VILLANOVA U= NIVERSITY
AUGUSTINE A= ND CULTURE SEMINAR 1000
Please note th=
at
students are responsible for everything contained in the following
syllabus. Ignorance of the
obligations and requirements outlined here is not excusable. Bring this syllabus to every class
meeting in case amendments need to be made to our schedule.
CHOICE:
The goal of the course is in twofold: I). to develop
critical thinking and writing skills and II). to assist the students make t=
heir
own choices at college and beyond. <=
/span>Thematically
the course examines how a choice plays a pivotal role in religion, history,=
and
literature, beginning with Genesis.
It is believed that men are given freedom to choose and the choice t=
hat
they made may influence not only daily routine but also the future of
individual life and even the course of entire human history. Without realizing we all make a ch=
oice
on a daily basis on a variety of issues from trivial to fundamentally
life-transforming ones. The c=
ourse
of our life thus is largely based on those choices we make. Choice that we make does matter.
The reading materials, roughly following a chronologic= al order, are arranged under thematic rubrics: 1) Bible, 2) Indian Epic, 3) Gr= eek Tragedy, 4) St. Augustine, 5) Medieval Europe, and 6) Shakespeare. The readings from Hebrew, Christia= n, Indian, and English traditions all focus on the theme concerning “choice.”
REQUIRED TEXTS: class handouts and e-texts will be use= d
Primary texts are to be used as the basis for discussi= on in the seminar.
WRITING INTENSIVE:
Thirty pages of written work, twenty pages of which is final draft work to be graded and evaluated, are required. Ther= e will be several reaction papers (1-2 pages) and two major essays. Writing conference will be scheduled at various intervals throughout the term, giving students an opportunity to meet with the instructor twice during the semester for progress reports. These mandatory meetings are offered in addition to office hours.
You are responsible for knowing the MLA documentation style as given in Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference. You wi= ll be asked to go to the Villanova Writing Center; with a rough draft of a writing assignment for evaluation and critical assignment. The Vill= anova Writing Center is located in Dalton Room, Old Falvey. Writing consultations are availabl= e by appointment or on a walk-in basis(519 4605).