Principia 101: An Introduction
to the Liberal Arts
MWF 2:40-3:50
Principia 101: An Introduction
to the Liberal Arts
MWF 2:40-3:50
Instructor:
Larry A. Papenfuss, Ph.D., CHES., “Dr. P.”
Office:
Outreach Center - Second Floor, Room 223
Phone:
299-4440 or messages at 299-4434,
E-mail:
papenfus@cord.edu
Homepage: http://www.cord.edu/faculty/papenfus/
Office Hours:
M-F 10:45 - 11:45, 1:30-2:30 and by appointment. Whenever possible,
please make an appointment (My committee work & supervising student
teachers can take me off campus during my office hours).
Academic Integrity:
Honesty and integrity are important values in this learning community
and are expected in this course. Violations of this policy (e.g.
cheating or plagiarism) will result minimally in the failure of the exam
or assignment and report to the Academic Dean, and maximally, in failure
of the course.
Course Description:
Welcome to Principia! Through the study of the theme, “the examined
life”, Principia seeks to develop an understanding and appreciation of
liberal arts education. Principia from the Latin meaning first things
– invites you (as first year students) to participate in “the great conversation”
that reaches across time and cultures from Ancient Greeks and Hebrews to
the present Concordia College curriculum. This centuries-long conversation
has involved many disciplines—philosophy, theology, literature, history
and science—as well as reflection upon the values that inform all intellectual
inquiry. By joining this conversation we are called to reflect upon
many questions which have implications for our own lives, values and commitments
to a liberal arts education. What is the examined life? What
value has it had for other humans? What possible value could it have
for ourselves? Why has an examined life been valued from the Ancient
Hebrews and Greeks to the present? Carroll
Engelhardt, 1999
Course Objectives:
* To provide first-year students with a common intellectual experience;
* To develop skills of critical inquiry in the examination of
classical texts and a variety of disciplinary perspectives;
* To help students understand their own values in light of those
classical thinkers;
* To enable students to relate historical texts and perspectives
to the analysis of current issues;
* To develop an awareness of the linkage between private lives
and public issues;
* To engage in oral and written inquiry into historical and contemporary
issues.
Academic Expectations:
* Attendance is expected. The fourth absence
from this course without the instructor's approval will result in a lowering
of your grade for the course.
* All papers are to be typed in standard fonts and sizes.
* Grading criteria for papers can be found at the link titled
"evaluation criteria" in the description of assignments #3 below.
* Papers will be turned in on time. Late papers raise the
issue of fairness for those students who complete their work on schedule.
Papers that are one day late will have 10% deducted from their grade, two
days late will have 20% deducted and no papers will be accepted after that
without prior approval of the instructor.
Texts:
To accomplish these objectives, you will be required to read/view,
reflect on, and discuss the texts, articles, films, exhibits, and performances.
These are arranged in seven units. Materials certainly apply to more
than a single unit but are arranged in the following order for organizational
purposes.
The Principia Homepage is an excellent study resource for many of these materials and you are strongly encouraged to use it to as you prepare for class and reaction papers.
What Are the Liberal Arts?/What Is Principia?/The
Examined Life?
Keen, What You Ask Is Who You Are Discussion
Questions
Cronon, Only Connect Concordia Mission Statement, Agenda
Goals, Team I Goals Discussion
Questions
Simmons, Christian Vocation in the Liberal Arts Notes
& Discussion Questions
Plato, Apology Discussion
Questions Apology
Study Guide Link
Faith
The Book of Job, Bible (any translation) Outline
Questions for: Part
I Part
II Part
III Part
IV
Shadowlands film Viewing
Guide
Saint Augustine Confessions translation by Henry Chadwick
Saint Augustine
website by James O'Donnell
Science
Leopold, The Land Ethic
Timan, Habitat Destruction and the Extinction Debt
My Father's Garden video
Ansel Adams video
Creativity
Documentary "Looking For Richard" Principia Film Series Looking
for Richard Study Guide
Creativity and Longevity by Norman Cousins Excerpt from Anatomy of
an Illness
Charlie Rose interview on Jazz with Ken Burns and Wynton Marsalis
Vocation
Simmons, Christian Vocation in the Liberal Arts Notes
& Discussion Questions
Godleading.com
Gender/Race/Class
LaDuke, Last Standing Woman Discussion
Questions Part
1 Part
2 Part
3 & 4
Nerburn, Neither Wolf Nor Dog
Anti-racism workshop
Community
Potok, The Chosen
Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie Discussion Questions:Part
I, pp. 1-68
Nightline video - Morrie Schwartz Interview
Peace Prize Forum
Event
Overview
Schedule
of Events
Saturday
Event Sessions
Course Evaluation:
1. Participation (4 evaluations
@ 10 points)
40 pts.
Becoming a learning community requires that each and every individual
contribute through completing the assigned readings and discussing their
implications. This requires active participation in class discussion.
Participation will be graded five times throughout the semester.
The criteria for grading this component are as follows:
A (9-10) = Excellent - well prepared; brings, refers to, and questions
assigned texts; displays critical thinking; frequently initiates
discussion;
engages classmates in discussion; respects others and does not dominate;
listens attentively and responds to
others.
B (8) = Exceeds Minimum Standards - prepared; brings, refers to, and
occasionally questions texts; sometimes initiates discussion, engages classmates,
or makes comments that further the discussion; listens attentively.
C (7) = Meets Expectations - usually prepared; brings but rarely refers
to or questions assigned texts; seldom engages classmates, occasionally
speaks, listens.
D & F (6 or less) = Not Meeting Expectations - often unprepared;
often does not bring or is familiar with assigned texts; speaks only when
called upon, may have private conversations with others and is otherwise
inattentive in class.
2. Reading Quizzes (4 @ 10 points)
40 pts.
It is your responsibility to come to class prepared. This means
carefully reading the assigned texts. Four times throughout the semester,
unannounced quizzes will be given that cover the reading assignment/s up
to that day.
3. Leading Group Discussion
10 pts.
Together with two of your classmates, you will be responsible for leading
the class discussion for approximately half the class period. Your
group will need to have completed the discussion topic reading and study
materials in advance and together brainstorm ways to facilitate the class
discussion. Feel free to discuss ideas w Dr. P.. Possible ways
to facilitate the discussion of your classmates would be to use the techniques
that will be modeled in class such as fishbowl, where do you stand, connections
with current issues or other activities. The group will email a copy
of their process ideas and discussion questions to Dr. P. before 8:30 am
the day of their presentation. Preparation = 10 pts, Ability to generate
conversation = 10 pts.
4. Photo Project
10 pts.
As part of the creativity unit, you and several class mates will develop
a photo presentation to the rest of the class. This presentation
should represent a creative depiction of a theme pertinent to "the
examined life". Details will be given in class.
5. Peace Prize Forum
10 pts.
You are to attend one general session AND one of the Saturday
sessions and then type a 2-3 page reaction that compares the sessions you
attend and to either Cronon's characteristics of a liberally educated person
or Keen's ideas about what it means to be a lover of important questions.
Alternate assignment see Carter acceptance speech at: http://164.109.48.86/topical/pol/terror/02121001.htm
6. Reaction Papers (4 papers @ 25 points each)
100 pts.
Four times throughout the course you will respond to the readings,
films, presentations, and discussions via a written paper. Each paper
is to be approximately 4-5 pages in length (typed, double spaced, in a
standard font and 12 point size). The main emphasis is for you to
make
connections between the materials presented and substantiate them
with direct references to the materials. Two questions are always
pertinent: 1.) How do these texts help me to examine my life and;
2.) How do these materials reflect what it means to be liberally educated?
Additionally, you might describe how these materials connect with your
own life experiences, contemporary issues, potential majors, films, texts,
or other courses. Each paper must include a thesis statement at the
beginning of the paper and a signed statement of adherence to Concordia's
academic policies. Evaluation
criteria.
7. Final Project
30 pts
The last week of class will be devoted to summarizing what you have
learned as a participant in this course in a final project. This
project consists of three parts:
A. One-Pager - this is a visual representation of a significant learning
experience you had as a participant in this course (something that helped
you examine your own life). It should include three direct quotes
(or paraphrases) from the materials that relate to this epiphany.
It should also include a paragraph or two (brief) describing the meaning
and/or connection to your life. Finally, include at least one additional
quote from an outside source that speaks to the same idea.
B. A 3-5 page (more detailed) narrative that describes
how at least two materials covered in the course impacted you. 1.)
What did these materials teach you about yourself? 2.) How did they
inform your understanding of the liberal arts? 3.) How did they inform
your understanding of at least one of the following: vocation, community,
faith, science, gender, race, culture or creativity?
C. A five minute presentation to the class that summarizes your
project, followed by a five minute question and answer period. Failure
to attend the presentations of classmates will result in a lowering of
your project grade.
GRADING:
240 Points Possible
A 93%> =
C+ 76% = 152
D- 60% = 120
A- 90% =
C 73% = 146
F below 60%
B+ 86% =
C- 70% = 140
B 83% =
D+ 66% = 132
B- 80% =
D 63% = 126