Essay
Required texts:
· Laozi. The Daodejing of Laozi. Ed. and trans. Philip Ivanhoe. Hackett, 2003. ISBN 0872207013.
· The Epic of Gilgamesh. Trans. Andrew George. Penguin Classics, 2003. ISBN 0140449191.
Selections from Scripture:
· The Trials of Socrates: Six Classic Texts. Trans. C. D. C. Reeve. Ed. Peter Meineck. Hackett, 2002.
ISBN: 0872205894. (In this text we’ll be reading Plato.)
· Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Zondervan Publishing, 1989. ISBN: 031090238X
(you may also use http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm )
--Genesis, Leviticus, Deuteronomy excerpts; Ruth; Matthew excerpts
· The Koran.Trans. N.J.Dawood. Penguin Classics, 2004. ISBN: 0140449205.
· Theban Plays. Trans. and intro. Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff. Hackett Publishing Co., Indianapolis, 2003. ISBN 0872205851.
· LeGuin, Ursula K.The Left Hand of Darkness. Ace Books, 1987. ISBN: 0441478123
· Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. Pantheon, 2007. ISBN: 0375714839
Semester Project: Discussion Board and Discussion Board Folio
You’ll post at the Discussion Board most weeks. You might think of it as your (shared) journal of your readings. The DB posts are based upon your reading, and are used to evaluate your ability to closely analyze the reading and your thoughtful ness about the reading, and to thoroughly share your ideas in writing. The Discussion Board is the place to both practice and demonstrate these skills. Due dates vary—check each week’s schedule carefully. Posts may not be made up at a later date. Instructions follow:
Each Discussion Board post should contain:
--An overview of the reading, as if you were trying to explain to a classmate, quite generally, what the text is about and what it is like to read. This means that you cover the main ideas—this is not a summary of events. Think abstractly about the text and share the main ideas, themes, issues.
--Explication of lines: Choose a few lines that you feel are related to a main idea that interests you from the above to explicate fully. These lines (or images) should express an aspect of an idea that is both highly significant to the author and highly meaningful to you. Be as accurate as you can be in describing the author’s position., and add your own thoughts on the issue as well. You do not need to agree with an author. Use the “Text Analysis Tipsheet” (at Blackboard) to help you consider various aspects and details of the passage . Format and cite properly. You might begin to notice or pick a theme to follow for the semester— Love? Power? Knowng? Violence and Peace? Or anything you’ think you’d like to think about in relation to several texts.
--Discuss a way that what you’ve discussed connects to a contemporary issue—you can check the news if you can’t think of something right away. Be sure to cite if you include an outside source. Don’t overgeneralize—truly show that you notice how the issue you’ve discussed above connects to our times and show that you know about the event in context. You may also connect to your own experience and life if you wish.
--Choose one line from the Daodejing . Include it, and discuss how It may compare or contrast with the idea in this week’s text. Use quotation marks, Note the Chapter number. If you are able to read it in Chinese, you may include that as well and give your own translation. If you find translations in other languages you read, you may include those as well. I’ve given suggestions for each week but feel very free to browse and make your own choice.
I will be looking for the following in your posts:
· Thoroughness of noticing of main ideas, themes, issues: demonstration of thoughtful reading
· Precision of noticing and thoughtfulness in the explication of chosen lines
· Precision of connection and distinction vis à vis contemporary issue
· Overall effort and clarity
Discussion Board posts will be collected by you at the end of the semester in a Folio submitted online to SafeAssign. For the Folio, collect your posts together in a way that presents them in a meaningful way, and include of a reflection or other type of guide to the contents. You may not make up posts, but you may reflect further on what you’ve written.
--Discussion Boad post due times are specified in the schedule. You may not revise or make these up—they are due by the specified time, so make sure to complete them on time. You may respond to others’ posts. Responding to others’ posts can counts towards participation.
-- Grading: Come see me during office hours to get feedback, corrections, and support about your posts. I will grade your posts collectively at the end of the semester. Keep them strong across the semester, your best each time!
--Cite for images, too! Plagiarism rules (of course!) apply to work at the Discussion Board
Discussion Board special post: A Different View .
Please choose one of the following events or locations for ONE Post. A worksheet for this special post will be posted at Blackboard, ‘Assignments.” You may skip one regular post to fulfill this requirement.(not post VIII, however). Post must be completed within one week of attendance at the event. Skip the post closest to the event.
--Phoenix from Ashes: Destruction as transformation in the Ancient Near East Dr. Kathryn Slanski of Yale University will be giving a talk on the use of violence as a restorative and transformative agent in the ancient Near East.
--The Hunting Ground: Made by the award winning film makers of The Invisible War, The Hunting Ground looks at rape on college campuses and the struggles facing the victims.
--Outside In: The Internalization and Expression of Conflict in Afghanistan An exhibit of Afghan War Rugs curated in house and on display for the month of March in Paley Library. The exhibit utilizes the rugs to tell a story,
--Facing the System a Discussion of Black Lives Matter With Dr. Linda Chavers of Intellectual Heritage, the discussion will address issues of social inequity, tension, and ways to look to the future.
--You Think You Have It Bad: Suffering in Renaissance and Baroque Art Dr. Tasha Dobbin-Bennett, Assistant Professor for Art History at Oxford College of Emory University, will speak about the role of suffering in art and the power of pain yesterday and today.
--Moving Forward: Art Therapy Workshop: Eileen Mckee is a Licensed Clinical Art Therapist (LCPAT, ATR-BC) who specializes in the treatment of veterans suffering from addiction related to Post Traumatic Stress as well as the treatment of eating disorders. She will be here giving a hands on workshop where faculty and students can participate in an art therapy session and then a discussion of the process and field.
--The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (I will post a worksheet for the trip and give you a pass). http://www.penn.museum/
I may add events eligible for this Discussion Board post, but make sure to complete your “Different View” post well before the last full week of class. I will not accept them after that. You are very welcome to attend as many events as you like. I will only accept one post for Discussion Board “Different View” credit, but make sure to let me know if you’ve attended more than one event in your final participation reflections as it can enhance your Participation grade. Please join us for these special opportunities.
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