By remaining enrolled in this class you indicate you have read,
understood and accepted this syllabus. There are no exceptions to the policies
set in this syllabus.
Course
description: Aesthetics is designed to introduce students to aesthetic
theories, specifically contemporary and historic aesthetic theories, critical
terminology, and the practical application of philosophical techniques and
critical approaches. Specifically, students familiarize themselves with a
diverse collection of approaches to aesthetics, including historical, feminist,
and non-western approaches. Through
examination of the theories through both print and technological means,
students study critically various approaches to aesthetics and present written
critical analyses of primary sources.
Required Text
: Students are required to have the course
readings and paper information. These are available in electronic format at www.opifexphoenix.com/phil/index.html Alternatively, a student can bring an UNUSED
HD floppy disk, a blank CD-R/CD-RW or a USB drive in during my office
hours.
Content Objectives
(subject to revision)
|
Part One: Introduction |
What
is Poetry?- Mill |
|
Introduction |
The
Ion-Plato |
|
Writing
Philosophy Papers |
The
Philosophy of Composition- Poe |
|
Reasoning
in Aesthetics |
Part Four Art, Society,
and Morality |
|
Part Two: Defining and Judging Art |
On Education- Bernstein |
|
The Arts And Fine Arts- D'alembert |
The
Republic- Plato |
|
On
the Standard of Taste- Hume |
Lights,
Camera, Blood-LaBossiere |
|
What
is Art?- Tolstoy |
Virtual
Violence and Moral Purpose-LaBossiere |
|
The
New Aesthetics- Wilde |
Preface
from the Picture of Dorian Gray-Wilde |
|
Part Three: Genres, The
Creation of Art |
|
|
Introduction |
|
|
The Poetics- Aristotle |
|
Generic teaching
competencies and skills addressed Tests and written assignments in which the
students develop and exercise the relevant skills and knowledge; provides
exposure to diverse points, to present concepts and principles at different
levels of complexity so they are meaningful to all students; represents concepts
through a variety of methods, such as analogies, metaphors, models, and
concrete materials; utilizes appropriate learning media, computer applications,
and other technology to address learning objectives; selects activities that
support the critical thinking processes; demonstrates knowledge of applications
of computer technology to the teaching of ethics; demonstrates knowledge of
methods, concepts and vocabulary; and develops critical philosophic skills.
Specific
behavioral objectives: The students read the text, prepare written
assignments, take exams and quizzes; react to class discussion, and learn
critical philosophic skills.
Teaching
Methods: The class combines elements of traditional lecture with active
class participation. Traditional teaching methods are supplemented with email
support and web based course material.
Methods of Evaluation: Students are evaluated
on the basis of the following-
|
Category |
Counted/Total |
Points Each |
% of Grade |
|
Paper |
1/1 |
100 |
30% |
|
Exams |
3/4 |
32 |
40%
(Equal weight) |
|
Weekly
Quizzes |
10/15+ |
5 |
30%
(Equal weight) |
Papers: There is no make-up for
the paper.
Exams: The best three count. Make-ups are permitted
with the obvious exception of the final. The exams are weighted equally so each
of the best three exams counts as 1/3 of the total exam grade.
Quizzes: There will be
approximately fifteen quizzes. The best ten count. The others are used as “make
up” or “extra” quizzes. Except in the case of extensive absences there are no
additional make-ups for quizzes. Each quiz weighs equally.
|
Grade |
% |
Grade |
% |
Grade |
% |
Grade |
% |
Grade |
% |
|
A |
90-100 |
B |
80-89 |
C |
70-79 |
D |
60-69 |
F |
0-59 |
|
Office |
Pod
5 Room 300 |
Phone |
(850) 561-2839 |
Email |
Ontologist@aol.com |
Support
is available during office hours, via email and via the instructor’s web page, www.opifexphoenix.com/phil/
.
Office Hours- Tuesday: 3:25-5:35 Wednesday: 11:00-3:45 Thursday: 3:25-4:30
Additional
Course Material: This material is available at http://www.opifexphoenix.com/phil/index.htmlYou can also bring a HD 3.5 floppy disk, blank CD-R/CD-RW,
or USB drive to my office hours.
Academic Honor Policy: This class complies with
the university academic honor policy.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory.
Students are fully responsible for any work, notes, announcements, or other
information from missed classes.
Behavior: Behavior that disrupts
the class or interferes with the learning process will not be tolerated.
Cancelled Classes: If a class is cancelled (for any reason) any scheduled exam or any work
due will be rescheduled for the next class. If
classes are cancelled for an extended period of time, then special arrangements
will be made.
Changed Class Room or Time: If the class room or time is changed by the Registrar
or another FAMU official, it is your responsibility to learn the new location.
First, look for a sign listing the new room or, if there is another class
there, ask the instructor. Second, check my office door or the web site for the
new room. Third, call me during my office hours or email me. If you missed a
test/quiz/assignment or did not turn in a paper “because” of the room change,
the following policy applies: For quizzes and assignments the
"make-ups" are built in -hence there is no special make-up for them.
If the test date was the first class in the new room, you have until my next
office hours to make it up. If a paper was due in the first class in the new
room, you have until my next office hours to turn the paper in without a late
penalty. Otherwise the normal rules apply.
Cheating: Cheating, in any form,
will not be tolerated. Anyone caught cheating will be treated accordingly.
Children in the Class: I have been informed
that it is against state law for students to bring children to class. Students
are required to comply with this law.
Compliance: The University’s
Americans with Disabilities ACT Policy Statement and the University’s
Non-Discrimination Policy Statement can be viewed at www.famu.edu. This class is taught in
compliance with these policies.
Due Date/Deadline: The due date is for the
draft. The draft can be turned in after this date. For the paper, the deadline
is the last day the revised paper will be accepted. If a paper is not turned in
by the deadline, the draft paper grade will count (even if it is a zero). Aside from the mercy, there are no
exceptions to the paper deadline.
Email: Be sure that your email
address is up to date on iRattler/OurFAMU. That
address will be used should I need to contact you.
Enrollment: Students who are not
enrolled in the class will not receive a grade. It is the student’s
responsibility to make sure he/she is properly enrolled in the class. If you
expect to be reinstated do not simply stop attending class-contact me as soon
as possible
Excuses: I only accept legitimate, official excuses,
such as those from coaches and Deans’ offices. Unofficial
excuses (such as doctor’s notes, letters from relatives or employers) and
photocopies are not acceptable. You only need an excuse if you miss a test or
turn in a paper past the due date. Students are required to acquire the excuses
within ten (10) days of the last day of the absence.
Extensive absences: A student who has an
extensive number of excused absences
and elects to not withdraw from the class must meet with me to discuss the
situation within one week of the student’s return to class. Failure
to do so results in a non-negotiable “O” on all missed work. Any
extensive makeup work takes place entirely at my discretion.
Five Point Bonus: Each student will
receive a +5 point bonus on his/her final paper grade.
Grade Discussion: I will not discuss
individual grades during class time. Such discussions take place during my
office hours. A grade discussion can never result in a lowered grade (unless
the discussion reveals that cheating or plagiarism has taken place).
Grade Information: Grades cannot be given by
phone or posted in public. Grade reports can be sent via SASE, email, or given
in person. Grades are also posted on a secure web site. Use the “check your
grades” link on the class web site. You will need to get your ID and password
from me. You are expected to check your grades regularly online. You are
required to check your grades on the website or during my office hours at least
twice-once during the midterm week and once in the last week of classes prior
to my last office hours. You are required to report any discrepancies
immediately and supply the relevant evidence. If you fail to inform me of a
discrepancy and provide the supporting evidence by the time I turn in my grades
for the semester, the grade(s) will not
be changed.
Grade Averages: The averages shown on
the grade reports are not accurate until all the grades have been entered. This
is because I have set the software to drop the lowest scores (see above) and
this will result in an inaccurate average until all the grades are entered. For
example, if three tests have been given, but you only took two and scored 70%
on both, then your average would be listed as 70%. However, your real average would be 46.7%, since
the 0 would be dropped when the average was calculated. Be sure that you know
your correct average before making decisions relating to the course (such as
deciding not to take a test).
Incompletes: Requirements: 1) At least
half the course work has been completed. 2) The minimum requirements have not been
completed. 3) The student has at least a “C” average for
the completed work. 4) The failure to
complete the work is not the student’s fault.
5) Valid, signed excuses from his/her dean’s office must be provided. 6)
The student must make the request no latter than one week prior to my last
office hours. 7)The student must complete the
incomplete form and have it approved by me no latter than the end of my last
officer hours. You must meet all these requirements to qualify for an
incomplete.
Make-ups: Requirements: 1) A
valid excuse covering the relevant date must be provided when the make up is
taken. 2) The make up for a test must be completed by the date of the next
test. 3) The make up must be taken
during my office hours. Failure to meet
the conditions will result in a non-negotiable grade of “0” for the work. There
are no make ups for quizzes or assignments. Papers are either late or on time.
In no case will make up work be permitted after the end of the semester.
Mercy: Each student has one
nontransferable “Mercy.” The mercy can be used once and only once. One use is
as an excused absence to make up one test that was missed. Simply tell me you
are using your mercy when you arrive to take the make up. The second use is to allow a paper to be
turned in the day after the deadline. The paper must be received by me by the
end of my office hours the day after the deadline. If I do not have office
hours the next day, then the paper must be turned in by the end of my next
office hours after the deadline. If you do not use your Mercy, it automatically
becomes the “extra” 100% grade on the mercy quiz-there is no need to tell me to
count it as this quiz. If you use the mercy, you do not get that bonus.
Mobile Phones & Other
Devices: Please put your mobile
phone and other communication devices on silent ring. If you must take a call
during class, please leave the room quietly and go far enough away that your
conversation does not distract others. You can use a PDA or laptop during
normal class (not during exams), provided that your activity is not distracting
or annoying.
Paper: There are additional polices covering the paper.
These are specified in the paper information files in the course pack. Students
are required to be familiar with
this information. Ignorance of these polices is no excuse.
Returned Work: You are expected to
pick up your work when it is returned. Quizzes that are not picked up when they
are returned will be discarded. Unclaimed exams and papers will be kept in my
office for one year. If you wish to dispute a grade, you are required to
present the work in question.
Test Policy: During exams you must
clear your desktop of all items except your pen or pencil. Mobile phones and
other communication devices are to be turned off unless you are legitimately
required to be in constant contact (for example, you are a police officer). If
you use a mobile phone or other communication device during an exam, then this
will be considered cheating and you will receive a grade of zero (0) on the
exam (unless you are legitimately required to be in constant contact, the call
is one you are legitimately obligated to take and you have supplied legitimate
documentation prior to the exam).
The Last Day: All class related
business (except the final) must be completed by the end of my office hours on
the last day I hold my regular office hours. This will be in the last week of
classes, not finals week. I do not hold office hours during finals week.
Unusual/Special
Circumstances:
Reasonable accommodations will be made for all legitimate circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to make
me aware of such relevant circumstances as soon as possible. Do not wait until the end of the semester!
Aesthetics Schedule (subject to revision)
|
Tuesday,
January 26 |
Exam
#1 |
Tuesday,
March 30 |
Exam
#3 |
|
Tuesday,
February 2 |
Paper
Draft Due Date |
|
|
|
Tuesday,
February 23 |
Exam
#2 |
Thursday,
April 22 |
Last
Office Hours. Deadline for everything but the final. |
|
Tuesday,
March 23 |
Paper
Revision Deadline |
Friday,
April 30 7:30-9:30 am |
Exam
#4 (Final) |
Academic Learning Compact for Aesthetics
Students will refer to the ALC
page for additional information. http://www.famu.edu/assessment/
In accord with the ALC
students enrolled Aesthetics will:
1. Demonstrate proficiency in
written communication. Implementation will be via written papers and evaluation
will be via appropriate rubrics.
2. Demonstrate competence in
critical thinking. Students will receive training in argumentation and philosophical
reasoning. Assessment will be via appropriate rubrics.
3. Demonstrate familiarity
with the critical concepts and methods of Philosophy and/or Religion. Students will be exposed to these concepts
via instruction and will be assessed via appropriate rubrics.
4. Demonstrate understanding
of diverse cultures and/or world views. Students will be exposed to a diversity
of philosophical views. Assessment will be via appropriate rubrics.
5. Demonstrate ability to do
research and to generate original written contributions to Philosophy and/or
Religion. Assessment will be via appropriate rubrics.
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP): “Enhancing Performance in Critical Thinking”. This
class enhances quality by including extensive material on critical thinking in
the form of general and aesthetic reasoning.