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HUM 1020 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

HUM 1020 - Modern Humanities (formerly Introduction to Humanities II)

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course provides a historical approach to pivotal ideas, systems of thought, and creations of the Western world (e.g., music, drama, painting, sculpture, architecture and literature) as a reflection of the culture that produced them.  HUM 1020 examines 1600 through the present.

Course Outcomes:

The goal of the Humanities and/or Fine Arts requirement is to enhance the understanding of students who, as citizens and educated members of their communities, need to know and appreciate their own human cultural heritage and its development in a historical and global context. Also, through study of Humanities and/or Fine Arts, students will develop an understanding, which they otherwise would not have, of the present as informed by the past.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Analyze significant primary texts and works of art, ancient, pre-modern, and modern, as forms of cultural and creative expression.
  • Explain the ways in which humanistic and/or artistic expression throughout the ages expresses the culture and values of its time and place.
  • Explore global/cultural diversity.
  • Frame a comparative context through which they can critically assess the ideas, forces, and values that have created the modern world.
  • Recognize the ways in which both change and continuity have affected human history.
  • Practice the critical and analytical methodologies of the Humanities and/or Fine Arts.
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

None

Course Topics:
  • Module 1: The Counter-Reformation and the Baroque
  • Module 2: Reason and Enlightenment
  • Module 3: Revolution, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism
  • Module 4: Realism and Industrialization
  • Module 5: Modernism between the World Wars
  • Module 6: Globalism and Postmodernism
Specific Course Requirements:

This course does not require a textbook. You will find all of the course information you need inside our online course content pages. See the course content module lessons for details and instructions.

MISSION CRITICAL: read and watch all of the lessons and do their activities in the order in which they appear.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

None

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:
  • Students must secure a proctor for both the midterm and final exams by the third week of the class.
  • Directions for securing a proctor can be found here
  • A list of proctors and testing centers is at: https://www.tnecampus.info/tbr-test-sites
Grading Procedures:
  • Grades will be based on students' satisfactory completion of the required assessments (see below).
  • Assessments have been designed to assess students' comprehension and understanding of topic material as well as their ability to apply principles studied to their experiences in modern-day life. These assessments will allow students to express their mastery of the competencies and objectives listed above.
  • Students will be tested on their objective, factual knowledge of key terms, events, and concepts as well as on their ability to apply that knowledge in reflective, analytical, and argumentative writing assessments.
  • Students are encouraged (but not required) to use the tutorial service Smarthinking for any writing assessment. A link to Smarthinking services can be found on the course Home Page.
  • When students submit work to the Assignments tool, their work will automatically be evaluated for originality using the software Turnitin Feedback Studio. Students may check their Turnitin Feedback Studio results before the due date to make needed adjustments to their work and resubmit to the Assignments tool.
Grading Scale:

Letter grades for this course will be assigned based on the following scale. 

A

90-100%
B80-89%
C70-79%
D65-69%
F<65%

Graded Items

This class uses a weighted grade scheme. Thus, while each assessment may receive a possible total of 100 points, those points count at different weights, depending on the item. 

DescriptionPoints
35 self-assessments @ 100 points each (submit through Quizzes tool)3,500 points (weighted as 20% of final grade)
6 Discussions @ 100 points each (submit through Discussions tool)600 points (weighted as 20% of final grade)
6 Module Tests @ 100 points each (submit through Quizzes area)600 points (weighted as 20% of final grade)
3 Projects @ 100 points each (submit through Assignments area)300 points (weighted as 20% of final grade)
2 Essay Exams @ 100 points each (submit through Assignments area)200 points (weighted as 20% of final grade)
Total5,200 points (100% - points weighted as indicated above)

Assessments:

You will have five types of assessments in this class, each of which will be explained in detail below. The five types of assessments are

  1. Module Self-Assessment, 1 per lesson in each module, the number of lessons per module varies, total of 6 modules, together worth 20% of final grade
  2. Module Discussions, 1 per module, total of 6, together worth 20% of final grade
  3. Module Tests, 1 per module, total of 6, together worth 20% of final grade
  4. Projects, 3, together worth 20% of final grade
  5. Midterm Essay Exam and Final Essay Exam, together worth 20% of final grade

Self-Assessment Quizzes (linked in Content and also available under Quizzes link)

Each lesson in the modules ends in a self-assessment quiz. These quizzes are based on what you read or saw in the lesson and will be purely objective in nature (multiple choice, matching, true/false, multiple select). You may take the quizzes as many times as you need to in order to earn 100%. 

Discussions (linked in Content and also available under Discussions link)

Each module will have a discussion assignment. These discussions will be based on larger concepts and ideas that you have gathered from the lessons in the module. After you have made Post 1, then you will be expected to join in the group discussion by offering new ideas and constructive criticism in Post 2 and Post 3, which will be replies to your fellow students. These discussions will be submitted through the Discussions tool.

Tests (linked in Content and also available under Quizzes link)

Each module ends with a 40-minute, timed test. You will have only one attempt, and the test will shut down when the time is up. The module tests will ask 50 objective questions (multiple choice, matching, true/false, multiple select) about the topics covered in the lessons. The questions in the tests will be pulled randomly from the Self-Assessment Quiz question bank. If you have worked carefully through the modules doing all activities, then you should be well-prepared for the tests. These tests will be submitted through the Quizzes tool. These tests are NOT proctored.

Projects (linked in Content and also available under Assignments link)

You will do three projects this semester. For Project 1, you will analyze a work of art using art analysis characteristics and terminology. For Project 2, you will analyze an expert in your current or future career field to explain what they have in common with the masters of classical art. In other words, you will defend the "artistry" of someone from your own current or future profession. For Project 3, you will write an essay synthesizing what you have learned from Projects 1 and 2, and you will extrapolate general truths about the value of the humanities to your profession. These projects will be submitted through the Evaluation/Assignments tool.

Mid-term and Final Essay Exams (linked in Content and also available under Assignments link)

During the midterm and final exam periods, you will be asked to reflect on what you have learned and apply course concepts to specific situations in the humanities. The concepts for the Midterm Essay Exam will be drawn from Modules 1-3. The concepts for the Final Essay Exam will be drawn from Modules 4-6. These exams will be submitted through the Assignments tool. These exams are NOT proctored.

Critical Thinking Skills

In the discussions, projects, and exams, you will be asked to use critical thinking skills and to apply the course concepts to a real world situation. You will need to know how to 

  • explain your issue,
  • take a position on the issue,
  • give evidence to help explain your issue and to support your position on the issue,
  • examine the context of the issue and analyze your own and others' assumptions on the issue
  • form a logical conclusion about the issue.*

*Critical thinking criteria adapted from the AAC&U's Value Rubric for Critical Thinking (opens in a new window).

Badges

In this course, you can earn badges for doing your module activities. You will need to do all the activities to figure out where they are. Try to collect them all! 

Assignments and Projects:

Bonus Assignments, 5% extra credit toward final grade

  • Self-Introduction on Discussion Board, 100 points
  • Syllabus & Plagiarism Quiz, 100 points
  • Pre-T est, 100 points
  • Post-T est, 100 points 

Discussion Assignments 1-7, 100 points each, 700 points total, 20% of final grade

Students will respond to content and to each other by posting in the Course Discussion area.

  • Discussion 1, 100 points: The Age of Encounter
  • Discussion 2, 100 points: The Counter-Reformation and the Baroque
  • Discussion 3, 100 points: Enlightenment and Rococo
  • Discussion 4, 100 points: The Age of Revolution
  • Discussion 5, 100 points: The Working Class and the Bourgeoisie
  • Discussion 6, 100 points: The Modernist World
  • Discussion 7, 100 points: Decades of Change

Reflection Essays 1-3, 100 points each, 300 points total, 20% of final grade

Students will write 3 essays (500 word minimum, typed, double-spaced, personal, no sources) out of 7 choices in which they reflect on the relationship between historical and modern-day culture; they will submit these essays to the Course Dropbox.

  • Reflection Essay 1, 100 points
  • Reflection Essay 2, 100 points
  • Reflection Essay 3, 100 points

Final Project, 100 points total, 10% of final grade

Students will write a longer essay in which they will consider the overall subject of Humanities, what they have learned from the course, and how this knowledge bears on their personal lives.

  • 1 essay of 1000 words minimum, typed, double-spaced, personal, no sources
  • 100 points or 10% of final grade
  • bring together topics of particular interest to you
  • analyze the intersection of the values of various cultures
  • identify values held in common by most cultures versus values that are not commonly held
  • apply your understanding of universally-held values to your own life
  • show how similar values are held by the cultures in which you were raised

Quizzes 1-7, 100 points each, 700 points total, 20% of final grade 

Students will take a quiz over the content of each topic module using the online quiz tool. Quizzes are self-grading. Questions are objective (multiple choice). Students unlimited attempts to make 100% on each quiz. Only the highest attempt will count.

  • Quiz 1, 100 points: The Age of Encounter
  • Quiz 2, 100 points: The Counter-Reformation and the Baroque
  • Quiz 3, 100 points: Enlightenment and Rococo
  • Quiz 4, 100 points: The Age of Revolution
  • Quiz 5, 100 points: The Working Class and the Bourgeoisie
  • Quiz 6, 100 points: The Modernist World 
  • Quiz 7, 100 points: Decades of Change

Mid-Term Exam, 100 points, 18% of final grade

Students will take an exam that covers the first four (4) modules of the course.

  • Module 1: The Age of Encounter
  • Module 2: The Counter-Reformation and the Baroque
  • Module 3: Enlightenment and Rococo
  • Module 4: The Age of Revolution

Objective questions will be randomly selected from the bank of quiz question. Essay questions will be based on the central competencies and learning objectives of the course and will require the student to analyze information from the content modules. 

The Midterm Exam is a PROCTORED exam. Students must secure a proctor and testing site for both the midterm and the final exams by the third week of class. 

Directions for securing a PROCTOR: http://www.tnecampus.info/steps-obtaining-proctor
List of PROCTORS and TESTING CENTERS: http://www.tnecampus.info/test-sites

NO BOOKS, NOTES, OR OTHER STUDY MATERIALS WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE EXAM. STUDENTS MAY NOT VISIT WEB SITES OTHER THAN THE COURSE TESTING SITE DURING THE EXAM. ANY INFRACTION OF THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF "0" FOR THE EXAM. 

Final Exam, 100 points, 12% of final grade 

Each student will take an exam that covers the last three (3) modules of the course. 

  • Module 5: The Working Class and the Bourgeoisie
  • Module 6: The Modernist World
  • Module 7: Decades of Change

Objective questions will be randomly selected from the bank of quiz question. Essay questions will be based on the central competencies and learning objectives of the course and will require the student to analyze information from the content modules.

The Final Exam is a PROCTORED exam. Students must secure a proctor and testing site for both the midterm and the final exams by the third week of class.

Directions for securing a PROCTOR: http://www.tnecampus.info/steps-obtaining-proctor
List of PROCTORS and TESTING CENTERS :http://www.tnecampus.info/test-sites

NO BOOKS, NOTES, OR OTHER STUDY MATERIALS WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE EXAM. STUDENTS MAY NOT VISIT WEB SITES OTHER THAN THE COURSE TESTING SITE DURING THE EXAM. ANY INFRACTION OF THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF "0" FOR THE EXAM. 

Class Participation:

As your instructor, I expect you, the student, to 

  • act professionally in all aspects of the course and treat me and your fellow students with respect
  • log into the course regularly and read each page of the course content as directed
  • complete and do your best on the self-assessment quizzes, discussions, tests, and dropbox papers
  • submit assignments on time using the correct online tools and formats as directed 
  • spend 12-15 hours a week studying the materials for this course and doing the course assignments

As a student, you should expect me, the instructor, to

  • act professionally in all aspects of the course and treat each student with respect
  • answer emails within 48 hours
  • grade assignments promptly (maximum 2 weeks)
  • give helpful feedback on written assignments
  • provide guidance on and assistance with all content material and assignments
Late Policy:

Late work is not accepted, so please give yourself plenty of buffer time before the due date in case issues arise and you need help. A good tip for online learning is to set your own personal due date for each assignment two or three days ahead of the real due date.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021