HUMN 303 EXAM PREP VERIFIED Intro to Humanities COMPLETED 2026/2027(8 pages)

1. What are the three main branches of humanities and what do they study? (3 points)

- Humanities are the academic disciplines that study human culture, history, and expression. The three main

branches of humanities are arts, literature, and philosophy.

- Arts are the creative and expressive forms of human culture, such as music, painting, sculpture,

architecture, dance, and theater.

- Literature is the written and oral expression of human thoughts, feelings, and experiences, such as novels,

poems, stories, essays, and speeches.

- Philosophy is the rational and critical inquiry into the fundamental questions of human existence, such as

ethics, logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics.

2. What is the difference between primary and secondary sources in humanities research? Give an example

of each. (4 points)

- Primary sources are the original and firsthand documents or artifacts that provide direct evidence of a

historical or cultural event or phenomenon. For example, a diary, a letter, a painting, a photograph, or a

speech.

- Secondary sources are the interpretations or analyses of primary sources by other scholars or experts. They

provide indirect or secondhand evidence of a historical or cultural event or phenomenon. For example, a

biography, a textbook, a journal article, or a documentary.

3. What are some of the benefits of studying humanities for personal and professional development? (3

points)

- Studying humanities can enhance one's critical thinking, creativity, communication, and cultural awareness

skills. These skills are essential for personal growth and professional success in any field or career.

- Studying humanities can also broaden one's perspective and understanding of oneself and others. It can

foster empathy, tolerance, diversity, and social responsibility. These values are important for personal

happiness and social harmony.

- Studying humanities can also enrich one's life with knowledge, appreciation, and enjoyment of human

culture and expression. It can inspire curiosity, imagination, and passion for learning.

4. What are some of the major themes or topics that humanities explore? Give an example of how each

theme or topic can be approached from different disciplines within humanities. (4 points)

- Some of the major themes or topics that humanities explore are identity, morality, beauty, truth, freedom,

and justice.

- Identity is the question of who we are as individuals and as members of various groups or communities. It

can be approached from different disciplines within humanities such as literature (e.g., how characters

develop their identity through their actions and interactions), arts (e.g., how artists express their identity