Spring 2007

1. Course Description: The capstone course is designed as the assessment tool for the General Education Program.  This particular Honors section of GEP 397 will explore four principal areas of power and authority as they relate to the Public Affairs Mission of the University: (1) religion, (2) art and architecture, (3) forms of government, and (4) forms of behavior modification. Each of these areas dovetails into each other and allows for easy transitions and for the identification of connections. The primary focus will be to analyze forms of, and means to, power and then discuss ways in which these have been harmful as well as beneficial to individual freedoms. In every instance, it will be the task of the instructor to help students identify, analyze, and process their understanding of these forms and symbols of power.

2. Textbooks:

a. G. Orwell, 1984

b. Machiavelli, The Prince
**An on-line version is available at http://www.orst.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/prince/prince_contents.html

3. Class Procedures: This will be structured primarily as an interactive discussion course. In addition to the textbooks, a number of articles will used to supplement the course. This material will be used in our email discussions. It is expected the student will take the initiative to raise questions and to seek additional information from the instructor.

4. Course Objectives: Each capstone course contains a Public Affairs theme. This section of GEP 397 will:

a. Encourage the student to formulate questions, evaluate evidence, and make deductive inferences about sources and
    symbols of power.

b. Help the student become better informed and more open-minded about cultural differences and how these are the basis of
    powerful and powerless conditions.

c. Show the student that there may be many paths to the same ultimate goal.

d. Increase the student's awareness of his/her own thinking processes and possible cultural biases, and the degree to which we
    are creatures of our society.

e. Teach the student to communicate more effectively in written and oral forms, and to critically analyze the ideas of others.

f. Help the student become more visually-literate so she can recognize and evaluate cultural symbols, body language,
   slogans, and other tools of government and business in the struggle for power.

5. Assessment Methods:

    a. There will be two essay exams in this course: a mid-term and a final. A study guide will be provided prior to the test to
        aid in preparation and to help focus on major ideas.    

    b. There will be two short class writing assignments to assess student awareness of issues being raised in
        class readings and discussion (50 points each).

    d. The final exam will serve as a post-test designed to determine whether or not an enhanced level of sensitivity to course materials has occurred.

Grades will be based on the exams, email discussion, and short reaction papers.

6. Attendance: Since this is an email discussion class, it is essential that you make every effort to response to each query by the instructor. A significant portion (25%) of your final grade will be based on your participation in email class discussion.

7. Written Assignments: There will be two written assignments spaced throughout the semester.  These will require students to make effective use of the readings we are doing as well as to do some original research to document your conclusions and demonstrate your ability to use the library and internet resources available.  If you choose to use Internet sources in your research, I suggest you read the cautions about the material posted on the web at: http://www.slu.edu/departments/english/research/page02.html

8. Cheating: Cheating will not be tolerated in this course. Anyone caught cheating, as defined in the Student Code of Conduct, will be assigned an "F" grade for the course.  I also direct students to the university's statement of community principles.

9. Grading: The final grade will be based on the following:

Mid-term exam = 100 points

Short Papers = 100 points (50 points each)

Final Exam = 100 points

Class Participation = 100 points

The grade will be determined on a ten point scale: 90-100 = A, etc. Borderline grades will be determined by such factors as attendance, completion of work on time, evidence of hard work, and a willingness to seek help as well as general contribution to class discussions.

10. Office Hours: Students should feel free to consult with me about the course and their work. My office is in STRO 215.  I will be there 10-10:50 am Monday through Friday.  The Associate Dean's office phone is 836-5529 and my secretary can make an appointment for me. I can also be contacted by e-mail: VictorMatthews@missouristate.edu

11. Inclusive Language: In line with the newest style guides, I will be using inclusive language. This means that I will use language that includes both women and men. Instead of "man" I will use "human beings." Instead of "he" I will use "he or she," etc. (I urge you to follow my lead both orally and in your writing). Written papers must conform to style guide rules on inclusive language.

12. Disability Accommodation: Students with disabilities who may require accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Disability Support Services (DSS), Plaster Student Union, 4th floor, (417) 836-4192 or TDD (417) 836-6792. Information about DSS can be found at http://www.missouristate.edu/disability/  

13. Missouri State is an equal opportunity employer/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against.  The Missouri State University Nondiscrimination Statement can be found at: http://www.missouristate.edu/equity/.   At all times, it is your right to address inquiries and concerns about possible discrimination to Jana Estergard, the Equal Opportunity Officer, Siceluff 296 (417-836-4252). Concerns about discrimination can also be brought directly to your instructor's attention, and to the attention of your instructor's department head.

Each of the following sections is designed to elicit discussion based on both the readings and on the personal observations of the students. It is expected that reading will be completed prior to class in order to facilitate discussion. It is also quite likely that additional resources will be drawn on during the course of the semester.

1. Discussion of Public Affairs Mission.

a. Read about the university's Public Affairs Mission at http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/how/how.html

b. Examine the quotations found at http://courses.missouristate.edu/VictorMatthews/courses/Quotes.gep.html

c. Discuss the major documents of U.S. History: http://www.law.ou.edu/hist 

2.  Instruments and Sources of Power and Authority

a. Read and discuss Galbraith: pp. 1-13, "An Overview" -- HANDOUT

b. Read and discuss A. Lincoln, "Constructing Authority," pp. 1-13 -- HANDOUT

3. Visual Images of Power.

a. Read E. Dissanyake, "What is Art For?"  -- HANDOUT (1); HANDOUT (2)

   -- brands and archetypes HANDOUT (3) and http://members.tripod.com/~Ramon_K_Jusino/littlemermaid.html

   -- HANDOUT (4) -- Hate Symbols

b. Read R. Firth: "Symbolism of Flags," pp. 328-367  -- HANDOUT

    -- Texas v. Johnson (1989) ruling on Flag Desecration

    -- Web sites dealing with flags: http://www.law.ou.edu/stflag.html 

                                                    http://www.flaginstitute.org/

c. Discuss S. Lennon, "Sex, Dress, and Power in the Workplace: 'Star Trek, The Next Generation',"
    pp. 103-122. -- HANDOUT

--Web sites dealing with costumes, military insignia, vestments (1)

4. Sacred Levels of Power

a. Discuss Eliade's concepts of "Sacred Space and Making the World Sacred" - Read pp. 20-32 and 50-65 in
    "The Sacred and the Profane,"  -- class handout .(1), (2)

Helpful web sites: Synopsis of "The Sacred and the Profane"  http://www.vcsun.org/~cummings/sacred.html

                              Terms used in Eliade's Works  http://www.friesian.com/vocab.htm

b. Read Galbraith: pp. 171-180, "Power of Religion and the Press" -- Handout (1)  

   ***MID-TERM EXAM: March 15, 2007***

4. Ideas of Power: Government

a. Examine the principles of propaganda as outlined in the IPA web site:

    http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Propaganda_techniques  and http://www.propagandacritic.com/ -- HANDOUT

    List of lobbyist web sites: http://courses.missouristate.edu/vhm970f/lobbyists.doc

    Media Giants: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/giants 

b. Read & discuss Galbraith: pp. 144-59, "Organization & the State" -- HANDOUT

c. Read and discuss Machiavelli: The Prince -- HANDOUT

    CLASS OUTLINE NOTES

    Map of Italy: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/europe/italy/italy.htm 

    d.  **Pertinent web site for Orwell's 1984:

      http://students.ou.edu/C/Kara.C.Chiodo-1/orwell.html#1984   

5. Uses of Power: Personal enhancement, group enhancement, personal disenfranchisement, group disenfranchisement

a. Continued discussion of Orwell: 1984

Final Exam: Monday, May 14, 2007

Reserve Reading List

Dissanayake, E., "What Does Art Do for People?," in What is Art For? (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1988), 61-73.

Eliade, M. The Sacred and the Profane. NY: Harcourt, Brace, 1959.

Firth, R., "Symbolism of Flags," in Symbols Public and Private (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1973), 328-367.

Galbraith, J.K. The Anatomy of Power (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1983).

Lincoln, B. Authority: Construction and Corrosion. Chicago: U. of Chicago Press, 1994.

This site was last updated on December 30, 2006.