logo_boxPrefix 121-- Sections 002 & 0H2

Course Guide – Western Civilization to 1700

Semester:                 

Fall 2016

Instructor:     

J. Kelly Robison, PhD

Phone:           

566 3240

E-mail:            

robisonk@sanjuancollege.edu

Office:             

1840 Humanities

Office Hours:  

MW, 11:30-12:45. 2:30-3:45; TR, 1:00-3:45;F, 10:00 – 2:15 (or meetings)

 

Meeting Location and Times

1801 West Classroom Complex

11:30 – 12:45, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Course Description

This course examines the intellectual, social, economic, cultural, and political evolution of Western Civilization from the origins of humanity to 1700.  Topics covered include ancient civilizations, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution.

This course presents an opportunity to think critically about the issues that shaped the past and how that past affects the present. Additionally, students can explore history and begin to understand the ways in which historians address the past. Finally, the course will encourage students to develop better reading, writing, studying, and analytical skills.

Prerequisites

 ENGL-095, RDNG-096

Required Text

Perry, et al.  Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics and Society.  Vol 1 to 1789.  Tenth Edition.  New York:  Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2013.

Required Technology and Software

·         Internet access

·         Word Processing

Course Requirements

Students will do the following activities:

Exams – Mid-term = 125 points, Final = 125 points

There will be two exams, a mid‑term and a final.  The exams will consist of one essay question, though you will have a choice of several questions. There will also be an objective component.  Study guides will be provided at least a week prior to the exam date.  Please buy bluebooks at the bookstore for the exams.

When you write an essay exam, assume that the person who is reading the essay knows nothing about the topic you are discussing. Simply mentioning is not explaining ‑‑ be thorough. Use a formal essay construction when you write. This means having an introductory paragraph that has a thesis statement and sets up the rest of the essay. The body of your essay should offer factual evidence that proves your thesis. A concluding paragraph sums up what you have written.

Research Paper – 100 points + 25 points + 25 points

You may pick any topic that interests you, provided that it deals in some way with U.S. history until 1865. The paper exercise will consist of three stages. Each stage is due in class on the date given in the schedule. This exercise is worth a total of 150 points.

Note:  Do not choose a person as your topic.

Topic statement and bibliography‑ 25 points

·         Submit a one-page paper (typed) with your topic.  More importantly, ask a historical question that you will answer in your paper.  Also submit full citations for at least eight sources.  No more than three of those sources may be web sites.

Final draft ‑ 100 points

Research Paper format

·         Write five double‑spaced, typed pages of text (not including notes and bibliography)

·         Use standard 12 point font. 

·         In the introduction state a thesis.

o    In the body of the paper present evidence that supports this thesis.

·         Use Chicago‑style notations (footnotes). 

·         Do not use quotes except those from the time period in question that are highly relevant to your topic.

·         The bibliography may not include encyclopedia, textbooks, or other general references.

o    Not more than a third of all references may be from internet sources.  If Internet sources are used, then each internet source must be accompanied by a brief statement (three or four sentences) evaluating the reliability of the source.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting the work of someone else as one's own. Honesty requires that any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. The offering of material assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment is also considered plagiarism. Any student who fails to give credit for any ideas or materials taken from another source is guilty of plagiarism NOTE: A paper that has been plagiarized will receive '0' points.

San Juan College has strict guidelines for Plagiarism and other forms of Academic Dishonesty. You may find those guidelines here: http://www.sanjuancollege.edu/documents/Academic%20Honesty%20Rules%20Final.pdf

Late Assignments

Please note that no late papers will be accepted and exams must be taken on the exam date unless prior arrangements have been made. The scheduling of make‑up exams is completely at the discretion of the instructor. Note: A grade of Incomplete will be given only if the student has completed at least three‑quarters of the assignments and cannot complete the class‑work due to unavoidable circumstance.

Additional Requirements for Honors Students (Section 0H1)

Select two primary documents.  The document analyses should be no more than one page in length. There is no need to attach a cover sheet, simply put your name at the top of the paper. The title of the document being analyzed should be at the top of the paper as well. Use standard fonts of standard size. Each analysis is worth 25 points.  See the schedule for due dates.

First, briefly describe the content of the document, noting the time in which it was written, its general theme or themes, the author (where indicated) and other factual material that seems appropriate to mention. This is the easy part. All you are doing in this section is summarizing what the author has to say.

Second, and this is the more difficult section, compare or analyze this document to the appropriate section of the text, noting how the document illustrates, amplifies, or explains textual themes or narrative. Don't bother trying to find the particular document in the text. Oftentimes the documents are not mentioned by name. You do have to read the text book though. What you are trying to do is set the document within the context of the times. Why is this document important? How does it help to explain a certain time period?

Participation and Attendance Policy

Poor grades are a reflection of poor class attendance. Regular class attendance is expected and roll will be taken every day. Students are allowed five absences after which the final grade will be affected. If a student has five absences, then that student's final grade will be no higher than a C. If a student misses seven class periods, the final grade will automatically be an F. There will be no distinction made between excused or unexcused absences.  It is not necessary to contact the professor in the event of an absence except in the event an assignment is due.

Other Classroom Policies and Expectations

In order to minimize disruptions to your fellow students, please be in the classroom when the class starts and stay through the entire period. Talking in class is also a disruption unless it is for the good of the entire class. If you must use the bathroom or make a phone call, either get those things done before class or after class, not in the middle of class. Also, please turn cell phones off when you enter the classroom.

Grading

A student's grade for the course will be based on the total number of points of the possible 350. There is no curve.

A= 360 - 400   Superior work which is not only accurate and complete, but also insightful and comprehensive; it demonstrates the ability to make critical judgments on one's own part and skill in justifying such positions.

B= 320 ‑ 359   Above average work which is accurate and complete, but also shows the ability to correlate facts and judgments involved in different "compartments" of a topic as well as indicating some development of a critical perspective.

C= 280 ‑ 319   Average work which is accurate, but somewhat incomplete, lacking the fuller developments of above average work.

D= 240 ‑ 279   Below average work which is inaccurate and incomplete, but indicates some effort to deal with the issues at hand.

F=under 239   Inadequate work which is inaccurate and incomplete and fails to fulfill the assignment.

Semester Calendar

23 Aug

Introduction

25 Aug

The Rise to Civilization

Perry, ch 1

30 Aug

Mesopotamia

Perry, ch 1

1 Sep

Egypt

Perry, ch 1

6 Sep

Workshop ‑ Writing the Research Paper

8 Sep

Little States and Mighty Empires -

Perry, chs 1 & 2

13 Sep

Topic Statement and bibliography due

15 Sep

The Greek City-States -

Perry, ch 3

20 Sep

Greek Thought and Culture -

Perry, ch 4

22 Sep

The World of Alexander the Great -

Perry, ch 5

27 Sep

Roma Republica -

Perry, ch 6

29 Sep

Roma Imperium -

Perry, ch 7

4 Oct

The Ascent of Christianity -

Perry, ch 8

6 Oct

Eastern Civilizations -

Perry, ch 9

11 Oct

The Dark Ages and Carolingian Renaissance -

Perry, ch 9

13 Oct

Medieval Society -

Perry, chs 9 & 10

18 Oct

Mid-term Exam

20 Oct

The High Middle Ages -

Perry, ch 10

25 Oct

The Crusades and the Papacy -

Perry, ch 10

27 Oct

Late Medieval Thought -

Perry, ch 11

1 Nov

The Calamitous Fourteenth Century - 

Perry, ch 12

3 Nov

TBA

Research Paper Due

8 Nov

The Renaissance

Perry, ch 13

10 Nov

The Reformation -

Perry, ch 14

15 Nov

The Age of European Discovery -

Perry, ch 15

17 Nov

Economics and Society in Early Modern Europe -

Perry, ch 15

22 Nov

Absolute Monarchism -

Perry, ch 16

24 Nov

Thanksgiving

29 Nov

England and the Netherlands: Odd-Men Out-

Perry ch 16

1 Dec

The Scientific Revolution -

Perry, ch 17

6 Dec

The Enlightenment -

Perry, ch 18

13 Dec

Final Exam

College Policies

The following information also applies to your work in this class.

1.       Academic Accommodations—American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

If you believe you need academic accommodations due to physical or learning disabilities, you are encouraged to inform me as soon as possible.  If you have special needs for campus emergency situations, please inform me immediately.  You can also contact the college’s disability advisor in the Advising/Counseling Center at 566-3271.  The advisor can work with you in verifying your disabilities and developing accommodation strategies. 

2.       The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Your personal information and grade are confidential.  Aside from routine reporting to the college required for this course, I will not share such information with anyone unless I have your permission.

3.       Academic Honesty Rules

San Juan College expects all students to adhere to the Academic Honesty Rules as posted online: <http://www.sanjuancollege.edu/AcademicHonesty>.  These are the official guidelines for all classes at San Juan College (July 2006).

4.       Student Conduct Statement

College is preparation for professional opportunities, and professional conduct is expected in courses, including online classes, as well as any written communications, and interactions with members of the college community.  As part of our learning community, students are expected to interact and communicate in a mature, respectful, thoughtful, and supportive manner.  Students who demonstrate disrespectful, hostile, belittling, bullying or other disruptive behavior will be subject to potential consequences and possible dismissal from the college.  The college will take appropriate action when students demonstrate threatening behavior (to others or self).  Students should refer to the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook for additional information.

5.       Student Safety  

Keeping students safe is a priority, and part of that is ensuring that we have the ability to communicate emergency messages – whether for school closures due to weather or for more or urgent situations. Rave is San Juan College’s emergency messaging system.  Through your SJC student email, you will automatically receive email messages, however, it is also vital that you receive text messages.  In order to receive the messages, you must register with Rave. This is a simple process and can be done at www.sanjuancollege.edu/campusalerts.  When registering, please make sure that your mobile status is “confirmed.”

The Department of Public Safety is available 24 hours per day.  In an emergency, they can be accessed by calling 215-3091 or 566-3333.

In the event of an emergency, a Rave message will be sent, and depending on the situation, you will be instructed to do one of the following:

6.       Drop for Non-Attendance and/or Non-Participation  

Class Attendance and Participation Expectation:

Face-to-Face – Students are expected to attend and participate in class regularly.  Any student missing more than 10% of consecutive class time, (For example, in a regular 15 week class that meets twice a week, this equates to the student missing 3 consecutive classes) without consultation with the instructor may be considered as having abandoned the course.

On-line – Students are expected to participate regularly and submit all course assignments, based on the course guide definition.  A student who does not submit any assignments during a consecutive 10% of the course (1.5 weeks of a 15 week semester) without consulting the instructor, may be considered as having abandoned the course.  Logging in does not meet the attendance standard.

Competency-Based Education Classes – Students are expected to have regular and substantive interactions with their instructor and to actively work on course content.  A student who has not submitted coursework, nor had substantive interactions with the instructor over a consecutive 10% of the term, without the instructor’s prior approval, will be considered to have abandoned the competency progression.  Last date of attendance will be recorded as the last date that coursework was submitted or that the student met with the instructor.  For

on-line learners, logging in does not meet the attendance standard.

 

Failure to Meet Class Participation Expectation:

Students who fail to meet participation expectations will have their last date of attendance recorded.  This date will be used to recalculate any financial aid received/veteran’s benefits received, and the student may be required to repay the institution/government.  If the student does not drop the course, an ‘X’ grade will be recorded.  An ‘X’ grade impacts the grade point average the same as an ‘F’.