General expectations:
Papers and presentations:
- Discussion. The course will rely heavily on discussion, and I expect everyone to participate at least once per class. Come to class with prepared questions or discussion points from the reading. I will ask for a preview of questions at the beginning of each class.
- Reading. The course is reading-heavy, with about 60 pages of required reading per class.
- Zoom. For classes that are held on zoom, you are expected to keep your video on.
Papers and presentations:
- Case study: each participant will sign up for one day to present a case study. This is an illustrative example of an emotion drawn from the news, literature, film, art, music, or any other source other than the reading of the day. It can illustrate the experience of an emotion or it can directly elicit an emotion itself. It should be relevant to the readings for the day. The example itself should take no more than 2 minutes to present (e.g. reading time, viewing time, listening time). It should be followed by a discussion of the example of no more than 5 minutes. The discussion should draw out a specific point from the case study and connect to the course. Try to be analytical about the emotion in question: precisely what emotion is involved? what caused it? what kind of response or behavior. You should produce a 1-page handout to go with your case study. The handout and the example must be emailed to me on the day before class.
- Short expository paper: mid-way through the course a short, 5 page paper is due. It should examine one or two of the readings, focusing in one a single central claim. The paper should explain this claim, illustrate it with one or more examples, and then discuss a substantive question, objection, or extension of the main claim. If you have space, try imagine how the author would respond to this idea. Clarity, understanding, and application to cases is the main priority. Outside reading is not required.
- Long discussion paper: at the end of the course a longer 15-20 page paper is due. It can be on any topic related to the course. It can take any form, e.g. comparison of two views, examination of objections and replies to a single view, an original idea, etc. It should involve at least two sources that were not required readings. The long paper may be an extension of the short expository paper. Before the last day of class, you must produce a short 1-page outline and meet with me to discuss.