...even if you look a bit silly doing it.
Friday, January 30, 2009
One last thing...
Make sure to submit your completed FAFSA by February 1st!
Which reminds me of the fact that I still have to fill out mine...
Which reminds me of the fact that I still have to fill out mine...
Green Tea & Figs
It was bound to happen- it seems that each time everyone returns to school after a long break, the sniffles seem to spread like wildfire. I tried to fight it off as best I could with loads of vitamins and orange juice, but it may not have been enough.
Getting sick at college is nothing like being sick during high school- your parents can't call the front office and tell them you'll be absent because you're not feeling well, and you certainly can't write a letter of explanation and have your 'parent' sign it. Here, most professors will give you two days to miss class. Many don't care if and why (whether you're sick or your favorite politician decides to visit campus) you take advantage of these two days out of the entire semester; you're an adult, and you should be able to prioritize. Either way, it is your sole responsibility to make up anything you miss in class. Although many can be understanding of missed pop quizes and things of that nature because of a legitimate illness, assignments are usually due on certain days, regardless of whether or not you show up. Miss more than two classes and your grade will reflect it; sometimes by 1 pt of your overall class grade for each day. Manage not to miss any class? You may find yourself receiving some rare extra credit points.
Try to keep up a supply of green tea packets for anytime you feel a cough coming on. Apparently tea has the power to reduce the risk of many types of cancer and "...inhibit the growth of bad bacteria—E. coli, Clostridium, Salmonella—and leave the beneficial bacteria untouched...". Apparently 70% of your immune system is located in your digestive tract.
Trippy.
Figs are also a good addition to a college student's diet; "... the fiber in figs can lower insulin and blood-sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome...". No one needs their metabolism to be messed with when they've got classes throughout the day, a part time job, and never ending papers to write.
For when eating healthy isn't enough to fend off the common cold or worse, make sure you have a supply of OTC medicine to help you get back on your feet.
The Leadership Summit is tomorrow and Sportsfest is next week- no time to be sick. I think I'll be buying a lot of green tea and figs. I still haven't given up on the orange juice.
:)
Getting sick at college is nothing like being sick during high school- your parents can't call the front office and tell them you'll be absent because you're not feeling well, and you certainly can't write a letter of explanation and have your 'parent' sign it. Here, most professors will give you two days to miss class. Many don't care if and why (whether you're sick or your favorite politician decides to visit campus) you take advantage of these two days out of the entire semester; you're an adult, and you should be able to prioritize. Either way, it is your sole responsibility to make up anything you miss in class. Although many can be understanding of missed pop quizes and things of that nature because of a legitimate illness, assignments are usually due on certain days, regardless of whether or not you show up. Miss more than two classes and your grade will reflect it; sometimes by 1 pt of your overall class grade for each day. Manage not to miss any class? You may find yourself receiving some rare extra credit points.
Try to keep up a supply of green tea packets for anytime you feel a cough coming on. Apparently tea has the power to reduce the risk of many types of cancer and "...inhibit the growth of bad bacteria—E. coli, Clostridium, Salmonella—and leave the beneficial bacteria untouched...". Apparently 70% of your immune system is located in your digestive tract.
Trippy.
Figs are also a good addition to a college student's diet; "... the fiber in figs can lower insulin and blood-sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome...". No one needs their metabolism to be messed with when they've got classes throughout the day, a part time job, and never ending papers to write.
For when eating healthy isn't enough to fend off the common cold or worse, make sure you have a supply of OTC medicine to help you get back on your feet.
The Leadership Summit is tomorrow and Sportsfest is next week- no time to be sick. I think I'll be buying a lot of green tea and figs. I still haven't given up on the orange juice.
:)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesdays and Thursdays...
... are pretty hectic for me, considering I've managed to cram all of my classes into those two days. Wednesdays are proving to be a bit tricky as well- I guess I didn't realize that if I received homework for all five classes on Tuesday, Wednesday was going to be full of completing them in time for the next day's class sessions.
Art history is what I expected; not much changes from year to year in this subject. Because it's my 8 am class I probably do a bit more zoning out than I should, but I know the material extremely well and keep up with the notes. Professor Cleary obviously loves what she teaches- she's always excited about what we're learning and that makes it a lot easier to stay awake after only a couple hours of sleep.
Holy Wars and Western Religious Toleration is yet to be what I expected... ? I'm not sure- I like the class, but somehow I had something different in mind. Not that it's a bad thing; I'm definitly learning things that are relevant to today's world. My professor (Dr. Thomas) reminds me of an optometrist; I'm not sure why. I can't even remember what any of my past optometrists looked like.
Regardless.
The class is filled with students who have taken his courses before, which tells me that he's a notable professor (at least) from a student's perspective.
My next class is english- I absolutely love it. Unlike 105, this 106 course is more concerned with analyzing pieces of literature. The professor forces each student in the class to argue for ideas that they propose- it may sound frustrating, but it helps you realize whether or not your support is strong enough to build a valid point. This class usually runs until the very end, so I have to run to the end of campus to make it to my next class.
I'm usually a bit late anyway, but the professor is understanding. This class is located in one of the oldest buildings on campus and houses graduate student's studios in addition to the large garage-type studio classroom. I often run into graduate students I've met in my other classes or who I've had as instructors. They're always willing to lend a hand in helping me to better understand a concept, find cheap art supplies, and tell me which gallery openings to attend. The class itself is awesome- the projects are a bit tricky, but I should get the hang of it soon enough. This class is scheduled to last for 2 and a half hours, but it usually only lasts for a bit less than 2.
I have a break after art class to scrub the paint off of me, change from my smock, get something to eat, and do a bit of homework I've already been assigned.
I have my last class of the day (introduction to philosophy) at 6:25. The textbook I ordered for this class has yet to arrive, so I'm a bit behind on the reading. Luckily there are slideshow-lectures during each class, so I've been able to take down good notes and understand the concepts.
When I get back to the dorms after class (usually around 8), I try to finish a bit more homework and get done whatever chores I have (laundry, dishes, facebook...). I usually wind up forgetting all about the chores (they get done.... eventually...) and go around the floor to see how everyone's day has been. Occassionally we'll go to the gym for a quick basketball game (in which I will inevitably skin my knee like an 8 year old), but the majoirty of the time we just hang out on someone's futon, watching tv and praising the beautiful weather.
Like every college student, I'm prone to procrastination, don't exactly eat as healthy as I should, and am broke as all heck (after all, even cheap art supplies aren't cheap)- but as long as I'm here at UM, it's all worth it.
Art history is what I expected; not much changes from year to year in this subject. Because it's my 8 am class I probably do a bit more zoning out than I should, but I know the material extremely well and keep up with the notes. Professor Cleary obviously loves what she teaches- she's always excited about what we're learning and that makes it a lot easier to stay awake after only a couple hours of sleep.
Holy Wars and Western Religious Toleration is yet to be what I expected... ? I'm not sure- I like the class, but somehow I had something different in mind. Not that it's a bad thing; I'm definitly learning things that are relevant to today's world. My professor (Dr. Thomas) reminds me of an optometrist; I'm not sure why. I can't even remember what any of my past optometrists looked like.
Regardless.
The class is filled with students who have taken his courses before, which tells me that he's a notable professor (at least) from a student's perspective.
My next class is english- I absolutely love it. Unlike 105, this 106 course is more concerned with analyzing pieces of literature. The professor forces each student in the class to argue for ideas that they propose- it may sound frustrating, but it helps you realize whether or not your support is strong enough to build a valid point. This class usually runs until the very end, so I have to run to the end of campus to make it to my next class.
I'm usually a bit late anyway, but the professor is understanding. This class is located in one of the oldest buildings on campus and houses graduate student's studios in addition to the large garage-type studio classroom. I often run into graduate students I've met in my other classes or who I've had as instructors. They're always willing to lend a hand in helping me to better understand a concept, find cheap art supplies, and tell me which gallery openings to attend. The class itself is awesome- the projects are a bit tricky, but I should get the hang of it soon enough. This class is scheduled to last for 2 and a half hours, but it usually only lasts for a bit less than 2.
I have a break after art class to scrub the paint off of me, change from my smock, get something to eat, and do a bit of homework I've already been assigned.
I have my last class of the day (introduction to philosophy) at 6:25. The textbook I ordered for this class has yet to arrive, so I'm a bit behind on the reading. Luckily there are slideshow-lectures during each class, so I've been able to take down good notes and understand the concepts.
When I get back to the dorms after class (usually around 8), I try to finish a bit more homework and get done whatever chores I have (laundry, dishes, facebook...). I usually wind up forgetting all about the chores (they get done.... eventually...) and go around the floor to see how everyone's day has been. Occassionally we'll go to the gym for a quick basketball game (in which I will inevitably skin my knee like an 8 year old), but the majoirty of the time we just hang out on someone's futon, watching tv and praising the beautiful weather.
Like every college student, I'm prone to procrastination, don't exactly eat as healthy as I should, and am broke as all heck (after all, even cheap art supplies aren't cheap)- but as long as I'm here at UM, it's all worth it.
Monday, January 26, 2009
President Shalala Honored as one of 25 Great Public Servants
"... University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala is among a group of 25 well-known individuals who have been honored by the Council for Excellence in Government for their outstanding contributions to public service over the past quarter century, adding to the list of distinguished honors she has received in recent months... The list includes a former vice president of the United States, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and an immunologist who has made significant contributions in the fight against AIDS."
Friday, January 23, 2009
It's the end of the week...
... and all I want to do is sleep in.
But alas, I cannot.
Thursday morning (around 3:30 am) everyone within Hecht was awoken by the fire emergency alarm- it's a loud wailing sound and a (creepy) voice that would make even the most sleep-deprived student crawl out of bed, walk down 5 flights of stairs, and stand in the 40 degree weather for a couple of hours. Fortunately enough for me, the actual fire wasn't on my floor. I walked my way down to the lobby and outside onto the patio, where everyone was ushered backwards to Stanford. I met up with some other half-asleep friends, and it happened to be that it was their floor that had caused the whole misadventure. When they begrudgingly went to exit their room, they found that the decorations on the wall across from them had been set on fire. Luckily no one was hurt, and the fire alarm system was extremely efficient in detecting the very beginning of the fire.
After about 30 minutes of standing out in the cold in whatever we had been sleeping in, we were told to go to the dining hall to warm up. We ran to find seats before it filled up, and sat for another 45 minutes or so. Slowly, floors were allowed to go back into the building, and we ran at the chance of being able to go back into bed.
The floor who had had the fire, however, was not as lucky- everyone was interviewed one by one by local policemen in attempts to figure out what had happened. Right now the only thing going around is rumors, but the important thing is that no one was hurt. When considering the impact even the smallest fire can have in a dorm setting, I feel safe knowing that UM has such an extensive and efficient emergency alarm system.
The only trouble that lay ahead of me was being able to wake up for my 8 am class. Not the easiest thing to do, but somehow I managed my way over to the LC and even stayed awake throughout the day. Maybe the weekend will hold a bit of shut eye for me.
In other news...
Karl Rove came to speak on campus the other day. Although I didn't get the chance to attend (due to a much needed nap), a friend of mine did and was able to get quite a few pictures of him, as well as with him. It's pretty amazing when you realize how many influential people you can meet here at the university.
But alas, I cannot.
Thursday morning (around 3:30 am) everyone within Hecht was awoken by the fire emergency alarm- it's a loud wailing sound and a (creepy) voice that would make even the most sleep-deprived student crawl out of bed, walk down 5 flights of stairs, and stand in the 40 degree weather for a couple of hours. Fortunately enough for me, the actual fire wasn't on my floor. I walked my way down to the lobby and outside onto the patio, where everyone was ushered backwards to Stanford. I met up with some other half-asleep friends, and it happened to be that it was their floor that had caused the whole misadventure. When they begrudgingly went to exit their room, they found that the decorations on the wall across from them had been set on fire. Luckily no one was hurt, and the fire alarm system was extremely efficient in detecting the very beginning of the fire.
After about 30 minutes of standing out in the cold in whatever we had been sleeping in, we were told to go to the dining hall to warm up. We ran to find seats before it filled up, and sat for another 45 minutes or so. Slowly, floors were allowed to go back into the building, and we ran at the chance of being able to go back into bed.
The floor who had had the fire, however, was not as lucky- everyone was interviewed one by one by local policemen in attempts to figure out what had happened. Right now the only thing going around is rumors, but the important thing is that no one was hurt. When considering the impact even the smallest fire can have in a dorm setting, I feel safe knowing that UM has such an extensive and efficient emergency alarm system.
The only trouble that lay ahead of me was being able to wake up for my 8 am class. Not the easiest thing to do, but somehow I managed my way over to the LC and even stayed awake throughout the day. Maybe the weekend will hold a bit of shut eye for me.
In other news...
Karl Rove came to speak on campus the other day. Although I didn't get the chance to attend (due to a much needed nap), a friend of mine did and was able to get quite a few pictures of him, as well as with him. It's pretty amazing when you realize how many influential people you can meet here at the university.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sometimes Things Are Frustrating.
Like right now.
I emailed the Prof. whose class I wanted to be switched into because I needed an override. I just received the email, but it was from yesterday, and I may have missed my chance.
Bah.
Technology hates me.
I emailed the Prof. whose class I wanted to be switched into because I needed an override. I just received the email, but it was from yesterday, and I may have missed my chance.
Bah.
Technology hates me.
Review of Yesterday...
Yesterday, January 20th, was the beginning of the Spring semester here at the U. This meant new schedules, new classrooms to find, and new people. Add that to the excitment of the inauguration, and it was quite a busy day (definitely not what I was used to after a month of staying at home!).
My first class, Survey of Western Art I, was at 8 am. After finally waking up and getting dressed to brace the recently freakishly cold weather (Miami should never have 50 degree weather, but alas...), I headed down to the dining hall with those who were also unfortunate in having such an early start to their day. Around 7:40 I started to make my way to the Whitten Learning Center- which I had forgotten was all the way on the other side of campus. I got there with a couple of minutes to spare and found the classroom easily. After receiving the syllabus and going over some basics, we were dismissed early. With some time to spare until my next class, I headed down to the University Center (UC), which had all-day coverage of the inauguration. I joined many others on the line of couches and chairs, watching the preparation for the ceremony until it was time for my next class.
By 9:30 I was in my seat in a classroom in the Dooly Memorial Building for my Holy Wars and Western Religious Toleration class. Much like before, we went over the syllabus, which edition of what book was required, etc. and were dismissed ahead of schedule. I went back to the UC, having to leave right before the start of the ceremonies to make it to my next class on time.
After having some difficulty in finding which door non-residents of Eaton (another Residential College that also houses classrooms) were allowed to enter through, I finally made it to my English 106 class (Exiles on Mainstreet). This room was the smallest I had seen so far, and I managed to sit myself right behind a huge column. Good job, Ashley. The Prof. knew we all wanted to see the inauguration, so he promised to keep class short. Ironically enough, it was the longest class of the day. As soon as we were dismissed I bolted out of the classroom and jogged my way down to the UC.
By this time (just before noon), it was absolutely PACKED. I managed to squeeze my way into the back of the room and peeked through the shoulders of those taller than myself (so pretty much everyone). Apparently I had arrived just in time, and was able to see Aretha Franklin finish off the last of her song (nice hat, by the way). Joe Biden was then sworn in, and the room burst into cheers. We then waited.... and a song was played....and waited.... and a speech was given..... and waited.... finally, the moment had come. As the 44th president was sworn in, the emotion in the room was nearly tangible. So many had worked so hard and waited so long that it was almost hard to imagine that it was finally happening. Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America, and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. After the cheers, hugs, and attempts to dance in a cramped area, the room fell silent as President Obama began to deliver his speech. I knew that I had another class coming up soon, but I waited until the very end, and wound up being late to my next class. I knew that this is never a good habit to start, but I was witnessing a moment in history that generations after us will only be able to imagine.
I finally tore myself away from the TV screen and made my way to Illustration 102, which is definitly not your average drawing class. After going over the unusual list of materials (maybe I'll post a picture to better explain it...), I left to go back to the UC once again. There I found free food (always the best friend of a college student) and was able to watch George and Laura Bush step into their helicopter and leave the White House. It's possible that I'm sounding bitter now- my apologies if I am.
I walked back to Hecht to see how everyone else's days were going, and joined a friend on a trip to the store to buy some supplies. After that excursion and searching online for books, I racked up quite the credit card bill that I'm currently working to pay off. I took a nap and attempted to clean my room, then headed over to the dining hall for an early dinner with some of the girls from my floor.
Around 6:15 I left for my last class of the day- Intro to Philosophy. I must admit that I'm attempting to switch this class for Contemporary Moral Issues, but I decided to attend anyway just in case that doesn't happen. It wound up being the shortest class of the day- we were handed the syllabus, told to email the Prof., and were dismissed. I nearly ran back to the dorms (seeing as I was not dressed for the cold weather that had found its way to Miami after nightfall) and fell into bed. I started the homework I had been assigned for each class (mainly analyzing Obama's speech) and took yet another nap.
At 9:00 there was a mandatory floor meeting to discuss Sportsfest- quite possibly the best thing about Spring semester. We came up with a team name, tag line, and discussed who would be signing up for which events. We were also officially introduced to the two new girls on our floor- one who had simply moved from Stanford to Hecht (just in time for Sportsfest- Hecht has won 7 years in a row I believe) and one who had transfered from Miami University in Ohio.
We had a great time coming up with team names- the point is to come up the grossest, dirtiest thing possible and still get it approved. After deciding upon a name and tag line, a friend and I started some designs for the floor banner and t-shirts. I think they're coming out quite well if I do say myself. I'll post them once they're okayed by my RA.
I think I'm still a bit tired from it all, but this cold snap is keeping me alert.
My first class, Survey of Western Art I, was at 8 am. After finally waking up and getting dressed to brace the recently freakishly cold weather (Miami should never have 50 degree weather, but alas...), I headed down to the dining hall with those who were also unfortunate in having such an early start to their day. Around 7:40 I started to make my way to the Whitten Learning Center- which I had forgotten was all the way on the other side of campus. I got there with a couple of minutes to spare and found the classroom easily. After receiving the syllabus and going over some basics, we were dismissed early. With some time to spare until my next class, I headed down to the University Center (UC), which had all-day coverage of the inauguration. I joined many others on the line of couches and chairs, watching the preparation for the ceremony until it was time for my next class.
By 9:30 I was in my seat in a classroom in the Dooly Memorial Building for my Holy Wars and Western Religious Toleration class. Much like before, we went over the syllabus, which edition of what book was required, etc. and were dismissed ahead of schedule. I went back to the UC, having to leave right before the start of the ceremonies to make it to my next class on time.
After having some difficulty in finding which door non-residents of Eaton (another Residential College that also houses classrooms) were allowed to enter through, I finally made it to my English 106 class (Exiles on Mainstreet). This room was the smallest I had seen so far, and I managed to sit myself right behind a huge column. Good job, Ashley. The Prof. knew we all wanted to see the inauguration, so he promised to keep class short. Ironically enough, it was the longest class of the day. As soon as we were dismissed I bolted out of the classroom and jogged my way down to the UC.
By this time (just before noon), it was absolutely PACKED. I managed to squeeze my way into the back of the room and peeked through the shoulders of those taller than myself (so pretty much everyone). Apparently I had arrived just in time, and was able to see Aretha Franklin finish off the last of her song (nice hat, by the way). Joe Biden was then sworn in, and the room burst into cheers. We then waited.... and a song was played....and waited.... and a speech was given..... and waited.... finally, the moment had come. As the 44th president was sworn in, the emotion in the room was nearly tangible. So many had worked so hard and waited so long that it was almost hard to imagine that it was finally happening. Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America, and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. After the cheers, hugs, and attempts to dance in a cramped area, the room fell silent as President Obama began to deliver his speech. I knew that I had another class coming up soon, but I waited until the very end, and wound up being late to my next class. I knew that this is never a good habit to start, but I was witnessing a moment in history that generations after us will only be able to imagine.
I finally tore myself away from the TV screen and made my way to Illustration 102, which is definitly not your average drawing class. After going over the unusual list of materials (maybe I'll post a picture to better explain it...), I left to go back to the UC once again. There I found free food (always the best friend of a college student) and was able to watch George and Laura Bush step into their helicopter and leave the White House. It's possible that I'm sounding bitter now- my apologies if I am.
I walked back to Hecht to see how everyone else's days were going, and joined a friend on a trip to the store to buy some supplies. After that excursion and searching online for books, I racked up quite the credit card bill that I'm currently working to pay off. I took a nap and attempted to clean my room, then headed over to the dining hall for an early dinner with some of the girls from my floor.
Around 6:15 I left for my last class of the day- Intro to Philosophy. I must admit that I'm attempting to switch this class for Contemporary Moral Issues, but I decided to attend anyway just in case that doesn't happen. It wound up being the shortest class of the day- we were handed the syllabus, told to email the Prof., and were dismissed. I nearly ran back to the dorms (seeing as I was not dressed for the cold weather that had found its way to Miami after nightfall) and fell into bed. I started the homework I had been assigned for each class (mainly analyzing Obama's speech) and took yet another nap.
At 9:00 there was a mandatory floor meeting to discuss Sportsfest- quite possibly the best thing about Spring semester. We came up with a team name, tag line, and discussed who would be signing up for which events. We were also officially introduced to the two new girls on our floor- one who had simply moved from Stanford to Hecht (just in time for Sportsfest- Hecht has won 7 years in a row I believe) and one who had transfered from Miami University in Ohio.
We had a great time coming up with team names- the point is to come up the grossest, dirtiest thing possible and still get it approved. After deciding upon a name and tag line, a friend and I started some designs for the floor banner and t-shirts. I think they're coming out quite well if I do say myself. I'll post them once they're okayed by my RA.
I think I'm still a bit tired from it all, but this cold snap is keeping me alert.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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"So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
“Let it be told to the future world … that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it).”
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Just a Taste...
This is the first syllabus that has been posted for my classes (I cut out the more mundane blahblahblah stuff):
REQUIREMENTS
1. Questions. For almost every class you will have a set of questions which will be posted in the study guides posted on Blackboard. These questions will mainly be drawn from Western Civilizations but will also draw from other readings or from the quotations in the study guides. You will receive either a check or an unsatisfactory for each answer. You will start out with an A+ for the homework portion of the grade, and for each unsatisfactory homework or for each one not turned in, you will lose part of a grade. Thus, if you miss one homework, the grade will drop to an A, if you miss two it will drop to an A-, and so forth. Each homework will be due at the beginning of class. Students who enroll after the first day will have some leeway in turning in the first few assignments late. However, after Tuesday, Feb. 3rd, no late assignments will be accepted. In preparing for the assignments, keep in mind that the length of the readings varies widely, from a few pages to over thirty. Make sure to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time for the longer readings.
3. John Locke assignment. For the last day of class you will read an early modern letter which is one of the foundational works for the history of toleration in the west. You will answer some questions on this reading, write a paragraph on what makes this such an important document in the history of toleration, and attend a class discussion on the work. This assignment will count for ten points on the final scale of 100. You will get up to 4 points for the questions, up to 4 points for the paragraph, 1 point for attending the class and 1 point for contributing at least briefly to the discussion.
3. Midterm. The midterm will be based on the questions on the readings (about 1/4) and on the lectures (about 3/4). In each lecture I will highlight several points and themes, and these will form the basis of the test questions, along with the questions from the readings. The midterm will consist of multiple choice questions, brief answers (no more than two lines), and short paragraph questions.
4. Final. The final will have similar questions to the midterm but will focus on the material after the midterm.
5. Attendance. Attendance is required. More than two unexcused absences can result in the lowering of your grade.
ALL STUDENTS MUST COMPLY WITH THE UM HONOR CODE
Breakdown of Grade
Questions 20%
Midterm 30%
Assignment on John Locke 10%
Final 40%
WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS
Jan. 20 Introduction
Jan. 22 Paganism, Religion, and War
Western Civilizations, 15-17 (Sumerian Religion), 21-22, 55-60
Mesha Inscription; http://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/westsem/mesha.html
Jan. 27 Ancient Israel
Western Civilizations, 52-55, 63-65, 110-12, 123-24
Jan. 29 The Birth of Christianity and Early Pacifism
Western Civilizations, 150-56
Feb. 3 The Militarization of Christianity and Just War
Western Civilizations, 156-59, 163-65
Feb. 5 The Birth of Islam and the meanings of Jihad
Western Civilizations, 182-92
Feb. 10 Jihad and Christian Holy War in the Early Middle Ages
Western Civilizations, 177-78, 179-80, 181, 195-97
Feb. 12 The Crusades: Part I
Western Civilizations, 239-43, 212-19
Feb. 17 The Crusades: Part II
Western Civilizations, 247-49, 279-81, 291-93
Feb. 19 Jewish responses to War after the Fall of the Second Temple
Western Civilizations, 152, 249-50
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1096jews-mainz.html
A Jewish account of the attacks on the Rhineland Jews during the First Crusade
Feb. 24 Midterm
Feb. 26 Religion and the Creation of the Spanish Empire
Western Civilizations, 305-18
March 3 The Reformation and the Wars of Religion I
Western Civilizations, 336-40, 345-56, 359-66
March 5 The Wars of Religion II
Western Civilizations, 371-76, 379-84
March 10 Second Thoughts on War among Christians
Western Civilizations, 398-404
March 12 The British Colonies
Western Civilizations, 416-23
March 24 The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
Western Civilizations, 428-64
March 26 The American and French Revolutions
Western Civilizations, 425, 479-91
March 31 The American Civil War and Christianity
Western Civilizations, 572-76
April 2 War, Religion, and Colonialism
Western Civilizations, 587-93, 596-606
April 7 The Spanish Civil War and the Crusade against Communism
Western Civilizations, 539-40, 615-16, 625-26, 662-69, 689-90
April 9 Religion and violence in the modern Christian World: South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia
Western Civilizations, 535-36, 606-7, 636, 647-48, 731, 756-60, 768
April 14 Modernist Interpretations of Jihad
Jihad in Classical and Modern Islam, 59-82, 94-101 (Course Reserves)
April 16 Israelis, Palestinians, Secularism, and Religion
Western Civilizations, 619-21, 675-78, 697-701, 729, 731, 770-72
Islam in Transition, 433-43: Hamas Charter (Course Reserves)
April 21 The Rise of violent Jihadist Movements
Western Civilizations, 728-29, 732-34, 772-77
Islam in Transition, 430-32: Bin Laden’s Jihad Fatwa (Course Reserves)
April 23 Thoughts on the future
US Catholic Bishops’ statement on the Iraq War
http://zenit.org/article-5376?l=english
Jerry Falwell, “God is Pro-War.”
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36859
Charles Stanley, “A Nation at War.”
Will be posted on Blackboard as a PDF file
April 28 No class
April 30 Discussion of John Locke
Locke’s Letter on Toleration; http://www.constitution.org/jl/tolerati.htm
History of Religious Wars
1. Questions. For almost every class you will have a set of questions which will be posted in the study guides posted on Blackboard. These questions will mainly be drawn from Western Civilizations but will also draw from other readings or from the quotations in the study guides. You will receive either a check or an unsatisfactory for each answer. You will start out with an A+ for the homework portion of the grade, and for each unsatisfactory homework or for each one not turned in, you will lose part of a grade. Thus, if you miss one homework, the grade will drop to an A, if you miss two it will drop to an A-, and so forth. Each homework will be due at the beginning of class. Students who enroll after the first day will have some leeway in turning in the first few assignments late. However, after Tuesday, Feb. 3rd, no late assignments will be accepted. In preparing for the assignments, keep in mind that the length of the readings varies widely, from a few pages to over thirty. Make sure to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time for the longer readings.
3. John Locke assignment. For the last day of class you will read an early modern letter which is one of the foundational works for the history of toleration in the west. You will answer some questions on this reading, write a paragraph on what makes this such an important document in the history of toleration, and attend a class discussion on the work. This assignment will count for ten points on the final scale of 100. You will get up to 4 points for the questions, up to 4 points for the paragraph, 1 point for attending the class and 1 point for contributing at least briefly to the discussion.
3. Midterm. The midterm will be based on the questions on the readings (about 1/4) and on the lectures (about 3/4). In each lecture I will highlight several points and themes, and these will form the basis of the test questions, along with the questions from the readings. The midterm will consist of multiple choice questions, brief answers (no more than two lines), and short paragraph questions.
4. Final. The final will have similar questions to the midterm but will focus on the material after the midterm.
5. Attendance. Attendance is required. More than two unexcused absences can result in the lowering of your grade.
ALL STUDENTS MUST COMPLY WITH THE UM HONOR CODE
Breakdown of Grade
Questions 20%
Midterm 30%
Assignment on John Locke 10%
Final 40%
WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS
Jan. 20 Introduction
Jan. 22 Paganism, Religion, and War
Western Civilizations, 15-17 (Sumerian Religion), 21-22, 55-60
Mesha Inscription; http://www.kchanson.com/ANCDOCS/westsem/mesha.html
Jan. 27 Ancient Israel
Western Civilizations, 52-55, 63-65, 110-12, 123-24
Jan. 29 The Birth of Christianity and Early Pacifism
Western Civilizations, 150-56
Feb. 3 The Militarization of Christianity and Just War
Western Civilizations, 156-59, 163-65
Feb. 5 The Birth of Islam and the meanings of Jihad
Western Civilizations, 182-92
Feb. 10 Jihad and Christian Holy War in the Early Middle Ages
Western Civilizations, 177-78, 179-80, 181, 195-97
Feb. 12 The Crusades: Part I
Western Civilizations, 239-43, 212-19
Feb. 17 The Crusades: Part II
Western Civilizations, 247-49, 279-81, 291-93
Feb. 19 Jewish responses to War after the Fall of the Second Temple
Western Civilizations, 152, 249-50
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1096jews-mainz.html
A Jewish account of the attacks on the Rhineland Jews during the First Crusade
Feb. 24 Midterm
Feb. 26 Religion and the Creation of the Spanish Empire
Western Civilizations, 305-18
March 3 The Reformation and the Wars of Religion I
Western Civilizations, 336-40, 345-56, 359-66
March 5 The Wars of Religion II
Western Civilizations, 371-76, 379-84
March 10 Second Thoughts on War among Christians
Western Civilizations, 398-404
March 12 The British Colonies
Western Civilizations, 416-23
March 24 The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
Western Civilizations, 428-64
March 26 The American and French Revolutions
Western Civilizations, 425, 479-91
March 31 The American Civil War and Christianity
Western Civilizations, 572-76
April 2 War, Religion, and Colonialism
Western Civilizations, 587-93, 596-606
April 7 The Spanish Civil War and the Crusade against Communism
Western Civilizations, 539-40, 615-16, 625-26, 662-69, 689-90
April 9 Religion and violence in the modern Christian World: South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia
Western Civilizations, 535-36, 606-7, 636, 647-48, 731, 756-60, 768
April 14 Modernist Interpretations of Jihad
Jihad in Classical and Modern Islam, 59-82, 94-101 (Course Reserves)
April 16 Israelis, Palestinians, Secularism, and Religion
Western Civilizations, 619-21, 675-78, 697-701, 729, 731, 770-72
Islam in Transition, 433-43: Hamas Charter (Course Reserves)
April 21 The Rise of violent Jihadist Movements
Western Civilizations, 728-29, 732-34, 772-77
Islam in Transition, 430-32: Bin Laden’s Jihad Fatwa (Course Reserves)
April 23 Thoughts on the future
US Catholic Bishops’ statement on the Iraq War
http://zenit.org/article-5376?l=english
Jerry Falwell, “God is Pro-War.”
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36859
Charles Stanley, “A Nation at War.”
Will be posted on Blackboard as a PDF file
April 28 No class
April 30 Discussion of John Locke
Locke’s Letter on Toleration; http://www.constitution.org/jl/tolerati.htm
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Back in the 305!
It was great to finally get back to campus the other day. Not everyone is back just yet, so it's a bit creepy as to how quiet it can get.... but there also aren't any lines for laundry, which is awesome.
Randomly decided to de-loft my bed- it was definitely a handful, but I like the result.
I also just read the syllabus for my History of Religious Wars class- it sounds like a lot of work but I think I'm really going to enjoy it. :-)
My roomie comes back tomorrow, so I've got to finish spring cleaning and unpacking!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Preparing for an Education at the U
Today is a sad day- I was supposed to catch the tri-rail at noon to get down to Miami, but alas, I had no transportation to the hour-far tri-rail. Tomorrow I shall return to grace the beautiful campus. ;-P
-----------------------------
As the University becomes an increasingly selective institution (in the most positive way), it becomes more difficult for me to determine just what they're looking for in prospective students, but I'll try my best. :)
When I was a freshman in high school, I had no idea that I wanted to attend the University of Miami- all I knew was that I had to attend college. Not only did my parents expect it of me, but I knew that if I wanted to get a good job later on in life I would need a degree. Because I wasn't sure of the specifics, I did a bit of everything just to cover my bases. I made sure to take every honors class possible, get involved in a sport, and begin my foreign language classes early on. Only aware that I was interested in the arts, I began to take drama classes and became involved in the school plays. Vaguely aware that colleges liked to see plenty of volunteering, I began to do so whenever (and where ever) possible.
My sophomore year, I transfered high schools. Again I took upper level classes, continued to study foreign languages beyond the requirement, and focused on my grades. I also chose to focus more on the arts in which I had discovered a keen passion for. I had to sacrifice my interest in tennis to make time for homework, volunteering, family, and friends, but I felt that I was now at the level of 'quality over quantity'. This is always good to keep in mind- if you've done a million things in high school but never really showed any commitment, it doesn't have the same meaning. I also joined the school's two honor clubs- BETA and National Honors Society, and managed to attain a few awards by the end of the year.
My junior year I transfered yet again. Fortunately for me, this school had a guidance counselor focused solely on helping students with anything attained to applying and being accepted to colleges. He was the best thing I could have asked for- with my parents having no knowledge whatsoever of what I should be doing in order to get into a good school, I needed a reliable source. He helped me pick out my schedule- AP class after AP class was set up for me, but I was reminded to make room for what I had decided to study later on- the arts. I joined clubs that had meaning to me (Spanish Honors Society, Academic Challenge team) and secured leadership positions. I continued to volunteer (nursing homes, elementary schools, public programs) and held an after school job at a preschool. I took my SATs for the first time in the late fall, and registered to take them again in the spring just in case my score could improve.
I began looking at schools that fit my SAT score and offered the degree I sought- a BFA in graphic design.
Finally, it was my senior year- and no, I did not transfer again. I decided that school was much too important this year, and that I should focus mainly on that- I left my part time job, and instead became even more involved in my clubs at school. With 8 AP classes and 2 leadership positions, my plate was more than full. Over the summer I had decided upon 3 schools to apply to- all early action. I wrote my college essays- and rewrote them. Again, again, and again. I began collecting letters of recommendation with teachers who had come to know me well and applied to every scholarship application I got my hands on. I collected all of the necessary materials, checked every applicable box, and signed my name on the line. I knew I had done all I could- so I crossed my fingers and waited for the letters.
The first to come was from UCF- I was checking my email and found one entitled 'congratulations!'. Although this was my 'safety school', it was still exciting to know that no matter what, I was going to be a college student. I knew that I had much longer to wait for my two remaining schools- UM & UF.
The second was from UM- I had just heard that someone else from my school had been accepted, and admittedly I was a little peeved. I had been checking the website obsessively and had not yet received any word. Still a bit frustrated, I used the computer during my lunch break to check if anything had changed on the website- and there it was. Possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life, I wish I had a picture of it.
"Congratulations- You're a Cane!"
I literally jumped from my chair, screamed absolute jibberish, did what I am sure was an extremely embarrassing victory dance, and cried for a good 20 minutes. After said celebration, I called pretty much everyone in my phone book to tell them the good news.
I knew that UF decisions were yet to be made, but I honestly didn't care anymore. I instinctively knew that UM was the only college for me, and although I was happy when I was accepted to UF, orange and green were already running through my veins.
Monday, January 5, 2009
2009...
I can't believe it's here already!
So much has changed since last year; and not only in the most obvious sense. Starting college is most certainly life changing- you learn more about yourself and those around you then you could have ever imagined.
I've still got 15 days until spring semester classes start, but I don't know how I'm going to wait that long. Not necessarily excited for the 8 am classes, but I'm signed up for interesting classes (in my opinion) that I'm anxious to start.
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