Core 8
MF 10-10:50 Shen Auditorium
Core 8E TR 10-10:50 C127
Core 8F TR 11-11:50 C127

Winter 2004

Instructor: Peter Watkins                                                                                                                                     
Office: C208                                                                                                                                                              
Office Phone: x6350                                                                                                                                                
peterw@saintjoe.edu

Introduction

Last semester in intercultural Core you contemplated the cultural traditions, religious practices, political and economic systems, and histories of the world's two most populous countries, India and China. This semester our attention will move to the Western hemisphere and Latin America. In addition to introducing you to Latin America, this course of study is also designed to continue to develop your oral and written communication skills.

The readings we will be considering this semester are varied. The texts you are required to purchase are as follows:

 The readings noted above will be supplemented by a large  number of additional syllabus readings.

If for any reason you are unable to purchase the texts for this class, please come and see me at your earliest opportunity.

In addition to the above selections I also urge you to read news magazines and watch the nightly news. I also encourage you to be a frequent visitor to CNN Interactive,The New York Times on the Web, The Washington Post, and the BBC.

A variety of additional Internet sources on Latin America can be found at a site maintained by Fr. Tim McFarland.

If you are a student with a disability, please meet with me at your earliest opportunity to discuss any accommodations you will need during class activity, examinations, and out of class assignments in order to participate fully and demonstrate your abilities.

Class Requirements

The reading and lecture schedule can be found in the Core 8 syllabus. To fulfill the collegial agreements noted in that document we will be completing a number of writing assignments and taking a number of short quizzes throughout the semester.

You will take a 15-point quiz every Thursday throughout the semester. No quiz will be administered on January 15. The final quiz will be given on Monday, May 3 @ 3:00  (Core 8E), and Tuesday, May 4 @ 10:00 (Core 8F). The quizzes will draw upon reading, lecture, and discussion material.

Three writing assignments will be completed. The research paper, due on March 4, is to be fifteen pages in length. You should have a minimum of ten sources for this paper. The role playing exercise, due on April 15, is to be five pages in length. It is to have a minimum of five sources. The film summary (see the film schedule in the Core 8 syllabus) is to be one page in length. That assignment is due two weeks after the original screening date of the film. I will discuss each of these assignments in more detail with you as the semester unfolds.

I strongly advise you to take all your papers to the Writing Clinic. The Writing Clinic is located in Core 212. I also urge you to consult The Everyday Writer as you begin the writing process. If you do not have a copy of this text, please let me know.

Papers must possess a cover page and must be stapled in the top left-hand corner. They must be typed and double-spaced. A font size no larger than 12 pt. must be used. The right and bottom margins are to be 1 inch wide. The left margin is to be 1.25 inches wide. The top margin, with the exception of the first page, must be 1 inch wide. The top margin on the first page must be 2 inches in width. Papers must be handed in during class on the date the assignment is due. You are responsible for keeping an extra copy of your paper. Failure to follow these requirements will lead to penalties being assigned.

A portion of your grade will be determined by the quality, and to a much lesser extent the frequency, of your class participation. In order to effectively participate in class discussion you must keep up with the reading assignments. I tend to enjoy lively argument and debate in my classroom. I will frequently call upon students by name to address an issue that we are considering. Please come prepared to express your views about the issues at hand.

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

Quizzes @ 15 points each......210 points
Role Playing Exercise..............100 points
Research Paper.........................300 points
Class Participation....................100 points
Film Summary...............................50 points

Total...........................................760 points

You will receive a zero if you absent yourself from quizzes. Half a letter grade (e.g. C+ to C) will be deducted every day a writing assignment is handed in late. I will discuss exceptions to these rules at our first class meeting.

Half of your class participation grade will be assigned at mid-semester.

No extra credit is available.

A=100%-94.5%, A-=94.4%-89.5%, B+=89.4%-86.5%, B=86.4%-83.5%, B-=83.4%-79.5%, C+=79.4%-76.5%, C=76.4%-73.5%, C-=73.4%-69.5%, D+=69.4%-64.5%, D=64.4%-59.5%, F=59.4% and below.

Office Hours

My office hours for this semester are 8-8:50 M-F. If you are unable to meet me during those times, please do not hesitate to contact me to make alternate arrangements. I can be contacted by e-mail. You can also contact me at x6350. My home telephone number is 866-8768. 

Attendance Policy

A discussion of the college's attendance policy can be found in the Saint Joseph's College 2003-2004 Catalog. See pp. 47-48.

While your class participation grade is largely based on the quality of your participation, see the discussion above, failure to attend class will have an adverse impact on your class participation grade. Failure to attend scheduled classes could also have an impact on your performance on quizzes given the fact that questions on these quizzes will occasionally be taken from class discussion. Attendance at class will also profit you because attention will be given during those sessions to some of the reading/lecture material assigned for each quiz.

If you are a member of an athletic team, please identify yourself during the first class session. Professor Teresa Massoels, the Faculty Athletic Representative, has prepared an information sheet for members of the faculty, which addresses questions of athletic-related absences. I will distribute this sheet to those identified as members of athletic teams. You, not your coach, are responsible for informing me of any athletic related absences.

Academic honesty

A discussion of academic honesty can be found in the Saint Joseph's College 2003-2004 Catalog. Please reference pp. 52-54. Please read it carefully.