Honors College Critical Thinking in the Humanities and Fine Arts Seminar: Berlin: Poor But Sexy

Berlin: Poor, but Sexy (HSS 244-01)

Delivery Format: F2F

Credit Hours: 3 

Course Markers: HSS - Honors College HSS, MAC CritThink Hum and Fine Art MHFA 

Course Description (from catalogue)

An intensive focus on foundational tools for reasoning, including constructing sound arguments; evaluating the quality of evidence; and forming judgments about the evidence, arguments, and conclusions of others in Humanities and Fine Arts disciplines. Prerequisite: Restricted to students in Lloyd International Honors College; Note: May be repeated once for credit when topic varies. 

Statement Regarding Diverse Perspectives 

This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate, and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

Course Specific SLOs

• balance homework from a challenging course and the various demands of life;

• have a conversant awareness of the six (6) Berlins that have existed since and starting with the Kaiserreich;

• demonstrate an understanding of the complexities and nuances of our world through the critical reading of texts and viewing of films that take place in the various Berlins that have existed across the past two centuries;

• practice critical reading by not simply talking about the text but also questioning the premises of the text;

• think critically about one’s own writing in terms of style, appropriateness, and editing;

• think critically about ethical dilemmas and crimes of the past through an historical and modern lens.

Critical Thinking and Inquiry in the Humanities & Fine Arts

• Critically analyze claims, arguments, artifacts or information.

• Construct coherent, evidence-based arguments.

Honors College SLO:

• Develop critical oral communication skills using creative pedagogies and modes of learning that incorporate performance, improvisation, and play as part of the developing social and emotional intelligence for greater global competency.

Technology Requirements 

Access to the internet is required for this course.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Delivery

This course is a discussion-based course. You will be asked to do readings and view films and come to class with thoughts on these. They do not need to be profound, just show that you’ve done the work and thought about it. As the grade breakdown will indicate, reading and being prepared for class is the main contributor to success in this course. Students will also be asked to lead discussion during one class period, complete larger projects, and organize a final presentation (details below).

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Active participation and discussion	30%
Homework (incl. writing assignments, discussion prep)	15%
Leading Discussion	7%
Projects	34%
Final Project	14%

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
93-100	A
90-92.9	A-
88-89.9	B+
83-87.9	B
80-82.9	B-
78-79.9	C+
73-77.9	C
70-72.9	C-
68-69.9	D+
63-67.9	D
60-62.9	D-
0-59.9	F

Attendance/Participation:

Regular class attendance is expected for this course, as active participation is essential to learning. Students are permitted up to four (4) absences without penalty. Beginning with the fifth absence, the participation grade will be reduced by 5 points per additional absence. After nine (9) absences, the student will automatically fail the course.

The instructor recognizes that students may occasionally need to miss class due to circumstances beyond their control. Absences related to illness (physical or mental), family or personal emergencies, religious observances, university‑sponsored activities, accessibility‑related needs, or other significant circumstances should be communicated to the instructor as soon as possible. Such absences will be handled with reasonable flexibility.

It is expected that instructors will make reasonable accommodations for students who have conflicts due to religious obligations. Please make arrangements with the instructor in advance of any conflict. Visit UNCG's Religious Observance Policy for more information.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

There are no materials for this course that require purchase. All texts and films are available online, through the library, or both. Certain texts will be available for purchase or rental through the bookstore, but their purchase is optional.