C/I: COMMUNICATION AND INQUIRY

SOUTHEAST ASIA CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD

SYLLABUS

Click here to go to reading assignments

Click here to go to writing assignments

Jacqueline M. Moore

Fall 2005

Office Hours: M & F 12-12:50; W 3-4; Tu 1-3; & by appt. 

My office is in: 121 Sherman Hall

Telephone Numbers:          Office: 813-2262            

                                             (voice mail)                    

E-mail: jmoore@austincollege.edu

 

 Required Texts

 

Southeast Asia: A Concise History,  Mary Somers Heidhues, 2000

 

The Fugitive, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, 1950; trans. Willem Samuels, 1990

 

A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6ed., Kate L. Turabian, 1996

 

 

 Plain of Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)


Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Rice Paddies in Northern Thailand


Banteay Samre, Angkor--Cambodia

Chinatown, Yangon--Myanmar


Wat Phra Sam Yod, Lopburi--Thailand

 

Course Contents

This course is an introduction to Austin College and college level coursework, set within a framework of Southeast Asian history and culture.  You will become oriented to Austin College facilities and resources available to you here, learn valuable skills to help you with your academic work at college, discuss the meaning of a liberal arts education, and explore a fascinating area of the world.  In addition, I will become your mentor for academic advising and development until either graduation or such time as you choose another faculty member to take over this role.  For the duration of this course, in addition to me, you will have the help, wisdom, and experience of three student leaders (the "C/Ls") to guide you through your first semester. 

            Among the many academic skills we will work on are critical thinking, writing skills, research skills, oral communication, study habits, note-taking, test taking, and peer collaboration.  A portion of your grade will also depend on out of class activities within the school and local communities that will help orient you to the college and to the city of Sherman.  Throughout the course, we will examine Southeast Asia through texts, fiction, films and primary sources.  We will discuss the classical and colonized pasts of the region as well as modern issues facing it such as changes in concepts of gender, environmental problems and globalization of the economy.

            I expect you to participate actively.  In addition to several 1-2 page reaction papers to out of class experiences (no out of body experiences, please), you will write a 3-5 page argument paper, a 3-5 page book analysis, a 2-4 page film analysis and a 7-10 page research paper.  You will also create a basic web page related to your research project and give a brief oral presentation. A portion of your grade will also depend on participation in peer editing sessions to be done in class.  The good news is there will be no final exam, although I may ask you to write a short, ungraded diagnostic essay during the period allotted for the final exam to assess your progress.  The only really bad news, and it's not that bad, is that this is the one course in the curriculum that you cannot drop.  Don't worry, all C/Is are requiring comparable workloads, and I will try to make the assignments easy to complete.  However, if you do not complete any major assignment I reserve the right to lower your final grade, and if you miss more than one third of the course you will automatically fail (yes, like any other course, it is possible to fail C/I). In addition, since this is college not kindergarten, I expect all students to conduct themselves in a manner that does not disrupt the class.  I reserve the right to lower the grade of any student in the course who repeatedly disrupts class because of their behavior.  

 

Grade Distribution

In Class Participation                10%

Out of Class Participation         10%

Peer Editing                              10%

Argument Paper                       15%

Book Analysis                          15%

Film Analysis                            10%

Web Page                                  5%

Oral Presentation                        5%

Research Paper                        20%

 

If you do not attend you cannot participate and therefore will not receive credit toward your grade. Participation means more than just attendance, however. If you attend every class and pay attention the whole time (without falling asleep) but never say a word, take a quiz, or do a homework assignment, you will receive a grade of C- for your participation. If you are absent more than three times this grade will drop to a D+ or lower. In general, more than three absences may affect your grade.  It is important, therefore, that you attempt to say something in class discussion, preferably something to do with the class. For that reason you might want to keep up with the reading assignments which will help you think of something to contribute. There are no dumb questions or answers, I'm not going to laugh at you if you get your facts wrong, and I will listen to every point of view with an open mind. I expect the same from all the members of the class.

 

            I assign all grades on an A-F letter basis, A being excellent, B being above average, C being average, D below average, and F being failure to complete assignment. I then weight each letter grade according to the grade distribution chart and compute the average grade for the semester. To get an A you will need to perform consistently with excellence on major assignments and tests as well as participate actively in class discussions. To get a B you will have to perform consistently above average etc. etc.

 

Late Assignments and Make-up Exams

 

            I will not accept late homework assignments without a legitimate excuse. I will accept late papers by prior arrangement but will lower the grade for each day they are late unless you have a legitimate excuse. I will gladly accept early homework or papers and would be happy to discuss them with you.  In any case, it is YOUR responsibility to contact me BEFORE the assignment is due to arrange the terms under which I will accept a late assignment.  It is neither my responsibility nor that of the C/Ls to chase you down and tell you if you have not completed assignments. That is all part of the college experience, buckos.  I have voice mail, email, and an answering machine so there's no excuse for saying you couldn't reach me.

 

Academic Integrity

 

This course will operate under Austin College Academic Integrity Policies. Academic honesty is absolutely essential. This means I will not tolerate cheating of any kind. I find it personally insulting, because it implies that you think I am so stupid that I will never catch you. WRONG. Be warned: I take immense pleasure in tracking down dishonest students. We will strictly follow the guidelines printed in the student handbook. Please read these carefully. We will also discuss academic integrity in class. If you do not understand these rules, I would be happy to discuss them with you so that you do not accidentally break them in your own work.

 

Oh yeah, and you can stop that yawning right now, sit up straight, brush your teeth and always cross the street at the crosswalk. And eat all your vegetables or no dessert. Got that?


COURSE GOALS

 

1. Students will become familiar with Austin College and the surrounding community

 

2. Students will practice writing basic analytical essays

 

3. Students will practice reading sources critically.

 

4. Students will practice oral communication skills

 

5. Students will practice peer collaboration.

 

6. Students will practice basic computer skills

 

7. Students will practice basic research skills.

 

 

EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES

 

1. Students will demonstrate familiarity with Austin College and community facilities in a series of reaction papers detailing their experiences, and by taking designated tours of specific facilities such as the library.

 

2. Students will demonstrate basic analytical writing ability in four class papers and on a diagnostic essay.

 

3. Students will demonstrate ability to evaluate sources critically through selection of sources for a research paper, class discussion of readings, and critical analysis of a novel and a film.

 

4. Students will demonstrate oral communication skills through classroom discussion and through an oral presentation.

 

5. Students will demonstrate ability to collaborate with peers in a series of peer editing class sessions and in helpfulness of written comments.

 

6. Students will demonstrate basic computer skills using word processors to complete class assignments, successfully connecting to and using their campus email accounts, and constructing a basic web page.

 

7. Students will demonstrate research skills in completion of a research assignment as well as instructional sessions on library use and evaluation of internet sources.

LECTURES AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

C/I: SOUTHEAST ASIA

*SEAsia means Southeast Asia: A Concise History; *Manual = A Manual for Writers.

*Rec'd = Recommended Reading              Assignments are due in class on the day listed.

 

DATE

ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC

Aug.

31, WED.:

No Readings

Introduction to C/I, Syllabi,  Academic Integrity, Liberal Arts

Sept.

Thursday 11-1 Campus Activities Fair

2, FRI.:

Handouts

Diagnostic essay

 

5, MON.:

SEAsia, 7-34

Southeast Asian geography

MAP QUIZ

MONDAY NIGHT:  MEET IN ABELL LIBRARY at 7pm

 

Tuesday Sept 6 = Last Day to Add A Class

 

7, WED.:

Handout

How to write a 5pt essay

 

9, FRI.:

SEAsia, 65-86

Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucanism

 

12, MON.:

Handout

Constructing a Thesis

 

MONDAY NIGHT FILM: MYSTERIOUS OBJECT AT NOON at 7pm

 

14, WED.:

SEAsia, 35-64

Classical Southeast Asia

 

16, FRI.:

ARGUMENT PAPER DRAFT DUE  

PEER EDITING: Argument Paper

 

19, MON.:

Handout

ARGUMENT PAPER DUE

How to analyze literature

MONDAY NIGHT FILM: THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY at 7pm

 

21, WED.:

SEAsia, 87-130

Spices and Imperialism

 

23, FRI.:

Start Fugitive

MEET AT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

                       

September 24-25 = Parents’ Weekend

 

26, MON.:

SEAsia, 131-38, 152-56, 168-70

Indonesia

MONDAY NIGHT: ASSEMBLY ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT place tba,

attendance mandatory

 

28, WED.:

Continue Fugitive

How to choose a research topic

 

30, FRI.:

RESEARCH TOPICS DUE 

Continue Fugitive

How to give an oral presentation

 

Oct.

3, MON.:

SEAsia, 147-49, 179-81

Cambodia and Laos

MONDAY NIGHT FILM: THE KILLING FIELDS at 7pm

 

5, WED.:

Finish Fugitive

DISCUSSION OF FUGITIVE

 

FALL BREAK BEGINS AT 5pm THURSDAY, October 7, NO CLASS FRIDAY

 

October 10-17 = Janterm Advising, sign up for mandatory appointment with me

 

10, MON.:

SEAsia,138-47, 178-79

Vietnam

MONDAY NIGHT FILM: THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA at 7pm

 

12, WED.:

Handout

Test Taking Skills

           

14, FRI.:

LITERARY ANALYSIS DRAFT DUE           

PEER EDITING: Literary Analysis

October 14-16 = Homecoming

 

17, MON.:

SEAsia, 160-62, 172-73

LITERARY ANALYSIS DUE

Thailand

MONDAY NIGHT FILM: 6IXTYNIN9 at 7pm

 

Monday October 17 = Last day to drop a class without a grade or to change the grading system

 

Tuesday October 18 = Janterm Registration in Sid Richardson Gym

 

19, WED.:

No readings

MEET AT ADAMS CENTER--Career Development

 

21, FRI.:

No readings

How to Analyze Film

 

24, MON.

Handouts

Doing Research

MONDAY NIGHT: MEET IN ABELL LIBRARY at 7pm

 

26, WED.: 

SEAsia, 150-52, 174-77

Burma/Myanmar

 

28, FRI.:

FILM ANALYSIS  DRAFT DUE

PEER EDITING: FILM ANALYSIS

 

31, MON.:

SEAsia, 149-50, 166-68

FILM ANALYSIS DUE

The Philippines

 

Nov.

2, WED.:

SEAsia,, 157-60, 171-72

Malaysia

 

4, FRI.:

TBA    

Islam in Southeast Asia

 

November 7-14 Advising for Spring Registration—Sign up for mandatory advising appointments with C/Ls and me

 

7, MON.:

SEAsia, 163-66, 182, 

RESEARCH BIBLIOGRAPHIES DUE

ASEAN And Asian Tigers

MONDAY NIGHT MEET IN ABELL LIBRARY 7pm—Web Page Design

 

9, WED.:            

TBA readings

Gender in Southeast Asia

 

11, FRI.:

TBA Readings

Environmental concerns

 

14, MON.:

For reference: Manual, 116-164, 273-75

Footnotes and Endnotes

 

November 15 at 11am = Spring Registration

 

16, WED.:

WEB PAGE DUE

Oral Presentations

 

18, FRI.:

Presentations

Oral Presentations

 

21, MON.:

No Readings

Oral Presentations

 

23, WED.:

RESEARCH PAPER DRAFT DUE

Greek or Not?

 

THANKSGIVING BREAK STARTS AFTER CLASS AT NOON WED.,  NOV. 23.

 

28, MON.:

PEER EDITING RESEARCH

PEER EDITING: Research Paper

 

30, WED.:

No readings

Oral presentations

Dec.

2, FRI.:

RESEARCH PAPER DUE

Concluding Remarks

 

10, MON.:

REVIEW DAY--NO CLASS

 

WE WILL USE ONE HOUR OF THE FINAL EXAM TIME TO COMPLETE A BRIEF DIAGNOSTIC ESSAY.

 MANDATORY ATTENDANCE.