The Preparatory & Professional School of San Bernardino CountyLisa Hebert

This course explores the power and excitement of ideas from the four main branches of liberal learning: Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. The distinctive nature and role of each branch and the extensive interconnectedness of all of the branches will be emphasized through readings with historical, cultural, and gender diversity.

The liberal arts curriculum encourages the student to develop an ability to think critically and communicate effectively. Exposure to the fine arts within this liberal arts curriculum fosters a greater appreciation of creativity and beauty in our complex technological society.

As a student at PPS, you will take many classes: history, literature, dance, physics, religion, art, math and as you progress in your chosen field of study, you will take increasingly specialized courses.

In order to encourage students to cross academic boundaries, I have created a multidisciplinary course called "The Power of Ideas” which seeks to integrate the four major areas that make up a liberal arts education: the natural sciences, the fine arts, the humanities, and the social sciences.

Each of these areas seeks to understand the world. They differ in approach and in the ways they look for meaning, but they all use a single scholarly tool: the human mind. In this course, you will learn to use your mind as a critical and creative tool. You will also learn many interesting ideas and have fun!

By taking this course, you are taking part in an adventure-an adventure of the mind. You will be asked to read, write, discuss, experiment with, and think about a variety of ideas. You will be asked to use your mind, to think across the curriculum, to find new connections. It may be a little disconcerting at first, but it will be interesting. It might even be the most important class you have ever taken. You will also be asked to keep up with a great deal of information about the course much of it is in this syllabus.
 

Research in the Liberal Arts: Students will complete several writing assignments that focus on selecting, evaluating, understanding, and using various sources for research in the liberal arts. Further instructions are in the course packet. Each student will visit the library in connection with these assignments. These and all assignments must be turned in on the date due. Assignments received one weekday after the date due will be penalized one letter grade. After that, assignments will not be accepted.

Each student will prepare a three-to-five-minute informative speech related to one of the ideas covered during the course.

The presentation will be based on research, using at least two sources.

Guidelines for preparation and evaluation of this assignment will be provided.

Many activities will be offered during the semester that will enhance your interdisciplinary learning experience.

A list of activities-concerts, speakers, films, plays, and discussions-can be found in your course packet.

Your class will select four events from the list, and you will attend two of the four events with your class and instructor.

If you are not able to attend the events selected by your class, you may attend any of the events on your own.

If you attend an event on your own, you must e-mail to your instructor a written report within one week after the event. Instructions for writing a co-curricular report can be found in your course packet.

Assignments received one weekday after the date due will be penalized one letter grade. After that, assignments will not be accepted.

Short, two-item daily quizzes will be given at the beginning of each session, with each item requiring a brief answer.

Questions will assess your general preparation for class participation, particularly your reading of the assigned material.

One grade will be dropped for classes that meet weekly, two will be dropped for classes that meet twice weekly, and three will be dropped for classes that meet three times weekly. You can take the quiz only if you are present when the quiz is given.

Examinations will be administered in class and will consist of written responses to discussion questions.

Exams must be taken at the assigned times.

The instructor may grant exceptions due to extraordinary circumstances.

Study guides will be provided prior to the exam, and study sessions will be held so that students may engage in collaborative preparation for the exams.

This course is designed to be collaborative, and each session is important.

You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in discussion, to ask questions, and to share your insights into readings and other assignments.

Your participation grade will be based on the quality and quantity of your comments.

Your final grade will be based on the following:

Consult the course packet for guidelines for grading writing assignments.

All grades will be assigned as A, B, C, D, or F. A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1 and F=0 using the following scale:

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO GAIN FROM ALL OF THIS?