry 1-32 In his book, Fry argues that the "man the warrior" model results from the faulty projection of current forms of social organization and power politics onto the past. Arguing that the prehistoric picture is more complex than thinkers such as Smith acknowledge, Fry maintains that the evidence actually indicates the presence of deep, innate, usable, and desperately needed peaceful propensities in human nature.
10/9	RRS + Paper #1 due	Fry 33-64 [64]
10/14	RRS	Fry 65-80;100-130
10/16	RRS	Fry 131-165 [80]
10/21	RRS	Fry 166-192
10/23	RRS	Fry 193-233 [67]
10/28	Bring Strausser to class !	Writing- Strausser Chapter 4
10/30		Writing- Strausser Chapter 5 ESSAY DUE DATE MOVED, AS AGREED TO IN CLASS ON 10 / 28, TO 11 / 4.
11/4	Peer Editing Materials to class!	Writers’ Workshop DRAFTS OF ESSAY #2 TO PEER EDITORS & INSTRUCTOR (3 COPIES TO CLASS)
11/6	Writers’ Panel	Discussion of Papers REVISION OF ESSAY #1 DUE IN CLASS
11/11	NO CLASS
11/13	RRS	FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY #2 DUE IN CLASS Brown 1- 79 In this book, the authors collect and analyze the data on the 1914 Christmas Truce. Using photographs, letters, and various written records and reports, they prove that the event not only happened, but did so on a wide scale. At the same time, the authors propose reasons for its occurrence, its limits, its aftermath, and the unlikelihood of its re-occurrence.
11/18		FILM
11/20	RRS	FILM Brown 80-155 [75]
11/24-26	FALL BREAK	FALL BREAK
12/2	RRS	Brown 156-216 [60]
12/4	Bring Strausser to class !	Writing- Strausser Chapter 7
12 / 6	SUNDAY-EMAIL DRAFTS	DRAFTS TO PEER EDITORS & INSTRUCTOR - PEER EDITING CANCELLED
12/9	Peer editing	Writers’ Workshop - Peer editing cancelled. Writer's workshop will begin instead. Hard copy of first draft due in class.
12/11	Writers’ Panel	Discussion of Papers
12/18	*PAPER #3 DUE:*	*H 214 BY 5PM*