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UNST 236E Section 001: Interpreting the Past Instructor: William B. Fischer, Ph.D., Department of World Languages & Literatures, Portland State University website • email (fischerw@pdx.edu) • office: 451-D • tel: 503 725-5285 SINQ Mentor: Aaron Gomez (email) CRNs: 44033 (main) and 44034, 44035, 44036 (workshops) Main Meeting: TR 1530-1645 CH (Cramer Hall) 203 Workshops (UNST 236F): T 1700-1750 (section 001); T 1800-1850 (section 002); R 11700-1750 (section 003); all meet in CH (Cramer Hall) 249 Final exam: Wednesday, March 21 1230-1420 Deadline for final assignments & projects: Friday, March 23, 1700, Pacific Time (paper or electronic) Subject of inquiry: The explorations, scientific research, sociological studies, and ethical thought of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) established the principle of interconnectedness – of our planet, its life forms, its natural resources, and its societies. Humboldt was probably the most famous cultural figure of Nineteenth-Century Europe, and was widely known in the United States. After a century of obscurity, he is being rediscovered and recognized – and reinterpreted! – as both a heroic explorer and a giant in many fields of endeavor: climate research, plant and animal geography, environmental studies, anthropology, linguistics, and social justice. Humboldt’s work was a major factor in not only modern sustainable environmentalism, but also how the United States developed as an ecology and a society. Counties, towns, schools, universities, geographical features, biological species and, of course the Humboldt Current, commemorate his name. Topics: Week 1: Leaving home: pictures, visions, dreams Activities: In the classroom: 2/3 lecture and discussion, 1/3 hands-on learning & group projects Outside the classroom: 1/3 reading, 1/3 writing, 1/3 hands-on learning & group projects The course meets 4 hours a week. The common principle is to study 2 hours outside class for each classroom hour. So you should budget 8 hours of study time per week, as a minimum. If the results are unsatisfactory, especially to you, be ready to add some additional study time, especially for consultation with the instructor and mentor. Grading proportions: 20% weekly writing assignments 10% Humboldt-based learning module 10% book review 10% group project 10% participation in classroom discussions and activities 20% mentor's evaluation of workshop activities 10% midterm exam 10% final exam and self-evaluation Grading is based on scoring guides with objective standards and performance descriptors, including an "on-time" factor. There is NO CURVE. There is no separate penalty for missed meetings, but no credit will be given for activities conducted during those meetings. Requests for makeups and extensions must include documentation of reasons and proposal for how and when the work will be completed. |
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