Values and Authority: Reacting to the Past

The Honors College, Florida International University

IDH 3005/4007 - Fall 2009

Instructors: RubŽn Garrote, Pete Markowitz

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:30 – 10:45 AM

Classrooms and Professor Contacts:

Classes meet on Tuesdays &Thursdays in TBA

Professor Garrote

Office hours: By appointment, DM 240; garroter@fiu.edu; (305) 348-1620

Professor Markowitz

Office Hours: T, Th 1:30-3:30 pm or by appointment, CP 209; markowit@fiu.edu; (305) 348-1710

Overview:

Building on the investigations of the first two years, this course examines the underpinnings of culture and foundations of what commonly are held to be “western values”, and in particular on the authority and power relationships that surround them. This course conducts this examination through an elaborate game, set in the past, in which you will be assigned roles informed by readings, lectures and films relevant to the period in which the game is set.

We will be playing two games:

Fall: Patriots, Loyalists, and Revolution in New York City, 1775–76

Spring: Greenwich Village, 1913: Suffrage, Labor, and the New Woman

Attendance/Classroom Etiquette:

Attendance is required and will be reflected in the final grade. All students are expected to be on time to class and to remain in class for the duration of the session. Your presence at every session is crucial to the success of the game. For every unexcused absence the final grade will be lowered 1/3 of a letter. Work not submitted on time will lose points. Unexcused late arrivals and early departures will be counted as absences.

The use of laptops, cellular phones, iPhones, or any other devices for voice or text communication is prohibited.

Course Requirements:

Generally, be prepared for each class session by having completed all assigned readings, and participate fully in every session. You should also regularly monitor Blackboard for assignments, announcements, discussion, etc. 

All assigned written work must be submitted to turnitin.com. You are advised to carefully proofread all papers before submitting them. (Students with deficient writing skills should consult the university’s free tutoring services: On-Campus Learning Center: PC 247; Online Learning Center: w3.fiu.edu. All students must adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy of The Honors College and Florida International University.)

Required Reading:

The Course Packet is to be purchased at FIU’s Copy Center. (Additional readings may be assigned during the course of the semester at the discretion of the gamemasters.)

Grading:

Grades will be assigned according to the following scheme:

Reacting Game: 25 points

Paper 1: 25 points

Paper 2: 25 points

Quizzes: 15 points

Bonus: 10 points

Class Schedule:

Please note that the class schedule is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class.

TUE 8/25 Course overview & introduction (Markowitz)

THU 8/27 Film: Lord of the Flies

FRI 8/28 Free Star Party, 8:00 pm at FIU!

TUE 9/1 Role assignments & game rules

THU 9/3 Lecture: England and the American Colonies (Garrote)

TUE 9/8 Guest Lecture: Religion in the American Colonies (Lesley A. Northup)

THU 9/10 Discussion: Visit to New York City, Spring 2010, Quiz 1, on Gamebook, p. 1-60

TUE 9/15 Guest Lecture: Women and Slavery in the American Colonies (Alexandra Diallo)

THU 9/17 Lecture: Locke and the Enlightenment (Garrote), Quiz 2 on Locke (Appendices A,B, p. 61-93)

TUE 9/22 Film: John Adams: Join or Die

THU 9/24 Film: John Adams: Independence, Quiz 3 on remaining readings (Appendix C, p. 94-end)

TUE 9/29 Session 1 (Election of Chair)

THU 10/1 Session 1

Honors Colloquium

(DM 100 – 3:30-4:45 p.m.)

TUE 10/6 Session 2

THU 10/8 Session 2

TUE 10/13 Session 3

THU 10/15 Session 3

HONORS CONVOCATION — ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY

(Parade begins at 1:00 p.m.)

TUE 10/20 Session 4

THU 10/22 Session 4

TUE 10/27 Session 5

THU 10/29 Session 5

Honors Excellence Lecture

(GC 243 – 3:30-5:00 ♦ Speaker: Garth Graham)

TUE 11/3 Session 6

THU 11/5 Session 6

TUE 11/10 Session 7

THU 11/12 Session 7

TUE 11/17 Session 8

THU 11/19 Session 8

Honors Colloquium

(DM 100 – 3:30-4:45 p.m.)

TUE 11/24 TBA

THU 11/26 THANKSGIVING DAY – UNIVERSITY CLOSED

TUE 12/1 Session 9

THU 12/3 Session 9

TUE 12/8 FINALS WEEK – NO CLASS