Instructor: James H. Donelan
Tuesday, Thursday 8:00-9:15
HSSB 1231
Enroll Code: 44339
Email: donelan@humanitas.ucsb.edu
1310 Girvetz Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:00-11:00 or by appointment.

Texts:
Descartes, Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy
Damrosch, et. al. The Longman Anthology of British Literature, Vol. 1C
Carter, Cambridge Opera Guide to Le Nozze di Figaro

Course Description: The course will allow students to refine their skills in scholarship and writing in several humanistic disciplines. Students will address the issues of evidence, interpretation, and critique within each individual discourse and as part of a general understanding of the humanities.

Requirements: The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class discussion and activities, and timely completion of all assignments, including one-page essays, a short essay on philosophy (5-6 pages), an annotated bibliography, and one longer essay (8-10 pages). Students will also give an oral presentation on a topic related to the longer essay. In addition, please observe the following rules:

• Do not alter the font size or line spacing in order to change the length of the paper.
• Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and submitted on time.
• Use twelve point type, in Times New Roman or CG Times.
• Papers should be delivered to my mailbox in South Hall by noon on the date due or in class the same day. Late papers will result in grade reductions.
• Never submit a paper without proofreading it carefully.
• Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence in class and your full participation. Participation therefore counts for a substantial part of your grade.
• University regulations regarding plagiarism will be strictly enforced.

4/4
Handout: Kant, "What is Enlightentment?"
In-class exercise: Writing sample

4/6
Reading: Descartes, "Discourse on Method"; Sherman and Zwicker, "The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century" 1979
Homework: One-page summary of argument
In-class assignment: Summary critique and analysis

4/11
Reading: Descartes, "Meditations on First Philosophy"
Homework: One-page comparison of Kant and Descartes
In-class: Types of argument

4/13
Reading: Locke, from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 2631.
Homework: Philosophy essay prospectus and outline
In-class: Prospectus and outline critique

4/18
Reading: Hume, from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding 2647
Homework: Philosophy essay draft.
In-class: Partner draft evaluation

II: Literature: Satire, Poetry, and Criticism

4/20
Reading: Swift, "A Voyage to the … Houyhnhnms," Gulliver’s Travels 2402
Homework: Philosophy Essay Due  Philosophy Essay Topics
In-class: Why write criticism?

4/25
Reading: Swift, continued.
Homework: One-page critical argument on Swift
In-class: Examination of evidence

4/27
Reading: Pope, "Essay on Criticism" 2461; Lady Montagu, "The Lover: A Ballad" 2567
Homework: Defense of poetry
In-class: Defining poetry

5/2
Reading: Goldsmith, "The Deserted Village" 2844; Gray, "Elegy…" 2685
Homework: Prospectus of main project  Final Project Guidelines
In-class: Defining research strategies

5/4
Library visit. Bring a notebook and pen!

III: Opera as Music and Drama: Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro

5/8 Opera Night: 7:00PM, Kerr Hall, Studio B

5/9
Readings: Mozart/da Ponte, The Marriage of Figaro
Homework: How can you write about music?
In-class: Music criticism, musicology, musical analysis

5/11
Readings: Carter, Chapters 1-3
Homework: Working bibliography
In-class: Managing sources

5/16
Readings: Carter, Chapter 5
Homework: Annotated Bibliography Due

IV: History

5/18
Reading: "The Royal Academy and the New Science" 2039; Boswell, from London Journal, 2796
Homework: Outline of Final Project
In-class: Historical argument

5/23
Readings: Hughes, "A Horse Foaled by an Acorn" (xerox); "Perspectives: Reading Papers" 2311
Homework: Historical evidence
In-class: "What really happened?"

V: Art History: Eighteenth Century Painting

5/25
Readings: Hogarth, A Rake’s Progress, 2616
Homework: Progress report

5/27 Trip to the Getty Museum

5/30
Readings: Burke "…the Sublime and the Beautiful" 2875
Homework: What is beauty?
In-class: Editing techniques; art criticism

6/1
Readings: Reynolds (xerox)
In-class: Putting it all together—final workshop.

6/6
Homework: Full rough draft due
In-class: Oral Presentations.

6/8
Oral presentations. Final Class.

6/12
Final project due.