HUM 103 JA: Humanities I, Fall 2020, Session I

Instructor: Dr. Mary Wheeling

Office Location: My Zoom Virtual Office is accessible at the times and links directly below.
Although I’m not using it this semester, my in-person office is in the Arts &
Sciences Suite, #6, Fulmer Center Annex (top floor of bldg., door is directly
across from water fountain)

Office Hours: Zoom Virtual Student-Professor Office Hours

Email me at wheeling@gbc.edu to ensure availability, just in case I have a
meeting or other appointment scheduled.

To join my virtual student-professor drop-in office hours through Zoom, click

the meeting link listed next to your preferred visit time.
MW, 12:30-2:00: https://gbc.zoom.us/j/93244318015
or TTh, 2:30-4:00: https://gbc.zoom.us/j/99797808100
Hang out in the "waiting room" until I admit you to my Zoom office.

You're welcome to visit these drop-in office hours with a classmate or even in
small groups.

I will not be holding in-person student-professor office hours this fall due to
the pandemic.
Phone: 302-225-6361 (I am rarely in the office these days email is better)
E-mail: wheeling@gbc.edu (I check email at least once every 24 hours unless a
holiday or weekend)
Contact Hours: 42
Credits: 3

Textbooks:
Fiero, Gloria K. Landmarks in Humanities. 5th ed. McGraw Hill, 2021.

You will use this book BOTH semesters of HUM 103 AND 104 (or 105).
Textbook is available through GBC Online Bookstore link on left-hand side of Campus
Web homepage; also available through most other online book retailers.

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Course Description:
Humanities I: Our Cultural Heritage (HUM 103) explores the cultural and intellectual roots of
Western society through an integrated study of the humanities. As defined by the course,
humanities encompasses humankind's search for meaning and expression--the journey to
know and understand the world. Students will explore this definition on the historical,
philosophical, literary, and aesthetic levels. HUM 103 covers intellectual and artistic
movements chronologically, from prehistory through the late Middle Ages. 3 credit hours.

Prerequisite:
None.

Course Materials:
The textbook, handouts, Internet resources, and audio-visual materials presented in class.

Learning Objectives/Goals:
Upon completion of “Humanities I: Our Cultural Heritage,” students will be able to
1. Identify and explain major historical, philosophical, religious, literary, and artistic trends
of the Western tradition from prehistory through the late Middle Ages.
2. Situate foundations of present-day political, economic, social, and cultural institutions in
the period from prehistory through the late Middle Ages, particularly in the Greek and
Roman eras.
3. Identify origins and growth of the three major monotheistic, Abrahamic religions,
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Topics Covered:
1. Prehistory and Near Eastern Civilizations
2. Aegean Civilizations
3. Classical Greek Civilization
4. Hellenistic Civilization
5. Classical Rome
6. Judaism and the Rise of Christianity
7. Roman Imperial Civilization and the Triumph of Christianity
8. The Heirs to the Roman Empire: Byzantium and the West in the Early Middle Ages
9. The World of Islam
10. The High Middle Ages
11. The Late Middle Ages

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Course Format:
Fall of 2020, HUM 103 JA will meet at the officially scheduled days and times (MW 8:30–
11:00am Eastern Time), but in a live, real-time Zoom classroom rather than on campus.
Our scheduled class period is 2.5 hours, too long (in my opinion) to Zoom without taking a
break. So, I’ve divided our period into two parts of one hour each: Part 1 is 8:30-9:30, and Part
2 is 10:00-11:00, with a 25-minute break in the middle. Report back to our Zoom class by 9:55
to prevent delays. I will have every Zoom meeting open about 10 minutes early, just as I would
an actual classroom. You’re encouraged to hang out and chat with classmates before we
begin so we can start exactly on time.
You’ll find links to Parts 1 and 2 of every live Zoom classes on our Virtual Classroom page in
Campus Web. You’ll find recorded versions of them stored here as well.
Attendance is expected for Parts 1 and 2 of every class. Just as is the case in the face-to-face
version, HUM 103 is taught through a combination of lecture, discussion, and individual and
small-group learning activities, some graded. Students will complete course requirements
meant to foster fulfillment of the Learning Objectives noted above. Essential instructions and
course content will be transmitted during our class meetings, so you must come prepared with
your textbook, a way to access and save digital documents, and some way to take notes.

General Course Schedule:

Depending on our needs, we may revise the following schedule. Specific reading assignments,
documents, etc., will be found within the Coursework page of Campus Web.

Week 1
Monday, 8/24
Introduction to HUM 103 and Chapter 1: The First Civilizations
ACTIVITY #1 (5% of total grade)

Wednesday, 8/26
Chapter 1
ACTIVITY #2 (5% of total grade)

Week 2
Monday, 8/31
Chapter 2: The Greek Legacy
ACTIVITY #3 (5% of total grade)

Wednesday, 9/2
Chapter 2
ACTIVITY #4 (5% of total grade)

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Week 3
Monday, 9/7
NO CLASS MEETING – LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

Wednesday, 9/9
Chapter 3: Rome and Empire
ACTIVITY #5 (5% of total grade)

Week 4
Monday, 9/14
Chapter 4: World Religions
ACTIVITY #6 (5% of total grade)

Wednesday, 9/16
Chapter 4
ACTIVITY #7 (5% of total grade)
RECEIVE TEST #1 ASSIGNMENT (15% of total grade)

Week 5
Monday, 9/21
Chapter 5: Early Middle Ages
ACTIVITY #8 (5% of total grade)

Wednesday, 9/23
Chapter 5
ACTIVITY #9 (5% of total grade)

Week 6
Monday, 9/28
Chapter 6: High and Late Middle Ages
ACTIVITY #10 (5% of total grade)

Wednesday, 9/30
Chapter 6
ACTIVITY #11 (5% of total grade)

Week 7
Monday, 10/5
Catch-up and review
ACTIVITY #12 (5% of total grade)
Course Discussion & Reflection Activity (10% of total grade)

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 Wednesday, 10/7
MAKE-UP/SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY
TEST #2 (15% of total grade)

Course Policies
Attendance
Attendance will be taken just as in a traditional face-to-face class. If you know in advance that
you must miss classes for an unavoidable circumstance, please notify your academic advisor
and me in advance. If the absence is pre-scheduled, it is your responsibility to submit your
work/take your test BEFORE the absence.

Late Assignments and Make-Up

Missed activities (worth 5% each) or tests (worth 15% each), except in the case of dire
emergency, cannot be made up after the absence occurs, and no late activities or tests will be
accepted. However, a missing or low activity (not test) grade can be made up one time only,
“no questions asked,” by completing the make-up activity on the last day of class. Your
academic advisor will determine whether an emergency or unavoidable absence is excused, in
which case the student might receive permission to make up a test.

Course Requirements
“Activities” consist of in-class activities, fact quizzes, and short reflection papers, for ex.
Students will complete numerous graded activities, so should be prepared at every
class meeting for groupwork, discussions, quizzes, impromptu writing assignments, etc.
Activities missed due to absence or tardiness cannot be made up, due to the nature of
the activity design. Each Activity is worth 5% of the total course grade, so that all
Activities together will account for 60% of the HUM 103 course grade.
“Tests”
Students will complete two graded tests during the term to gauge their understanding of
and critical thinking about class readings, lectures, handouts, and discussion content.
Tests missed due to absence or tardiness cannot be made up except in the case of a
dire emergency. (See sections above on attendance and make-up work.) Each Test is
worth 100 points and accounts for a possible 15% of the total course grade; together
they count for 30% of the HUM 103 course grade.
“End-of-Session Discussion and Reflection”
On the next-to-last day of class, students will engage in a Discussion and Reflection
activity where they process and give feedback on their understanding of the course, the
methods through which it was taught, and the larger context of the Humanities in current
society. This discussion and writing assignment cannot be made-up or replaced and
counts for 10% of the HUM 103 course grade.

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Grading Policy
Grades will be weighted as follows:
Activities will be averaged to count as 60% of the course grade.
Tests #1 and #2 will together count as 30% of the course grade.
End-of-Session Discussion and Reflection will count 10% of the course grade.
I follow GBC’s undergraduate grading scale for issuing final letter grades. Select "Grading
System" at http://catalog.gbc.edu/content.php?catoid=11&navoid=523#grading-system to see
the scale.

Getting Extra Help

You are encouraged to email or see me during my Zoom virtual student-professor office hours
(see p. 1 of syllabus for schedule) with any questions about the course or college (or life) in
general. If you can’t make my advertised days/hours, email for an appointment at another time.
I am flexible!
If you have a physical, learning, or other disability that might hinder your access to or
performance in the class, please contact your Academic Advisor, whose office is located on
the first floor of the Fulmer Center. If you are off campus, scroll down on this page to find your
advisor's name and contact information: https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-
resources/advising-registrar/.
Students can access virtual academic tutoring and writing help through TutorMe, a service
GBC provides for its community. I will get the link for you as soon as I have the information
from the Library.

Virtual Classroom Etiquette Expectations

We have the opportunity to do some fascinating work together this session. Let’s make our
class enriching and enjoyable by
1. Using electronic devices exclusively for our class during our Zooms;
2. Arriving on time to Parts 1 and 2 of class and staying until the professor is finished;
3. Staying “muted” unless using your microphone to speak during class or group work;
4. Trying whenever possible to turn on your video camera and be a presence in our
learning community (all I ask is that if you have your camera on, wear a shirt).

Academic Integrity
All courses taught at Goldey-Beacom College are governed by the GBC Academic Honor
Code. A full description of the Honor Code and related procedures is available on the web at
Goldey-Beacom College Academic Honor Code
(http://catalog.gbc.edu/content.php?catoid=22&navoid=1425#academic-honor-code).

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Remember that ignorance of the proper use of sources is no excuse for a violation. Any
alleged academic dishonesty in this class will be addressed according to official procedures. It
is the professor’s prerogative to determine the appropriate penalty for academic offenses.
Penalties for violations of the Honor Code in my class can range from a zero on the work in
question to an F for the entire course.
All my lectures and course materials are copyrighted, including student-written or -recorded
lectures, notes, or summaries that substantially reflect my content. These materials are made
available only for personal use by students, and may not be distributed or reproduced for
commercial purposes without my express written consent. Students ARE able to share notes
or materials with a current classmate on an individual basis for personal use. Violation of my
copyright may result in course sanctions and violate the Code of Academic Integrity. Read
GBC’s policy on intellectual property here: https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-
resources/library-technology-services/copyright.html.
I require all work submitted to be produced originally for this course. Recycling old
assignments or simultaneously submitting the same work to HUM 103 and another class
defeats the purpose of our unique learning process and gives you unfair academic advantage.

College Policies & Resources

Academic Honor Code

Please familiarize yourself with the Goldey-Beacom College Academic Honor Code
(http://catalog.gbc.edu/content.php?catoid=22&navoid=1425#academic-honor-code). All
courses are governed by this policy.

Student Learning Accommodations

The Advisors in the Financial Aid/Advisement Office serve as the first point of contact for
students requesting reasonable accommodations at GBC. For more information, please visit
your Advisor whose office is located on the first floor of the Fulmer Center. Or, if you are off
campus, scroll down on this page to find your advisor's name and contact information:
https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-resources/advising-registrar/.

Mental Health and Well Being

If you find yourself struggling with your mental or physical health to the extent that it has
affected your academic performance in this class, please feel free to approach me. I try to be
flexible and accommodating.
Goldey-Beacom offers help in the form of the Health Advocate Student Assistance Program
(SAP), a confidential service that can help you manage a crisis or find the support you need to
deal with personal or psychological challenges. Keep the following services’ contact
information handy in the event that you or a peer is in need of assistance. Asking for help is a
smart, safe, and courageous thing to do.
Health Advocate Student Assistance Program (SAP) mental health support: 1-855-384-1800

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Crisis Numbers:
Mobile Crisis Intervention Services, statewide (Delaware): 1-800-652-2929
Crisis Line for LGBTQ Youth: 1-866-488-7386
Crisis TEXT Line (for Delaware): Text DE to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Domestic Violence Hotline (New Castle County, DE): 1-302-762-6110
Rape Crisis Line through ContactLifeline DE: 1-302-761-9100

Hirons Library & Learning Center

The Hirons Library and Learning Center (HLLC), located in the Jones Center, contains a
variety resources to support your research throughout your time at Goldey-Beacom College.
• Search for information to help you complete your next class assignment using our
robust discover tool (https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-resources/library-
technology-services/), which includes over half a million full-text journal articles, eBooks,
print books, and government documents. We also have individual databases
(http://gbc.libguides.com/az.php) like Mergent Online and RIA Checkpoint that support
specific majors such as accounting.
• The library will provide us with a link to virtual tutoring support this semester. I will
supply you with that link and information as soon as I get it.
• Computers, printers, and a scanner are available for you to use to complete
assignments as well. Visit the Library and Technology Services website
(https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-resources/library-technology-services/) for
details regarding computing options and hours of operation within the HLLC.

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