On July 19, b-term started!
My course begins at 9:40 and ends at 11:50. It is so long that we take a break for 10 minutes at about 11:00. 21 students are enrolled at this point, but there were about 15 students there.
The ration between men and wemen is half. The instructer is a graduate student. He seems to be around 27 or 28 years old. To my surprise, he speaks Japanese!! It's because he has lived in Japan for 3 years as a ALT. In addition, there is a Japanese girl in the same class. So, he spoke to us when she and I was talking each other in Japanese. It really surprised me.
By the way, we got the syllabus of the course. And we looked over it on the first class.
On the first page, 'Course Description and Objectives' are illustrated. It says, for example, "This course is a survey introduction to some major texts in (primarily Western) political theory from the ancient to the modern period. No prior experience is required, although an interest in politics and curiosity about political idea is highly recommended." Survey introduction means that we will pick up some good sense in books. It doesn't mean we will cover all pat of books.
So, texts and materials we will read are:
Plato, The Republic
Hobbes, Leviathan
Locke, Two Treaties of Government
Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality
Burke, Reflection on the Revolution in France
Marx, Communist Manifesto
Mill, On Liberty
Ghandi, Selected Political Writings
Barber, Jihad v. McWord.
The coming week, we are going to study Plato and Hobbes.
According to the syllabus, this course is also writing intensive and is composed of one major assigment, a weekly analytic journal, short in-class essays/quizzes/group presentations, participation, and a final exam. First paper is due August 13. Paper is going to be 5 page paper.
On each Morning, we have to hand in an alalytic journal. It is going to be 1 page long. This will cover the material for that week. The instructer told us that journal is for making a habit of questioning. In this course, it is the most important thing to think what I think about some philosopher's statements. Realted to this, the instructer said that do not dismiss while we are reading the books. Instead, encourage disagreed opinion if you disagrees with the opinion in the book. Today, July 20, we were given the subject of the first journal.
Let me show you the content. "Imagine that you have boarded a bus and have just settled in for a long journey down the West Cast from rainy seattle to san Diego. Prior to departure an old man in a toga which is a long loose piece of clothing worn by people in ancient Rome sits next to you. He introduces himself as a Socrates and starts to ask you questions." Considering this situation, we have to imagine what he asks me about. As he does this, how do I feel about sitting next to him for the next 36 hours? And why do I feel this way?
For writing up this journal, we need to read the assigned part of the Repblic in advance. I will show you my answer after I finished writing it.
Misaki
2 comments:
i'm also surprised that there is a Japanese girl your class and the instructor speaks Japanese.
how was the feeling to speak Japanese in America?
now,i'm tired because of some exams.especially,KIMUSUSU's test was hard...
Hi Yoshiko,
How are you doing? Did you finish your exams? Hope you get high score!!
We talk each other in Japanese every time we meet. I feel good speaking Japanese to her.I feel sad, however, because I came here to speak English.
Anyway, I like to talk with her. She came here 3 years ago. She comes from Tokyo.
Post a Comment