HUM 200 1-1 Discussion: Learning to Analyze the Humanities

Introduction to HUM 200 1-1 Discussion

Welcome to the HUM 200 1-1 Discussion: Learning to Analyze the Humanities. This discussion post revolves around your understanding of and learning how to analyse humanities. I will provide brief and descriptive guidelines to solve the 1-1 Discussion post and a dummy solution for each section. This How-To Owlisdom Guide will equip you with guidelines to tackle all the queries related to the HUM 200 1-1 Discussion: Learning to Analyze the Humanities. Let us begin with the guide.

Introduce yourself to your classmates. Where are you from, what is your major, and what do you hope to learn from this course?

Introduction

We will introduce ourselves and provide brief expectations from the HUM 200 course.

• Introducing Yourself: Start with a friendly greeting. Share your name, where you are from, and a fun fact or hobby to make your introduction memorable.
• Discussing Your Major: Briefly explain why you chose it and how it relates to your career goals.
• Expressing Course Expectations: Mention what you hope to learn in this course and how it might help you in your academic or professional journey.

Example

Hello everyone! I am Alex from sunny California, and when I am not buried in books, I love to explore the world through my camera lens. I am majoring in Applied Humanities with a focus on cultural studies because I am fascinated by how cultures intersect and influence each other. My goal is to work in cultural preservation, helping to maintain and share the rich tapestry of global heritage. From this HUM 200 course, I am eager to deepen my understanding of how art, literature, and music reflect and shape societal values. I hope to apply these insights to my future projects in cultural preservation.

Discuss which of the three focal points of Module One (visual art, literature, or music) you are most comfortable with. Which do you have the most experience with, and which do you find the most challenging to understand?

Discussing Comfort with Focal Points

In this section of the 1-1 Discussion, we will explore focal points and our comfort with those focal points.

• Identifying Your Comfortable Focal Point: Pick the focal point (visual art, literature, or music) you feel most at ease with. Explain why this is your comfort zone.
• Explaining Your Experience: Share any personal experiences that contributed to your familiarity with this focal point. This could include classes, hobbies, or events.
• Identifying Challenges: Mention which focal point you find most challenging and why. Be honest but optimistic about learning more about it.

Example

I have always been most comfortable with literature. Something about the power of words and the worlds they can create has always resonated with me. Growing up, I was the kid who would stay up late, flashlight in hand, devouring every book I could find. My experience with literature spans countless genres, from classic novels to contemporary poetry, shaping my imagination and perspective on life. Music, however, presents a challenge for me. Despite enjoying it, I struggle to understand its technical aspects and the theory behind compositions. I am eager to dive deeper into music in this course, hoping to appreciate it better and understand its impact.

Include specific examples to support your response.

Including Specific Examples

We will provide specific examples for this 1-1 Discussion section.

• Using Examples for Visual Art: If visual art is your focus, mention a favourite artist or art piece and why it resonates with you.
• Employing Examples from Literature: For literature, reference a book, author, or genre you enjoy and discuss its impact on you.
• Incorporating Music Examples: If music is your choice, talk about a genre, artist, or specific piece of music that you love and the reasons for your preference.

Example

Diving deeper into my affinity for literature, one book that stands out is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Beyond its narrative, this novel taught me the complexities of human nature, justice, and empathy from a young age. It is a prime example of how literature can influence one’s ethical and moral compass. As for music, my challenge lies in understanding the intricacies behind compositions. However, I am drawn to the emotional depth of classical music, particularly to compositions like Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” which, despite my limited technical understanding, profoundly moves me with its sad melody and intricate emotionality.

You can title your thread any way you choose.

Titling Your Thread

Now, we will give the title of our thread to the 1-1 Discussion post.

• Choose a creative title that reflects your main points or focal points. 
• Make it engaging to encourage classmates to read and respond.

Example

“Between the Lines and Beyond the Notes: A Journey Through Literature and Music”

This title encapsulates my deep-seated love for literature, highlighted by the profound impact “To Kill a Mockingbird” has had on my understanding of humanity and my budding curiosity toward the emotional depths of classical music, exemplified by Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” It invites a conversation on the transformative power of words and the emotive resonance of music, encouraging classmates to explore and share their experiences with these diverse yet equally compelling forms of expression.

In response to your peers, choose a different focal point than the one you chose for yourself, and elaborate on how your peers’ choice of focal point could be relevant to you. What do you think you could learn from these students’ perspectives?

Peer Responses

1-1 Discussion requires at least two peer responses. I will provide an example of a response along with the guidelines for writing responses.

• Choosing a Different Focal Point: When replying, select a focal point different from yours. Briefly mention why you chose to respond to this focal point.
• Elaborating on Relevance: Discuss how your peer’s focal point could be relevant to you. Maybe it offers a new perspective or complements your interests.
• Learning from Peers: Mention one thing you could learn from their perspective. Keep your response concise and focused on mutual learning.

Example

I was intrigued by your focus on visual art, mainly since my comfort zone lies within literature. Your mention of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” piqued my interest, offering a perspective on how emotions and ideas can be conveyed through words and visually, painting a picture that speaks volumes without a single spoken word. This cross-disciplinary understanding could enrich my appreciation for storytelling, showing me how narratives can be woven through colours, strokes, sentences, and paragraphs. I am keen to learn how visual art can complement literary themes, possibly enhancing my interpretations of literature.

Closing

This How-To Owlisdom Guide is designed to make your engagement in applied humanities as enriching and enjoyable as possible. Following these instructions, you can effectively introduce yourself, discuss your interests and challenges, and foster meaningful discussions with your peers. Remember, the goal is to learn from each other and explore the humanities collaboratively. I hope you ace the HUM 200 1-1 Discussion: Learning to Analyze the Humanities. Good luck!