First
year Seminar:
Crime and Punishment
Time: TTh 1:00-2:15 Location: Admin 302
instructor: Kate
Glavin
office: AD
308 office hours: MW or F by
appointment
Course Description:
This class will explore the historical uses and attitudes of
incarceration in America by examining theories on crime and punishment, media
portrayals of the imprisoned, and literature written on and/or by the
incarcerated individual in an era of mass incarceration.
course material:
Text: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the
Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander ISBN: 978-1-59558-643-8
Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault ISBN:
0-679-75255-2
Selected
readings will also be assigned and provided by the instructor.
Overview Of Liberal Arts Education: there are typically three skills of the liberally educated person:
1.
An understanding of the historical background of central problems and ideas in
the world culture
2.
Critical thinking
3.
Ethical responsibility (academic, social, environmental and global)
This course and others at OU will assist in the cultivation of these skills.
Course objectives:
This course is designed to address many of the outcomes for the Liberal Arts Studies Program at OU.
Knowledge
Breadth. The
student will articulate and discuss the goals, purposes and methods that
constitute the efforts to understand the world in scientific, aesthetic,
historical, and ethical religious ways.
Integration.
The student will identify the similarities and differences among these
ways of knowing/experiencing the world and will explore their interfacing and
integration with each other.
Skills
Communication. The student will display his/her ability to
write clearly and coherently in short analytic essays, in written questions
about and/or summaries of reading, and in personal journal reflections. Students will engage in effective oral
discussion by raising appropriate questions, suggesting relevant
evidence/considerations, providing feedback to other speakers and writers and
by attempting daily to be an effective, generous-spirited listener and
commenter.
Critical Thinking. The student will analyze complex issues and
arguments (e.g., identify assumptions, premises, and conclusions) in various
intellectual contexts (scientific, technical, ethical, aesthetic, etc.) and
will evaluate the validity and soundness of such arguments. Students will distinguish between opinion and
rational discourse and conclusions.
Problem Solving. The student will gather relevant information
and ideas and apply appropriate principles, concepts, and theories to ask
appropriate questions.
Values
Ethical Values. The student will recognize ethical dilemmas
and identify the value that inform various responses to such dilemmas. The student will also recognize and evaluate
the differences in value judgments.
course format and processes:
Student mastery of the
outcomes will be measured using a variety of assessment instruments that may
include, but are not limited to, the following: informal and formal writing
assignments, discussions, journal assignments, essays, reflections, group
activities, class preparation and participation, oral presentations, group presentations,
peer reviews, and graded and non-credit assignments.
In the process of
achieving the cognitive outcomes for this course, student will read and
comprehend college level writings and generate questions of fact,
interpretation, and evaluation, as well as other critical analyses methods, to
apply to the readings in the course. Students will engage in proofreading, self
and peer evaluation of writing to correct their own errors of syntax,
conversation, and style. Class time will be devoted chiefly to class
discussion, however, we will sometimes use our class time to write or reflect
on our writing. Please complete all assigned reading PRIOR to class time. Participation is strongly encouraged to
facilitate greater understanding and as a means of providing varying
perspectives and experiences for all of us.
job descriptions:
The Instructor
My
job description requires me:
· To be well-prepared to
teach you, to conduct myself professionally, and to be fair and unbiased in my
judgment of your progress and performance;
· To maintain a classroom
that is conducive to learning, that is safe for the free expression of ideas.
This does not, however, mean that you are free to say anything that pops into
your head. This is an academic environment and comments/behaviors that disrupt
a productive learning environment will not be tolerated!
Students
Your
job description requires you:
· To be in class every day
(see attendance policy)
· To be well-prepared to
learn
· To produce products and
engage in discussions and other activities that demonstrate critical thinking,
personal and intellectual growth and progress
· To participate in our
classroom community.
Together,
these job descriptions, your good attendance in the course, and your pledge to
do your own work on assignments provides the academic standards for which we
will strive. When assigned to
collaborate with others, you are obliged to make meaningful contributions to
the group’s efforts, to be respectful of your colleagues and their efforts, and
to honestly evaluate yourself and your peers. Students will avoid plagiarism
(whether in the form of faulty paraphrase, poor citation of sources, or direct
theft of ideas and words).
Course Conduct expectations: Please note that if you
are underprepared, disrespectful, disruptive, or in engage
in other negative exchanges/behaviors that are counterproductive to successful
teaching and learning (e.g. name calling,
accusations, verbal attacks, speaking while the professor or students
speak, use of phones/text messaging, yelling, or engaging in other behaviors
that demean or devalue others), you will likely be asked
to leave class, and in severe cases, to drop the course and not return. These
behaviors won’t be tolerated.
Evaluation:
Grades will be determined by performance on the following:
1.
Three (3) Formal Writing Assignments (450
points total)
2.
Informal Writing Assignments (75 points
total) You are required to respond (spell checked, and proofread) and reflect
upon readings, class discussions, exercises/activities and or guest speakers.
Your essay responses should, when applicable, integrate materials covered in
the course.
3. Field Trip or Alternative Project (225
points) Criteria to be provided at a later date.
4. Attendance (50 points)
5. Participation (200 points)
- Please note that regardless of the nature of your absence, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you have missed and turn it in on its original due date.
- No late work will be accepted in this course. You will earn a “0” for all assignments not turned in on their designated due date and time. No Exceptions!
- Non-typed work will not be accepted, unless otherwise stated by the instructor.
- No make up exams/assignments/projects will be given in this course.
grading:
Grades are expected to be determined as a simple percentage of the total number
of points you earn. There are 1000 points total, therefore:
1000-900=A
899-800=B
799-700=C
699-600=D
599-0= F
No (-’s) or (+’s) will be given
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken daily. Regular attendance and participation is
expected. Students who fail to contribute to discussion, whether via excessive
absences (4 or more), fail to come to class prepared, or who simply remain
silent, will most likely jeopardize their grade. On the 3rd unexcused
absence, your grade will be lowered one (1) letter grade. In addition, when
deciding borderline grades, the above variables will be considered.
student atheletes: If you are a student athlete, please provide a game schedule for the
game that will require you to miss classes. If will be your responsibility to
remind me of your absence prior to it so that you may arrange to take an
exam BEFORE you leave/miss a class due to a game, or to get any assignments
you will miss.
extra credit:
You may receive extra credit if you visit the Writing Center for a total of 30
minutes each visit. Each Writing Center visit is worth 10 points, with the opportunity
to earn a total of 20 points.
Academic dishonesty/plagiarism: “The
penalty for plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty will be failure
in the course in which the academic dishonesty occurred. Students who commit
academic dishonesty can be dismissed from the university by the
provost/director.” –approved by UAC; May 29, 2003 Academic dishonesty is
a serious matter – if in doubt whether your actions could be interpreted as
such, please fell exceptionally free to consult with me.
students with special needs: If you have special needs as addressed by the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and require special assistance, please notify
me immediately and responsible efforts will be made to accommodate your needs.
Adawe
Life plan center: Peer tutors provide academic support across the curriculum, during
hours determined by demand. Please visit the Center on the first floor of the Administration
Building for details, or to let them know of a specific tutoring need.
students should
refer to the student handbook for all university policies/regulations.
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