MTU UN 1002 WORLD CULTURES Syllabus 2006

Heidi Steudle	Kate Graves
Acad. Off. Bldg. 202	Acad. Off. Bldg. 202
487-1843 hesteudl@mtu.edu	487-1843 klgraves@mtu.edu

World Cultures Study Team Leaders (tentative)

Erin Brandt Susie LaCasse André Lewis

Emily Ongstad Pavi Elle Poole Maribeth Powers

Description: This course is a survey of different cultures of the major regions of the world. It considers how cultures work and make sense, how cultures reflect adaptation through time, and how culture is expressed in the arts and literature. The course emphasizes the interrelationships of culture with environment, resources, and social systems. Lectures emphasize the nature of the world today, with appropriate references to historical events and trends. World Cultures is the second of the four core courses at Michigan Tech.

This section is similar to other UN1002 sections, but all sections are not identical. I will approach the subject matter from the vantage point of a geographer and will emphasize geographical patterns of human phenomena in the world. Like the other sections of the course, this section will require extensive critical reading and analysis.

Goals of the Course

• Develop an appreciation of the major features of the world’s cultures

• Understand how different societies are organized and structured

• Gain insight into the nature of contemporary world problems

• Experience and understand the various forms of expression used by different cultures

• Develop an understanding of why cultural differences exist and how the world came to be as it is

PRS Registration

You will need to register your PRS transmitter in order for your responses to in-class quizzes to be properly recorded. Information on registration should be found with your PRS unit. PRS quizzes will begin Monday, January 16.

Web Site Registration

You will need to register at the CourseCompass website in order to access information on the course and monitor your progress during the semester. Go to www.coursecompass.com to register. The course ID is "baltensperger71979." Your student access code comes with your textbook. Your login name is your email address or your MTU ID. Choose a password. If you are using a used textbook, you will have to purchase CourseCompass access—go to www.coursecompass.com and click on the Register button, then on Purchase Online Access. You will need the course ID and a credit card.

The web site is where I will post exam grades and where, with any luck, you can view your personal gradebook. It also includes a copy of this syllabus, the course schedule, and study questions.

Scheduling

Please note:

• dates of the exams and place them on your schedule • dates when problem sets will be due

• dates of activities that take place outside of the regular class period.

Country Teams

Each student in this section of World Cultures will be a member of a 4-person team, which is identified by one of 56 countries. Each country team will have a pendaflex file in which to hand in assignments and problem sets.

Study Groups

You are strongly encouraged to join a World Cultures Study Group. To do this, contact the Writing Center in Walker 107 or call them at 487-2007. Let them know that you are in Section A of UN1002. The Writing Center web site is: www.hu.mtu.edu/wc/

Web Site

For general information on the course, the web site for World Cultures is www.worldcultures.mtu.edu. From there, you can access this section. Here you will find the complete schedule, the full syllabus, and FAQs.

Email

I have set up a list-serve for the class: wcbrad-l. I will use the list to distribute announcements, reminders and other information about the course. The list-serve uses your MTU email address. Please check it regularly, particularly if you usually use a hotmail or other address. If you cannot bring yourself to open your MTU email and would like to use a different personal email address, send me an email and I will add that address to the list. Feel free to contact me or the TAs at any time by direct email.

Lectures:

Lectures in this course are designed to complement material in the text. Each section of the course will be introduced with a lecture on a current issue within a world region. Subsequent lectures on the same region will deal with specific aspects of that region and with comparisons to other world regions on particular topics. During lecture you should take extensive notes to assist in understanding and recalling important information. I will not engage in pure lecture, but prefer to involve the class in extended discussions, informal surveys, and even arguments, so be prepared and feel free to get involved. Much material will be displayed on the overhead or on slides. Don’t count on me to write down “all the important stuff.”

Problem Sets:

There are three required problem sets, which will be distributed by email or on the class website. These problem sets utilize data in the text to explore more specialized topics and to highlight material that cannot be adequately covered in class. They also provide a means of improving grades when done thoughtfully. They will require some thought, a modest amount of writing (not a few jotted notes), and some care in their completion. I will hand out assignments one week before they are due. Assignments will be returned no more than one week after they are handed in. Assignments must be received on the due date shown in the schedule. Problem sets that are submitted late will not be accepted.

Readings:

Complete all class readings in a timely manner. Readings for the course are drawn from the text, from the “Narratives,” and from the Study Guide. I will occasionally distribute other short items during the term, including notes on films not covered in the Study Guide.

Activities:

This course includes 13 activities, which are integral to the course. Ten of these are films, which are shown in class. Three are live performance activities which take place in the Rozsa Center for Performing Arts. You are required to attend all ten films and three performance events; questions on the events will be included on exams. The cost of the performances and films is covered by your lab fee.

You will receive three tickets to Rozsa Center performances:

Ticket 1: You will receive one ticket to “Sarakasi: The Amazing African Acrobats.” Choose one of the two performances (3/18-3:00 PM or 7:30 PM).

Ticket 2: You will receive one ticket to Festival in the Desert. Choose one of two performances (4/9-3:00 PM or 7:30 PM).

Ticket 3: You will receive one ticket to an additional Rozsa Center performance. Choose from:

Alan Parsons Live Project 2/10 7:30 PM

2/11 8:30 PM

The Three Musketeers 2/24 7:30 PM

Shakespeare's Henry V 3/22-25 7:30 PM

3/26 3:00 PM

Yellowjackets 3/31 7:30 PM

Brahms' German Requiem 4/15 7:30 PM

To order your tickets you must go to the Rozsa center website: www.aux.mtu.edu/tickets/. On the left hand side of the tickets page, near the bottom, is the button for World Cultures. You can select which of the two performances of Sarakasi and Festival in the Desert you prefer, and you can specify which of the optional performances you prefer. You can also indicate other individuals you would like to sit with. Submit the form online beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Ticketing is "first come, first served," and tickets to the optional performances are limited, so if you order early you will have better seats and will be more likely to get a ticket to a performance you prefer. Tickets will be ready for pickup on February 1. Do NOT pick up your tickets the night of the performance – you will end up in a long line!

Because we will discuss some of the material in the films and performances in the next class period, you should plan to write out some notes and reflections on the films and performances after the shows.

Assignments:

There are assignments associated with each of the 13 activities. Each assignment must be handed in on the date specified. In some cases this will be at the conclusion of the class period when a film is shown. Assignments which are submitted late will not be accepted.

I will drop your three lowest activities scores. However, you MUST complete an assignment for three live performance events and for “Before the Rain.” Scores for those assignments will NOT be dropped.

Exams:

There are two midterm exams and a cumulative final exam. Makeup exams may be given in case of SERIOUS extenuating circumstances. This is only possible if you receive permission from the instructor or one of the TAs IN ADVANCE of the exam. The exams will draw upon assigned readings; films and performances; material presented, distributed or discussed in class; and material on the problem sets. Each exam will consist of multiple choice questions designed to measure your understanding of the key concepts of the course. Relatively few questions will emphasize factual recall, although there will be map questions on each exam which will require that you be familiar with the locations of places and peoples discussed in lectures, readings, films, & problem sets.

PRS Quiz Questions:

In each class there will be several quiz questions which emphasize assigned readings and understanding of concepts presented in the lecture. Each question is worth one point Quiz questions can NOT be made up. You will be "held harmless" for quiz questions missed due to up to 3 absences.

Grading:

EXAM 1 50 pts

EXAM 2 50 pts

FINAL EXAM 50 pts

PROBLEM SETS 10 pts each 30 pts

ASSIGNMENTS 5 pts each 50 pts

PRS QUIZ QUESTIONS 70 pts

TOTAL 300 pts

A 273+ points (91%) C 213-230 (71%)

AB 261-272 (87%) CD 201-212 (67%)

B 243-260 (81%) D 180-200 (60%)

BC 231-242 (77%) F <180

Doing Well in the Course:

Attendance – In previous years, students who rarely missed class received grades that were about .7 higher than those who missed more than 6 lectures.

Preparation for class – There will be a quiz question on the reading in virtually every class. Keeping up on the reading will also minimize your need to cram in material right before the exam. In previous years, students who did most of the reading had a grade point .5 above those who read less than half of the course material.

Punctuality – Please be on time. Tardiness disrupts your colleagues. If it is essential that you leave class early, please let me know in advance.

Attentiveness – Please stay awake – the advantages are obvious

Do not hold independent discussions – this makes it difficult for other students to follow the lecture and discussion

Turn off cell phones and other electronic devices – they are terminally annoying

Laptops may be used for taking notes

Taking notes – Taking notes during lecture helps you to remember the important concepts presented in class, and identify the key examples that illustrate those concepts. Reviewing your notes at least weekly takes only a few minutes, but it helps cement important ideas in your mind.

Spend some time – Success in college is correlated with the amount of time one spends on coursework outside of class. The standard rule of thumb is 2 hours out of class for each hour in class. That works out to 6-7 hours per week our of class. Use that time to complete assignments, to read and study the text and Narratives, and to study class notes. Spend time looking over maps and other graphic materials in the text. And spend some time thinking about topics and their implications.

Collaborate – Join a study team. Students who do get better grades. Study together for exams. Compare your answers to problem sets. Working together does not mean dividing up the tasks and sharing answers. While you are encouraged to collaborate on the problem sets, the answers must be your own, not simply copies of someone else’s answers

Plagiarism: All material turned in must be your own. This means that you are expected to work individually on assignments, exams, and quiz questions. Your PRS transmitter is yours alone. If it is used by someone else, both of you will be subject to disciplinary action. No collaboration on quiz questions is allowed unless specifically authorized.

Performances

Sarakasi: The Amazing African Acrobats

Sarakasi is the Kiswahili word for circus. This troupe brings together acrobats, jugglers, clowns, contortionists, and balancing acts from all over Africa

Sat., Mar. 18 • 3:00 pm • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

www.gmartists.com/sarakasi.htm

Festival in the Desert. Featuring Tinariwen and Ramatou Diakite with Markus James

Tinariwen is a group of Tuareg from northern Mali. Their traditional music reflects nomadic life, but is also influenced by western styles. Ramatou Diakite is from southern Mali, where pop music has been influenced by the blues. She has edged toward hip-hop. Markus James travels throughout Mali, recording traditional and contemporary music, which he performs with Malian musicians in the US and elsewhere

Sun., Apr. 9 • 3:00 pm • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

www.eyefortalent.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/artist.detail/artist_id/59/ /61/ /94/

Optional Performances

SELECT ONE

Alan Parsons Live Project

Alan Parson’s earliest work was as a recording engineer on such albums as “Abbey Road” and “Dark Side of the Moon.” He has recorded numerous albums and received a number of Grammy nominations. His recent work is more contemporary and electronic. He appear swith the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, as well as highly acclaimed singer/songwriter, Houghton native P. J. Olsson (http://247pj.com/main.html).

http://www.alanparsonsmusic.com/

Fri., Feb. 10 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

Sat., Feb. 11 • 8:30 pm • Rozsa Center

The Acting Company presents The Three Musketeers

The country’s top touring theater company brings Alexander Dumas thrilling adventure to the Rozsa stage. Young D’Artagnan and his musketeers defend the waning era of chivalry with daring swordplay and romance, as they rescue the kidnapped heroine, and preserve the honor of the queen.

Fri., Feb. 24 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

http://www.theactingcompany.org/

Shakespeare's Henry V

Henry V celebrates the English victory over the French at Agincourt during the Hundred years’ War. It opens with newly crowned Henry considering war on France, urged on by leading nobles and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Wed., March 22 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

Thu., March 23 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

Fri., March 24 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

Sat., March 25 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

Sun., March 26 • 3:00 pm • Rozsa Center

Yellowjackets

One of the top-selling jazz groups in the US, with 15 albums to their credit. These jazz legends have won two grammy awards.

Fri., March 31 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

www.yellowjackets.com

Brahms' German Requiem – Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Tech Concert Choir

The German Requiem, first performed in Vienna in 1867, established Brahms as a widely recognized force in the musical life of Vienna. Today, its noble tone and theme make it one of the most popular works for chorus and orchestra. Not a true mass for the dead, it conveys sentiments of love, mortality, and hope through elevating and dramatic music.

Sat., Apr. 15 • 7:30 pm • Rozsa Center

UN 1002

Dr. Brad Baltensperger

Acad. Off. Bldg. 204 487-2460

Office Hours: MWF 8-9 (and most other times)

Graduate Teaching Assistants

World Cultures Study Team Leaders (tentative)

COMPONENTS OF THE COURSE