345-7 Introduction
to the Humanities
3 Hours Humanities
Instructor: Dr. Alice Parker
2544 E. 14th Street
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
(205) 556-6802 (evenings and weekends)
aliceaparker@comcast.net
Important Contract Policies
Purpose
This contract is designed to increase the student's understanding and appreciation
of several humanities disciplines through a variety of resources (texts,
readings and attendance at cultural events) that direct attention to current
ethical and cultural issues
Learning Objectives
The student will increase understanding and appreciation of several humanities disciplines through a variety of resources (q.v.) that direct attention to current ethical and cultural issues.
Methodology
Student will:
- Read proposed books
- Write short essays evaluating his/her reading (3-5
pgs.)
- Attend 5 different cultural events
- Keep a journal describing the event (recording
impressions, feelings and critical response).
*Student must submit 1 essay at a time.
*Project Director will grade each essay, make necessary comments, and return
the essay to the student, at which time the student
may submit another essay
Resources
Many public libraries will have good collections of detective fiction.
Some titles may also be found in academic libraries. All the works listed
here have been available in paperback, and most should still be in print.
The listing of (preferred) merely indicates a personal favorite of the
instructor. The other book by the same author is also very good.
- Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi
- Cristina Garcia, Dreaming in Cuban
- Albert Camus, The Stranger
- Bessie Head, Maru
- R. Menchu, I, Rigoberta Menchu
- Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- Douglas Coupland, Generation X
- Read an entire issue of an art or cultural journal or magazine, e.g., Art
in America, Horizon, Drama, Dance Magazine, American Cinematographer, etc.
- Cultural events: 5 different experiences that are available to the student, such as art shows, craft shows, films, concerts, theatre, dance, poetry readings, etc.
Handout may be found as online course reserve. Go to http://www.lib.ua.edu,
click on "course reserves" and select "Alice Parker." Note:
the document is in pdf format. You will need to download Adobe's free reader
at http://www.adobe.com. If you need help, please call us at (205)348-6000.
Evaluation - Student will write a short essay, of 3-5 pgs., addressing each of the works read. Essay should include:
a) description of the subject matter
b) form of treatment by the author
c) speculation as to the significance of the work
d) student's personal response to the work
e) critical evaluation of the work.
- Student will keep a journal of cultural events attended. Journal will include:
a) description of each event (include program if possible)
b) account of the effort the student made to listen or look better or to better understand and appreciate an artistic event
c) the student's response to and evaluation of the experience.
- In all written work, try to be as precise as possible in attempting to account for the work and reacting to it. We are interested in your ability to discover what is happening in the work and how it affects you.
Evaluation will be based on the student's ability to write standard English, to understand books and cultural experiences, to articulate and clarify his/her values in relationship to the culture in which we live.
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