KEY CONCEPTS: THE POWER OF MASKS
Humanities 310
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Past Student Papers
Tips on Public Speaking
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Chapter Readings
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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:

- Chapter Readings - Available Online
- Readings from Literature - Available in CSUDH Bookstore

  Summer 2008:        Syllabus
                              Course Outline
                              Writing and Speaking Guidelines


GENERAL OVERVIEW
The content of the course covers the significance and function of masks in African, European, American and Asian/Pacific societies.  Through lectures, slides, writing exercises, and group investigation of research materials and performance masks, students learn how masks have been used in rituals, myth, ceremonies, carnival, and drama.  As an Upper Division Integrative Study, the course intends to develop student awareness of the relationships among the various disciplines in the humanities by using the mask as a window into a culture's philosophy, religion, literature, mythology, psychology, art, dance, music, and theatre.  Prerequisite: Lower Division Humanities + English 111

For a list of all the competencies that students acquire in the course, see Student Outcomes.
 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students are advised to consult the current CSUDH catalogue for our policy on Academic Integrity.  All forms of cheating or plagiarism are unacceptable.
 

REQUIREMENTS:

1.  ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:  Students are expected to attend every class on time and contact the instructor prior to class should conflicts arise.  Repeated lateness and/or three absences or more will lower grades.   

2.  WRITING ASSIGNMENTS:  Students write over a thousand words in short papers and one full-length critical thinking paper of five pages.  The assignments are designed to assist students in reinforcing their writing skills and their ability to reason critically and creatively.   Consult the Writing and Speech Guidelines for your specific class (above).  Also, read examples of past student papers to get a clear insight on the assignment.

3.  SPEAKING ASSIGNMENTS:  Students will present their research and responses on masks in speeches that will strengthen their communication skills as well as their critical and creative thinking.  Consult the Writing and Speech Guidelines for your specific class (above).   

4.  EXAMS:  One exam will be used to assess the student's familiarity with material from the course guide and the class lecture/discussions. This test will incorporate identification, true-false, essay and multiple choice.

5.  GENERAL GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

CRITERIA FOR GRADE OF A

Keeping in mind that the grade of A is often associated with outstanding or superior work, to obtain an A in this course you must not only meet the minimum criteria delineated in the course requirements, but also accomplish each of the following objectives:

1)  Have perfect attendance and punctuality (three latenesses equal one absence), hand in assignments on time, speak often and participate openly in class activities.

2)  Compose well-written papers and speeches that reveal strong organization, logical progession, meaningful paragraphing, independent thought, engagement with the topic, and readable, unambiguous sentences that are virtually free of errors in grammar, usage, spelling, or mechanics.

GENERAL CLASS SCHEDULE:
(Consult specific schedule in your syllabus above!)
 
First Week
Introduction: Syllabus, Basic Skills, Functions of Masks, History of Masks
Read Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Perform Speech #1: Mask Analysis

Second and Third Weeks
Read Chapter 2: AFRICAN MASKS

Fourth and Fifth Weeks
Read Chapter 3: Theatre and the Mask

Sixth and Seventh Weeks
Read Chapter 4: The Psychology of Masking

Eighth and Ninth Weeks
Read Chapter 5: European and American Masks

Tenth and Eleventh Weeks
Read Chapter 6: The Arts and the Mask
Read Assigned Play or Novel - Available in CSUDH Bookstore

Twelfth and Thirteenth Weeks
Read Chapter 6: Asian/Pacific MasksRead Chapte
Perform Speech #3: Research Speeches

Finish of Semester
Final Exam
Final Group Projects


Last revised: December 2007