What Courses Will be Offered at JBA in 2013? 

Session I - June 8 - 29, 2013	Session II - July 6 - July 27, 2013
Advocacy, Argument, and Persuasion:  Classical Rhetoric in Contemporary Times Adventures in Pop Culture Studies Can You Say That With Your Hands?  An Introduction to American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Computers in Art and Design Introduction to Chemistry Psychology Through Science Fiction The Beauty of Mathematics:  Elementary Problems in Quantity, Structure, and Space The Horse:  Equine History, Biology, and Riding The Human Laboratory Theatre:  Onstage and Off Writing Nature	An "Animated" Course Ancient Greek:  A Modern Odyssey Biomusicology:  The Study of Music from a Biological Perspective Creating A Usable Past:  Genealogy and Local History Preparatory College Mathematics "Read All About It"  Newspaper Reporting and Production The Art and Science of Computer Programming The Writers Craft Why We Fought:  American Wars from World War I to Iraq World Mythology:  Myths, Mythemes, and Making Meaning From Eye to Paper:  Drawing What You See

Session I
June 8-29, 2013

Advocacy, Argument, and Persuasion:  Classical Rhetoric in Contemporary Times 

In a culture of 24-hour news, larger-than-life pundits and a blurring of the line between news and commentary, rhetoric and argumentation are a way of life in modern America.  Argument now occurs in settings such as the halls of Congress, evening news talk shows, popular sports programming, and local city councils. Advocacy, in the form of advertising, is everywhere.  As consumers of media and participants in an increasingly adversarial culture, learning the critical principles and practices of advocacy and persuasion provides a basis for informed involvement in the world around us.   

This course utilizes a perspective rooted in classical rhetorical theory as a mode of critical thinking and public involvement to study the processes of argumentation and persuasion in various interpersonal, political, academic and pop culture settings. Students will begin by engaging theories rooted in the classical rhetoric of the Greeks and Romans and evolve through contemporary models of argument. As a complement to this discussion of argumentation theories, students will employ various models of debate as a means to practice the ideas they learn.  Students will engage in argument by participating in visual argument, in-class debates, political debates and even humor to test their skills. Finally, lessons learned in all settings will be utilized as a framework from which to engage political discourses and persuasive popular media campaigns.

 Textbook
Thank you for arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson can teach us about the art of persuasion.  

Instructor
Jay Self, Associate Professor of Communication, Truman State University.  B.A., Truman State University; M.A. Texas Christian University, Ph.D., University of Kansas.

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Adventures in Popular Culture Studies 

If a group of aliens from another planet arrive on your doorstep with no preparation, what kind of world will they think they have stumbled into? When they look at your possessions for clues, will the aliens be able to guess what you value, what your hopes and dreams are, and what you fear? 

Popular Culture Studies involves a serious academic examination of aspects of everyday life so pervasive in our culture that we take them for granted, including popular entertainments like television, movies, music, and literature. Scholars of popular culture are interested in what is popular and why, with the guiding assumption being that our choices in entertainment both reflect who we are as a culture and can have an impact on how the culture evolves in the future. This is why studying popular culture is both fun and serious business. 

Class activities will include observing, describing, and analyzing a wide variety of popular culture objects and media such as favorite childhood toys, popular young adult movies, and teen fashion. You will learn basic theories of popular culture studies, write several short analytical essays, and participate in lively class and small group discussions. Once you’ve learned the basics, the class will work in teams to create an imaginative, thought-provoking, collaborative project. 

Textbook
No textbook required

Instructor
Priscilla Riggle, Professor of English, Truman State University. B.A. and M.A., Truman State University; Ph.D., Bowling Green State University.

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Can You Say That With Your Hands? 
An Introduction to American Sign Language and Deaf Culture

This course will introduce students to manual communication skills utilized by the Deaf community.   As a result of this course, students will learn to communicate in conversational situations utilizing finger spelling and American Sign Language.   Students will play word games, role play scenarios, interpret songs as well as write and present a one act play in sign language.  Students will experience communication barriers that will give them a greater understanding of the importance of a common communication system.  Videos, lectures and learning opportunities will give insight into the pride of Deaf individuals, the history of Deaf culture and how technology is changing Deaf communities.

This course would be appropriate for individuals investigating numerous careers including Audiology, Deaf Education, Speech/Language Pathology, and Special Education

Textbook
Learning American Sign Language, 2^nd Edition, Levels I & II - Beginning & Intermediate

Instructor
Sheila Garlock, Assistant Professor of Communication Disorders, Truman State University.  B.S.E., Northeast Missouri State University; M.A., Northeast Missouri State University.

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Computers in Art and Design

Explore how the computer has been integrated into the image-making processes by incorporating traditional art processes such as drawing and markers with modern Graphic Design software. Learn how professional artists, designers, and illustrators utilize the power of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and other software to create digital artwork and enhance images to create digital graphics such as maps, posters, and postcards. The basic features of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator will be explored through tutorials and original artwork will be produced when techniques are mastered. By the end of the course, students will have a digital and print portfolio consisting of several projects. Students will also utilize digital cameras, scanners, and output to laser/inkjet printers. Quad-Core Intel Macintosh computers (the industry standard platform) power this exploration into the realm of digital imagery.  

Enrollment limited to 20 students.   Course fee for class supplies and materials is $60.00.

Textbook
No textbook required. 

Instructor
Matthew Derezinski, Associate Professor of Art, Visual Communications, Truman State University.  B.F.A., Visual Communications, Kansas State University.  M.F.A., Visual Communications, Kansas State University.

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 Introduction to Chemistry

The course will introduce you to several major concepts in chemistry through the study of contemporary environmental issues.  You will consider many major chemical concepts throughout the session, including atom and atomic structure, molecules and chemical bonding, chemical nomenclature, writing and balancing chemical equations, the mole and molarity, pH, hydrogen bonding, solubility, and the structure and function of organic macromolecules.  You will have the opportunity to participate in several laboratory experiences in which you will learn to work safely in the laboratory and make careful observations of chemical reactions and phenomena. 

A recent component involves inquiry based learning, as you will conduct an environmental study of some local streams and lakes by collecting and analyzing samples using different spectroscopic techniques.  Other experiments include titration of citric acid in fruit juice, chemical reactions of inorganic compounds, paper and column chromatography of food coloring, analysis of artificial blood, the study of dyes through the making of tie dye T-shirts, creating a fresco and several others.  The laboratory will introduce you to recording and graphing data and to using proper techniques in the laboratory. 

Textbooks
The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry and a course packet which includes laboratory experiments and supporting materials for the lecture.

Instructor
Dana Delaware, Professor of Chemistry, Truman State University.  B.A., Marist College; Ph.D., Purdue University, Postdoctoral Fellow University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.

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Psychology Through Science Fiction 

Would we be happier if we could take pills that made us smarter?  Could you fall in love with a robot? Would we go crazy if we were prevented from dreaming?  This course uses science fiction to raise many questions like these, and psychology to provide possible answers. While we use science fiction to introduce the topics, the main goal is to explore the vast world of psychology. Students will learn about experimental design, states of consciousness, how the brain directs behavior, how stable personality is, and many, many other subtopics within psychology. 

Psychologists learn by performing experiments, and we will demonstrate some classic findings in class.  But some experiments we’d like to do just can’t be done on this planet. Others would be unethical, because psychologists do not deliberately cause harm.  This is where science fiction comes in.  It poses questions about what life would be like in very different circumstances.  In other words, science fiction scenarios are often just psychological thought experiments.

During class, we will read several science fiction stories and watch science fiction television episodes and movies.  Then we will do activities, demonstrations, and have discussions that uncover the psychological concepts within the science fiction tales. For example, students will take personality and IQ tests that challenge their understanding of what it would be like to be smarter and more outgoing.  We will test our memory and perceptual abilities. Students will practice speaking, writing, and internet search skills. Throughout the course, we will talk about robots, aliens, computer chips inserted into brains, and other truly weird stuff.  But by the end of the course, you may conclude that we - humans - are more amazing than anything our imaginations can dream up.

Textbook
TBA

Instructor
Karen Vittengl, Professor of Psychology, Truman State University.  B.A., Hanover College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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The Beauty of Mathematics:
Elementary Problems in Quantity, Structure, and Space

Have you ever wondered how far mathematics will go, or whether you will ever get to a point of learning it all?  Part of the beauty of mathematics is that it is the purest of the sciences, and that it is never-ending.  To this day the branches continue to expand!   

This course will introduce students to the elementary aspects of several branches of mathematics, from Arithmetic and Algebra, to Geometry, Finite Mathematics, and Number Theory.  Finite Mathematics includes the algebra of matrices; you will enter into the real world of The Matrix!  Have you ever wondered how the odds are calculated in card games like Texas Hold ‘Em?  The counting techniques, basic set theory, probability, and statistics involved in these calculations will be covered.  Ever hear of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, the Dollar Auction, or trying to guess 2/3rds the average guess?  These games, along with other basic game theory, will also be covered during this course.   

Are you fascinated by computers and how they function?  In order to tackle some problems in Number Theory, you will acquire some basic programming skills in Python.  The course will also introduce you to computer algebra systems like Mathematica, Maple, or Maxima, statistical software packages like Minitab and R, and a typesetting program for the mathematical sciences called LATEX.  

Get your hard hats ready, because exploring the world of mathematics will be a long, dark, and dangerous journey.  Well…maybe not that dark or dangerous.   

Textbooks
No textbook required 

Instructor
Jason Shaw, Assistant Professor of Statistics.  B.A., Iowa State University; M.S., Ph.D., Indiana University.

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The Horse:  Equine History, Biology, and Riding

For thousands of years, horses have served humans as a source of meat and milk, as beasts of burden, as vehicles of mobility, and as tools of war.  In this course we will consider reasons or explanations for the domestication of the horse and the resultant long-lived association of horse and human.  Most of our focus in addressing this subject will lie in the science of the horse, by which we will investigate the unique, anatomic, physiologic, and behavioral characteristics of the horse.  It is these characteristics that allowed the horse to be adapted to the uses to which humans have put it.  Also, this course includes discussions of current problems facing the equine industry.   

A strong secondary emphasis of this course will be on riding by providing students with multiple opportunities to ride horses in a supervised setting.  The riding component will be used to reinforce principles of equine behavior, anatomical and physiological discussions, and to illustrate the side-by-side development of technology (saddles, bits, bridles, etc.) which was required for the adoption and spread of horse use by and between various cultures.  Additionally students will be taught basic equitation for both english and western riding. 

The course will be taught using lecture-laboratory methods with ample opportunities for hands-on activities.  Study of a whole-horse skeleton will be used to reinforce the consideration of anatomy, and observation of live horses at the nearby 400-acre University Farm will be used to reinforce discussions of horse behavior and herd dynamics.  Video clips and movies will be used to investigate the cultural aspects of horses in 20th-century American culture.

Enrollment limited to 20 students. 

Textbook
The Nature of Horses

Instructor
Emily Costello, Lecturer in Equine Science, Horsemanship Instructor, and Equestrian Team coach, Truman State University.  B.S., Biology, Truman State University.

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The Human Laboratory

The human body is the most amazing machine on the planet.  It is a complex arrangement of interdependent systems that is powerful, adaptive…and is made to move.  Through examining the systems of the human body and how they interact with the environment you will explore the wonder of movement and its relationship to health.

 This course is designed to teach students about the human body, specifically related to movement. Students examine the basic structure of the human body; the skeletal system, the muscular system and cardiovascular system and visit a human cadaver lab.  Expanding on that knowledge students explore other bodily systems and how they relate to health and physical activity.  A specific emphasis will be placed on disease prevention through physical activity.  Although there will be some lecture-based content, much of the course will be laboratory activities requiring student participation to learn basic concepts related to motor learning, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and health.

The major project of the class consists of groups of students working together to develop a movement or health related research question, designing the study, collecting and interpreting the data and sharing the results as oral and poster presentations.

Textbook
Body: An Amazing Tour Of Human Anatomy and a course pack developed by the instructor.   

Instructor
Evonne Bird, Instructor in Health and Exercise Sciences, Truman State University.  B.S., Eastern Montana College; M.S., Texas Tech University.

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Theatre: Onstage on Off

This course introduces the many facets of theatre from basic acting techniques to theatrical designs.  We will explore principles in the art of acting, engaging students in a variety of valuable pursuits of practical application to every other study in life: cooperative discipline and trust, freeing the imagination, “inhabiting” great ideas, appreciating alternative views, gaining confidence in public communication, and, most importantly, greater physical, vocal, and personal self-awareness.  Our work will include reading and discussion in theory and technique from Stanislovski and more recent masters but will emphasize active workshop learning through extended series of improvisations, physical and vocal imitations and character analysis.  In addition, students will research the many design elements needed to produce a play; scenery, lighting, costumes and make-up.  The best way to learn and understand what it takes to do theatre is by doing!  So, not only will you study theatre, you will be involved in a full-scale production with scenery, lights, sound, costumes and make-up performed onstage to your peers!

Supplies
Make-up Kit (The Truman Bookstore will have this available for purchase with the textbooks.)

Textbook
No textbook required. 

Instructor
Ronald M. Rybkowski, Professor of Theatre, Truman State University.  B.A., Whittier College; M.F.A., California State University, Fullerton.

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Writing Nature 

Taking a photo of a mountaintop vista or beautiful lake might help us bring home a memory, but writing about the same scene involves a whole lot more than just clicking a shutter. Although some people might think that writing about nature is somehow “natural” and easy, this kind of work is actually highly crafted. For inspiration, we’ll explore the craft of classic nature writing by such well known authors as Aldo Leopold, Henry David Thoreau, Edward Abbey, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and others.  

Our interpretations of these texts will lead us to questions about how writers do their work and how they make us care about the landscapes they describe. How do they put us into the middle of the natural world—and avoid just pretty descriptions we can dismiss as irrelevant or sentimental? What ethical considerations do they challenge us to think about, and how do they galvanize us into action, not just appreciation? How do they take their own first impressions, their journals or notes, and turn them into coherent texts that have the power to make us pay attention and even to change the way we think and live? 

To gain a fuller understanding of the writing process, we’ll do a good deal of our own nature writing, using Truman’s beautiful campus and some off-campus locations as sources of inspiration. Beginning with first impressions and journals, we’ll workshop tentative drafts together and finally produce complete drafts of our own nature writing, including a Nature Book of personal work and quotable quotes. Students will work independently and collaboratively, developing a clearer sense of audience and authentic personal voice—as well as a greater appreciation of the challenge and vitality of classic nature writing. 

Textbooks
A Sand County Almanac, Walden and Civil Disobedience, Hoot, selected poems by Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. 

Instructor
Alanna Preussner, Professor of English, Truman State University. B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Colorado—Boulder; post-doctoral work, Brown University.

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Session II
July 6-27, 2013

An “Animated” Course 

An “Animated” Course is an introduction and exploration of traditional cell frame animation. Drawing and sketching skills are recommended. Fundamentals of cartooning, character development and storyboarding will be explored and experienced. Photographic and claymation animation techniques are also topics for this course. Students will use Macintosh computers utilizing Adobe Photoshop and Apple iMovie to prepare a DVD presentation of the final projects.  

The class will be watching a documentary movie about animator Chuck Jones and his long career animating Loony Tunes characters for Warner Brothers. Chuck will impart vital animation tips and secrets. Yes, we will watch some classic cartoons in addition to viewing the summer’s best animation offering at the local theater. 

Students should be confident in drawing and/or interested in making their drawings and characters come to life.

Enrollment limited to 20 students.   Course fee for supplies and materials is $50.00. 

Textbook
 Animation: The Basic Principles

Instructor
Rusty Nelson, Associate Professor of Art, Visual Communications. B.F.A. Fort Hays State University; M.F.A. Kansas State University.

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Ancient Greek: A Modern Odyssey 

The Capitol building in Washington.  Democracy.  The Olympics.  Star Wars.  All these modern institutions share a common touchstone.  In this course, we will explore this huge influence, the literature and culture of Ancient Greece.  The class's primary focus is the language: we will begin with the alpha, beta, gammas-the Greek ABCs, and how to pronounce this new alphabet.  We will quickly move into full sentences and paragraphs in the actual Ancient Greek.  Learning how the Greek language works will also allow us a window in the function and methods of our own language, as well as enhance our use of English vocabulary.  The works we will read include the writings of epic and tragic poets, historians, philosophers, (Homer, Herodotus and Plato to name a few) as well as passages from the New Testament.  We will also spend time every day examining how ancient Greeks lived their lives: their government, religion, homes, dress, food, and play.  We will have a tactile experience of this world through activities such as drama skit productions, pottery art creation and cooking Greek cuisine.  And we will explore our modern world, roaming the Truman campus and beyond, constantly looking for the echoes of these Greek ideas and how they shape who we are.

Textbooks
Athenaze: An Introduction to Ancient Greek, Book 1 (2^nd ed.); Pocket Oxford Classical Greek Dictionary

Instructor
Alex Tetlak, Instructor in Classics, Truman State University.  B.A., Kenyon College; M.A., The Ohio State University.

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Biomusicology: The Study of Music from a Biological Perspective

How does music affect the brain?  Why is memory enhanced by musical cues?  Exactly how does music function as a form of communication for humans, as well as other species?   The emerging field of Biomusicology addresses such questions from a biological point of view, and music is studied as a natural system that is indispensable to human cultures.    

Throughout the course we use readings, guest lectures, and research projects to investigate the origins of music; the question of animal song; the functions and uses of music; as well as the universal features of the world’s musical systems and musical behavior.  An important component of the course is an overview of neuromusicology: the study of brain areas involved in music-processing and the cognitive processes associated with music-making. 

In JBA Biomusicology, we study many kinds of music made by societies worldwide and consider how people use music in their ritual, cultural and social lives.  Also, as part of our applied study, all students have regular access to the latest instructional technology available in Truman’s Basic Keyboard Skills Lab.  As a class, our goal is to apply specific theories of biomusicology to gain insight into the following:  the therapeutic uses of music in medical treatment; the widespread use of music in audiovisual media such as film and television; the role of music to influence mass behavior; and the potential use of music to enhance learning. 

Textbook
This Is Your Brain on Music and a course pack developed by the instructor.

Instructor
Shirley McKamie, Instructor of Musicology, Truman State University.   B.M., University of North Texas; M.A., Truman State University.

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Creating a Usable Past:  Genealogy and Local History

All history, like all politics, is local. In this course, we work through the concept of genealogy – the systematic study of how things got to be the way they are, where they came from, what forces converged to produce the world we know; we treat genealogy as a way of thinking about the world. In order to structure this inquiry, to make it concrete and personal, each student will produce a carefully researched family and local history, with heavy emphasis on web-resources. Students will learn how their specific ancestors lived – what the locales were like, what working- and family life consisted of, the joys and sorrows of the place and time. But we will also inquire into how genealogy is a central principle in the understanding of artistic movements, languages, biological diversity, even morals. We will learn to evaluate oral tradition, historical documents, images, secondary accounts and other sources of information, and how to reason and articulate our way to a coherent and defensible account.

 

NOTE:  Class will be held in a computer-equipped classroom, with frequent work as well in the library. Students will be asked to bring a modest list of supplies (note cards, poster board and colored pencils or markers). Additionally, each student should bring a flash-drive (aka thumb drive, aka USB storage device) and preferably a backup as well (2-4 GB should be sufficient).

Special course fee
Students will need to purchase a special, reduced-rate subscription to an online genealogical database (estimated cost $50.00, though negotiations are underway to reduce this fee); registration will be by credit card, online, and instructions for parents will be given out before the class begins.

Textbook
No textbook required.

 Instructor
Adam Davis, Professor of English, Truman State University.  B.A., M.A., University of Michigan; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia.

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From Eye to Paper:  Drawing What You See 

Drawing is the fundamental forming skill for the budding artist and is an important first step in the process of painting and other artistic endeavors. Regardless of what kind of art you enjoy, or what kind of artistic ventures you might one day pursue, your drawing skills are essential for the industry of visual art.

 From Eye to Paper: Drawing What You See is a concentrated course that provides practical training to develop your drawing skills and techniques using many traditional subjects, approaching line, form, proportion, value, composition, and perspective in various drawing formats. Students will observe and respond to their subjects while exploring a range of drawing materials and techniques to show, to analyze, and articulate ideas about their own work.

 Enrollment limited to 20 students. Course fee for class supplies and materials is $60.00.

Textbook
No textbook required.

Instructor
Ping Xu, Assistant Professor of Art, Visual Communications, Truman State University.  B.F.A., Visual Communications, Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, M.F.A., Visual Communications, Kansas State University.

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Preparatory College Mathematics 

The central focus of this course is a study of algebraic topics including equations and inequalities, algebraic, exponential, and logarithmic functions, graphs, and systems of equations.  Students will work at their own pace through the course topics using the software of the Hawkes Learning System. 

In addition to covering algebraic content, students will engage in both individual and collaborative mathematical explorations and problem-solving activities.  The content of these supplemental activities will be outside the typical mathematics curriculum.  

Please note:  This course is designed to have students study algebraic topics at a level commensurate with their previous experience and exposure to algebra.  Students who have not studied algebra previously will start at a lower level than those students with previous experience.  Students who complete and demonstrate mastery of all College Algebra course topics during the JBA session will qualify for the opportunity to apply for three college credits for College Algebra through Truman.  Previous experience in algebra will maximize the opportunity for students to earn college credit by successfully completing all of the advanced course topics. 

Course fee for the Hawkes Learning System software is $55.00. 

Textbook
No textbook required. 

Instructor
Shawn Logan, Instructor of Mathematics.  B.A., M.A.E., Truman State University. 

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 “Read All About It” Newspaper Reporting and Production 

Don’t just live the Joseph Baldwin Academy experience, Report it! Through this course, students will learn the essentials of journalism and publication design, culminating in the production of a real newspaper for distribution to Academy participants and parents. Through a mixture of readings, discussions, and hands-on activities, students will learn what it takes to be a practicing journalist.

Students will learn what makes a good story, interviewing techniques, photography, and how to bring all that information together into a publication.  Discussions will include ethical concerns in journalism, journalism’s role in society, and the use of social media in the news process. Students will also learn the art of editing. Once stories are written and photos are taken, the news needs to reach the public. Working with inDesign, students will learn the principles of publication design and layout. The session will culminate with the production of a keepsake newspaper for themselves and their peers. 

Supplies
Students are encouraged to bring a camera and items necessary for downloading images (USB cables/card reader). Point and shoot cameras are acceptable and encouraged. 

Textbook
No textbook required.

Instructor
Don Krause, Assistant Professor of Communication, Truman State University.  B.A., Western Illinois University; M.A, Ball State University.

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The Art and Science of Computer Programming 

Do you enjoy tinkering with and using computers, but want to know how they really work?  Do you enjoy using the programs that other people have written, but want to know how to write programs yourself?  This course is an introduction to the art and science of programming, using the Java programming language.  For the first week you will learn the basics of "speaking" in Java and write many simple programs.  During the second week you will build your vocabulary and learn to do more elaborate things with your programs.  During the last week you and your fellow class members will apply your skills to a tournament exercise, programming virtual Java robots that battle in real time on screen.  The course also includes an introduction to the GNU/Linux environment which is used as the development platform.  As an added bonus, this course serves as an excellent introduction to the Computer Science AP course, which also uses Java as the vehicle language. 

Textbook
How to Think Like a Computer Scientist (Java Edition) course pack. 

Instructor
Donald Bindner, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Truman State University.  B.S., Northeast Missouri State University; Ph.D., University of Georgia.

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The Writer's Craft

Emily Dickinson says the experience of a good poem is like having the top of your head come off. The haiku master Basho says it’s like being alive twice. We all have a favorite book or poem, a piece of writing that has moved us to new ways of thinking, feeling, or living in the world. One of the best ways to appreciate such moving writing is to let it move us toward creating our own poems, stories, and essays. In this course we will consider the possibilities and challenges of imaginative writing. We will explore the creative process, from generating ideas to shaping and revising, and we’ll seek to share our work with others—reading, performing, and publishing our collective and individual efforts. You will find out how your own writing process operates by learning how other writers work. Francine Prose says that literature “sets up a series of rules that the writer is instructed to observe, [and] reading will show how these rules have been ignored in the past and the happy outcomes.” We’ll spend our time recklessly learning and ignoring all the rules, remembering the poet John Ashbery’s advice to writers: “Let us leave the obedience school!” In addition to reading, writing, and work shopping, we’ll get out of the classroom to write with our feet, about the world, not as we’ve seen it on TV, but as we really find it, including both on-campus and off-campus explorations. Students who complete this course will grow as poets and storytellers, but also in their broader ability to communicate vividly, as they learn to think about audience and adapt expression to the reactions it provokes. 

Textbooks
A Little White Shadow; Ron Carlson Writes a Story

Instructor
James D’Agostino, Professor in English, Truman State University.  B.A., Loyola University of Chicago; M.F.A., Indiana University; Ph.D., Western Michigan University.

 

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Why We Fought:  American Wars from World War I to Iraq 

The course covers the major American conflicts from the start of the 20th century to the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the focus of the course will examine these conflicts from the U.S. foreign policy perspective, some attention is given to the role of domestic public opinion as well as foreign perspectives on the conflicts.  

There are three learning objectives for this course. First, students should gain a deeper understanding of US conflicts over the past century and how these conflicts shaped the US into the global leader. Second, students will attain a better theoretical understanding of why countries fight. Finally, students will discuss and attempt to determine what countries can attain from conflict and if it’s worth the price.

Aside from the normal classroom activities, the class will take two field trips. The first will be to Laclede, Missouri to visit the Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site. Students will take a tour the famous US Generals boyhood home and see how he lived and discuss his accomplishments.  The second trip will be a 2 day trip to the World War I Museum in Kansas City Missouri and the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. There they will explore wartime documents and memorabilia before undertaking role-playing activities where students will decide how to deal with the growing differences between the U.S. and its Soviet allies near the end of the war in Europe. 

Course Fee for the overnight field trip is $140.00.  

Textbook
Why Nations go to War 

Instructor
Michael Rudy, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Truman State University.  B.S., Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville; MA, Eastern Illinois University.

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World Mythology:  Myths, Mythemes, and Making Meaning 

Are you a fan of Percy Jackson?  Hermione Granger? Frodo Baggins?  Then you might enjoy spending three weeks with their great-great-great-great grandparents.  Percy is the Greek Poseiden’s son; Hermione gets her name from Helen of Troy’s daughter;  Frodo comes from the folks who gave us Hrolf Kraki and Hrothgar.

World Mythology helps you cross time and space in order to see how different cultures have understood their own core stories.  You’ll read many of these stories and learn ways of interpreting and presenting them so that their truths are not “busted” but appreciated, enhanced, challenged, and brought into your own world.  You will think about how life looks to the blind Dhritarashtra, to brave Bakaridjan Kone, to the Iroquois Woman Who Fell from the Sky, and  to Inanna, goddess of love and war in ancient Iraq.  Recognizing that cultures depend on myths and symbols to codify values, we’ll speculate about how myths change as values change.  In other words, you will read cool stories and explore why you love or hate the ones you do, and you'll look at bits of myth which support, or perhaps infect our own culture.   

You will also try on a “mythic mind” from the inside, composing a “myth” of your own.  And you’ll support some of the myths you’re reading by creating the necessary art, music, games, and  rituals which make them feel more real and solid than they otherwise might.   

Textbooks
World Mythology:  An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics; Mahabharata; Wintersmith .   

Instructor
Betsy Delmonico Professor of English, Truman State University, BA Spalding University, PhD University of Notre Dame, Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Virginia and Ohio State.

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