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COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This month-long January interim
course is designed to introduce students to the art of saber
fencing. We will spend three mornings per week (9-12) practicing in
Andrews Fieldhouse. Students will also be expected to practice for
one hour in the afternoons three times per week. During our morning
sessions in Andrews, we will be instructed by David Burns, a USFA-licensed
fencing instructor. The course will conclude with a class
tournament.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we will
meet in the morning to examine the role of the sword in history, culture,
and film. We will study the development of sport fencing and will
also screen several films that consider swordfighting and fencing.
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| EQUIPMENT
Students are required to purchase their own equipment and to have that
equipment ready for the first day of class. Students without
equipment on the first day of class will be withdrawn from the
interim. There are four required pieces of equipment:
- a three weapon mask;
- a jacket (of heavy cotton duck);
- a saber (non-electric); and
- a padded glove.
You may also want to buy an equipment bag, as this will come in handy
(and is included with some starter sets).
This equipment is readily available from a variety of on-line equipment
vendors. Some of the equipment vendors include:
We purchased our equipment from triplette; fencepbt is also
recommended, and Santelli makes good equipment.
They often sell "starter sets" that include the four items
listed above. Depending on the quality of equipment, the cost should
range from $150 to $250. Most starter sets for saber are priced
right around $200. |
ADDITIONAL
COSTS
Besides buying fencing equipment, students will need to be prepared for
some additional costs:
- Initial Deposit. Each student who enrolls will be
required to pay $125 to Drs. Schimtz or Whisnant (in cash or check
made out to Wofford College) by noon on November 1. Chiefly, the
deposit will be used to pay the outside instructor--David
Burns, a fencing competitor, a licensed referee, and an instructor at
the Knights of Siena Fencing Academy in Charlotte. He will offer
ten days of lessons and drills. Other funds will be used to
cover the costs of videos and additional outside equipment required
for teaching this course. Any unspent funds will be returned to
the students at the conclusion of the interim.
- Text Book. Every student will be require to buy one
textbook for the class: Maxwell Garrett, et. al., Foil, Saber and
Epee Fencing: Skills, Safety, Operations, and Responsibilities. This book is available from the
bookstore; it can also be found on various on-line book vendors.
- Loose Fitting Clothing. If you do not already have
sweatpants, you will need to order a pair. If you wish, you may
also purchase knickers and socks from the fencing vendors.
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ATTENDANCE AND
PARTICIPATION
POLICY
Absences. There are NO
unexcused absences permitted for this course. Excused
absences are those due to approved college-related activities (e.g. sporting
events), documented illness, and family emergencies. Other excused absences may be given upon the prior approval of
one of the instructors.
Individual
Practice. Students will be expected to practice 3-hours/week on their
own in the afternoon. You will be expected to keep track of your time and
turn in a time sheet at the end of the class. The honor code will apply
here!
Participation.
Satisfactory
participation means that students are expected to be attentive, energetic,
and awake at all times. Most of you selected this course as your
first interim choice, and many other students were turned away. Take
advantage of the opportunity that this course presents.
We will inform students if their dedication and attentiveness to the
class is unsatisfactory. Students will be given an opportunity to
improve their participation. Students who remain undedicated and
inattentive may fail the course, even if they complete the other
requirements of the course.
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GRADING
This interim is graded on a
pass/fail basis. This means that there are minimum requirements, all
of which must be met to receive a grade of pass. The requirements
are:
- Attendance without unexcused absences;
- 12-hours of individual practice;
- A successful presentation and final paper;
- A passing grade (70%) on a quiz; and
- Satisfactory dedication and attentiveness to the course.
Final Paper. Students will work in pairs to make one presentation based on a
5-7 final paper written about some aspect of fencing or the culture
of swordfighting. The presentation will be made together, although
each student will turn in his or her own paper.
The 5-7 final paper will require some research, either in the
library or using on-line resources. You must utilize at least five
sources, which will be include in a formal bibliography. Topics for the
final paper must be cleared with one of the instructors ahead of time.
Final Presentation. The presentation must be roughly five minutes long and should be
rehearsed, intelligent, well-organized, and comprehensive. Both
students should play some role in the final presentation.
Of
course, all work
must be yours. Cases of suspected plagiarism and
cheating will be handled by the Honor Council, as per Wofford
College's Honor Code. For more information, please reference
Dr. Whisnant's handout "Living by Wofford's Honor Code".
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SAFETY
There
are 30 students in this class, plus Drs. Schmitz and Whisnant. That
is a lot of people, even for the space of the Andrews fieldhouse.
That brings to 32 the number of the people who will be swinging metal
weapons around at the same time. Because of the danger inherent in
this situation, it is important to
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OTHER
REMARKS
All
cell phones must be turned off at the beginning of class. Do not, of course, take phone calls during
class.
Please be on time. If you must arrive late or leave early, do
so as quietly and unobtrusively as possible.
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