Core-02

Dr. Kasongo M. Kapanga Office hrs: MWF 09:15-10:15

Section 09: MWF: 11:30-12:20

Question Groups

Exploring Human Experience

1. Aims of the course. The Core Course is an important course every freshman has to take at the University of Richmond. As a continuation of the Fall semester, it will continue to

to develop your ability to read, think, speak, and write;
to enlarge your understanding of the problem of giving meaninig to life; and
to establish a foundation for University-wide conversatiion on serious questions.

And we will continue to pursue these aims by having you analyze the ways gifted and articulate people across times, cultures, creeds and backgrounds go about the business of making sense out of life in their writings. The overarching theme of this semester will be "the demands of the world"--those things outside the self in nature and society that complicate matters for it. We will highlight less what what we ask of the world than what it will let us have. The two themes are intimately related, of course. We expect you to think back often to books you read last semester.

2. Course work. The main responsability of the student is twofold: read the assigned texts and think/discuss about them critically. We will continue to work on your ability to think critically and analytically and to express our ideas effectively orally and in writing.

Before we start a text, a group of students will have the responsability to give the basic information to the entire class. These will consistent in providing background information on the text, the author and the society from which he/she speaking from. In addition, expect to write short response papers for every book we read. This semester, we will write two essay papers, two exams and one final (comprehensive).

3. Grading: Assignments of the grades are as follows:

2 papers	30 %
2 examinations	30 %
Oral participation	10 %
Assigned homework	10 %
Final examination	20 %

The grading will be based on the following scale:

A+ = 100-97	A = 96-93	A- = 92-90
B+= 89-87	B = 86-83	B- = 82-80
C+= 79-77	C = 76-73	C- = 72-70
D+= 69-67	D = 66-63	C- = 62-60
F = 59-00	Same	Same

4. Attendance. Attendance to all the class sessions and other outside activities related to the course are required. Three unexcused absences may go unpunished. Any additional unexcused absence will cause a substraction of 0.5% (on a 100 scale) from the final grade. Note that an excused absence does not exempt you from any graded assignment given on the day. It may result in an F grade for the work not done.

5. Required Texts

The Gospel According to Matthew (Roman Empire, 1st century)
Friedrich Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals (Germany, 1887)
Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own (Britain, 1929)
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (Nigeria, 1958)
Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species; The Descent of Man (selections) (Britain, 1859,74)
Kenzaburo Oe, A Personal Matter (Japan, 1964)
Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (USA, 1962)
Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto; "Alienated Labor" and/or The German Ideology (Europe, 1840s)
Rich, Adrienne, The Poetry and Prose of Adrienne Rich (USA, 1975)
Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita (Soviet Union, 1928-40)

6. Syllabus - Spring 2000

Date	Texts	Assignments
1. Order and Subversion: The Problem of authority
Jan 10	Introduction to the course	St. Matthew, The Gospel.
Jan 12	St. Matthew, The Gospel	St. Matthew, The Gospel.
Jan 14	St. Matthew, The Gospel	St. Matthew, The Gospel.

Jan 17	St. Matthew, The Gospel	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
Jan 19	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
Jan 21	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals

Jan 24	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
Jan 26	Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals, Draft 1	Woolf, A Room of One's Own
Jan 28	Woolf, A Room of One's Own	Woolf, A Room of One's Own

Jan 31	Woolf, A Room of One's Own	Woolf, A Room of One's Own
Feb 02	Woolf, A Room of One's Own	Rich, The Poetry and Prose
Feb 04	Rich, The Poetry and Prose, Paper 1	Rich, The Poetry and Prose

Feb 07	Rich, The Poetry and Prose	Rich, The Poetry and Prose
Feb 09	Rich, The Poetry and Prose	Darwin, On the Origin of Species
Feb 11	Darwin, On the Origin of Species	Darwin, On the Origin of Species
2. Contigency and Destiny
Feb 14	Examen 1	Darwin, On the Origin of Species
Feb 16	Darwin, On the Origin of Species	Darwin, On the Origin of Species
Feb 18	Darwin, On the Origin of Species	Darwin, On the Origin of Species

Feb 21	Darwin, On the Origin of Species	Oe, A Personal Matter
Feb 23	Oe, A Personal Matter	Oe, A Personal Matter
Feb 25	Oe, A Personal Matter	Oe, A Personal Matter

Feb 29	Oe, A Personal Matter	Albee, Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Mar 01	Albee, Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	Albee, Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Mar 03	Albee, Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	Albee, Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Spring Break: March 04-12
Mar 13	Albee, Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	Marx, Alienated Labor
Mar 15	Marx, Alienated Labor	Marx, Alienated Labor
Mar 17	Marx, Alienated Labor, Draft 2	Marx, The German Ideology
3. Freedom and Subjection
Mar 20	Marx, The German Ideology	Marx, The German Ideology
Mar 22	Marx, The German Ideology	Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Mar 24	Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Paper 2	Achebe, Things Fall Apart

Mar 27	Achebe, Things Fall Apart	Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Mar 29	Achebe, Things Fall Apart	Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Mar 31	Achebe, Things Fall Apart	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita

Apr 03	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita
Apr 05	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita
Apr 07	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita

Apr 10	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita
Apr 12	Examen 2	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita
Apr 14	Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita	Moussa Sene Absa, Tableau Ferraille

Apr 17	Tableau Ferraille	Moussa Sene Absa, Tableau Ferraille
Apr 19	Tableau Ferraille	Moussa Sene Absa, Tableau Ferraille
Apr 21	Revision	Revision
Final Exam: April 27, 02:00-05:00

7. Directions for Papers. Paper topics will consist in an essay in which you will be directed to engage in a discussion. Here are some directions before you start writing your paper.

A. Thesis. Generally speaking, papers will have as purposes to influence or persuade a particular audience to your thesis on texts read in the course. Beforehand, have and state your thesis as a response to the topic given. Have an outline how the thesis will be dealt with.

B. Structure and Organization. A good structure is often a base for a good essay. Develop your essay along the following parts:

Introduction: it clearly states the thesis, identifies the purpose of the paper, sets the tone, gives some ideas how the thesis will develop.
Body: It supports the main thesis and develops the argument to that end. Rely on clear topic sentences to devise your paragraphs as a strategy to reach your destination. Make sure that there are clear and logical connections between the three parts, and the paragraphs within each of the main sections. You need to build bridges between paragraphs.
Conclusion: It will strengthen the purpose of the essay by means of emphasis, summary, or evaluation.

C. Determine your audience. An imaginary and yet suitable audience would be a fellow student you need to convince to your ideas. You should therefore assume that he does not necessarily operate on the same "unproven" assumptions than yourself. For example, many essays grounded their argumentation on beliefs and assumptions supposedly shared with the imaginary audience. You should often wonder if the audience you are addressing, skeptical and well informed, shares your beliefs. You may also consider responding to the author under consideration.

D. The Texts. Since your assignments are based on texts read in class, a judicious use and a demonstrated knowledge of the texts will be relevant in the evaluation of the essay. To that end, the way you (argumentation) go about it will be of great importance in the evaluation of the essay.

E. Evaluation and Criteria

1. Clear statement of a thesis:	10 %
2. Structure and organization:	15 %
3. Ability to summarize main ideas	10 %
4. Ability to analyze/viewpoints ...	25 %
5. Ability to support a position with information derived from the texts	20 %
6. Student's originality	10 %
7. Readability: Language & Mechanics	10 %

F. Writing Fellows. Appointments with the writing fellows is not optional, but mandatory. You are required to respect your appointment. Any missed appointment on unacceptable grounds will be penalized with 10 % off the grade. The distributions to Writing Fellows is as follows: Amanda Herold (662-4459, aherold@richmond.edu) from Abbs to Holloway, and Noelle LeCrone (662-3712, nlecrone@richmond.edu) from Hormell to Watson. For more information contact Professor Kasongo.