HU Art and Humanities Twentieth Century and Beyond John Ragan, Instructor

First Seminar – Introductions and Course Information Your instructor – John Ragan Your instructor – John Ragan Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and government Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and government Prior work experience: Prior work experience: Online and traditional classroom teaching Online and traditional classroom teaching Federal Reserve Bank Federal Reserve Bank City and County of Denver City and County of Denver University of Denver University of Denver

Contacting me I’m available beyond the basic hours that are listed in the syllabus. I’m available beyond the basic hours that are listed in the syllabus. With all of my online teaching, I’m online very frequently, so you can me at anytime and I will respond quickly. With all of my online teaching, I’m online very frequently, so you can me at anytime and I will respond quickly.

Introductions: How about you? Tell us whatever you are comfortable sharing: Tell us whatever you are comfortable sharing: Where you’re located Where you’re located Your degree program Your degree program How long you have How long you have been taking online been taking online courses courses

Success in this course?  Everyone wants to pass and receive the highest grade possible, but aside from the issue of grades, how would you define success in this course for you?

What are the Humanities? What the Humanities are NOT: Science, math, engineering, business, etc Humanities are the disciplines which pertain to human expression (art, literature, music, film, etc)

What our course will cover  This course explores the impact of human expression on cultures from the beginning of the 20th century to present. Students study examples of human expression and learn how the human has potential to shape history.  The study of the manmade arts such as art, literacy, music that convey the cultural aspects of humanity.

A “sampler tray”  Our course is like a sampler tray in the Humanities…

 What skills could you learn from the Humanities that would make you a more effective critical thinker?

Course materials and assignments Textbook –Title: The Art of Being Human: The Humanities as a Technique for Living Textbook –Title: The Art of Being Human: The Humanities as a Technique for Living Author: Richard Janero and Thelma Altshuler Author: Richard Janero and Thelma Altshuler ISBN: Custom ISBN: Custom Publisher: Pearson Longman Publisher: Pearson Longman Readings Readings Discussions Discussions Seminars – the seminars are not graded Seminars – the seminars are not graded Writing Assignments Writing Assignments Final project Final project

Each unit begins on a Wednesday and ends the following Tuesday. Grading for each unit’s work is posted no later than the Sunday following the end of the unit. Grading for each unit’s work is posted no later than the Sunday following the end of the unit.

No exams or tests

Readings In each unit, there are specific reading assignments, shown on the left side of your screen in the “Reading” link In each unit, there are specific reading assignments, shown on the left side of your screen in the “Reading” link Be sure to thoroughly read Be sure to thoroughly read the reading assignments in the reading assignments in order to be successful in the order to be successful in the other tasks for that unit other tasks for that unit

Discussions The discussions The discussions are your opportunity are your opportunity to demonstrate to demonstrate that you have that you have thoroughly thoroughly read the reading read the reading and study materials and study materials for that unit… for that unit…

Discussion participation Please participate in the flow of the discussions during the course of the week, instead of making all of your discussion posts on one day. Please participate in the flow of the discussions during the course of the week, instead of making all of your discussion posts on one day.

When making discussion posts Avoid brief, general responses to others, such as: Avoid brief, general responses to others, such as: “Nice post, Mary, I really agree with what you said” or similar brief statements. “Nice post, Mary, I really agree with what you said” or similar brief statements. Instead, make detailed, substantive posts which continue the discussion of the topic, and which incorporate information, concepts, ideas, etc, from our readings (although not by just cutting and pasting comments) Instead, make detailed, substantive posts which continue the discussion of the topic, and which incorporate information, concepts, ideas, etc, from our readings (although not by just cutting and pasting comments)

Examples of good responses Good, detailed responses: Good, detailed responses: “To follow up on that point, Bob, I noticed in our readings that studies have shown a strong public opinion on that issue, with a majority of people opposing that policy”. “To follow up on that point, Bob, I noticed in our readings that studies have shown a strong public opinion on that issue, with a majority of people opposing that policy”. “I am surprised by how similar the ideas underlying the French Revolution and the American Revolution were, including the idea of natural rights.” “I am surprised by how similar the ideas underlying the French Revolution and the American Revolution were, including the idea of natural rights.” Too brief and/or general: Too brief and/or general: “Loved what you said, Mary. You did a great job.” “Loved what you said, Mary. You did a great job.” “I can’t believe how much I didn’t know about this subject.” “I can’t believe how much I didn’t know about this subject.” “I agree with what you said, Judy. I think the same thing” “I agree with what you said, Judy. I think the same thing” “Wars have really cost many lives through the years.” “Wars have really cost many lives through the years.”

Discussion Boards, Cont’d Before submitting a post, here is something you can ask yourself: Before submitting a post, here is something you can ask yourself: “Does my post reflect the material from our readings and studies, or could it have been written by anyone who is not even taking this course?” “Does my post reflect the material from our readings and studies, or could it have been written by anyone who is not even taking this course?”

Seminars… In each unit of our course we will have an online seminar In the seminars, we will discuss specific topics discuss specific topics from the reading and from the reading and seminar assignments seminar assignments for that unit for that unit

Seminar Option 2 If you are unable to attend a “live” seminar, you can do seminar option 2 for that unit. If you are unable to attend a “live” seminar, you can do seminar option 2 for that unit. Be SURE to review the archive and powerpoint of the “live” seminar you missed, because there will be information you need in order to be successful in your assignments. Be SURE to review the archive and powerpoint of the “live” seminar you missed, because there will be information you need in order to be successful in your assignments. Seminar Powerpoints will be posted in the “Doc Sharing” link Seminar Powerpoints will be posted in the “Doc Sharing” link

Writing assignments in the course… In our writing assignments, please be sure to use APA format (a cover page, internal citations within the body of your paper, and a separate page of references at the end).

Use the sample student essay! I have placed a sample student essay in the “Doc Sharing” link. You can use the sample essay as a general guide to successful paper format.

Internal (In-Text) Citations Should be used for direct quotations from published sources AND for giving credit for ideas, concepts, data, etc. Should be used for direct quotations from published sources AND for giving credit for ideas, concepts, data, etc. Example of each type of internal citation usage: Example of each type of internal citation usage: It has been said that the Treaty of Versailles “directly caused World War II to happen, and could have been written in a more effective way” (Smith, 2006, p. 109) It has been said that the Treaty of Versailles “directly caused World War II to happen, and could have been written in a more effective way” (Smith, 2006, p. 109) The nation’s middle class is paying too much in taxes (Jones, 2008) The nation’s middle class is paying too much in taxes (Jones, 2008)

Writing style Clear, complete sentences and statements Clear, complete sentences and statements Before submitting a paper, Before submitting a paper, read it one more time just to read it one more time just to check for clear, complete check for clear, complete sentences and statements sentences and statements (read it out loud) (read it out loud) Use sample student essay in Doc Sharing Use sample student essay in Doc Sharing

Opening and closing statements Provide a clear, specific opening statement which tells the reader exactly what you will cover in the paper (“This paper will examine the….”) Provide a clear, specific opening statement which tells the reader exactly what you will cover in the paper (“This paper will examine the….”) Use a closing statement which summarizes what you discussed in the paper. Use a closing statement which summarizes what you discussed in the paper.

The KU Writing Center For assistance with writing skills, please use the Kaplan University Writing Center, which even includes live tutors and a writing review service. For assistance with writing skills, please use the Kaplan University Writing Center, which even includes live tutors and a writing review service. Under “My Studies” on the main Kaplan University screen when you first login. Under “My Studies” on the main Kaplan University screen when you first login.

No Wikipedia Please do not use Wikipedia as a source that you refer to in your work. Please do not use Wikipedia as a source that you refer to in your work. Wikipedia is not a solid Wikipedia is not a solid academic source of academic source of information for college information for college level work. level work.

Avoid plagiarism!  Plagiarism brings serious results: zero in the assignment, or zero for the entire course, or even expulsion.  Basic rule: read your research sources, then set them aside and write in your own words, using occasional citations from your research sources to support your points.  If you are using more than three or four words in a row directly from a published source, put that statement in quotation marks and put an internal citation at the end of the statement.

Plagiarism can be detected easily Remember that plagiarism is very easy to detect in our modern online world. Remember that plagiarism is very easy to detect in our modern online world.

Grading Rubrics A grading rubric is provided for each assignment, and can be found in our syllabus. The rubric explains The rubric explains important elements important elements that your work should that your work should include, and how those include, and how those elements are graded. elements are graded.

Speaking of the syllabus Many questions are answered in the syllabus, so please review it thoroughly. Many questions are answered in the syllabus, so please review it thoroughly.

Looking ahead to Unit 2 Art, and architecture Art, and architecture

Questions?