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Instructor: Michael J. Ulrich, Ph.D.
Office: MCMI 224C
Phone: 584-2397
E-mail: ulrich@elon.edu
Office Hours: Monday 10:45-12:00, Tuesday 9:30-11:30,
                         Wednesday 10:45-12:00, Thursday 9:30-11:30
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"Zenzele" J. Nozipo Maraire
"A Small Place" Jamaica Kincaid
"Making Contact" Carol Verburg
"Global Perspectives" Ann Kelleher & Laura Klein
"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" Anne Fadiman

1) e-mail account
2) daily planner
3) course organizer

By using this course theme as a guide, more specific issues will be addressed under this largHer umbrella. These categories are the specific content areas we will be studying in the course. In order to encounter these issues effectively, students will need to utilize information from a variety of disciplines. Students should expect, therefore, to participate in activities that incorporate aspects of sociology, economics, political science, mathematics, environmental studies, history, religious studies, and philosophy.

GOALS OF GENERAL STUDIES AT ELON COLLEGE

Reading and writing, listening and speaking, accessing and interpreting, evaluating and presenting knowledge-claims.

Abilities both to respect diversity and to prize what unites us as members of the human family and the great planetary web of life.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The theme of cultural and ethnic diversity will guide the direction of this course through an exploration of the implications and applications of this concept. We will be developing this theme by asking what kinds of diversity exist, how does diversity influence human affairs, when is diversity valued, when isn't it and why should we examine diversity at all. As you explore these issues, your position in the global landscape will be questioned and challenged -- economically, politically, spiritually, emotionally, artistically but above all, personally.

At times, you may find this task to be an unwelcome and frustrating intrusion into your affairs, requiring you to utilize resources and practice skills you have possibly avoided in the past. You will also be expected to work on assignments with other people, both inside and outside of class. Oftentimes, problems faced in this course will be more than any one individual can solve, but, in partnership with fellow students, analysis of complex issues might become more manageable.

There will be a variety of ways in which these objectives will be introduced. You should expect the unexpected. You will be watching feature films and documentary series, reading from the newspaper, novels, short stories and journal articles, interacting with other students and visiting speakers and even leaving campus on field trips to the great beyond... Because this course is a seminar, you will be expected to be a participant, not an observer. Come to class prepared and alert. Please bring the texts we will be discussing on the appropriate days.

Because this class will require you to do a great deal of writing, you may want to utilize the resources of the Writing Center, located in McEwen Library Room 214. This service is free and is available to help you with your writing projects. Please plan to visit the Writing Center throughout the course. Their hours are Monday through Friday 9-12 AM and Sunday through Thursday 4-10 PM.

GRADING SCALE: Students final grades will be determined according to the following distributions:

93-99 A        90-92 A-
88-89 B+      83-87 B      80-82 B-
78-79 C+      73-77 C      70-72 C-
68-69 D+      63-67 D      60-62 D-
00-59 F

EVALUATION PROCEDURES: In recognition of the diversity of learning styles amongst students, a variety of methods will be incorporated into the instruction of this course. In addition to the traditional lecture format, students should expect to participate in structured discussions, class demonstrations, library research projects, presentations and writing assignments. Consistent class attendance, utilization of office hours, and synthesis of the required readings from the texts and elsewhere will be invaluable for successful completion of the course.

HONOR CODE: This course recognizes and adheres to the principles of the Elon Academic Honor Code. Students are expected to be familiar with the code and follow it consistently, regardless of whether the professor is present to enforce it. The Elon Academic Honor Code can be found in the current Elon Student Handbook. Questions about possible violations should be directed to the instructor. Suspected violations will be reported to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.