Focal Point Seminar:

The Black Death

Winter Quarter 2002

Phillip E. Funk, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology

Lecture/Discussion: M,W,F 2:20-3:20

Course Summary

Course Schedule

Helpful Links

COURSE SUMMARY

A Focal Point Seminar is designed to introduce first-year students to the nature and scope of intellectual inquiry at DePaul University.  In a Focal Point Seminar, students learn about a single topic in depth, and then learn to complicate their view of that topic by looking at it from different perspectives.  Students also learn to read challenging texts critically and carefully and to use writing as a means of learning difficult subjects thoroughly and effectively. 

The Five Goals of the Focal Point Seminar Program are:

1.      Provide students with in-depth treatment of a person, place, event, text, or idea and to complicate that treatment by looking at this "focal point" from the perspective of different disciplines

2.      Teach students to read primary texts (in contrast to textbooks) carefully and critically.

3.      Provide students with ample opportunities to write, helping them learn the course materials more effectively

4.      Teach students appropriate "seminar behavior"- to formulate, explain, and support their ideas orally; raise and pursue good questions; and participate in discussions.

5.      Help students adapt to the academic and social life of the university- to know how to access university resources; to learn how to become successful, independent students; to understand the diversity of DePaul; and to begin to think of themselves as life-long learners.

Required Books: The Black Death: Natural and Human Disaster in Medieval Europe by Robert S. Gottfried.  Turning Points in World History: The Black Death, D. Nardo (ed.) Both of these books are required.  They may be purchased from the bookstore or ordered from efollett.com, amazon.com, or other vendors.

Additional materials may be handed out in class or placed on reserve in the library. The class website will also have links to material on the World Wide Web that will be used in your studies.  (condor.depaul.edu/~pfunk/Plague.htm)

Grading:  The exam and quizzes covering the reading assignments and class discussion will be in short essay format.  Short writing assignments will be given in class.  These assignments are due at the next class session; late assignments will not be accepted.

Class participation- This grade is based on your attendance and involvement in the class.  Since this is a seminar style course it is essential that students attend and get involved in class.  I will allow two unexcused absences, after that there will be a 5% reduction in the participation grade for each absence.  Deductions may also be made for failure to read the assignments and participate in class discussion.  To ensure a good grade in this component you should be in class, have read the assigned readings, and actively participate in the class discussion.

Statement of Academic Honesty: It is expected that your work in this course will be original, not copies of another student's work.  The university dictates strong sanctions against those who copy another's work without citing the original source.  This may also apply to students who allow others to copy their work.  This sanction may be as severe as an F in the course.  Please refer to the student handbook for a more detailed discussion of the university's rules on this matter.

Behavior: You should be on time for class.  This course is designed as a seminar.  This means that there will be discussion of the reading and exchange of ideas.  You must come to class prepared to contribute and you must allow others the opportunity to contribute. You should behave as you would like an audience to behave if you were speaking; no talking, note passing, horseplay, sleeping, etc.  All cell phones and beepers should be turned off. You should be courteous and respectful of your fellow students.  Inappropriate and rude conduct will not be tolerated.  Extraneous conversation should be kept to a minimum. 

Tips for success in this course:

1.      Read the book!  Do more than read the material, outline it and get a firm grasp of what the author says in each sentence and each paragraph.  This course is about learning in depth.

2.      Don't think of each chapter or class session as a single, self-contained entity.  Part of the design of the course is to get you to understand some of the interrelationships between ideas and to think of one idea or fact from multiple perspectives.

3.      Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Questions are an essential part of learning.

CONTACTING YOUR INSTUCTOR:

You may contact me by email at pfunk@depaul.edu

My office is 243 McGowan Hall on the Lincoln Park Campus, phone 325-4649.

I will also be available before and after class to answer specific questions. If necessary I will establish office hours. I will do my utmost to answer questions in a timely fashion. I sincerely want this course to be a rewarding educational experience for you.

Tentative Course Schedule:

FINAL PAPER DUE MARCH 19 by 2pm

HELPFUL LINKS   These will be helpful as you research your papers and presentations