For COA syllabus read E1,E2,and E3. the books are the sources to use. The assignment is to create a powerpoint presentation and please follow E1 to E3 correctly
PL 345: The Confessions of St. Augustine: Humanities 4 Dr. Gregory J. Kerr DeSales University Dooling 242 - x1230 (OH: M:3,T & R: 3:30, W:4 & F:1) Fall 2022-Dooling106-MWF @ 2:00 (3 Credits) Syllabus/Handbook v.2 A. Aim: Description: Explores Augustine's great autobiographical classic where he presents the course of his life from hedonism to Christianity. We examine why the story of Augustine's spiritual journey to God still exerts a major influence upon the hearts and minds of people today as they try to cope with eternity, evil, love and God in a world often blind to these. PREREQUISITES: PL109 and Humanities 1 and 2. Methods: There will be class lectures, discussions, student oral presentations, quizzes, exams, debate and final paper. Student Learning Outcomes: A. For the General Education Core Curriculum, at the successful completion of this course the student will demonstrate the following Student Learning Outcomes with the exception of the items in parentheses: 2. Competence in research, (information literacy, technology, and) written and oral communication; 7. Knowledge of human culture as manifested in the liberal arts. B. For the Philosophy Major, at the successful completion of this course the student will demonstrate the following Student Learning Outcomes: 2. Familiarity with major philosophers, texts, and arguments central to the Catholic intellectual tradition. C. At the successful completion of this course, the student will also demonstrate the following Student Learning Outcomes: 1. The ability to articulate an awareness of Augustine’s Christian humanism – with its philosophy of God and creation, its distinctions between faith and reason, wisdom and knowledge, truth and opinion – as these impact both the student’s academic discipline and personal well-being. 2. The ability to articulate an Augustinian view of what it means to live well and happily with respect to God and for the good of oneself, family, and community. 3. The ability to articulate an understanding of the importance and influence of Augustine’s classic work and its place in the history of philosophy. 4. The ability to articulate and to demonstrate the practice of the discipline of philosophy, as it is generally conceived, and as it is understood within the Catholic intellectual tradition, giving evidence of critical and persuasive philosophical writing that is informed, clear and rigorous. This will involve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. B. Books: 1. Augustine, Confessions. (Second Edition) Translated by Frank Sheed (Indianapolis: Hackett Press, 2006) 0-87220-186-2. 2. Copleston, Frederick. A History of Philosophy, Volume One: Greece & Rome. Image Reprint. 978- 0385468535. 3. Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain. (New York: HarperOne, 2001) 0060652969 4. In addition, there will be some required selections in the “Course Media Library” in Blackboard. C. Course Requirements: Be sure to read directions of each assignment before starting work on it. You are fully responsible for the timely and satisfactory completion of assignments. Outcomes emphasized are listed in parentheses. Critical Note on Participation & Preparation: For you to be successful in this course, it is expected and understood that for every credit hour per week you spend at least two hours in preparation. This being the case, plan on spending at least 6 hours a week, besides classroom time, in reading and preparation. ___D. Debate (A2, B2, C4) Exploratory Process: (3 Parts): ___E1. 10 Minute Exploratory Speech (Due on particular speech date chosen) (A2, B2, C3, C4) ___E2. 5 Minute Evaluation Proposal Presentation (Due right after speech on same day!) (C4) ___E3. Final Dialogue Essay: With a view to your specific work on your evaluation exercise and incorporating the thought of Augustine, Lewis, & others, write a dialogue giving the pro’s and con’s of an issue involving an Augustinian philosophy of life concerning this area (seven-page typed min.). (Due: Due much later towards the end of the course with the green ink instructor-corrected evaluation exercise- See Schedule for Due date.) (A2, A7, B2, C1, C4) ___Exam 1: Midterm (B2, C1, C2, C3) ___Exam 2: Final Examination (cumulative) (B2, C1, C2, C3) F. Further Items: ___4 Quizzes: material covered and uncovered (B2, C1) ___Course Evaluation Participation & Preparation: While you will need to prepare for tests, quizzes, etc., your primary focus should be on daily reading, asking questions, analysis, and exercising your intellectual abilities in this area. This is the most important thing you can do! CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are expected to attend every class. The lectures and discussions are essential for appropriate participation in the classes. I will be taking attendance in most classes. Barring extraordinary circumstances, any student who is recorded as absent for more than two weeks worth of classes (6) will be liable to receive the grade of F at the end of the course. By "absence" is here meant that the student is not present at time of attendance and has not notified instructor at the end of the particular class in question. If you are absent due to reasons beyond your control, please let me know at the next class you attend. Students assume full responsibility in this area. Quick Start Instructions: A.S.A.P. Students must research, think about, first, second, third and fourth choices for debates and speeches. Students will select for a side of a debate (for a seminar/debate day), and a speech. See Schedule for lottery dates. Students who chose after the lottery will choose on a first come first serve basis. C2. Covid19 Health Requirements: We will strictly adhere to current DeSales University guidelines. D. Debate: On your Seminar/Debate day, you will have 2 printed copies (one for you, one for me) of your full argument and attach and staple 2 readable photocopies corresponding to in-text page references to 2 non-internet sources. You will provide bibliographical information for these 2 books. Topic: You will type up arguments for (not a description or explanation of) the “affirmative” or “negative” (pro or con) side of the seminar/debate day topic sentence you sign up for. Due: On particular debate day you have chosen. Directions: 1. Choose one side of a debate topic that interests you when class has debate assignments. 2. Take care to understand your topic. You will do research from your text, histories and/or encyclopedias of philosophy. 3. Working with others and by yourself take the time and effort to craft one full argument for your side. If you are on the AFFIRMATIVE side it means that you agree with the topic, if on the NEGATIVE side, it means that you disagree. Each member of each team must prepare his/her own argument (you will be evaluated individually). This argument should be supported by several examples or supporting reasons. 4. Be ready for your debate with two sets of typed notes at the beginning of the seminar/debate day on the schedule. Please try to come early and sit up in the front of class. 5. Be sure to give page references for at least two non-internet sources and provide corresponding photocopied pages of them with your argument. 6. Staple all of these together. DEBATE FORMAT (TENTATIVE) (A) Each member of each team passes in one copy (approximately 1 page) of a typed argument at beginning of debate. Think of this a “ticket” to the debate. Do not lose credit; be sure to have a copy for yourself! (B) Affirmative team presents its opening arguments (C) Negative team presents its opening arguments (D) Affirmative team responds to and questions the negative team (E) Negative team responds to and questions the affirmative team (F) Class will question both teams (G) Teams and class will dialogue on where the "truth" of the issue is You will be judged individually on the following points: a) the quality of the opening arguments and the concrete evidence to support them (by far the most important thing); b) your ability to ask good questions of the opposite team; c) your ability to support your position before the opposing team; and, d) your ability to stay focused on the important issues of the debate and not to lose sight of the argument or become emotional and attack the other side personally, e) your ability to refrain from saying that there is no real answer or truth, and f) your references and photocopied pages of 2 authoritative non-internet books. PLEASE NOTE: ONE OF THE COPIES OF EACH INDIVIDUAL'S OPENING ARGUMENTS WITH PAGE REFERENCES OF THE 2 AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS AND PHOTOCOPIES OF THE RELEVANT PAGES (CORRESPONDING TO THE PAGE REFERENCES IN THOSE BOOKS) MUST BE HANDED IN AT THE START OF THE DEBATE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE FULL GRADE. E. Exploratory Process (3 Parts: E1, E2, E3) E1. Exploratory Speech With Overhead Presentation: Due: at class time on your particular speech date listed in the Schedule. For full credit you must follow instructions below. 1. You are responsible for choosing a Speech topic listed on the syllabus. Picking topics is done by lottery. If you wish to do a philosophical topic related to Augustine but it is not listed please feel free to talk with me about it! 2. After consulting your course texts, histories of philosophy (like Copleston’s and there are plenty of these on reserve in the library and online @ “Archive.com”—See Help Section in Syllabus), you are to give on your topic a creative and well-organized speech highlighting three distinct but related points on what is important and interesting in the Speech topic and how it relates to Augustine’s thought. All speeches on due dates beginning with Augustine Assignments must include the thoughts of Augustine! In order that the class may follow the speech more effectively, you will have outlined and presented your speech in your own words (and graphically illustrated) using PowerPoint. For the purposes of this class, what are shown on PowerPoint are not fragments or bullet