Tuesday & Thursday 09.25-10.40 | Location to be announced | 3 credits | Dr. Edward M. Anderson

Syllabus

Course Goals

1. to study and to discuss foundational intellectual and artistic texts of the Western tradition from the Renaissance to the twentieth century

2. to consider texts, music, and images in a broad historical narrative

3. to discuss and advance our understanding of the practice of writing in the humanities

Principal Texts, Films, and Music for the Course *

Francesco Petrarca — selected sonnets and songs [ca. 1325-1374]
Leonardo Bruni — "Panegyric to the City of Florence" [ca. 1403]
Angelo Poliziano — "The Pazzi Conspiracy" [1478]
Niccolò Machiavelli — The Prince [1513], extracts
Baldassare Castiglione, — The Courtier [1528] extracts
Michel de Montaigne — selections from the Essais [ca. 1580]
William Shakespeare — Richard III [ca. 1597]
Ovid — Metamorphoses, Book X, extract — "The story of Orpheus and Eurydice" [ca. 8 AD]
Claudio Monteverdi & Alessandro Striggio — Orpheus [1608]
René Descartes — Discourse on Method and Meditations [1637, 1641]
John Locke — A Letter Concerning Toleration [1685]
John Locke — Essay Concerning Human Understanding [1689] extracts
Alessandro Scarlatti & unknown poet — Arianna [1707]
Charles de Secondat Baron de Montesquieu — Lettres persanes [1721] extracts & L'esprit des lois [1748] extracts
Jean-Jacques Rousseau — The Social Contract [1762]
Pierre-Auguste-Caron de Beaumarchais. The marriage of Figaro [1779]
Immanuel Kant — "What is enlightenment" [1784]
Wolfgang A. Mozart & Lorenzo Da Ponte. The marriage of Figaro [1786]
Alexis de Tocqueville — Democracy in America [1835 & 1840] extracts
Jacques Offenbach & Ludovic Halévy & Hector Jonathan Crémieux — Orpheus in the Underworld [1858]
John Stuart Mill — The Subjection of Women [1869]
Primo Levi — Survival in Auschwitz [1958]

* other texts may be added during the semester

Course requirements

1. regular attendance
2. preparation of assigned reading before each class for discussion on the date indicated
3. active and thoughtful participation in class discussion — students in this section are expected to share ideas and reactions to the readings in every class meeting; there will be an occasional in-class writing assignment (not necessarily be announced in advance).
4. three papers — 5-7 pages, double-spaced, 1.25" side margins, 1" top margin, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman — to be submitted in class on the Thursdays of weeks 5, 10 & 14. These papers will be interpretive, analytical, or critical in nature. Topics for each paper will be determined nine days in advance of the due date. The papers will treat the material assigned for this course. No bibliography will be required. A page-reference for all supporting evidence from the assigned texts should be given in parentheses in the body of the paper. A dim view will be taken of late papers.

Assessment

The final course grade will be determined as follows:

1. participation in class discussion = 25 % including performance on in-class writing assignments
2. three papers (25% each) = 75 %

Rice Honor System

All assignments for this course respect the provisions of the Rice Honor System. Students are expected to affirm their commitmentment to the Rice Honor System on each assignment by writing and signing The Honor Pledge: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this [enter name of assignment]". All direct and indirect quotations from any sources, including those which appear on the syllabus, must always be properly acknowledged. If you have a question about what is permissible, do not hesitate to discuss your concern directly with your teacher.

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In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, I call your attention to the following : Any student with a documented disability and needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class, either after class or during office hours. If you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, it is important that we have a conversation. All discussions will remain strictly confidential. Students with disabilities will also need to contact Rice University Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center. For further information you might contact: Jean Ashmore, M.S. Director, Disability Support Services

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Dr. Edward M. Anderson
327 Rayzor Hall - MS 34
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Telephone: 713.348.4373
Facsimile: 713.348.5846
Email: edward.m.anderson@rice.edu