CORE 1010

Who Am I? Exploration in Consciousness and Self Across the Disciplines (3

credits)
CORE 1010 Section 17
Title Who Am I?: Exploration in Consciousness and Self Across the Disciplines (3
credits)
Pre- or co-requisite: RHET 1010
Semester: Fall 2015
Instructor: Carol Clark
Time/Place: Monday/Thursday 8:30 9:45
Room: Jameel C 115
Contact Information: cclark@aucegypt.edu
Office Hours and location: Al Walid (HUSS) 1033 MR 11:30 1:00 pm or by
appointment
Course materials: On links on the CORE 1010 Blackboard sit
Turnitin Class ID: 10564531 Password: whoamicore

Course Description
Self-awareness allows us to perceive both limits and possibilities. This course will be a
practical and theoretical exploration of different approaches to human consciousness
and the self in the sciences, psychology, philosophy, the arts, and religion.
We all think and act on the basis of assumptions about ourselves and about the
world. These assumptions, or pre-conceptions, are based on a great variety of factors
such as education, gender, social class, religion (or lack thereof), and family history. Much
of the time these assumptions remain unexamined; that is, although they profoundly
influence us we may not often stop to examine them, to test them, and reflect upon
them. By asking fundamental questions such as Why am I who I am?, Why am I
here?, and Why do I think, believe, and act as I do?, students will be challenged to
explore, recognize, understand, and describe unexamined assumptions about why
they may think, believe, and act as they do. This kind of self-examination will also lead
students to reflect upon and express how and why they know what they know, and
how that knowledge influences their intellectual and moral perceptions of the world.
The multifaceted and often indefinable nature of consciousness and self will allow for an
open-ended enquiry into the very nature of what these terms mean to each individual,
and how both questions and possible answers have been dealt with in a variety of fields of
knowledge, ranging from traditional religion to contemporary neuroscience. While the
course focuses on questions pertaining to self, it will also provide students with an
introduction to a variety of academic disciplines including some of the fundamental
questions asked in those disciplines, e.g. norms in sociology, mind/brain.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the semester you will be able to:
1.

Synthesize discipline-based knowledge in a formal critical analytical essay.

Measure: Two synthesis essays at midterm and at the final

O A Young CORE 110 Who Am I? Fall 2013

2.

2
Demonstrate effective oral communication skills and teamwork both independently
and in collaboration with others.
Measure: Class participation grade, including oral presentation grades (part of rubric
for oral presentation measures teamwork)

3.
Demonstrate reflective and critical thinking about your learning experiences and
readings
Measure: Synthesis essays, book chapters, and response papers
4.

Demonstrate a greater awareness of oneself and others

Measure: Book chapters, response papers, class participation

Assignments and Evaluation:

Writing:
Writing will be a very important component of the course. Students will write a
number of reading/learning journals with a minimum word count of 500 words per
week during the course of our seminar. The minimum number of journal entries will
be set by me each semester. These assignments will be evaluated mainly for depth
and seriousness of content, as well as for students ability to clearly express
subjective perceptions.
Reading:
Readings will challenge students to think critically and creatively about the issues
being addressed. A variety of cross-disciplinary texts will expose the students to
different approaches and rhetorical styles and will expose them to a number of
different cultural, philosophical, and religious perspectives. For every assigned text,
students must bring to class a copy of the text with notes containing questions,
comments, objections, key word definitions, etc.. These will used as a basis for
class discussion, and will be noted in the class participation grade. They will be
assessed on a check plus, check, and check minus scale.
Exams:
There will be a mid-term with both in-class and take-home components, which will
challenge you to synthesize the various perspectives you have been considering.
This will require students to demonstrate an ability to present a coherent and
reasonably integrated essay using the conventions of academic writing as well as
giving coherent short answers. The final exam grade will be based on the synthesis
of previous chapters written throughout the semester into a coherent book and
a final presentation to the class of that material.
Class Participation:
The class participation grade will also include any oral presentations you give during
the course of the semester.
Evaluation:
20 % class/workshop participation

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20 % midterm examination
10%
Midterm synthesis essay
10%
In class examination
20 % final examination
15%
Journey Into the Self concluding final Synthesis chapter
5%
In class oral and graphic/visual presentation on Journey into the Self
40 % response journals and papers
20 % 6 or 7 "chapters" for Journey into the Self book
20 % Low stakes quizzes and/or mini response papers to films & readings,

in and out of class.

Grading Parameters:
A = 10094
C- = 7270

A- = 9390
D+ = 6967

B+ = 89-87
D = 66-60

C+ =79C =76-73
77
F = more than 450 minutes of recorded absence or a
cumulative score of 59 or lower. Fractions are rounded
B = 86-83

B- = 82-80

Course Policies
Attendance and Tardiness:
According to university policy, a student is allowed to miss six class sessions of class
time. If the student exceeds this amount they automatically fail. These absences are
meant to be used for unavoidable absence because of illness, extracurricular
activities and sports commitments. There is no excused absence in addition to
these six sessions.
Attendance is not counted during the Late Registration and Course Changes
Period. The first class that will be counted towards attendance is the first
class after the end of this period.
If a student uses up all permitted absence time after the drop period has ended, the
student will have the choice of:
a) losing a whole grade (e.g, A- becomes B-; B+ becomes C+) for every class, or the
equivalent of one class, missed afterward, or b) taking an F and repeating the
course.
Medical Excuses
Absence for medical reasons is also part of the Absences limit (6 classes).
Tardiness
If a student is tardy by 10 minutes or more, they are marked for half an absence. If
a student arrives more than 30 minutes late, they are considered fully absent.
Work during Absence: It is the students responsibility to arrange for covering
what was misses with missed classes (in advance of the classes to be missed, if the
absence is planned). If you miss a class, you are responsible for finding out
what you missed from a classmate. I repeat: having missed a class does

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not excuse lack of preparation for subsequent classes. If you do come to
class late, please sit down quickly and quietly.
MLA style : Taught in the tandem RHET 1010, the MLA style will be used in the
formal Take home exams Midterm and Final papers. Formatting The Midterm &
Final essays will be typed (on one side of the paper only). Double space and use 12
point Times New Roman font. Provide a Works Cited page. Use MLA style.
Late work: All work on turnitin has a 100 score. Each day an assignment is late it will
lose 2 points from the grade: For example, a piece of work submitted 5 days late,
that on time would score 91 (A- range), will lose 10 points and score 81 (B- range).
The final exam due date is a fixed deadline; after the due date submissions will not
be accepted and a Zero will be recorded.
Preparation and Participation: It is expected that you will come to class
prepared. This includes having completed any assigned readings and/or tasks, and
being ready to participate in any class activities or discussions. Participation is
counted as part of your grade. Late work will not be accepted, and lack of
preparation will result in being marked absent for the day.
Students with Special Needs or Concerns
Students with special needs are encouraged to notify the instructor to ensure that
special accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.AUC has numerous
facilities available to ensure that your educational endeavors will be successful.
Your instructors goal is to help you succeed in this course. If you have
documented disability and want to request special accommodations at any time
during the semester, please ask your instructor or contact Student Disability
Services at extension 3918 or sds@aucegypt.edu . AUC complies with the American
Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Scholastic responsibility
Students and faculty are required to maintain responsible and civil conduct in and
out of class, on and off campus

Avoiding disruptive behavior, including handling of cell phones

Fulfilling attendance requirements and community hours, if necessary

Being punctual, attentive, civil and respectful of community

Meeting course requirements, observing deadlines and course procedures

Seeking/giving academic support when needed

Handling electronic equipment with caution

Academic Integrity and Turnitin

The Policy at AUC

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At AUC we take plagiarism very seriously. Make sure to carefully read the
universitys academic integrity policy, which can be found here:
http://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/integrity/Pages/default.aspx.
The Policy at the Department of Rhetoric and Composition
In accordance with the AUCs efforts to promote a culture of academic integrity
on campus, the Department of Rhetoric and Composition has a strict policy
regarding academic dishonesty and to this end requires that all students utilize
the resources of Turnitin (turnitin.com) and promote the AUC Code of Ethics and
Students Best Practices.
Turnitin
Instructors require students to submit all drafts of major assignments and any
other important assignments to Turnitin. A high or low percentage of originality is
not automatically indicative of plagiarism or the lack thereof. I will specify
which assignments need to be submitted to turnitin.com. Please make sure to
set up an account on turnitin and submit assignments on time.
Academic Integrity Violations
Plagiarism may result in receiving a warning, a failing grade for the
assignment or paper, a lower grade in the course, or a failing grade in the
course.
A violation of academic integrity (plagiarism, cheating, data fabrication,
submitting an assignment or part of an assignment written for another course,
impersonation, etc.) may also be reported to the chair of the Department of
Rhetoric and Composition, and then to the Academic Integrity Committee.
If an instructor determines that a student has plagiarized and warrants failing
the course, drop requests will not be approved. The student will fail the course
and be reported to the Academic Integrity Committee.
The Department of Rhetoric and Composition reserves the right to change the
grade of a student retroactively (i.e. after the grades have been submitted to the
Registrar at the end of a given semester) should it be found that the work a
student submitted was not their own or is otherwise a violation of the Academic
Integrity Code.
Timely Completion of Required Freshman Classes in the Core Curriculum
In normal circumstances, all AUC students should complete their RHET classes in their first two
semesters, and all their other Freshman Program classes, including their Information Literacy
class, by the end of their first three or (in the case of engineering students) four semesters.
(http://catalog.aucegypt.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=20&poid=3681)
Policies Related to the Timely Completion Requirement
All students, except for those with transfer credits or advanced standing, take
REHT1010/CORE1010 (6 credits) in their first semester as freshmen.
All students should complete their RHET courses before proceeding to Sophomore-level status.

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Students must register for RHET1020 in the semester immediately following successful
completion of RHET1010, preferably along with LALT1010, or a hold will be placed on their
subsequent registration until the issue is satisfactorily resolved.
For undeclared students, only those who have completed the RHET 1010/ CORE 1010 tandem
classes, RHET 1020, LALT 1010, and Scientific Thinking, will be eligible to declare a major at AUC.
During the semester in which they wish to declare, these students must also have completed or
be currently enrolled in either ALL or ALL BUT ONE of their required Pathways course(s) and
Philosophical Thinking.
Any student who wishes to declare or proceed in his or her major without having completed the
Freshman Program requirements according to the terms set out above, will require explicit written
approval from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Such approval will be granted only
upon acceptance of a signed statement from the student indicating precisely how and when he or
she will complete all outstanding Freshman Program requirements. Students who fail to fulfill their
stated plans, without sufficient, documented justification, will be placed on probation, leading to
dismissal.
After the release of registration holds, students will not be allowed to drop the Freshman
Program courses concerned, following the timelines mentioned above, without the consent of their
advisors.

Students may retake each of RHET 1010, CORE 1010 and RHET 1020 up to three times in
three consecutive semesters. If the second retake is unsuccessful, students will be warned,
and continued study at AUC will be contingent on successful completion of the course, on a
third retake, in the following semester.

General Drop Policies:

Students can drop the course during the Late Registration and Course Changes Period. If the
course is dropped during this period, it does not appear on the students transcript.
Students can drop the course during the weeks that follow the conclusion of the Late
Registration and Course Changes Period, until the final drop deadline of the semester, ONLY WITH
departmental approval. After drop and add the RHET department has the right to decline a drop.
(http://catalog.aucegypt.edu/content.php?catoid=20&navoid=850)
If the course is approved for dropping before the final drop deadline, it remains on the
students transcript and is assigned a grade of W. If a student fills out the drop request form
online and then changes their mind before the final drop deadline, they need to contact their
instructor and the instructor will simply reject the drop request on the drop request form.
After the final drop deadline students cannot drop the course. If a student has an extraordinary
case and a need to drop the course after the final drop deadline, they need to speak to the chair
of the Department of Rhetoric and Composition, who will refer them to the Dean of Undergraduate
Studies.
All course dropping in the department of Rhetoric and Composition after the drop and add
period may not take place without the approval of the department.
Other Policies Relating to CORE1010/RHET1010/RHET1020:
For the tandem courses RHET1010 and CORE1010, students dropping one course will
automatically be dropped from the other. Dropping either course needs departmental permission.
Students retaking the tandem courses CORE 1010/RHET 1010 must enroll in a different theme.
Students may pass or fail one or both of the tandem courses RHET 1010 and CORE1010,
depending on their performance in each course.

Contingency Plan:
In the event of the suspension of normal university classes, the initial plan will be to
continue with the course schedule as long as there is internet accessibility in Egypt. In

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case of suspension of classes, please check your email, course website and schedule for
distance learning activities and assignments.
Academic Grievance Policy
An explanation of the universitys Student Academic Grievance Policy procedures can be
read here: http://www.aucegypt.edu/about/Policies/Documents/Student%20Academic
%20Grievance%20Procedures.pdf
Mobile Phones: Please turn off your mobile phones and put them away before class. I do
not even want to see them. If I see you using a mobile phone in class I will ask you to
leave, and you will be marked absent for the day.
Calendar: All assignments and course work will be specified on the course calendar
accessible on the CORE 110 Sites link through your AUC email account.

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS/LECTURES AND READING

Week by Week Syllabus
Weeks 1-5 - Psychological Perspectives: Definitions of Consciousness and Self
First class:
Overview of course discussion of why students are taking the
course.
The Name Game: Getting to Know One Another
Who am I? Activity
Freshman Program Learning Outcomes and CORE 1010 Syllabus
o Technicalities
AUC email account
Class site on Google
How to submit to turnitin.com
ID: 10564531 password: whoamicore
Assignment:
Read How to Mark a Book by Mortimer Adler and mark it in a
meaningful way.
Take online learning styles questionnaire.
Second Week:
Day 1
Perception powerpoint and discussion
Who am I? written exercise subsequent reading and discussion in
circle
Introduction of typologies
Optional: Do an enneagram inventory online (link on website)
to be compared to MBTI report
Picture: Meaning Graphic
Day 2

Part 1: Usefulness and limitations of typologies Find a typology

and explain its usefulness/limitations
Part 2: Intro to administration of the Meyers-Briggs Indicator by CAPS

Weeks Assignments:
- Fill in online questionnaire for MBTI (at home)
- Readings: Typology and the Search for Self-Knowledge by
Frager
- Enneagram Overview
- Chapter 1: My Self, Background and Perceptions of Life:
minimum of 500 words
Third Week:
Day 1 MBTI overview and explanation
Day 2 Follow up on CAPS analysis of the test results with workshop
activities.
Introduction: Left/Right Sided Brains
Reading: Left and Right sidedness of the brain, handout on checklist of
different functions
Workshop: Left Right Brain quiz.
Video: Jill Bolte Taylor My Stroke of Insight
Assignments:
Reading: Right Brain/Left Brain by Deutz
Watch Video Automatic Brain
Writing: Chapter 2: My Self and Personality Types :
minimum of 500 words
Fourth Week
Day 1 Workshop on Drawing with the Right Side of the Brain
Day 2 - Understanding the Shadow (Jung) as a means of
understanding the self
- Film clip Byron Katie
- Judge your Neighbor worksheet
Assignments: Reading on shadow projection: No Boundary by Ken
Wilbur, et al.
Fifth Week
Day 1 Concept of Projection Powerpoint on the Shadow
Introduction of the 3-2-1 Exercise for homework
Day 2 - Voice Dialogue Workshop
Assignments:
Shadow and Defense Mechanism Exercise 3-2-1 Homework
Describe someone who irritates you, then have a dialogue with them about
it, and then write about how they view you. (500 words)

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Readings:
Selected chapters from Paths Beyond Ego: The Transpersonal Vision.
Weeks 6-7 Biological Perspectives: Self as organism
Sixth Week
Day 1 - Film: Bruce Lipton Film clip or assign as homework with question
sheet
Day 2 - Discussion of Lipton Film and/or Sheldrake
Audio: Memory and the brain Rupert Sheldrake: Listen to both clips
and take notes
Readings: Articles on the brain and epigenetics:
Get out of Your Own Way by Robert Lee Holtz
How do You Persist When Your Molecules Dont? by John McCrone
Genes as Mirrors of Life Experiences by Benedict Carey
Assignments:
Chapter 3: My biological self Minimum of 500 words
Seventh Week
Day 1 Other states of consciousness,
- Discuss The Mystery of Consciousness by Stephen Pinker.
- Day 2 Discuss Altered Consciousness, i.e., Meditative and druginduced states
- The Beyond Within: LSD video clip in class
Assignments:
Assignment: Response paper on a drug-induced state vs. normal state of
consciousness, personal or observed experience of how a chemical substance
changed someones personality
Readings:
Pinker The Mystery of Consciousness
Hamilton Is God All in Your Head: This is Your Brain on Drugs
Chapter 3 My Self, Genetics and Memory: minimum 500 words

Midterm examination
Specific questions on material covered as well as essay requiring
integration of concepts learned.
Weeks 8-9 Social/Political Perspectives: Self and other selves
Eighth Week
Day 1 Introduction to Social Cognitive theory assign group
projects.
- Worksheet on clothing they are wearing. As a preliminary to
social norms.
Day 2 Social Norms
Assignments:

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Group research on social theory - Bandura Social Cognitive Theory

Modelling, Self Efficacy, Self Evaluation, Use Piaget Theory of
Cognitive Development
Violation of social norms exercise due in 2 weeks warning! not to
do anything dangerous or cause physical harm

Ninth Week
Day 1 Student presentations on social cognitive theory Note: May
take 2 days.
Day 2 Social Norms
Ellen video clip on Starbucks
Discussion and in-class exercise Social Norms Assignment
Assignments:
Writing Assignment: Individual report on concepts and work done on
group projects by each individual student
Tenth Week
Day 1 Discuss Spiral Dynamics by Graves Levels of Social
Development
Day 2 World Values presentation and discussion of differences in values
in different societies and cultures.
Reading:
Spiral Dynamics reading by Graves
Assignments:
Reading: Spiral Dynamics Summary by Ken Wilber
Response Paper: Analyze social values that influence your behavior
Chapter 4: My Self, Values, Social Influences and Change : minimum
of 500 words
Weeks 11 - 13 Religious Perspectives: Self as believer, soul, spirit
Eleventh Week
Day 1 Religion overview
Discussion: What are the different religious views of the self.
Day 2 The concept of Awareness and Consciousness in religion
Meditation exercise Movie: Peaceful Warrior film on a Tuesday TBA
Assignments:
Reading:
Articles: The Wandering Mind by Steve Brandt and Zen Mind, Beginners
Mind excerpt by Shunryu Suzuki
Chapter: My Self, Religion and Spirituality : minimum of 500 words
Twelfth Week
Day 1 - Discussion of religious terms in different cultures: self, soul
and spirit
Reading: from Frager Heart, Self and Soul
Day 2 - Discussion of What Death Tells us About Life by Charles Tart
Assignments:

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Debate on Near death experiences NDEs are valid spiritual
experiences.
Writing Task: Chapter on Death
Journal : minimum of 500 words per week
Weeks 13-14 Philosophical Perspectives: Death and the Self
Thirteenth Week
Day 1 Powerpoint and talk about Death
Videos on Coma by Arnold Mindell
Create a bucket list Before I Die task
Day 2 Movie Tibetan Book of the Dead
Assignments:
Readings: "Life Goes On" by Tjin Touber, "Seeing God in the Third Millenium" by Oliver
Sacks, and "The Science of Near Death Experiences" by Gideon Lichfield
Final Chapter on My Self, Death and After-Life written as included in
final version of Book Project
Week 15 Day 1 - Final Visual Presentations
Day 2 Final Visual Presentations
Finals week Final Book project (Synthesis Chapter) is due on turnitin.com
FINAL EXAM