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GE
3054 Spring 2011
Syllabus
Course Description
This course
will allow students to explore a variety of world mythic traditions
through reading, literary and cultural analysis, and creative interpretation.
Human beings
have, over millennia, developed stories that tell us who they are,
and what they believe about the world and their place in it. These
stories can help us interpret the material objects they create.
Because of their enduring influence, some of them still reflect
part of our view of ourselves and our own culture. One particular
kind of story, myth, often contains shreds of history, elements
of psychology, and the roots of cosmology. Engagement with the nature
of myth is a truly interdisciplinary enterprise that can broaden
our perspective of the world, foster human understanding, and contribute
to our own creative development.
Student Learning
Outcomes (Objectives)
Successful completion
of the course will enable students to:
Demonstrate familiarity with the history and psychology of myth.
Analyze and
discuss the importance of specific myths within their cultural
and historical contexts.
Create
works that interpret selected myths using contemporary media.
Course Prerequisites
GE0114 Introduction
to the Humanities. If you have not completed two college-level
writing courses, please reconsider enrolling in this class; significant
amounts of reading and writing are required.
Instructional
Contact Hours/Credits
44 Contact Hours
/ 4 Quarter Credit Hours / 11 Weeks
Course Delivery: Lecture/Discussion/Workshop
Homework: Expect to spend at least 8 hours per week in reading and
other preparation.
A quarter
credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended
learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement
that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably
approximates not less than:
1) One hour
of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two
hours of out-of-class student work each week for 10-12 weeks,
or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time;
or
2) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph
(1) of this definition for other academic activities as established
by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practical,
studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit
hours.
Instructional
Methodology/Instructor’s expectations
This course
combines lecture with discussion and workshops designed both to
introduce students to methods for studying myths and mythic traditions
from around the world and throughout history, and to foster creative
engagement with mythical texts and works from historical sources.
The purpose
of the course website is to augment this syllabus, support the lectures,
and facilitate discussion. Students are expected to have completed
assigned or suggested readings before each class. Additional resources
are linked to each week’s slide list to foster further research,
and to help students recognize high-quality, authoritative, scholarly
sources for answering and exploring questions that arise during
class discussions and readings.
All assignments
will be introduced in class, and detailed guidelines will be linked
on the online Weekly Schedule as well as to appropriate sections
of the online version of the syllabus (the content of which is identical
to this print copy). Familiarity with the website and its resources
is vital to students’ success in this class.
Course
Requirements:
You must complete the following assignments in order to earn a passing
grade in the course.
Develop one term project appropriate
to your field, to be completed by week ten. The project
must be accompanied by an essay in which you
ground the project within the scope of mythology and
describe the process through
which the project was developed and completed. In addition, an
annotated bibliography that describes how each
source contributes to the final product will enable me to assess
the ability of students to engage in productive, appropriate,
college-level research. A more detailed description of project
choices and parameters can be found on the term project link.
(35%: fifteen percent for the project itself, and ten percent
each for the essay and bibliography) Students may work in groups,
but each member is responsible for his or her own essay.
By week five you must have developed a two to three-page
proposal for your final project, which will be accompanied
by a preliminary bibliography that reflects
your preparation for the project. Consult the term project page
for further instructions. (10%)
A final group
performance based on an ancient mythic system will
be performed week 11 to demonstrate students' ability to incorporate
the process from myth to mythography in a modern work. All students
must participate, but may choose non-performing roles: costume
and/or set design, directing and/or writing, conceptual development,
or other important tasks. Whether we decide on a single class
effort, or choose to form smaller groups (to be determined during
the performance-development workshop week 7), students and instructor
will all take part. (10%)
Maintain a workbook
in which you house lecture and discussion notes, readings, class-related
activities, and an ongoing collection of myth-related images,
articles, and media notes (on websites, music, films, television,
blog posts, and other evidence of the continuing influence of
myth on popular culture). (5%)
Compose a written
critique of a modern work in any medium based on
a recognizable myth or mythic cycle. (10%)
Participate in a variety of workshops
designed to augment information and material covered in lectures
and discussions. (30%) Participation grades are determined on
the basis of attendance in class, workshops, and clinics. In addition,
each student will be responsible for facilitating discussions
by preparing open-ended questions based on each week's material.
The CAAP
(Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency) test will be administered
during class week 10; the test provides the college with a valuable
assessment tool, and is administered to upper level students in
order to gauge your academic progress measured on a national scale.
The test is mandatory, but extre credit (5 points) will be added
to the grades of participating students; it otherwise does not
affect your grade in this class.
Course Materials/Supplies
There is no
required textbook for this class, but I do recommend Karen Armstrong's
A Short History of Myth, widely available online, in local
bookshops (including Half Price Books) in both paperback and hard
cover, as well as in digital format. Other materials will be linked
to the Weekly Schedule, or listed on the Resources page; some readings
require that you obtain the article through one of the Library's
databases.
To facilitate
the collection of course material, please bring to class a three-ring
binder and paper for taking notes and performing in-class assignments.
All written work and course materials should be kept in
the binder (your workbook),
which must be maintained in good order and brought to class every
week. Taking good notes will help you remember information for future
discussion, so make sure you have supplies to make note-taking feasible.
Links to websites that can enrich your understanding of the class
materials are provided in addition to required material linked under
resources.
Grading Criteria/Student
Evaluation
For a description of the criteria used to grade each assignment,
see the course rubric. Point values correspond
to letter grades according to the following: A= 100-93; A- = 92-90;
B+ = 89-87; B = 86-83; B- = 82-80; C+ = 79-77; C = 76-73; C- = 72-70;
D+ = 69-67; D = 66-60; F = 59-0.
Art Institute Policies
on Class Assignments/Late Work
Faculty members encourage accountability and punctuality for future
career success. Students are encouraged to turn-in all work for instructor
feedback.
One late daily assignment (workshop) will be accepted without penalty.
Subsequent late assignments may be accepted at the instructor’s
discretion, but will involve penalties. The final project must
be submitted on time; late work without prior arrangement will suffer
substantial point deductions. Workshop grades are tied to participation.
If you are not present for the class involved, you will not earn points
but are encouraged to submit the work for critique and feedback.
Attendance
Policy
Regular
class attendance is expected and required. Most courses meet once
per week. If a student misses more than 27% of class time he or
she can be dropped for lack of attendance at the discretion of the
faculty member.
The
satisfactory explanation of an absence does not relieve the student
from responsibility for the course work assigned and/or due during
his/her absences. A student who does not attend class during the
first week of school or starts late is still held responsible for
his/her absences.
A
student who fails to attend all classes on his/her schedule for
two (2) consecutive weeks of the quarter will be automatically terminated
from school for the remainder of the quarter by the Registrar’s
Office. A student who wishes to appeal a drop or termination must
appeal to the Academic Dean within 72 hours of notification.
If
you are going to miss class, regardless of the reason, you must
notify your instructor. You are responsible for gathering any information
from the missed class period in a timely manner.
Classroom
Standards
Tobacco
Products, Eating, and Drinking: No smoking or other tobacco products
may be used in any part of the building or near the main entrance.
Smoking is only permitted in designated areas of the parking garage.
Food and drinks are not permitted in the library or any computer
lab under any circumstances.
Classroom
Usage: Students are asked to clean their workspaces at the end
of each class. Rooms should be reset at the end of class for the
next group of students.
Disruptive
or Disorderly Conduct: Engaging in behavior that substantially
or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor’s ability
to teach or fellow students’ ability to learn will result
in a conduct referral to the Academic Director, Dean of Student
Affairs, or Art Institute Security Personnel. The classroom extends
to any setting or communication where a student is engaged in
work toward academic credit, satisfaction of program-based requirements,
or related activities.
Personal Technologies:
All computers, entertainment and personal communication devices
must be turned off during lectures unless otherwise specified.
Visitors:
To avoid class disruption, friends and relatives (including children)
of students and faculty are not permitted to attend classes or
use The Art Institute of Dallas equipment. Minors are not permitted
on campus unless prior written permission has been granted by
the Academic Dean.
Dress Code:
Casual, reasonable, professional attire and clean appearance are
recommended. Bare feet on the school grounds or in the building
are not permitted as this is a health and safety regulation.
Identification
Guidelines: All members of The Art Institute of Dallas community
are to display their badges/photo ID in an easily visible location
to identify themselves and their association with the school.
Additional notes
on course and classroom etiquette
E-mail: I can be reached reliably only through e-mail, or in person
during my office hours. I am, however, reluctant to open mail
from unidentified persons. Therefore, please place in the subject
line of any e-mail your last name and the course
number/section (GE3054 P). No days or times are necessary
because the section letter provides me with that information.
For purposes
of this course, please use your campus e-mail address.
This will ensure that I can reach you if necessary in regard to
schedule changes, issues of missed material, etc. Using your AiDallas
address also prevents me from receiving spam when somebody hijacks
your Yahoo or Hotmail account.
Please use
standard English and correct spelling in your messages. Please
do not treat an e-mail message to me as if it were a text-message
to your friends. This owl don't tweet, either; think your message
through before you send it, and make sure it makes sense.
As a courtesy
to your instructor and fellow students, please turn off and/or
silence all electronic communications devices. Text-messaging
in class is disruptive and will hamper your ability to participate
in discussions and to take effective notes. If, however, you have
a home- or work-related emergency, and need to stay in contact
with a boss or family member, please let me know ahead of
time, and I will accommodate you by allowing you to keep
your cell phone in silent mode, and to leave the room to take
a call. Otherwise, please turn phones off in order to avoid distraction.
Recording
of lectures is not permitted in this class without accommodation
from the Academic and Disabilities Services Specialist.
Remember
that attendance in this class is mandatory; students with
three or more absences and who fail to submit the project proposal
by week 5 will be automatically dropped by week 6. Students who
miss three or more consecutive classes and with whom I have had
no contact will be dropped by the deadline (week 9) if at all
possible. Please note that this is done to help you avoid receiving
an F.
As a courtesy
to your instructor and your fellow students, please avoid the
use of heavily scented personal products. Many of us have become
sensitive or allergic to colognes, body sprays, perfumes, and
lotions containing strongly scented ingredients, and would appreciate
your restraint.
Plagiarism/Acts
of Dishonesty
Academic honesty
is expected. Any infraction of the Art Institute of Dallas’
academic integrity policy will be referred to the Dean of Student
Affairs and the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Each student
should make sure all materials are documented carefully, to show
the rightful designer, owner, proprietor, etc. for photos, drawings,
book information, etc. in the development and display of their student
work. Each student is responsible for reviewing the dishonesty act
information found in the Student Handbook. Dishonesty in the classroom,
including securing, passing, receiving a test prior to test date,
or cheating on examinations is subject to a failing grade and possible
suspension or termination from The Art Institute. Attempted and
completed acts of dishonesty or plagiarism will be dealt with according
to AID policies.
The same rule
applies for detected plagiarism within the classroom. Plagiarism
includes any unattributed use of materials from any source –
including books, periodicals, CD-ROMs, videos, and the World Wide
Web, as well as artwork/projects from other students or professionals.
All quotations, paraphrases, or other adaptations of others work
must be properly cited and documented.
All assignments
are to be done individually and not jointly with other students,
unless the instructor specifically designates the assignment as
a group assignment in the handout. Copied or shared work will be
reported for investigation to the Dean of Student Affairs and the
Dean of Academic Affairs as cheating and a grade of zero will be
recorded for the assignment.
If you are having
trouble with a particular theory or assignment, ask your instructor
for help immediately - office hours are set aside specifically for
helping students. Be careful about consulting other students and
using search engine results because both may provide misinformation
and/or it may appear as though you are not doing your own work.
Copyright
Materials
Trademarks and
Copyrights are the property of their owners. As such, students may
not infringe upon those rights of ownership. Proper attribution
must be made for all assets used by a student for class assignments.
Students are reminded to credit the sources and display the copyright
notice © and copyright ownership information if this is shown
in the original source for all works incorporated as part of educational
projects, including those prepared under fair use. Crediting the
source must adequately identify the source of the work, giving a
full bibliographic description where available, i.e., author, title,
publisher and place and date of publication. Additionally, the copyright
ownership information includes the copyright notice, year of first
publication and name of the copyright holder.
Material derived
from Creative Commons licenses must be acknowledged by using the
correct agreement designation. For explanations of various agreements,
see http://creativecommons.org/licenses.
Be sure to note any restrictions included in the license.
Americans with
Disabilities Act
The Art Institute
of Dallas abides by the tenets of the Americans with Disabilities
Act. If you are a student who has a need for a reasonable accommodation
based on a documented disability, please contact the instructor
privately either before or after class to discuss the accommodation.
This request ideally should be made prior to the seating of the
second class of the quarter. In order to receive a reasonable accommodation,
you must have the appropriate documentation on file with the Academic
and Disabilities Services Specialist. Academic and Disabilities
Services may be reached at 469-587-1239, in person in room 514,
or by e-mail at kkenner@aii.edu.
Student Assistance
Program
The college
provides confidential short-term counseling, crisis intervention,
and community referral services through the Wellness Corporation
Student Assistance Program (SAP), for a wide range of concerns,
including relationship issues, family problems, loneliness, depression,
and alcohol or drug abuse. The Student Affairs office also offers
programs on mental health-related topics each quarter. If you have
any questions regarding counseling services, please contact the
Office of Student Affairs located in Room 509 for further inquiry
or assistance.
SAP services
are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at https://artinstitutes.personaladvantage.com
or 1.800.326.6142.
Inclement Weather
For immediate
information regarding The Art Institute of Dallas late openings
or school closings, students and faculty can call 214-692-8080 or
800-275-4243 for a recorded message. In case of inclement weather,
a public announcement regarding the status of classes at The Art
Institute will be made on WFAA (ABC), KXAS (NBC), and KDFW (FOX).
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