SPRING 2020 -

W 3:40 - 6.10 PM  BOYLAN 4311

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The work of Primo Levi has been hailed around the world as arguably one the most significant contributions to the imperative of keeping alive the memories of the Jewish Genocide in 20th century Europe. Although Levi was a chemist by trade, without literary ambitions, he instinctively acted on the inner urge to record his experience in the German extermination camp of Auschwitz in his most famous book If This is a Man (also published under the title Survival in Auschwitz). Other texts followed, further developing ethical and moral themes, always with a feather-light pen, terse prose and even humor. We will read Levi’s memoirs of the Shoah, his works of fiction (If not now, When?; The Monkey’s Wrench) and we will dedicate special attention to the short stories (The Periodic Table; Other People’s Trades and other collections) that contribute to creating a coherent overall design, similarly to different movements of a symphony. We will conclude with the philosophical meditation of The Drowned and the Saved on human nature and the ultimate mystery of good and evil in humanity.

Basic Rules
 

1. The course homepage contains the course's official record.
    

2. LATE work will not be accepted (quizzes, assignments).
    
3. There are no extensions, no exceptions and no "extra credit."
    
4. Partial or incomplete assignments will not be graded.
    
5. No cheating. One strike and your are out. (Scroll down for policy details.)
    
6. Additional instructions will be provided as needed during the session.

Academic Integrity 
  (i.e. no cheating)

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation can be found at www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.

Student Bereavement Policy

Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure (see below). The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice).

Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.

Standard Bereavement Procedure

Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of the death of the loved one, of excused absence. Should the student feel that he or she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student's faculty and academic staff of the student's courses.
Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus. Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

It's time to set some rules about your emails.

1. USE ONLY YOUR OFFICIAL BROOKLYN COLLEGE ADDRESS.
    

2. All messages must be mailed to the course email address (see course homepage or Bb).
    

3. When you compose a new message start with a greeting. "Hello" will suffice. Do not "hey" your professors. Ever.
    

4. Every single message must have your signature. Set up the automatic signature option.
    

5. Complete grammatical sentences, with upper case letters and proper punctuation. Impossible to do it with your phone? Wait until you get to a computer.
    

6.  No one-liners.
    

7. DO NOT RECYCLE THE SUBJECT OF OLD MESSAGES. If you want to talk about something new, compose a NEW message with ta descriptive subject. (Suggested subject: "New problem / question.")
    

8. In an ongoing conversation, in each message repeat the relevant information and circumstance (lost assignment, message not-received etc.) Nobody can read your mind except you.
    

9. If you run into problems with the website, either a bug or a mistake on my part, please let me know as soon as possible.

• DEADLINES: NO EXCEPTIONS:  NO CREDIT FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS or QUIZZES; LATE BLOG COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED.
   
  • Requests for extensions, exemptions or other exceptions, must be supported by proof. Proof is required at the moment when the request is submitted. (Do not make me ask you to provide doctors’ notes, proof of travel or other.)
     
• ATTENDANCE is required. LATENESS will be penalized.
   
• Lectures and Assignments will be posted regularly on the course homepage. They may consist of prompts or they may be links to an outside website.
   
• Discussions/blog: post your comments on the assigned topics. Late comments will be deleted.
   
• Quizzes: Rather than a mid-term exam, we will have pre-lecture quizzes every two or three weeks. The quizzes will be announced with advanced notice.
   
• Final Exam.

• Desktop computers must be kept off (click and hold the button on the box, not just the screen.)
• Clear your table of all extraneous materials. Only note taking materials are allowed.
• Put your cellphones away in a bag and ignore their existence.
• No eating in class. No drinks on the tables. Put containers on the floor.