Please read the detailed description of Inquiry I and the entire first-year program in the introduction to the Inquiry reader.

Inquiry I is designed to

1. equip students with essential academic skills
2. create a common discussion about important issues
3. demonstrate how the understanding of complex issues requires information

from several perspectives

4. explore the value of a liberal arts education

By the end of Inquiry I, students should be able to

1. demonstrate proficiency in analysis and its related skills
2. demonstrate proficiency in technology skills
3. demonstrate proficiency in research skills
4. use multiple intellectual perspectives effectively when exploring a topic
5. explain the nature of a liberal arts education
6. explain the ways that authority and knowledge may come into conflict
7. explain different ways of knowing and different purposes of education
8. provide tentative, but thoughtful, answers to the central questions of the course:

1. How do we know?
2. What is the nature of humankind?

The thinking skills emphasized in Inquiry I are

1. Summary
2. Analysis (cause and effect, comparison, classification)
3. Evaluation

Your instructor will introduce these skills into the curriculum as you proceed, and each will be the focus of specific assignments. These skills will be developed and practiced in writing and oral communication.

Each student will be expected to purchase and read the following:

The custom published text entitled Inquiry

Bertolt Brecht, Galileo

Jean-Jacque Rousseau, Discourse on Human Inequality

Since approximately one-third of the readings for the course are based on instructor choice, additional texts for specific sections of Inquiry may be assigned.

Students are expected to attend all class meetings and to fulfill the lab-experience requirement. After three unexcused absences the course final grade will be lowered for each unexcused absence.

The Undergraduate Catalog includes the following policy regarding class attendance and excused absences (pp. 68-69):

Academic integrity is central to the purpose of any academic community. We ask that you read the section in the catalog entitled "Academic Integrity" (p.69), which includes the following definition:

Academic dishonesty is a profound violation of the expected code of behavior. It can take several forms, including, but not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, misrepresentation of facts or experimental results, unauthorized use of or intentional intrusion into another's computer files and/or programs, intentional damage to a computer system, and unauthorized use of library materials and privileges.

Of special concern is the issue of plagiarism, which is defined as leading your reader or listener to believe that what you have written or said is your own work, when, in fact, it is not. The range of plagiarism includes word-for-word copying of another's text without quotation marks and appropriate citation, to inappropriate paraphrasing of another's text, to even the unattributed borrowing of apt phrases or terms. All of these degrees of plagiarism are equally unethical and may be penalized with failure for the assignment, or, in extreme cases, failure for the course.

The common assignments are described in this syllabus. Individual instructors may add others. The major common assignment (required of all Inquiry students) is described below.

Inquiry I Common Assignment

Each student will select a topic related to course themes, obtain the Inquiry I instructor’s approval, and study the topic throughout the semester. The five stages of the assignment are:

1. State why the issue is interesting to you, explain your current understanding of the issue, articulate several ways of knowing about the issue, and list 6 sources, three of which must be books or articles from our libraries and one of which can be personal experience. You will not be graded on the quality of your sources at this time. Due date: Friday, September 18.

 

2. Prepare a written preliminary bibliography, minimum of 10 sources, with complete bibliographic information for each source. At least 7 must be from books and periodicals. Search for sources from several perspectives and indicate the perspectives on your list. Due date: Friday, October 9.

 

3. Expanding the search you began in #2, select two intellectual perspectives with which you will frame the discussion of the issue. Include annotations (3-5 sentences) describing the content a minimum of 5 sources from each perspective. Due date: Friday, October 30.

 

4. Analyze and discuss the issue from both perspectives, presenting the merits of each perspective as a way of understanding the issue. Present your conclusions in outline form. Due date: Friday, November 13.

 

5. Determine which one of the perspectives more effectively helps you understand the issue and explain why it is more effective. Write a two-page summary of the analysis, discussion and conclusions. Due date: Monday, November 23.

 

6. OPTIONAL: Individual faculty may choose to expand the assignment by requiring a final essay, oral presentation, or other activity.

The assignment (stages 1-5) constitutes 20% of the course grade. Work done for the optional stage 6 will be in addition to this 20%.

For the determination of your grade all instructors will weight your assignments as follows:

Inquiry students are required to attend at least three campus events designated as "lab experiences." This requirement provides an opportunity to take advantage of special events (such as the Diversity Symposium) on campus that relate to the themes of Inquiry I. These events are or will be scheduled in the afternoon, evenings, or on the weekends. A list of approved events will be provided to each student after the semester begins.

Four library orientation sessions are scheduled this semester. They will introduce you to resources in our library and on the World Wide Web.

Each instructor will introduce these skills in Inquiry classes. A special guide has been prepared for you, and will be distributed during the first week of classes.

Not everyone arrives at college with the same set of skills. If you feel you are struggling with mastering course material, or you need some help with your writing skills, please contact the Learning Center immediately. Your Inquiry instructor may require you to attend the Learning Center to address specific needs. The college has provided additional staff to the Center to deal especially with students in the First Year Program, and they are dedicated to help you have a successful first year experience.

Topic Knowledge and Authority

Texts Plato, The Allegory of the Cave

Genesis 2:4b-3:24, The Tree of Knowledge

Topic Knowledge and Authority

Texts Berthold Brecht, Introduction : Galileo

Steven Hawking, Our Picture of the Universe

Topic Knowledge and Authority

Texts Stephen J. Gould, Evolution as Fact and Theory

"God, Darwin & Dinosaurs" (tentative wave link)

Topic Knowledge and Authority

Texts Simon LeVay & Dean H. Hamer, Evidence for a Biological Influence

Topic Ways of Knowing

Texts Introduction: Contact

Contact (show time/place to be announced)

Gary L. Comstock from: John Fire Lame Deer

Topic Ways of Knowing

Texts Jacob Bronowski, The Reach of Imagination (optional)

Betty Edwards, Your Brain, The Right and Left of It (optional)

Topic Ways of Knowing

Texts Laura Bohannan, Shakespeare in the Bush

Susan Glaspell, Trifles

Topic Learning and the Purpose of Education

Texts Abraham H. Maslow, Defense and Growth (optional)

Sharon Parks, from The Critical Years: The Adult Search for a Faith

Daniel Berrigan, Peacemaker in Residence

Topic Learning and the Purpose of Education

Texts Bruno Bettelheim, The Child's Need for Magic (optional)

John H. Newman, from The Idea of a University

Topic Learning and the Purpose of Education

Texts Paulo Freire, from Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Schindler’s List (show time/place to be announced)

Frederick Busch. Ralph the Duck (optional)

Public Schools (optional)

Topic Knowing About Human Nature

Texts Tuesday, November 3 (7:30 p.m./location to be announced)

Topic Knowing About Human Nature

Fourth Library Orientation Session

Paper Due Friday, November 13 (Stage #4, Common Assignment)

Topic Knowing About Human Nature

Texts Introduction: Nova: Warriors of the Amazon

Topic Knowing About Human Nature

Topic Knowing About Human Nature

FINAL PERIOD December 9 - 12