Theme Studies I: Simplicity and Peace Spring 2009
Meets Monday 5, 6 2:00-3:50 in room 304
Teacher: Brian Teaman, Office: room 711 (2nd floor next to Wilmina Cafe).
\\Office Hours: Any Time
For more information go to http://brianteaman.com/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Classes.General. If you have questions, there is information there about how to contact me by e-mail or to see my schedule.
Course Description
We will explore peace by considering simplicity. In the search for simplicity we can find some directions for finding peace in our lives, with other people and in the environment we live in. We will consider peace and simplicity through the eyes of three different groups: The Amish, subsistence cultures around the world, and the people of Japan in the past and the present. Students will become familiar with these ideas and develop skills of listening to lectures, watching videos, reading, discussing, presentation and writing a research paper.
There are two Presentations or Poster Sessions
Weekly Writing of at least 1 handwritten page (about 250 words) attached together in a notebook form. You must bring this to every class. They will be used for reading and discussion. I will check them occasionally. If I don't give any specific assignment you are to react to the previous class. Writing is due by the following class. If I check the notebook and you don't have it, you will get a zero. I will remove the two lowest grades from your notebook. If you know you are going to be absent, please leave the notebook with me before the absence.
Grading
Class Work/Other Work (40%)
- Attendance
- In-class work, Class reaction diary, Quizzes, Poster Session
Research Paper (40%) (Outline is 10%, the rough draft is 15% and the final draft is 15%.)
Final Presentation/Quiz (20%)
Class Plan
- Part I: Course Introduction and The Amish
- Class 1 (4/14) Course Overview Classes.SRRIHomework1 Overview: primitive societies, the Amish, Industrial nations: yesterday and today.
- Class 2 (4/16) Collect reaction from first class (make sure you have counted the words and written it on the bottom and circled) Lecture and discussion: Is technology good or bad?
- Class 3 (4/21)Amish Movie (click for homework) Amish Links (Amish Summary and Reaction.) Diary: write a summary of what you saw. Pass out table of contents from Amish books. Homework: read and understand the chapter titles as best you can.
- Class 4 (4/23). Finish Amish Movie. Discussion of the Amish table of contents. Diary: Write a summary of what you saw.
- Class 5 (4/28) Choose topics for Amish Presentation Diary: write a REACTION to the Amish movie.
- Class 6 (4/30) Preparation for Presentation
- Class 7 (5/7) Practice for Presentation
- Class 8 (5/12) Overview of final topics for semester. Simplicity/Technology, Peace/Aggression Continuum worksheet and discussion.
- Class 9 (5/14) Presentation 1
- Class 10 (5/19) Finish Presentation 1. Reaction Due/Review of material for the rest of the course. Details on Final Paper and presentation 2.
- Class 11 (5/21) Primitives: Introduction to the Yanomami
- Class 12 (5/26) Poster Session 1 (Day 1)
- Class 13 (5/28) Poster Session 2 (Day 2)
- Class 14 (6/2) Quiz on Pacifism, Begin Discussion on Amish Marriage
- Class 15 (6/4) More Discussion on Amish Marriage, End of Amish Unit
- Part II: Primitive Cultures
- Class 16 (6/9) Introduce Primitive Cultures and Give Example Assign Primitive Groups
- Class 17 (6/16) Primitive Japan
- Class 18 (6/18)
- Class 19 (6/23)
- Class 20 (6/25)
- Class 21 (6/30)
- Class 22 (7/2)
- Part III: Japan and Modern Choices
- Class 23 (7/7) Japanese Agriculture
- Class 24 (7/9)
- Class 25 (7/14)
- Class 26 (7/16) Modern Japan
Sources