Course Description:
This one semester course, offered for
all students at the sophomore level or
above, consists of three major components.
In the first unit, students will be instructed
in epistemology and logical analysis techniques
as well as principles of and themes in
the explication of popular folklore. In
the second section, students will begin
to apply these techniques to analysis
of popular folklore, specifically as they
apply to urban legends. In the third section
of the course, these techniques will be
applied to some common as well as some
obscure conspiracy theories. Although
taught as a typical teacher-centered course
during the first section, during the second
and third sections, the course develops
into a seminar course with the students
doing the research and the teaching for
approximately 80% of the time. There will
be two standard texts (listed below) that
each student will use. However, most students
may be required to check out of the library
or purchase at least one other book in
the course of their research.
Book List:
The
Eighty Greatest Conspiracies of All Time:
History's Biggest Mysteries, Coverups,
and Cabals by Jonathan Vankin,
John Whalen
The
Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends
and Their Meanings by Jan Harold Brunvand
Special Considerations Concerning this Course:
Students will be required to complete
one team project and in class presentation
on a set of urban legends
The largest single assignment for
indiviual students will be a major research
paper and presentation on a particular
conspiracy theory.
Important Links:
Semester
Syllabus
Survival Guide
Class Presentations
For
parents
