JOHN P. HARDEN, ESQ.

OFFICE HOURS:
TUESDAYS 10 AM TO 12 P.M.
THURSDAY 10 AM TO 12 P.M.
EMAIL:
[email protected]
FOUNDATIONS
105:
THE SPRING
SEMESTER!
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REVEALING!
FOUN 105: Sec. 22, 32, 68
Course Title: Foundations Spring
Course Number: FOUN 105
Semester: Spring, 2009
Instructor:
John P. Harden, Esq.
[email protected]
Office Hours: Padua Hall Common Room
Tuesday 10 AM to 12 Noon
Thursday 10AM to 12 Noon
Other times by appointment

Course Description
The Foundations Sequence is a two-semester, writing-intensive course taken
sequentially by first year students. It is designed to provide a foundation for
the academic and intellectual life. Faculty and students meet in small,
interactive classes to explore classical and contemporary works together.
Themes for the first semester are Nature, Society, and the Person, and for the
second semester, Secular World views, Religious World views, and The
American Experience.
Course Objectives
Overall objectives for the World views units
Students will:

define what a worldview is and understand its dimensions.

understand the major differences between religious and secular world-

views.
Objectives for Religious World views unit
Students will:

analyze and compare various religious world views.

appreciate the diversity of religious world views and develop respect

for world views that are not their own.

understand what it means to be a responsible person and member of

society according to various religious world views.
Objectives for Secular World views unit
Students will:

analyze and compare various secular world views.

appreciate the diversity of secular world views and develop respect for
world views that are not their own.

understand what it means to be a responsible person and member of

society according to various secular world views.
Objectives for the American Experience Unit:
Students will

identify and examine factors that contribute to the structure of

American society.

recognize and reflect upon diverse American identities and the forces
that shape them.

Explore the question of a common American identity.

Understand the rights and responsibilities of an American citizen.

Class Schedule, Topics, Assignments & Readings
Date Topic, Reading & Assignments
January 22
nd
Welcome Back!
January 27
th
King materials and April 4, 1968
Reading: Letter from Birmingham Jail
Assignment:
1. Bring copy of Syllabus to class
2. Bring composition notebook to class
3. Bring Student Planner to Class
4. Be prepared to discuss readings.
January 27
th
View film: Water at 6 p.m. in Library L-12
January 28
th
Attend Martin Luther King Lecture
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Speaker: Mlchael Lrlc uyson

Locauon: MAC (Marcel ALhleuc Complex)
1lme: 7:00 p.m.
You "#$ %&' ()#*) before the end of the song We
shall Overcome. It is not over when the speaker stops
speaking. Leaving early will result in a zero for your
attendance.
January 29th What is World View?
Reading:
1. Elephant in the Dark
2. Introduction to world views on BB
Video: Star Trek Voyager: Sacred Ground
January 30
th
Film: Water at 6:30 p m -- RB 202
February 3rd Library Research Presentation
February 5th Religious World View -Islam
Video: Muslims
February 7
th
Service Learning:
Welcome Table at St. Johns/St. Anns Outreach
Center (8:30 Section ONLY)
February 10
th
Religious World View - Islam
Video: Nazrah
February 12
th
Religious World Views -- Christianity
Topic: Who tells the Story?
Video: Jesus Christ Superstar / Godspell
Hell House/For the Bible Tells Me So
February 17
th
Religious World Views - Christianity
Topic: Who is the authentic Christian?
Video: Holy Ghost People/Introduction
February 19
th
Buddhism
Assignment:
1. Read the Dalai Lamas website
2. Assignment: Bring a clip from YouTube
narrative on Buddhism
Video: Short Film on Buddhism
February 23rd to
February 27th
Winter Break Assignment
1. Read Dostoyevsky
2. Read Balakian
March 3rd Religious World Views --
Grand Inquisitor by Dostoyevsky
March 5th Religious World Views- Wicca/Goddess Religion
Video: Goddess Remembered
Assignment:
1. Download Coven from BB and be prepared
to discuss.
March 7
th
Service Learning:
Welcome Table at St. Johns/St. Anns Outreach
Center (1 p.m. Section ONLY)
March 10
th
Religious World Views- Wicca/Goddess Religion
Assignment: Download Wicca from BB
March 12
th
A Question of God
Assignment:
1. Notebook Questions Collected
2. Download God_1 from BB
Video: A Question of God
Assignment: Begin reading The Demon Haunted
World (Chap. 1,9, 12, 13, 17)
March 16th Movie: Contact -- RB 202 -- 6 p.m.
March 17th Scientific World View
Assignment:
1. Demon Haunted World Chapter 1 and 9
March 19
th
Scientific Model
Assignment:
1. Read Demon Haunted World Chapter
12/13/17.
2. Read A Secular Humanist Declaration (Web)
3. Movie Contact also showing Library L-12
March 21st Service Learning:
Welcome Table at St. Johns/St. Anns Outreach
Center (2:30 Section ONLY)
March 24
th
Humanism and Science Fiction
Assignment:
1. Notebook Questions Collected
2. Draft Research Paper Due
Video: Star Trek Voyager Episodes
March 26
th
Riane Eisler Dominator/Partnership Model
Assignment:
1. Download and read Eisler #1 from BB
March 31
st
The American Experience and Poverty/Prosperity
Assignment: Notebook Questions Assigned
Video: The Persuaders
April 2nd The American Experience and Gender
Assignment: Notebook Questions Collected
Video: Miss America
April 7th The American Experience: Black Dog of Fate
Read Class Matters Chap. 1, 3,Encounters
section
April 9
th
The American Experience and Class Matters
Assignment: Chapter 4/5
April 14th The American Experience
1. Class Matters Chapter 8/12/14
2. Final Copy Research Paper Due
April 16th The American Experience: People Like Us
April 21
st
The American Experience
April 23
rd
Student Presentations and Assessment
April 28th Class Review
April 30th Class Closing Surprise
Writing Assignments and Projects
Student Writing Assignments:
1. Research Paper You are expected to write a twelve page research
paper on a subject of your choice which relates to one of the major
themes of the course. The page count does NOT include cover page or
bibliography. You are required to use APA style for your paper.
a. You are required to meet with me for a 20 minute meeting in
February to discuss your topic and your research. You should
bring with you a tentative outline of your topic, a thesis
statement and a list of your research resources.
b. You are required to submit a draft of your research comments
for review.
c. You are required to revise your paper before final submission
2. Notebook Journal
a. You are required to purchase a composition notebook for use in
this class.
b. On selected Tuesdays, you will be assigned discussion
questions. You will then be responsible for writing a response
to those questions presented.
c. Your answers must two pages (handwritten).
d. Your journals will be collected on the following Thursday. (See
schedule above and watch for announcements).
e. Journal responses will be graded with one of three grades.
i. A check mark indicates that you have completed the
assignment
ii. A check mark with a plus mark (+) indicates that you
have completed the question in a meaningful way.
iii. A check mark with a minus mark (-) indicates that while
you answered the question, you have either not
responded to the question completely or that you need to
provide greater detail to your response.
3. Reflection Paper You are expected to write a three typewritten
reflection paper ( 1 margins, 12 pt font) on your experience
participating in the welcome table at St. Johns/St. Anns Outreach
Center. Your reflection may include specifics of your visit but in the
context of the larger issues which the visit presented. This is your
reflection and your paper will be graded on your ability to think
critically on this experience and to present what those reflections in a
clear and coherent manner.
4. Creative Project/Presentation You are expected to present a fifteen
minute presentation of your research project. This should be creative.
You should present this in a fashion that is original and reflects both
the subject matter and yourself. You will be graded on content and
also on creativity.
5. Reading the New York Times:
You are required to read the New York Times. This is available free of
charge at various sites around campus. Please let me know if you are
unsure where to get a copy. Each Thursday you are required to bring
to class one article from the New York Times which involves or
impacts one of the major themes of the course. You should cut the
article out and paste it in your journal. One student will be selected at
random to discuss the issues involved in the chosen article and its
relationship to the course.
Grading
Below is a breakdown of the grading requirements:
Research Paper Research Paper 35%
Class Participation Class Participation 25%
Reflection paper Reflection paper 10%
Journal 25%
Your grade is based on a total of 100 points over the course of
the semester.
Therefore, you will be receive the maximum grade percentage
as follows:
Research paper: 35 points
Class Precipitation: 25 points
Reflection Paper: 10 points
Journal: 30 points
(I anticipate ten Journal assignments over the course of
the semester. Three points will be your maximum for each. A
check plus means 3 points. A check will equal 2 points. A check
minus will equal 1 point. A missed assignment will receive 0
points.)
Attendance Policy
Attendance in class is mandatory. This is an essential part of gaining
the most from the material presented. Any student who misses more
than three classes during the semester will lose class participation points
which will in turn result in a lower grade.
Communication Guidelines
All emails should contain in the subject line the following information:
1. Your name
2. The course title
3. Your Section number
4. Your assignment name
5. Draft or Revised
All work submitted electronically MUST be in .doc format. No
exceptions.
Policies
Late Work Policy
Deadlines for all assignments are clearly stated in the course syllabus.
If you are unable to meet a deadline, it is expected that you will make
arrangements with me to turn work in late. A penalty may or may not be
assigned, at my discretion.
If you do not make prior arrangements and fail to turn individual work in on
time, the following penalties may be applied:
Work that is submitted 1 - 2 calendar days AFTER its due date may be
graded down a maximum of 5%.
Works that is submitted 3 - 6 calendar days AFTER its due date may be
graded down a maximum of 10%.
Work that is submitted 7 - 21 days AFTER its due date may be graded
down a maximum of 20%.
Work that is submitted more than 21 days AFTER its due date will
receive an automatic zero.
Academic Honesty Policy
Academic honesty is one of the highest values. Any transgressions of
academic honesty will be handled in accordance with the Colleges
academic honesty policy.
Adjustments to the Syllabus
The syllabus may be changed at my discretion.
Tutoring/Writing Center
I strongly encourage that each of you visits the writing center as you begin
working on your research paper.