Instructor: Dr. Victor A. Leuci

Newnham Hall 37
592-5324
Home (573) 815-9333 (not after 11 pm)
e-mail: leuciv@jaynet.wcmo.edu
Web site: www.wcmo.edu/users/faculty/leuciv/entry.html

MWF 10:00-11:00 a.m., Th. 12:00-1:00 p.m.
And by appointment

Phone: 642-0117
e-mail: oyerlykd@jaynet.wcmo.edu

CSC Suite 114 Room 121
phone: 592-5321
e-mail: laela@jaynet.wcmo.edu

D. Leeming, The World of Myth. New York 1990 (Leeming)
H. von Staden, ed. Western Literature: The Ancient World. New York 1971 (von Staden)
Common readings-handout
Handouts of other readings will be provided

     Although we all know that change is inevitable, we do not often have the opportunity to explore the various attitudes that  surround it. In this course we will consider the many ways in which people of different cultures and times have responded to important changes in their world. Specific issues that will interest us include myths and rituals that mark out rites of passage, the contrast between cyclical and linear ideas of time, the hopes and fears that accompany radical change, the ways in which old ideas can be incorporated into new systems, and more. Through the examination of myths, rituals, and theories of our own world and times, ancient Greece and Rome, the Near East, the Amerindians, and others we will endeavor to understand how systems of thought shape the way in which we respond to the changes around us.

     The Westminster Seminar is one of the components of Tier I of the general education program. All courses offered as Westminster Seminars will provide a common intellectual experience by carefully and deliberately introducing students to the basic intellectual skills they will need to succeed in college, the tools by which liberally-educated minds go about organizing scholarly inquiry. These skills, applicable to all courses at Westminster, constitute the core of the "Westminster experience," a common approach to intellectual problem solving that will provide the foundation for work in Tier II or "Context" courses.
     All sections of the Westminster Seminar are connected by the common theme "Transformations." The transformations examined are those "profound changes that redefine the character of people, societies, cultures, and/or the natural and physical environments in which they exist." Through this common theme, each seminar seeks to give students the opportunity to explore how various disciplines of the liberal arts study the interrelated transformations that affect their lives and to develop a sophisticated understanding of a specific transformation that they find particularly intriguing.

A. Students should be more effective written and oral communicators at the completion of the course.
B. Students should develop the following critical thinking skills:
1. The ability to evaluate written material—what is the main idea/ major argument and how it is supported.
2. The ability to analyze the support and main idea for coherence with other information and/or knowledge the student already possesses.
3. The ability to apply information to one’s own life experiences and use it in written work.
4. The ability to compare and combine information from difference sources.
C. Students should develop a general awareness of how different disciplines acquire and process information.

3-5 Microthemes (15 pts each)
1 Exam (40 pts)
2 Papers (40 pts each)
2 Presentations (20 pts each)
Class Participation (25 pts)
Portfolio (55 pts)

     Regular attendance and participation are critically important for the success of the class. In essence, the Westminster Seminar is an academic course which depends heavily for its success on student discussion, even student direction. No absences are allowed in the first week. Each student is allowed three absences with no penalty. Thereafter, one half of a letter grade will be deducted for each unexcused absence. No make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences. Papers, etc. are due at the beginning of the class period, period. I expect you to abide by Westminster’s honor code. Let me repeat, no make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences. Papers, etc. are due at the beginning of the class period, period. I expect you to abide by Westminster’s honor code.

    The assignments given below are not "set-in-stone," and may vary depending on how each class period goes. The syllabus will be updated as needed. Also the dates when we will be meeting with two other seminars during the semester are still to be determined.
 

Guidelines for Exams, Microthemes, etc.

The Exam: 

The exam will be a combination of fill-in the blank or short answer with  one essay. There will be 5-8 fill in the blank questions worth 2 points each and one long essay worth 24-30 points. The essay should be well written in standard paragraph format with pertinent facts to support your thesis (or theses). The average length for a good essay should be one to two full pages depending on how large you write, what type of margins you use, etc. (a good essay is typically at least 300 words). Typically a review sheet will be available one week before the exam as an aid in your preparation.

Content:

• Microthemes: The microthemes will focus on a specific question based on your readings. The questions will be narrow in focus, and your paper should be correspondingly “narrow.” The thesis you maintain in your paper should be supported with facts from the readings and from quotes where appropriate. The paper, however, should not be one long quotation.

• Papers: The topics of the essays will naturally be of a broader nature than that of the microthemes, but the importance of a central thesis and supporting facts will be the same. Neither essay is intended to be “research” in nature; rather they are intending to be opportunities for you to examine certain topics and to come up with reasonable responses—responses that are based on reason and that can be supported by the information you have covered in this class.

• Should be “double spaced” with one inch margins (not 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 but one inch)..
• Start with a simple heading at the top of the page giving your name, etc.—i.e. don’t start the text of page one halfway down the page!
• Papers should be 4-6 pages long—not more nor less!
• Microthemes should be 1 1/2 to 3 pages long—not more nor less!
• Use a basic font such as Times, Times New Roman, Arial, Bookman, Palatino, etc; however, don’t use Courier.
• Don’t use two spaces after periods.
• Use hyphens and em dashes (or two hyphens) correctly, e.g. you will find em dashes under the “Symbol” in the pull down menu under “Insert” in Microsoft Word, and in a similar spot in Word Perfect. You should use hyphens between words, e.g. fill-in and em dashes between clauses—as in the sentence above beginning “Start with....”

 

• Clarity: How clear is the summary or presentation? How could the it be even clearer? How clear, specific, and relevant are references to texts?
• Content: How complete is the summary or presentation, and what could be added to make the it more complete and comprehensible?
• Organization: How well is the summary or presentation organized, and how could the organization be modified to make it more effective?
• Grammar: What grammatical changes could make the summary more cogent and effective?
• Miscellaneous: What other changes could make the summary clearer and more successful at conveying ideas and engaging the audience?
• Participation: (for group summaries or presentations) How well did the group seem to participate in the preparation and presentation of the material? What changes in the group's participation and interaction with one another could make the presentation even stronger and more effective?

Regular participation is critically important for the success of the class. In essence, the Westminster Seminar is an academic course which depends heavily for its success on student discussion, even student direction. I don't expect that you will necessarily "know all the answers" before class, but that you will have read the material, have reflected on it, and be prepared to discuss it with your fellow classmates.

When is it due?

The portfolio is due no later than Monday, November 23 at 11:00 a.m. Bring completed portfolios to class that day.

• All papers written for the course, including all drafts.
• Class notes and any other reflections on the readings, class presentations, films, and other class activities.
• Revising: You may revise your last two microthemes and the class notes that you turned in for evaluation.
• A letter to Dr. Leuci in which you evaluate the amount and quality of your work during the seminar and explain what grade you think your work deserves, on the basis of the following standards: A (excellent work, well above average), B (noticeably above average work), C (average work), D (noticeably less than average work), F (unacceptably lower than average work).

The portfolio will be evaluated on the basis of thoroughness, clarity, organization, and evidence of critical thinking. You will receive a letter from Dr. Leuci during the Christmas holidays responding to the portfolio and explaining the letter grade assigned for the course.