STEV 80C: SELF & SOCIETY [UCSC 2004]

STEV 80C: SELF & SOCIETY (section 1)                                                     SPRING ‘04

Instructor: Daniel Vukovich

Tues./Thurs.: 10-11:45 in classroom Stev 221

Office: 107 Stevenson (in the back/underneath the Stevenson Library bldg.)

Hours: Tues., Thurs. 12-, and by appointment

Phone: 459-2441, email: dfvukov@ucsc.edu

Course Description:         

This course will provide you with instruction, guidance, and practice in academic or scholarly ways of reading and writing, and in critical thinking.  You will be asked to read B and to re-read B a series of assigned texts, and to write B and re-write B in response to what you have read.  You will be reading some important texts within world history, and more specifically within the modern era, and towards the end of your general education or global cultural literacy.  As befits a Stevenson Core course, we will inquire into the relationships or interactions between “self” and “society” --- how society influences or even produces selves -- that these texts so powerfully explore.  But additionally, or within this, we will also explore the following themes or topics: individuality (what does it mean to be an individual or “subject”), history (as a determining force or influence); social power; and human nature. 

In your own essays, you will be asked to engage and respond to these texts, to place yourself in dialogue or conversation with them — to use them as sources, important “statements” or arguments, and as spring-boards for your own thinking and writing.  Specific assignments will be handed out as we go along.  I will provide a basic framework for your essays, and will suggest some general topics, but you will also have the opportunity to generate your own topics or foci. 

REQUIRED TEXTS: 

All texts available at Baytree Bookstore, unless otherwise noted.  Additionally, some other texts may eventually be placed on Library Reserve or Web CT (details t.b.a.).

Various Authors. Self and Society: Stevenson CORE READER. 

Ernst Fischer,  How to Read Karl Marx. 

Sigmund Freud,  Civilization and its Discontents.

Frederich Nietzsche,  The Genealogy of Morals.

Chinua Achebe,  Things Fall Apart.

Arundhati Roy,  The God of Small Things.

Malcolm X,  The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Primo Levi   Survival in Auschwitz.

A College-level (unabridged) Dictionary (I have not ordered these, as there are several available at Baytree, etc.).

A sturdy folder with pockets, for collecting and turning-in drafts and assignments. This will help organize your work and keep it from being lost.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

3 final essays, including rough drafts for each.  Together, these essays will compose 80% of your final grade.  These will be two shorter essays (approx 5 pages each), and one longer one (10-12 pp.)

Homework Assignments: You will be asked to complete several (3-4) written responses to the course readings, or to your own and others= drafts.  Some will be done in class, most outside.  These must be completed on time, and turned in when asked.  You have to complete all of these assignments to pass the course.  Together, these will make up 10% of your final grade.

Participation: 10% of your final grade.  This includes coming to class prepared, ready to engage the texts, and being attentive—no sleeping, putting your head down, etc.  You are not expected to have “mastered” the texts by class discussion time; asking basic questions, pointing to confusing passages, and giving your “gut” reactions are all useful forms of discussion and participation. 

You must complete ALL assignments to pass the course, even if you are otherwise pulling an “A”, etc.

Specific details/requirements/due-dates of the assignments t.b.a in class.  You will be doing some writing each week, either an essay, and/or a written homework/response.

ATTENDANCE:

I believe you can learn something in college classes, and I expect you to attend all of ours.  The discussions, close-readings, and draft-workshops we do in class cannot be made up, and B as former students tell me B these activities are crucial for producing good essays and good grades.  You will be allowed to miss two (2) classes; after that,  and on your next absence, your final grade will be docked by 2/3 of a letter (for example, from a B to a C+),  as it will be again for every additional absence.  Unless you secure a note from your College, any absence counts as such (e.g. if you’re sick get a note form the Health Center, etc).

Moreover, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed in class Cnew assignments, changed dates, etc.  You will NOT be allowed to Amake up@ missed assignments,  just as it is impossible to make up missed discussions.  In short, I will not accept late work. If you miss class, you are required to find out what, if anything, is due the following class.  Do this by contacting me (via email or otherwise) or someone else from the class, as soon as possible.

If, however, you need an extension on a paper or homework assignment, you must request this at least one class in advance.  I do grant extensions, but this requires scheduling a new, specific due date in advance. 

Finally, let me note that if your work seems thoughtless or quickly done, I will notice.  I have taught writing and have assigned and evaluated essays for several years, and I can tell when writers are really trying, and when they are fooling around.  I will tell you if I think you are fooling around and wasting all of our time.

I will occasionally reproduce your papers (with names removed) and use them for class discussion, or otherwise ask you to circulate or share your work.  If this presents a problem for you, let me know in advance.

SCHEDULE:         

You should read the required texts by the first class  of each week, unless otherwise instructed by me in advance.  Read the entire text, again unless otherwise instructed.  We will often carry over discussion from a previous week, but you should still follow the schedule. If I suspect folks aren’t keeping up with the schedule, I will assign some “pop” quizzes in class.  Bring your books for that week to class (including the heavy Reader).

      **Note that the schedule and due-dates above may change, as announced in class.  If you miss a class for any reason, it is your responsibility to find out what is due, when.   Contact me (email dfvukov@ucsc.edu is best, after my office hours) or someone from the class, or both.