Course Description and Objectives

This section of Freshman Honors Seminar will examine the theme of katabasis (descent to the underworld) in poetry, prose, drama and film. Both ancient and modern works will be studied.

Course Texts

Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions

Course Policy

Since this class is both an academic endeavor and an introduction to college life, a certain part of each class period will be reserved for discussions and/or presentations on college life. Letter grades will be assigned on the standard Missouri State University curve: 90-100%= A; 80-89%= B; 70-79%= C; 60-69%= D; 59%-below= F.

Course Grading

40% examination (20% for midterm, 20% for final)
50% written YongyWiki assignments (10% each)
10% class participation

Nondiscrimination Policy:

Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of the Modern and Classical Languages Department Head. 

Disability Accommodation Policy:

To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), http://www.missouristate.edu/disability.  Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.

Academic Dishonesty Policy:

Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at http://www.missouristate.edu/provost/3935.htm and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library.  Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

FINAL EXAMS:

Section 980:     Tuesday, 12 December 2006         01:15 pm
Section 979:     Thursday, 14 December 2006        01:15 pm

Syllabus

Aug	22	Introduction to Class
	24	Introduction to the YongyWiki
	29	Introduction to the YongyWiki
	31	Library Tour - meet inside Meyer Library entrance
Sep	05	Gilgamesh
	07	Gilgamesh (continued) Assignment #1 Due
	12	Homer, Odyssey
	14	Odyssey (continued); Film: Cherry 2000
	19	Film: Cherry 2000 Assignment #2 Due
	21	Film: Cherry 2000
	26	Aristophanes, The Frogs
	28	The Frogs (continued)
Oct	03	Vergil, Aeneid
	05	MAJORS FAIR! WOOT!
	10	Film: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Assignment #3 Due
	12	Film: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
	17	Film: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
	19	Fall Holiday: no class scheduled
	24	Midterm Examination
	26	Christian Afterlife
	31	Dante, Inferno
Nov	02	Dante, Inferno; Film: Beavis and Butt-head Do America
	07	Film: Beavis and Butt-head Do America  Assignment #4 Due
	09	Film: Beavis and Butt-head Do America
	14	Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
	16	Breakfast of Champions
	21	Breakfast of Champions
	23	Thanksgiving Holiday: no class scheduled
	28	Breakfast of Champions/Film: Breakfast of Champions
	30	Film:Breakfast of Champions  Assignment #5 Due
Dec	05	Film:Breakfast of Champions
	07	Recap