Great Books V – Asian Great Books

GSHU 425.01

Spring 2010

Goals: This course is designed for students who have completed at least two semesters of the Great Books Colloquium.  Using the shared inquiry method, it extends the Great Books conversation to classic great texts and ideas of the East, including literary, philosophical, and religious texts, in English translation.  Special attention will be given to the religious traditions of Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism – and, in Endo’s Silence, to the encounter between Christianity and Japanese religion and culture.  As we encounter and enter into dialogue with these complex works, we will be able to broaden, deepen, and enrich our views of these cultures as they too reflect the universal human search for the true, the good, and the beautiful.

Instructor

Don Thompson, 310.506.4831, RAC 132, [email-masked], http://dt.pepperdine.edu/

Office Hours

M 1-2, T 1-2, R 1-2, F 9-10

Reading List & Discussion Schedule

Mahabharata. Trans. C.V. Narasimhan. (5)

Bhagavad-gita. Trans. Barbara Stoler Miller. (2)

Mencius.  Trans. D.C. Lau. (2)

Han Fei Tzu Trans: Burton Watson. (2)

Tao Te Ching.  Trans. Stephen Addis and Stanley Lombardo. (1)

Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings. Trans. Burton Watson. (3)

Kamo-no-Chomei, Hojoki: Visions of A Torn World.  Trans. Yasuhiko Moriguchi and David Jenkins. (2)

Shikibu Murasaki, The Tale of Genji (abridged). Trans. Edward Seidensticker. (2)

Matsuo Basho, The Narrow Road to The Deep North. Trans. Nobuyuki Yuasa. (1)

Matsuo Basho, On Love and Barley: Haiku. Trans. Lucien Stryk. (1)

Natsume Soseki, Kokoro. Trans. Edwin McCellan. (2)

Shusaku Endo, Silence. Trans. William Johnston. (2)

Discussion (10%)

Each student is expected to be participatory on a daily basis.  Make it a consistent habit to be prepared with several interpretive questions daily.  Your participation will be graded each day based on the quality, quantity, insight, textual application and knowledge that you offer.

Class Cancellation Days

No class on February 4 or March 25. For these days, class will not meet, but I expect you to keep up with the reading.

Attendance

You have two free absences beyond the cancellation dates just listed. After that, your final course grade will be lowered 1.5% per absence.  Use the two free ones wisely.

Short Writing Assignments (15%)

Each short writing assignment is based on a prompt given by the instructor, as a function of the current reading material we are covering.  Each paper is to be two pages in length, and is to be turned at the beginning of class on hard copy adhering to basic MLA format.  The papers are due on the following dates:  January 18; February 1, 25; March 29; April 12, 19.  Late papers receive a score of zero.  NO ELECTRONIC SUBMITTALS.  Be prepared to share your writing with the class – that is, be prepared both to receive and to give constructive criticism.

The nature of each short writing assignment will be determined by the instructor.  They each will be one of the following:  interpretive/analytic, genre mode, great ideas based, instructor wildcard, or student freestyle.  Aim for professional quality writing worthy of publication, wherein there is a distinct thesis, a clear argument, and creative thought.  Use text judiciously and with discrimination.  Avoid using first person.  Be sure to form a definite position that can be explicated via the text.  You may only use texts from the Great Books Colloquium reading list.  Each paper should be a product of analytical thought and careful analysis presented in a creative form.  Each paper will be graded as follows:  Title and Opening – 1 point, Thesis – 3 points, Argument – 3 points, Text Selection and Analysis – 2 points, Editing – 1 point. Total – 10 points.

Extended Writing (75%)

You must complete three extended writing assignments, in the form of papers that represent a fully developed version of one or more of your biweekly writing assignments.

The first paper, worth 15%, is to be 4 -5 pages in length, and is to be based on both Indian works.  This paper is due February 13 at 11:59 p.m.

The second paper, worth 30%, is to be 8-9 pages in length, and is to be based on all of the Chinese works.  This paper is due by March 20 at 11:59 p.m.

The last paper, worth 30%, is to be 8-9 pages in length, and is to be based on all of the Japanese works.  This paper is due by April 29 at 11:59 p.m.

Each extended writing submittal is graded on the following basis:

Thesis

Thesis Statement                     10

Well Structured Plan               10

Analysis

Thesis Execution                     10

Logical Completeness             5

Logical Flow                           5

Text

Appropriately Chosen             10

Sufficiently Explained            10

Risk/Interest

Interesting Reading                10

Creativity                                5

Strong Conclusion                  5

Language

Mature Vocabulary                 5

Varied/Interesting

Sentence Structure           5

Mechanics

Punctuation                             5

Spelling                                   5

Total                                                   100

Anonymity

All writing is to be submitted with no name. Instead, affix your College Wide ID to the paper on the back page, after the "Works Cited" section.  This will ensure that I evaluate your writing objectively and honestly.

Rough Drafts

Rough drafts are always welcome and may be submitted up to 24 hours prior any paper deadline. Please submit these anonymously and electronically.