Plagues and People – PATH 006EJanuary 2005 Plagues and People – PATH 006E What this Class is all About: Don’t be fooled. Yes, it is a pathology class and (with luck) we will arrive at how modern science looks at disease some time in April (maybe). What I hope the class will be about is how plagues interact with people, how plagues affect society in the broadest sense. It is a Seminar. I will try not to lecture because in a seminar you teach yourselves. You read (deeply), you think, you ask yourself questions. In class, you ask each other questions (and try to come up with answers). After class you think (and read) some more. . . .and when you are ready you write. To start, I will ask some questions but I hope not give too many answers (because often there are no answers, just theories, hypotheses). Goals: If for the final exam question I made a proposal “All human society which has left a written record, from say 1000 BCE to present, reacts to plague in the same ways, for the same reasons” and you were able to write a well organized, expository essay which used our readings and discussions to address that question, then you would have met the goal of the Seminar. (We also react similarly to Tsunamis…think about it) Your Responsibilities: In a seminar, being irresponsible does not just affect you, it affects all. Be responsible. When problems show up, contact me at [email protected] (or in an emergency 966-4265-work; 489-1290-home) before they are serious. You are expected to: 1) Attend class – it is required and excessive unexcused absences will reduce your grade. Your class participation is important and will be noted. 2) Do the readings. You are expected to have read required texts with thought and care as indicated on the schedule (or in class). You will also be given xeroxed readings and told when these are due. (Note: generally you will pay for these “course packs” at UNC. Because I was irresponsible and did not get my work finished in time, I will provide them to you.) 3) Do the written assignments. You will have three assignments to be written out of class. They must be original work. All quotes must be noted in text (by setting off in quotation marks). All sources must be referenced. It will be sufficient to add references as endnotes as follows: Author, Title of Source, Page of Source, Year. This includes required reading. Papers must be handed in by the start of the class period on the date due. They must be “printed” – handwritten manuscripts will not be accepted. I urge you to use a computer and word processor but I will accept only hard copy output. Electronic files, e-mail attachments and the like are not an acceptable substitute. All work must be doubled spaced, be in an 11-12 point type (Times, Times Roman or a standard, easy to read type is appreciated).4) Grading of written assignments. (Note: You will be downgraded for tardiness at 5% for each 24 hours or fraction thereof you are late!) Good writing requires good ideas and good arguments that are thoughtfully organized. You are trying to convince the reader that your argument is correct. Although you will be downgraded for excessive sloppiness such as not checking spelling, perfect spelling (although appreciated) will not appreciably improve your grade. You are expected to follow guidelines on length +/- 10%. Each paper will be read by myself and a professional writer (who has written many published expository pieces and who teaches a writing course at a university that shall be nameless in Chapel Hill) and graded based on content and form. You will be expected to attend a “paper conference” arranged at our mutual convenience where your paper will be discussed. You are free to return a revised paper at any time, up to the last class for regrading. (I will not reduce grades). If you are uncertain that you understand what expository writing is and how it should be organized – bring it up in class. Course grades consist of: (1) Class participation (2) 3 papers (3) 2 exams, all of which count equally (16.7% for each). NOTE: I may substitute a project for the second