25 Apr Why is the development of this area of the humanities culturally important?

Reflection (before action) is a very important part of the learning process, and an essential component of the Jesuit Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm of: Experience – Reflection – Action. Additionally, synthesis of material is necessary to demonstrate evidence of the higher registers of learning, and this class has been designed to be able to help students demonstrate ‘mastery’ over important concepts in the Humanities. In order to demonstrate ‘mastery’, a student needs to show that they can evaluate ideas, and to create new ideas within a particular discipline. Please keep these motivations in mind as you compose your essay.

From the beginning of this class, we have been working with the following  definition of the Humanities:  the Humanities consist of the ways in which humans have used philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history, and language, in order to process, interpret, and document our world and the human experience. Because we want you to be able to evaluate, see patterns, and to synthesize information, please draw on the materials you have read and learned in Chapters 13-15, as well as your own work from Weeks 5 through 7, in order to answer these two questions in your essay ( 4- to 6-pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font size 12):

Please note:  There is no single correct answer to any of these questions. These questions are open-ended because we want to see what you can identify and synthesize. 

Please also consider using in your paper  headings that relate to each of the three questions (and any sub-parts) below, so as to focus your answer and to ensure you are answering the questions as asked.

1. Please restrict your focus to one strand (philosophy, religion, art, music, history, language, etc.) of the humanities covered in chapters 13-15. Write about:

a. Why is the development of this area of the humanities culturally important? b. What patterns do you see—if any—in the ways that different cultures have expressed this strand of the humanities?

2. What new ideas came to you about the role of marginalized voices; do any of those ideas change your definition or view of the humanities?

3. How has what you have learned over the past seven weeks of this course helped you to understand the human experience in a better way? How (i.e., in what way) will this knowledge cause you to ACT differently in your own life?