Honors 101 Seminar
Fall, 2006
Dr. John Lewis
113 Andrews Hall
Phone 289-5346 / jlewis8@ashland.edu
Office Hours: M/W/F Afternoons--or just stop by!
Esse Quam Videri
"To Be Rather Than to Seem"
To pursue, and complete, a college degree takes thought, dedication and action. There can be no better introduction to university life than to examine the intellectual foundations of heroes who blazed trails to achievement. The Hero as Warrior is Achilles in Homer’s Iliad. Conflicted by his need for glory in an age where heroism meant waging war, he faces a choice about the direction of his life. For the Hero as Political Actor, we will read Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, of a man with unbounded political ambition. But for a different type of hero, the Producer is the person of independent vision, who achieves his goals by productive work. He is found the character of Howard Roark, in Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead.
In each case, there is a central question to be asked: what is the nature of the independence that these characters illustrate? What does it meant to be independent intellectually?
As for every course you take, you should keep a 3-ring notebook in which you record your thoughts, as well as class discussions, on a regular basis. The secret to this class is to remain up to date, in an organized fashion, on the readings and the questions raised in class. The notebooks will be your study guide for the midterm and final exams. I’ll ask for them only if it looks like you are nt keeping up.
Writing assignments: for each assignment, write an essay addressing the topic, 5 pages double-spaced. The essay must be typed and edited for grammar, citing primary sources, expressing an argument and supporting the argument with the readings. Provide citations according to the Chicago Manual of Style. No late papers. No exceptions.
Class Attendance and Participation is required. The class material may not appear in your books; miss it, and you miss material that you will need. There is no excuse for missing class without prior permission, excepting an emergency (which, by definition, is life-threatening and rare). This includes other university events—your classes always take priority, which means the approval of the instructor in advance. When Achilles withdrew from the Trojan War, the Greeks fell into slaughter and defeat. To succeed at University life, you must commit to do so.
Unannounced short quizzes may fall upon you, as the arrows of the Trojans fell upon the Greeks. Being productive rather than destructive, however, the quizzes will reward those who persevere. Any injuries for those who do not will be self-inflicted.
Grading: Grades are based on the following:
3 Writing assignments 10% each
Midtern exam 30%
Final Exam 40%
Participation can affect your final grade by up to one letter grade.
Plagiarism results in an F for the paper, and is always reported to the registrar. Please note carefully: plagiarism is stealing someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. ANY DIRECT COPYING that is not enclosed in quotation marks is plagiarism, even if the source is cited. USING SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEAS is plagiarism, even if you do not quote the words exactly. PARAPHRASING—rewording someone else’s passage—is plagiarism, and simply noting the source does not make it otherwise. If you are in doubt, see me in advance. If I am in doubt, I reserve the right to ask you to pass a short oral examination on your paper.
No internet web sites under any circumstances are acceptable for any written work! For this course, you must read books. I will distribute a handout of resources that can assist scholars of all sorts.
Accommodations Statement from Classroom Support Services: “For students who have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs can be appropriately met. It is your responsibility to provide documentation for your disability to the Office of Disability Services, 105 Amstutz Hall, ext. 5953.”
Academic
Responsibility and Integrity Statement: “Academic
integrity must be maintained at all times. No form of cheating or
plagiarism will be tolerated. Such actions will be dealt with in
accordance with the procedures documented in the Ashland University Student
Handbook.”
Required Books:
Homer. Iliad R. Lattimore, tr (Chicago edn.).
Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (Signet edn.)
Rand, A The Fountainhead
Special Topics for which time will be set aside:
Academic advising, catalogs, choosing courses
Email, Webadvisor, on-line scheduling
Library, and electronic databases (including a presentation by the Library staff)
Time management, including extra-curricular clubs and activities
Organizing and writing papers, and standards for citations
Academic integrity, and plagiarism
What are the Liberal Arts?
Honors Program special issues: your major, and your thesis.
Anything else that you need to know about how to succeed at the university.
For the first semester I am your academic advisor. Please see me anytime if I can help you succeed!
Reading and Writing Schedule:
Preojected Reading and Writing Schedule:
Homer Iliad
Week 1, Week of 8/28: Iliad Book 1. Editor’s Introduction.
Saturday, 9/2: Honors Canoe Trip!
Week 2, Week of 9/4: Iliad Book 2.
Sunday, 9/10: Freshman Honors Orientation Event! Redwood, 1:00 to 4:00
Week 3, Week of 9/11: Iliad Books 5-6.
Week 4, Week of 9/18: Iliad Book 18. The Seven Liberal Arts presentation
Week 5, Week of 9/25: Iliad Book 21-22.
Week 6, Week of 10/2: Iliad Books 23-24. O-Teamer presentations on Friday
First Writing Assignment Due Fri 10/13: What is the basic conflict that Achilles faces, and how does the issue of Intellectual Independence arise in his actions?
Shakespeare: Julius Caesar
Week 7, Week of 10/9: Shakespeare Julius Caesar Act 1
Week 8,
Week of 10/16:. Shakespeare Julius Caesar Acts 2-3.
Friday: O-Teamer Sessions
Week 9, Week of 10/23: Shakespeare Julius Caesar Acts 4-5
Second Assignment Due Fri. 10/27: What is the nature of the ambition of Julius Caesar? How does it compare to that of Achilles?
Rand: Fountainhead
Week 10, Week of 10/30: Fountainhead (to p. 200)
Week 11, Week of 11/6: Fountainhead (to p. 293)
Week 12, Week of 11/13: Fountainhead (to p. 390). Friday: O-Teamer Sessions
Week 13, Week of 11/20: Fountainhead (to p. 503)
Week 14, Week of 11/27: Fountainhead (complete)
Third Assignment Due Fri. 12/4: What intellectual virtues do the great business achievers display, and how can they assist you in college work?
Week 15, Week of 12/4: Wrap-up (TBA)
12/11 Final Exam Week L
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This
page updated 08/22/07
Dr. John Lewis classicalideals@yahoo.com