This document provides an overview of an Introduction to Humanities course taught by Professor Will Adams. The course is a three-credit hour course that explores concepts in art, religion, architecture, music, language, politics, and philosophy and how they continue to impact the contemporary world. The course objectives are to understand humanity's development through critical thinking, learn about diverse civilizations' contributions that shaped today's world, develop critical thinking skills through research and essays, and analyze philosophical development. Students are required to purchase a textbook, attend class, participate in discussions and activities, take four exams, and write a paper evaluating a cultural event. The class meets weekly and coursework includes readings, lectures, films, assignments, quizzes and exams

1. Introduction to Humanities
Downtown Campus, DPAC, Room 252 • Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:45 AM
Professor Will Adams • Wadams5@valenciacollege.edu
Course Description
Introduction to Humanities is a three-
credit hour course that familiarizes the
student with the world of humanities.
Students will explore the essential
concepts, historical evolution, and
fundamental nature of art, religion,
architecture, music, language, politics,
and philosophy. These concepts will be
presented and dissected by the
professor so that the student will
understand how they continue to
impact the contemporary world.
Course Objectives
§ To understand the continuation and
evolution of the human experience
by thinking critically about
humanity’s artistic, cultural, and
intellectual development.
§ To learn of diverse civilizations’
contributions to the spheres of
politics, religion, and art; as well as
to analyze how and why those
contributions helped shape the
contemporary world.
§ To learn skills essential to critical
thinking and synthesis of thought by
carrying out scholarly research and
authoring thoughtful essays.
§ To analyze the philosophical
development of humankind as a
civilization and how that may apply
to today’s societal ideals.
Required Textbook
Gloria K. Fiero, Landmarks in
Humanities
Additional readings as assigned by
instructor
Evaluation Formula
1. Attendance & Class Participation:
30%
§ Attendance is required.
§ Attendance will be taken at the
beginning of each class meeting,
and count as part of the

2. attendance & class participation
grade.
§ Please be aware that, under
Valencia’s Attendance Policy,
there is no such thing as an
“excused absence”.
§ After 3 missed classes, a student
may be withdrawn for non-
attendance, at the instructor’s
discretion.
2. In-Class Assignments, Activities,
Quizzes & Homework: 30%
§ Throughout the term, we will
have various in-class assignments
and activities.
§ Quizzes will be given to
determine student retention of
lecture or reading material at the
beginning of class most weeks.
§ Additionally, homework
assignments will be assigned to
deepen your understanding of
in-class discussions & lectures.
3. Examinations: 30%
§ Four long-form examinations will
be administered.
§ Examinations will not be
cumulative in their subject
matter.
§ You will be given a study guide
for exams the week before.
4. Cultural Event with Written
Evaluation: 10%
§ You will be required to attend
one cultural event throughout
the class’s duration.
§ Proof of attendance at said event
must be furnished (i.e., ticket
stub, program, souvenir, etc.).
§ A two-page double-spaced
“reaction” (i.e., non-research)
paper is required. In it, be sure to
answer the following questions:
o What did I do?
o What did I think of it?
o What did I learn?
Grading Scale
100 – 90% = A
89 – 80% = B
79 – 70% = C
69 – 60% = D
59 – 0% = F
Schedule of Class Meetings
Week &
Dates
Read Before
Class
In Class on Tuesday
After Tuesday’s
Class
Week 1
May 9 - 15
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 1 – 6
Discuss: Course syllabus &
expectations
Lecture:
“Architecture of
the Afterlife:

3. Lecture: “Connecting with
the Cosmos – The Art of the
Stone Age”
Activity: Surprise lecture-
based activity
Embalming &
Tombs in Ancient
Egypt”
Week 2
May 16 - 22
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 33 – 45
(Stop before
“Greek
Philosophy”)
Quiz: Week 2 Reading
Lecture: “Enthroned Upon
Olympus – The Mythology
of Ancient Greece”
Lecture: “By the People –
The Roman Republic &
Satire”
Lecture: “For Love
of Wisdom –
Ancient Greek
Philosophy”
Exam #1 Study
Guide
Week 3
May 23 - 29
Exam #1 Study
Guide
Exam #1
Lecture: “The Calm Before
the Storm – Feudalism, The
Manor, & Medieval Cities”
Homework:
Stained-Glass
Visual Lesson
Assignment (Due
Week 4 in class)
Week 4
May 30 -
June 5
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 177 – 197
Quiz: Week 4 Reading
Lecture: “Fooling the Eye –
Brunelleschi, Alberti, and the
Invention of Linear
Perspective”
Lecture: “The Noble
Stillness – Baroque Still-Life
Painting”
Homework: Fantasy
2-Point Perspective
City Block
Assignment (Due
Week 5 in class)
Week 5
June 6 - 12
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 223 – 228
Quiz: Week 5 Reading
Film: A Midsummer Night’s
Dream
Assignment: Film Response
Homework:
Completed Film
Response (Due on
Canvas)
Exam #2 Study
Guide
Week 6
June 13 -
19
Exam #2 Study
Guide
Exam #2
Lecture: “The Triumph of
Liberty – The Enlightenment,
Modern Democracy, and the
French & American
Revolutions – Part I”
Lecture: “The
Triumph of Liberty
– The
Enlightenment,
Modern
Democracy, and
the French &
American

4. Revolutions – Part
II”
Week 7
June 20 -
26
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 329 – 350,
373 – 381
Quiz: Week 7 Reading
Lecture: “The Art of
Romanticism”
Lecture: “The Art of
Impressionism”
Homework:
Modern Romantic
Hero Assignment
(Due on Canvas)
Week 8
June 27 –
July 3
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 412 – 414
Quiz: Week 8 Reading
Lecture: “The Analytical Life
of Sigmund Freud”
Lecture: “A Delicate Balance
– Frank Lloyd Wright &
Fallingwater”
Homework:
Organic
Architecture
Assignment (Due
on Canvas)
Exam #3 Study
Guide
Week 9
July 4 - 10
Exam #3 Study
Guide
Exam #3
Lecture: “A Whimsical
Motion – The Oeuvre of
Alexander Calder”
Homework: Calder-
Inspired Mobile
(Due Week 10 in
class)
Week 10
July 11 - 17
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 425 – 426
(‘Abstract
Expressionism’
only), 440 – 441
(‘Pop Art’ only)
Quiz: Week 10 Reading
Lecture: “The Scene Inside –
Abstract Expressionism &
Jackson Pollock”
Lecture: “Pop! Goes the
World”
Homework:
Endangered
Species
Assignment (Due
Week 11 in class)
Week 11
July 18 - 24
Landmarks in
Humanities:
Pages 427 – 433
Quiz: Week 11 Reading
Lecture: “We Shall Not Be
Moved – Civil Disobedience
& Civil Rights”
Lecture: “We Don’t Need
Another Hero – The Art of
Feminism”
Exam #4 Study
Guide
Week 12
July 25 – 31
Exam #4 Study
Guide
Exam #4 at 10:00 AM EST
Cultural Event
Essay (Due on
Canvas)

5. Late Work Policy
§ Late work will be accepted only with the instructor’s explicit consent.
§ The final exam must be taken on the date published for final exams.
Extra Credit Policy
! Extra credit may be earned by writing more than the required number of pages for
any written assignment. Extra credit for additional written content will be given up
to 15% of the assignment’s total point value (i.e., 15 points for a 100-point
assignment).
! No other extra credit opportunities will be available.
Written Work Guidelines
! All typed, submitted work should be set in Arial 12-point font, with double spacing
and standard 1” page margins.
! Additionally, each written assignment should begin with the following header,
placed at the top, left side of the first page:
Your First & Last Name
Intro to Humanities
Prof. Will Adams
Assignment Due Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
! Minimum page totals for any written assignment require that the written page be
filled in its entirety to count as one page.
! In other words, if a written assignment requires 2 pages, but the student only writes
1.5, the student will not earn all possible points for the assignment.

6. Class Conduct
Conduct yourselves with maturity and respect for others.
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism is intellectual theft and will not be tolerated. Presentation of the ideas and
words of others as if they are your own work constitutes plagiarism. Direct use of
another author’s words or ideas, as well as paraphrasing must be cited. Plagiarism in
any work will result in a grade of zero for that assignment.
Students with Disabilities
! Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a
notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific
needs with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class.
! The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on
appropriate documentation of disabilities.
Computer & Equipment Use Policy
! Use of computers in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms at Valencia
! Community College is restricted to those activities designated by the instructor to
enhance the class materials. Any other use is strictly forbidden. Inappropriate use
includes, but is not limited to:
! Use of computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites not specifically
assigned in class.
! Use of computer for job, internship, homework, or other activities not
assigned in class.
! Modifying any hardware or software system configuration or setting.
! Use of computers in the departmental open lab is limited to those activities
involved with preparing homework or coursework in this department and is
subject to the same restriction as listed above.

7. ! Computer use is remotely monitored; any student using computers inappropriately
may be subject to dismissal from class or banishment from the lab. Subsequent
offense may be sent to the campus administration for further disciplinary action.
Disclaimer
This outline may be altered, at the instructor’s discretion, during the term. It is the
responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced.