Syllabus

(This is a general version for review purposes only. For the official version specific to your class semester, see the document posted in Canvas.)

Course Instructor: Dr. Sarah Cervone

Office: B032C  Office Hours: by appointment

Email: via Canvas or sarah.cervone@sfcollege.edu

Phone: (352) 395-5670

Objective

This course is an introduction to African Humanities. It draws from interdisciplinary sources to examine the geographic continent called ‘Africa’ and the complex cultural systems, political structures, religious practices, economic arrangements, social relationships, and histories shared by the diverse populations of people connected to Africa.

Goals

At the conclusion of the semester, students will be able to;

  • Recreate physical, political and social maps of Africa,
  • Identify archaeological histories of Africa and the development of African civilizations
  • Recognize the colonial and post-colonial relationships that position Africa in the Modern World System,
  • Situate 21stcentury challenges and experiences within their specific socio-historical contexts,
  • Demonstrate the complexity and diversity of African cultures, societies and people,
  • Present African social and cultural phenomena in an intellectual and academic context.

Class Design: The first part of the course will establish the historical foundations that have shaped contemporary social and cultural phenomena in Africa. Class lectures will complement the material presented in the textbook by offering introductory theories and concepts as they relate to Africa and people connected to Africa. Students will be evaluated via four writing assignments, two exams, and one project. Assignments, readings, grades, and announcements will be posted on Canvas and the course website, and all assignments must be submitted digitally through Turnitin on Canvas and in hardcopy in class. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the Canvas system.

Readings

In order to participate fully, it is important to complete each day’s reading assignment prior to class.

Grading and Assessment (100pts)

Grading is based on points, not percentages. Students earn points by completing and submitting activities through Canvas. The distribution of points is listed below. (Online students complete 20 participation points, and face-to-face students complete ten participation points and ten points for attending in-class activities.) Final letter grades are based on the total points earned in the class according to the scale below. The Total Colum in the gradebook will automatically calculates the sum of points earned throughout the semester. This will provide a realtime assessment of where you are in the class and the number of points needed to reach the letter grade you want at the end of the term. Students are responsible for tracking the Total column. Please note that there are at least 15 additional extra credit participation points available to students in Canvas. These points can be used to replace points missed in discussions, assessments and in the final project. In light of the extraordinary amount of extra credit in this course, grades are never bumped and late work is not accepted. All activities are loaded into Canvas by the first day of classes, and students are encourage to work ahead of schedule to avoid missed work due to unforeseen medical emergencies, arrests, car troubles, internet connectivity loss, etc.  

Point Distribution

Experiential Activities10
Participation 10
Exams(two x 20 points each)40
Quizzes(four x five points each)20
Final Paper10
Final Poster10
Total Points100 points

Letter Grade Scale

94 and upA
88-93.9B+
84-87.9B
78-83.9C+
74-77.9C
68-73.9D+
64-67.9D
>64F

Attendance: Regular participation in class discussion and activities is a key part of attendance in this course. Face-to-Face classes: Tardies exceeding 10 minutes will count as ½ absence, and students more than ½ hour late will be marked absent. Students found sleeping, listening to music, and/or playing on a laptop or other electronic device in class will be marked absent. Department policy requires students to attend 75% of in-class activities to pass; this translates to 7.5 out of 10 attendance points in the gradebook. To ensure fair and equitable treatment of all students, every student will receive two automatically excused absences at the end of the semester. Any student exceeding two absences must provide legal or medical documentation justifying more than two absences in a semester.

Discussions

Online discussion activities provided at the end of each weblesson are designed to help students process new information and gain insight on different ideas and perspectives through online conversation. To receive credit for online discussion activities, students must follow the directions in the discussion prompt at the end of each weblesson, use terms and concepts introduced in the lesson in the response,  reply to at least two other student posts, and complete the response prior to the designated deadline. Late submissions are not accepted, yet extra discussion activities are provided to replace missed discussions or to earn extra credit points in the final grade. 

Exams: Each exam will be comprised of 20 true/false and multiple choice questions. They will cover the readings and the material (including films and speakers) presented in class. The exams are not cumulative. Each exam will be administered through the Canvas website and will last 20 minutes after log-in. Students are responsible for saving and submitting their responses before the allotted time expires. Students who chose to take an exam on an off-campus computer must do so at their own risk. Make-up exams will not be allowed with medical documentation.

Assignments and Final Project: Class assignments are designed to assist students in developing specialized expertise in a specific country/area in Africa. In each assignment, it is extremely important to situate the unique experiences, histories, and circumstances of your selected region within the more broad social and historical phenomena that shape African culture. The assignments and projects will be graded according to: 1.) writing, grammar and composition; 2.) content and use of material presented in the readings and in class; 3.) ability to present and discuss in class; 5.) use of academic sources; and the final project will include 6.) aesthetic appeal and design.  Failure to use and include academic citations and/or a Turnitin score great than 10% will result in an automatic ‘0’. Please check your ‘Turnitin’ score to avoid plagiarism. I will be available during office hours and by appointment to assist with any problems or questions. Please refer to the course website for assignment descriptions and resources for completing the assignment. Assignments must be turned in via Canvas before class time on the specified due date.  Late assignments will not be accepted without medical documentation.

Technical Difficulties: Students are responsible for resolving technical difficulties in Canvas, on personal computers, or personal internet connections prior to designated deadlines. Late work is not accepted due to technical difficulties.  

General Education Learning Outcome

The final project will assess student’s ability to meet the GELO for Global and Socio-Cultural Responsibility: “Demonstrate an understanding of diversity/pluralism in the world community, and an awareness of civic and social participation and ethical and informed decision-making.” (GE Humanities C)

Classroom Etiquette

All points of view are welcome, yet they must be expressed in an intelligent and non-offensive manner and framed within an academic context. Students who revert to slurs and/or insults will be asked to leave the classroom. Please refer to the Santa Fe College Student Conduct Code: http://dept.sfcollege.edu/rules/studentconductcode.pdf. In addition, the use of cell phones and laptops is forbidden while class is in session.

Accessibility Statement

Santa Fe College values diversity and inclusion and is committed to fostering mutual respect and full participation for all students. The Disabilities Resource Center (DRC) facilitates reasonable accommodations for students who encounter disability-related barriers in the learning environment. If you have a disability that may affect your work in this class and think you need accommodations, please contact the DRC to schedule an appointment and start a conversation about reasonable accommodations.

The DRC is located in Building S, Room 229 at the Northwest Campus and appointments are available at all College locations. Visit www.sfcollege.edu/drc

Academic Honesty

Authenticity of student work will be verified though the Turnitin electronic database. Plagiarized work will receive a failing grade, and evidence of plagiarism will be submitted to the Department. For information about plagiarism and how to avoid it, visit: http://dept.sfcollege.edu/library/doingresearch/doingresearch_plagiarism.htm

International Studies Certificate

Santa Fe College’s International Studies Certificate provides a multidisciplinary opportunity, designed to produce globally-competent workers and engaged world citizens. This course offers students a unique opportunity to study culture beyond the borders of the United States and will help to satisfy the requirements for completion of this certificate. For more information:  http://www.sfcollege.edu/international/index.php?section=international_certificate

Discrimination / Harassment Policy

SF prohibits any form of discrimination or sexual harassment among students, faculty and staff. For further information, refer to College Rule 2.8 at https://www.sfcollege.edu/Assets/sf/rules/pdfs/Rule_2/2_8.pdf

Student Rights & Responsibilities

The purpose of this document is to provide students with a general overview of both their rights and responsibilities as members of the Santa Fe Community. For a complete list of students’ rights and responsibilities, go to http://www.sfcollege.edu/studentaffairs/?section=policies/student_rights