IDS 1133: The Individual in
Contemporary Society
Schedule: Spring, 2006 T-2:30-5:30
Class e-mail: ids1133@usao.edu
Instructors: Dr.
Ingrid Shafer, Dr. Stephen
Kandeh, Dr. Tina Winn
Read the entry for each of the following terms in your text A
World of Ideas, and be prepared to discuss them in your group, as
well
as in class, next week or any time following. These are some of
the
ideas which have shaped the world you live in, and you will need to
know
as much as possible about each of them as you begin to build your
“better
world.”
Final Exam Concepts/Issues
- Power
- Authority
- Social contract
- Dictatorship
- Fascism
- Monarchy
- Democracy
- Anarchism
- Theocracy
- Conservatism
- Liberalism
- Federalism
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- Separation of Powers
- Checks and Balances
- Powers and limitations of the branches of the Federal
Government
- Economy sectors
- Economic theories of capitalism: supply-side and
Keynesian
- Capitalism, Socialism, Communism
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- Inflation, Trade Deficit, Corporate Welfare;
Interlocking Directory
- Issues in American Education- Availability, resource
distribution, and content
- Population problems and Policies
- Environmental Issues (Air, Water, Soil) and their
effects
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Description:
The course will examine the individual in society with a view of
understanding human nature and behaviors. We will survey some of the
important issues
that individuals in society confront and how they solve or cope with
social
challenges. The overall objective of the class is to enable students to
synthesize knowledge about social issues into a major project that
requires
the development of a "better society," a society in which the quality
of
life and opportunities for individual happiness are significantly
enhanced.
Some Objectives:
- Understanding the importance of ecological factors,
environmental factors, and major historical events in the development
of civilizations/societies;
- Understanding the extent to which the countries of the
world interact within an interdependent global system;
- Exploring such categories as social class, gender, and
ethnicity, and such social institutions as the economy, religion,
government, and education, and how they affect individual behavior in
groups and in society at large;
- Envisioning concrete ways of helping create a new and
better society in which all members of the diverse human family will
have a chance to live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives;
- Envisioning concrete ways of helping create a new and
better society in which all members of the diverse human family will
have a chance to live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives;
- Doing all the the preceding with the following eight core
values in mind: Accountability, Civility, Dialogue, Fairness,
Integrity, Mutual
Support, Rationality, and Tolerance.
In meeting the demands of these objectives, this class will use
lectures, student participation and essays, three books (Frankl's Man's
Search
for Meaning, Orwell's 1984, and Rohmann's A World of
Ideas), videos and other appropriate means to produce, convey and
combine information and knowledge. The class will be divided into
groups that will collaborate on the "better society" project that will
culminate in a group presentation to the full class at the end of the
term. All students are expected to read Man's Search for Meaning
and 1984 by the end of the sixth week in preparation for the
book-exam as well as for an understanding of, and fruitful
participation in, lectures and discussions in the weeks ahead. Students
must also come to all classes, take notes and participate in class
discussions. The "better society" project will require each group to
examine problems faced by contemporary societies and make
recommendations about
ways to solve these problems for the good of society and individuals.
Each
group must also submit a copy of all material used in presentation and
a
two-page paper on the essence of their "better society." A World of
Ideas
will serve as a general resource throughout the term and will also be
suggested or required in the World Thought and Culture sequence of IDS
courses.
Once a week, generally toward the end of each week, students should
send reflections/comments/questions dealing with the week's discussion
to our
course mailbox, ids1133@usao.edu
.
PLEASE, keep in mind that you MUST send messages from a personal e-mail
account
(preferably your USAO student account) even when you are using USAO
computers
in the labs or library.
Class Texts
1. Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning
2. Orwell's 1984
3. Rohmann's A World of Ideas
Grading Scheme
Component
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Total Points
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Four Exams @ 15% each
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60%
|
Group Project
|
20%
|
Attendance/Participation/e-mail
comments
|
20%
|
Total
|
100%
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A= 90-100; B=80-89.9; C=
70-79.99; D= 60-69.99; F=< 59.99
Note: The course syllabus/schedule is subject to change. All changes
will be announced in class. It is the duty of the study to obtain all
material for class, submit assignment on time and satisfy all
components of the course. Without prior approval by one of the
instructors, exams and papers not completed on schedule may not be
accepted. Please remember to obtain a signed permission slip from an
instructor if you plan on completing a project later than scheduled.
The Individual in Contemporary Society: Tentative Spring
2006 Class Schedule
10 January 2006
last revised 11 April 2006
ihs
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