Humanities: Prehistory to Renaissance

Austin Community College

Instructor: Dr. Matt Kliewer

E-mail: matt.kliewer@austincc.edu

Instructor Virtual Office Hours

(ACCMail Hangouts / Chat matt.kliewer@austincc.edu): 11:00am – 12:00 pm Monday-Thursday and 2:00pm – 3:00 pm Monday and Wednesday, or by appt.

Course Information and Policies

Important: Submission of work for this course through ACC’s Blackboard will serve as indication that you have read and accept course policies as outlined in this syllabus. If there are any items in this syllabus with which you disagree, please bring them to your instructor’s attention prior to submitting any work through course portals.

• Credit Hours: 3

• Classroom Contact Hours Per Week: 3

A study of representative samples of literature, art, and music of various periods and cultures from prehistory through the Renaissance. The study of the interrelationships of the arts and their philosophies emphasizes an understanding of human nature and the values of human life.

There are no course prerequisites for Introduction to the Humanities I. A passing score or the equivalent on the reading portion of the TSI test is required.

Course Rationale

The study of the Humanities from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective affords the student the opportunity not only to acquire a deeper appreciation of particular works of art but also to gain a larger perspective on the work of art as an expression of the human spirit in a particular time and place.

Our course will be accessing and referring to Landmarks in Humanities, 5th Edition, by Gloria K. Fiero. McGraw-Hill, 2021.

Required: Landmarks in Humanities eBook through Connect / McGraw-Hill, accessible through our course Blackboard site. During orientation for the course students will be setting up their accounts for access to eMaterials.

This course is a survey of art, literature, music, and cultural studies from prehistory through the Renaissance. 

Departmental Course Student Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of a Humanities course a student should be able to: 

• Identify a variety of significant works of art from various times and places in human history.

• Analyze works of art within their cultural context.

• Evaluate the relationship between the arts and human values.

Instructor Course Level Outcomes

After successful completion of this course a student should be able to:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of art in its different forms (visual, aural, etc.) throughout history.

• Demonstrate general knowledge of assigned time periods and their major artistic and cultural accomplishments. 

• Demonstrate an understanding of how context affects the text (form) and subtext (meaning) of human artistic creations.

• Form a personal explanation of why (or if) the study of Humanities is necessary for education and societal growth.

General Education Objectives/Outcomes

1. Communication Skills

• Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

2. Critical Thinking Skills

• Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

3. Personal Responsibility

• Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences.

4. Social Responsibility (Civic and Cultural Awareness)

• Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Student Responsibilities and Final Grade Breakdown

Your Final Grade will be comprised of:

• Orientation (Pass/Fail - required "Pass" to continue in course).

• Attendance and Participation (10%).
• Contributions to online Unit Discussion Forums (3 Units x 10% each = 30%).
• Time Capsule Proposals plus online Q&A (3 x 15% each = 45%).
• Final Project plus Q&A (15%).

Each of these activities/requirements is discussed in further detail below, as well as in folders in "Assignments." "Due Dates" are easily accessible through the button in our course Blackboard menu.

Each graded assignment will be awarded points and an interpretive letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F). Letter grades will be posted in each student’s “My Grades” in our course Blackboard site.

To follow the progress of your grade throughout the course, click on "My Grades."

Important: Do not presume to know your final grade in the course based on individual scores. Always consult with your instructor to be sure you know what each individual grade means and how that might impact your final grade.

Grading Policies

Failure to complete any above-listed assignment will be grounds for failure in the course. Late policies are included in individual assignment instructions. You must keep an original copy of all of your work throughout the semester until you receive (and accept) your final course grade.

For Time Capsule Proposals, I allow students to revise two of their three submissions for full credit. To revise, students must: 

1. Meet with me to discuss the original grade and revision plan.

2. Complete revisions within two weeks of receiving a grade on their assignment. 

Please note: I do not deliver grades via email. Do not email me asking for a grade or asking me how you are doing in the course. You will get this answer every time: I do not discuss grades via email. Please email me to set a time to talk, or (best option) pick up the phone and call me to discuss your questions.

Course Organization

This course materials and assignments will be covered in this order:

Week 1 Orientation

Weeks 2 - 6 Unit One: Early Civilizations through the Roman Empire 

Weeks 7 - 10 Unit Two: World Religions (Early CE) through the Middle Ages

Weeks 11 - 14 Unit Three: The Renaissance, Reformation, and Cross-Cultural Encounters

Weeks 15 - 16 Final Project: Vote for the Winners!

See “Course Organization and Due Dates” below for further details.

Online Discussion Board

For this class there will be four general types of discussion forums, all located in the Discussion Board:

1. A "Greetings / About the Course" forum, for use during orientations and getting going in the course.

2. "Unit Discussion" forums, which will be comprised of student contributions stemming from each Unit's assigned materials.

3. “Time Capsule Projects" forums where students will submit their contributions and participate in Q&A.

4.. A "Vote for the Winners!" forum, where students will submit their final projects and participate in Q&A.

To enter any of these discussion areas, go to "Discussion Board."

Unit Discussion Forums

Instructions for the Unit Discussion Forums are available in "Assignments" in their corresponding folders.

Unit Discussion Forums = Critical Engagement Posts (CEPs) + replies to your classmates' posts.

During each Unit, each student will be expected to contribute three CEPs + six replies to classmates in the corresponding forums.

Time Capsule Proposals (TCPs)

Instructions for the three Time Capsule Proposals (TCPs) will be available in "Assignments" in their corresponding folders.

These are individual projects, that will be submitted:

1. for Q&A purposes, to the corresponding forum in the Discussion Board.
2. for grading purposes, to the corresponding grading portal under "Feedback for TCPs" in the left-hand Blackboard menu.

Final Project: Vote for the Winners!

Instructions for the Final Project aka “Vote for the Winners!” will be available in "Assignments," in its corresponding folder, towards the end of the semester.

The Final Projects “Vote for the Winners!” are individual projects that include written responses to prompts along with illustrative audio/visual elements, and they will be submitted:

1. for Q&A purposes, to the corresponding forum in the Discussion Board.
2. for grading purposes, to the corresponding grading portal under "Feedback for VFW" in the left-hand Blackboard menu.

Attendance and Participation 

Success in this class is dependent upon regular attendance, punctual arrival, and active participation.

As your professor, I consider “participation” to include students demonstrating — by active engagement in discussion — that they have completed assignments and readings prior to attending class.

Each student may miss three classes, without penalty, no questions asked. Every absence after your three will result in an overall 5% reduction in your Attendance and Participation grade. After a sixth absence, students must meet with me to discuss a path forward in the course. 

If you fall behind for legitimate reasons, meet with your instructor immediately to determine a course of action for you to complete your assignments in a timely manner. It is my sincere desire that each student finish the course and I will work with you towards that end in the event that unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances prevent your regular attendance at a point during the semester. 

Writing Assignments

This is a college course and college-level writing skills are required. Your writing will be evaluated for theoretical sophistication, critical interpretation, creativity, effective argument (including thesis construction as warranted, coherent paragraphs and development, and proper citation of evidence), and style (including organization, grammar, spelling, etc.). It is expected that all work submitted is the original work of the student whose name appears on it and that the work was prepared originally for this course.

Writing assignments make up the majority of your grade. Do not forget: even the best writers use editors. You will have ample opportunity to pre-write and re-write your projects, both with my feedback and, if you choose, with help from ACC’s Learning Labs (more info below).

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty

Ultimately, there is no excuse for representing another’s work as your own. A first infraction will result in an immediate “zero” on the assignment and follow-up instructions about how to redo the work. Subsequent infractions will result in immediate “zeros” on assignments, and further disciplinary actions per ACC Policy. Each student is responsible for knowing his or her rights and responsibilities. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process https://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-standards-of-conduct

If you are unclear as to what constitutes plagiarism, it is your obligation to seek help from a reliable source, such as an instructor, a tutor, or another qualified individual. It is also in your best interest to carefully cite all outside sources, as then your original work is easily identifiable and you will receive maximum credit for your own development, thought, and insight. 

Additional information is available in “College Policies” below.

Respecting Copyright

The course materials used for this course and on this site are protected by copyright law, whether I created them or someone else created them. Reproduction of protected materials and use of them as if your own intellectual property, any public distribution or commercial use, or any other activity that violates copyright law may result in legal action to rectify the situation.

Refer to the ACC Student Handbook, section Copyright and Duplication of Course Materials: https://catalog.austincc.edu

Instructor Addendum for DIL setting: In the same way that only enrolled students are permitted to attend classes in classroom settings, it is expected that only enrolled students are logged into and accessing this course’s information through Blackboard and McGraw-Hill Connect. In the same way that class materials, discussions, and activities are intended only for enrolled students in classroom settings, all aspects of this online course’s content, no matter who generates it (you, me, another student), are confidential (accessible only for the purposes of completing course requirements for this semester) and should be treated as such.

Withdrawals from Course

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that their name is removed from the rolls should they decide to withdraw from the class. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is recorded before the Final Withdrawal Date.

The Final Withdrawal Date for this semester is Thursday, November 19th. The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.
 
Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status. Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals.

I (Matt Kliewer) do not automatically withdraw students. If you intend to withdraw, you must do the paperwork yourself. Anyone who remains in the course will receive a performance grade according to the criteria described in this syllabus.

Incomplete Grades

An instructor may award a grade of I (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course due to extenuating circumstances. An incomplete grade of “I” cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor in agreement with the student, but may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent semester. A grade of “I” also requires completion and submission of the Incomplete Grade form, to be signed by the faculty member (and student if possible) and submitted to the department chair.

Consideration should be given to course load, job, and family obligations when carrying an “I” into a new semester for completion. An “I” that is not resolved by the deadline will automatically be converted to an F. 

I (Matt Kliewer) grant course incompletes only in extraordinary situations, which must have arisen due to unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances. To receive an incomplete you must:

1. request it on or prior to Wednesday, December 9th

2. be able to substantiate compelling reason for granting an incomplete, and

3. indicate exactly how and when the course will be completed.

Suggestions for Success

Please contact me immediately with problems or questions related to any aspect of student requirements. Do not wait! Success in this class is dependent upon staying current with all assignments and announcements. General class announcements will be available online on our course's Blackboard homepage, and group email announcements will be sent to your ACCmail address (refer to item Use of ACCmail in the “Course Policies”). 

All assigned material has been planned carefully. At times, works of art may include mature themes, graphic language, and graphic imagery. However, objection to participating in course activities and/or assignments is not anticipated for college-level study. If you have a personal concern, please notify me privately and we will discuss your circumstances.

Important: If you fall behind for legitimate reasons, contact your instructor immediately to determine a course of action for you to complete your assignments in a timely manner. It is my sincere desire that each student complete the course requirements and I will work with you towards that end in the event that unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances interfere with your participation in the online course at a point during the semester.

In this course, every effort will be made to situate the primary issues within larger contexts and to understand them within their place in historical discourse. Discussion forums will provide a venue to consider various approaches to the texts and to promote critical thinking regarding issues at hand. Respect for fellow students and freedom of expression is essential, especially in situations where differences of opinion and disagreements occur. Finally, be prepared to challenge yourself by reflecting upon the material at hand and sharing with others your observations and conclusions.

Problem Resolution

If you are having a problem related to this course or related to me as your professor, your first step generally should be to speak with me. If I cannot resolve the problem or satisfy your concern, or, if for some reason you would prefer not to address the issue with me, you can appeal to the Interim Department Chair of Philosophy, Religion and Humanities:

Jean Anne Lauer, PhD

Office: Highland Campus Building 4000, upstairs 4.2310.52

Email: jlauer@austincc.edu