Course Syllabus 1

HUMA 1301: Exploration of the Humanities

Spring 2010

Course Information

HUMA 1301.004
MC 2.410 TR 11:30 - 12:45

Professor/TA Contact Information

Dr. Ingrao
Office: JO 5.306
Office Hours: MW 12:00 – 2:00, and by appointment
Office Phone: 883 – 6089
Email: jingrao@utdallas.edu

TA contact information for this course is as follows:

Lora Burnett
Office: JO 5.410 D
Office Hours: W 10:00 – 11:00, and by appointment
Office Phone: 883 - 2186
Email: lora.burnett@student.utdallas.edu

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

This course requires no pre-requisite.

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Course Description

Intended to introduce students to the connections between various fields of studies in the
humanities, this section of HUMA 1301 will apply an interdisciplinary approach to the
connection between the humanities and scientific and medical technologies. We will examine
how this connection has been understood over time, and how it might be assessed as a point of
interdependence in which various humanistic and scientific fields complement one another as
expressions of what Bronowski terms a singular "creative mind." For example, we might ask
what our creation and use of technology reveals about ourselves and our world, and how such
revelation comments upon the manner in which we might best continue to progress in the
development and application of new technologies: what are the potentialities and the warnings?
During this semester this theme will be discussed by examining the dialogue between mythology,
philosophy, fiction, and film.
Course Syllabus 2

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

This course seeks to offer students the potential to: 1) Learn to examine a variety of texts from the
humanities: fictional, philosophical, and cinematic; 2) Analyze connections between multiple
texts (for example: fictional, philosophical, and cinematic) and draw informed conclusions from
said connections; 3) Apply considered analysis and respond to works in the humanities as
examples of human expression and aesthetic and ideological principles.

Required Textbooks and Materials

Textbooks are available at the UTD Bookstore, Off Campus Books, and commercially. Please
use only the following editions:

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (Penguin, ISBN: 9780141439471)

H. G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau (Penguin, ISBN: 014144102X)
Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Random House, ISBN: 0345404475)
Don DeLillo, White Noise (Penguin, ISBN: 0140077022)

Handouts, such as Emerson’s “Nature,” Bronowski's "The Creative Mind," short selections from
Crichton's Jurassic Park, and Baron's "Going Mobile: Cell Phones in Context," will be available
through e-reserve. Students who would like to read beyond the required, above-stated chapters
and selections may access Bronowski's Science and Human Values, Crichton's Jurassic Park, and
Baron's Always On via two-hour library reserve.

Links to Aldiss's "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long," Johnson's "The Joy of Boredom," and
Berry's "Faustian Economics" will be available through eLearning.

Films, such as Frankenstein (1931), Jurassic Park, A.I., and several film and television excerpts
will also be incorporated in this course.

How to Access E-Reserve Materials

Several readings for this course will be accessed through e-reserve. A syllabus is also available
as a Word document (.doc) through e-reserve should a printed copy be misplaced. To access e-
reserve:

1. Go to the following URL:

http://utdallas.docutek.com/eres/courseindex.aspx?page=instr

2. Search by instructor’s last name: “Ingrao.”

3. Click on the link for “HUMA 1301.”

4. Next, you will be asked for a password. The password is “victor.” After you enter the
password, click “Accept.”
Course Syllabus 3

A list of e-reserve materials should appear. Click on the needed reading for a PDF version.

Please contact the instructor at jingrao@utdallas.edu if you experience problems opening

materials placed on e-reserve.

________________________________________________________________________

eLearning

Among other pedagogical methods, such as discussion, this course utilizes lecture. Students are
welcome to ask questions concerning lectures during class. Students may also contact the
instructor and TA, and are urged to take advantage of office hours. Though neither the TA nor
the instructor will re-teach material presented during a specific date in its entirety as originally
presented in class, specific questions concerning material presented in class are welcome in order
to promote the potential for student success in the course.

Short lecture outlines and discussion questions will be posted on eLearning. Note that the short
outlines are just that; though intended to help students review such material as names, dates, and
key terms mentioned during a lecture, the outlines will not mention all the specifics of content
covered during a given lecture, and should not be taken as a substitute for attending class.
Students do not have to write answers for discussion questions, but should review these questions
before class as they will provide a backbone for in-class discussion.

Students should also note that material from eLearning will be utilized in the composition
of exams. The instructor and TA expect that students will be able to provide answers on
exams specific to the material posted on eLearning.

To access lecture outlines and discussion questions:

1. Go to the following URL:

http://elearning.utdallas.edu

2. Enter UTD NetID and password.

3. A list of all courses in which a student has enrolled will appear. Click on the course title.

4. Click “Learning Modules” under the “Course Content” menu at the left of the screen.

5. Lecture outlines are dated chronologically.

Please contact the instructor at jingrao@utdallas.edu concerning problems accessing materials

placed on eLearning. Note that a copy of the syllabus is also available through eLearning in the
event a printed copy is misplaced. To access the syllabus, click on "Syllabus" under the "Course
Content" menu.
Course Syllabus 4

Daily Academic Calendar

Note: Assignments and readings are due on the date indicated.

Jan. 12: Introduction to course

Discuss syllabus
Definition of the Humanities
Jan. 14: View film and television clips
Discussion of film and television clips

Jan. 19: Myths

Jan. 21: Introduction to Frankenstein
Frankenstein, pages 5-50

Jan. 26: Frankenstein, pages 51-151

Jan. 28: Frankenstein, pages 155-225

Feb. 2: View Frankenstein (1931)

Feb. 4: View selections from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Feb. 9: Discussion of Frankenstein (novel and films)

Feb. 11:First exam

Feb. 16: Emerson, “Nature” (e-reserve)

Feb. 18: Further discussion of Emerson, “Nature” (e-reserve)
Bronowski, “The Creative Mind” (e-reserve)

Feb. 23: View Jurassic Park

Feb. 25: View Jurassic Park
Discussion of Jurassic Park
Crichton, Excerpts from Jurassic Park (e-reserve)
Essay assigned

March 2: Introduction to Island of Dr. Moreau

Island of Dr. Moreau, pages 5-64
March 4: Island of Dr. Moreau, pages 65-131
Discussion of Island of Dr. Moreau

March 9: Second exam

March 11: Introduction to Do Androids Dream?
Do Androids Dream?, pages 3-83

March 16 - March 18: NO CLASS; SPRING BREAK

March 23: Do Androids Dream?, pages 84-153

March 25: Do Androids Dream?, pages 154-202

March 30: Do Androids Dream?, pages 203-244

Discussion of Do Androids Dream?
April 1: View selections from A.I.
Begin reading White Noise
Course Syllabus 5

April 6: Discussion of A.I.

Aldiss, "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long" (eLearning)
April 8: Introduction to White Noise
White Noise, pages 3-105

April 13: Johnson, “The Joy of Boredom” (eLearning)

Baron's "Going Mobile: Cell Phones in Context" (e-reserve)
Essay due
April 15: White Noise, pages 109-163

April 20: White Noise, pages 167-295

Berry, “Faustian Economics” (eLearning)
April 22: White Noise, pages 296-326
Discussion of White Noise

April 27: Symposium

April 29: Conclusion
Final exam review

May 11: Final exam begins at 11:00 in MC 2.410

Grading Policy

Semester grades will be calculated in accordance with the following percentages:

First exam 25%

Second exam 25%
Essay 25%
Final exam 25%

Assignment letter grades correspond to the following numerical GPA values in calculating a
student’s semester grade:

A+ 4.00 C+ 2.33 F 0.00

A 4.00 C 2.00
A- 3.67 C- 1.67

B+ 3.33 D+ 1.33
B 3.00 D 1.00
B- 2.67 D- 0.67

For each of the four major assignments (first exam, second exam, essay, and final exam), the
numerical GPA value of the letter grade is multiplied by 25% (0.25). The four resulting
numerical values are then added to determine the semester grade. Any applicable extra credit will
be added to the lowest assignment grade of the semester before the numerical GPA value of the
letter grade is multiplied by 25%. Quiz results will determine borderline grades.
Course Syllabus 6

Students should note that quizzes will be given during the course of the semester. Quizzes are
intended to provide the potential to introduce students to the types of questions on exams and
refine a student's ability to harness class concepts and specific examples in an organized manner.

Quizzes may be either announced or unannounced at the discretion of the instructor.

Quizzes will be graded on a check + (exceeds expectations), check (meets expectations), check -
(does not meet expectations) basis, and will be instrumental in the determination of borderline
grades at the end of the semester. Said determination will be made by weighing the cumulative
total of earned check pluses and checks against the cumulative total of check minuses and missed
quizzes.

At the end of the semester a student with a borderline grade and a cumulative total of more earned
check pluses and checks than a cumulative total of check minuses and missed quizzes will be
rounded up. For example, a student finishes the semester with a 3.73. This falls between a grade
of A at 4.00 and a grade of A- at 3.67. If the student has a cumulative total of more earned check
pluses and checks than a cumulative total of check minuses and missed quizzes, the grade will be
A. If the student, in contrast, has a cumulative total of more earned check minuses and missed
quizzes than a cumulative total of check pluses and checks, the grade will be A-.

Quizzes are applied to the semester grade only in those cases that a semester grade is
borderline. A student who earns a B at 3.00 exactly will not be rounded up to a B+ or down
to a B- in light of the cumulative result of quizzes. Even in this case, quizzes remain
important in their potential to introduce students to the types of questions on exams and
refine a student's ability to harness class concepts and specific examples in an organized
manner.

In general, letter grades are determined by the following criteria:

A--represents outstanding participation in all course activities; all assigned work completed on
time, with very high quality and original thought in all work produced for the course.

B--represents excellent participation in all course activities; all assigned work completed on time,
with consistently high quality in course work.

C--represents good to average participation in course activities; all assigned work completed,
with generally good overall quality in course work.

D--represents uneven participation in course activities; some gaps in assigned work completed,
with inconsistent quality in course work.

F--represents minimal participation in course activities; serious gaps in assigned work completed,
or very low quality in course work.
Course Syllabus 7

Exams and Essay

Concerning exams, the first and second exams will not be comprehensive. Both exams will
consist of a series of short answer questions that require specific and thoughtful responses. The
final exam, in contrast, will be comprehensive. Nevertheless, this exam will also consist of a
series of short answer questions.

Students should not bring notes or books for use during exams. Students are expected to
take responsibility for bringing blue books to all examination periods. Blue books are
available through the UTD Bookstore, Off Campus Books, and the SGA.

In addition to the exams and quizzes (see "Grading Policy" for more information concerning
quizzes), students will be assigned a short essay of three to four pages in which they should
compare several of the books, films, and philosophical essays assigned this semester in light of a
contemporary issue dealing with scientific and medical technology. Focus should be on a
comparison of texts with the issue as a frame rather than a summary of the issue itself; that is,
students should compare how the books, films, and philosophical essays provide a dialogue about
the chosen contemporary issue. Students will receive a detailed assignment sheet for the essay on
February 25th. Several student essays will be selected to be read to the class and discussed
during the symposium on April 27th.

Be sure to check due dates for the exams and essay in the "Daily Academic Calendar."

This course will be conducted according to strict codes of academic honesty. All cases of
cheating will be fully investigated. Penalties for cheating may include failing an exam, failing the
course, or suspension and expulsion from the University. Students are expected to know the
University’s policies and procedures on such matters, as well as those governing student services,
conduct, and obligations.

______________________________________________________________________________

Attendance

To facilitate the accuracy of the attendance record, the course will observe assigned seating. The
instructor and TA expect that students will be present, seated, and ready to participate in class at
the beginning of each scheduled class day. Participation is important. The instructor expects that
students will participate during discussion, show respect to the ideas of their peers, and be
attentive during lecture. Remember that all exams will ask short answer questions that
require specific answers to specific material presented during class time and on eLearning.
Moreover, the essay assignment will require thoughtful response to course content and
discussion.

Students who arrive to class after the course TA takes attendance will be counted absent for
the day. Students who disrupt the classroom will be counted as absent for the day of the
disruption. Students who leave before the end of class will also be counted as absent.

Students who miss class must provide documentation of one of the following legitimate excuses
to earn an excused absence:
Course Syllabus 8

1) Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on holidays that require missing

class should notify their instructor in writing within the first two weeks of the semester
(by January 22nd) and should discuss with him, in advance, acceptable ways of making
up any work missed because of the absence.

2) Students participating in an officially sanctioned, scheduled University extracurricular

activity will be given the opportunity to make up class assignments or other graded
assignments missed as a result of their participation. Said participation must be
documented with a note from a University official involved in the event. It is the
responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor prior to any missed
assignment for making up the work. Students who must travel in association with a
University athletic function should plan on completing any work prior to travel.

3) A documented illness. Documentation should clearly state that the student was
instructed by a physician not to attend class on a specific date(s) for his or her health
and/or for the health of others. The date(s) missed should be specifically stated in the
note, as should physician contact information. Non-documented illness will not
constitute a valid excuse for missing class.

Students must first present documentation of a legitimate excuse to both the TA (copy) and
instructor (original) before a make-up assignment can be scheduled. Students will have a
maximum of one week (seven days; this does include weekends) from the original assignment
date to complete the make-up assignment.

Students should be aware that a make-up exam will differ from the in-class exam in content.
Though the format of the exam will be the same, students seeking to make up the first exam, for
example, should expect to be asked different short answer questions than those presented on the
in-class exam.

Though missed quizzes can be made up with a legitimate excuse, students should remember that
any individual quiz grade is less important than an overall pattern of participation at a level that
exceeds (check +) or meets (check) course expectations.

At the conclusion of the semester, students who have three or fewer unexcused absences will
receive ten points of extra credit towards their lowest semester grade: first exam, second
exam, essay, or final exam.

______________________________________________________________________________

Computers in the Classroom

Students are welcome to use computers during class to take notes, or check notes or discussion
questions posted by the instructor to eLearning. Any student discovered to be using a
computer for any purpose not related to taking notes, or checking notes or discussion
questions during class will be banned from using a computer in class for the remainder of
the semester. This ban may be imposed by either the instructor or TA.
Course Syllabus 9

Technical Support

If students experience any problems with their UTD accounts they may send an email to:
assist@utdallas.edu, or call the UTD Computer Helpdesk at 972-883-2911.

________________________________________________________________________

Field Trip Policies

Off-campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and
University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information
regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the following website address:
http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm. Additional information is
available from the office of the school dean. Below is a description of any travel and/or risk-
related activity associated with this course.

N/A

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility
of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and
regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student
conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD printed publication, A to Z Guide, which
is provided to all registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the
Rules and Regulations, Series 50000, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System,
and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the University’s Handbook of
Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in
the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in
interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391) and online at
http://www.utdallas.edu/judicialaffairs/UTDJudicialAffairs-HOPV.html.

A student at the University neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, University regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to
discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or
off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work
Course Syllabus 10

done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high
standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Any student who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty is subject to discipline.

Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the
submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to
another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair
advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from
any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the University’s policy on
plagiarism (see general catalog for details).

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making
of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials, including music and
software. Copying, displaying, reproducing, or distributing copyrighted works may
infringe the copyright owner’s rights and such infringement is subject to appropriate
disciplinary action as well as criminal penalties provided by federal law. Usage of such
material is only appropriate when that usage constitutes “fair use” under the Copyright
Act. U.T. Dallas students are required to follow the institution’s copyright policy (Policy
Memorandum 84-I.3-46). For more information about the fair use exemption, see
http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/copypol2.htm.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication
between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises
some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange.
The University encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a
student’s U.T. Dallas email address, and that faculty and staff consider email from
students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the
University to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individuals
corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each
student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with University
personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle
withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, the professor cannot drop or
withdraw any student. Students must do the proper paperwork to ensure that they will not
receive a final grade of "F" in a course if they choose not to attend the class once they are
enrolled.

Note: January 27th is the last day to drop this course without incurring a “W.”
Course Syllabus 11

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the University’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other

fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a
serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be
submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If
the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the student
may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the
School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate
or Undergraduate Education, and the Dean will appoint and convene an Academic
Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the
academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per University policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably
missed at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An
incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the
subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the
incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is
changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational

opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in
room 1.610 of the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to
6:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 1.610

PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)
disabilityservice@utdallas.edu

If a student anticipates issues related to the format or requirements of this course, please
meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services. The Coordinator is available to discuss
ways to ensure full participation in the course. If a student determines that formal,
disability-related accommodations are necessary, it is very important that he or she be
registered with Disability Services to notify them of eligibility for reasonable
Course Syllabus 12

accommodations. Disability Services can then plan how best to coordinate

accommodations.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or
during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to, and observance of, a religious holy day for a religion whose
places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible
regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused,
will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time
after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one
week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or
assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the
exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that
exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose
of observing a religious holy day], or if there is similar disagreement about whether the
student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or
examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief
executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or
designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student
and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of

the Professor.