Instructor: Larissa Nemoianu  

Office: JM 126 

Course Description

History 131 is an introduction to Western civilization from the origins of humankind to the great upheavals of the Renaissance and Reformation in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The course seeks to acquaint students with a basic overview of Ancient through Early Modern European history, via an exploration of political, economic, social, technological, scientific, religious, intellectual, and philosophical developments.

As we approach the millennium, there is a great anticipation of a "new era," a new beginning. However, the future is inescapably tied to the past and questions our society is facing and will face in the future are rooted in our past. Our attitudes on such issues as political democracy, social justice, economic opportunity, equality and the environment have all been shaped by our society's previous experiences. In this course we will study how these attitudes and beliefs were born, and how they evolved, from the origins of humankind to the middle of 16^th century.

Ultimately, history in a large part, is a study and an attempt to understand those links from what we "were" to what we "are" and to what we "hope to be."

History is not one-dimensional; instead, it has ties along both chronological and societal lines. A particular historical event is not only influenced by those events, which happen concurrently, but also by those which precede it.

While this course is an "introductory" course in Western, it is not a "survey" course in the sense that we will not attempt to discuss every fact or cover every event of this period.

1. First, we will study history as a process through which our society, our world came to be as it is today.  Our society is the product of a diverse and complex past and a fuller understanding of that past will give us greater insight and perspective into the historical roots to the problems that challenges us.
2.   The second objective of this course is to challenge you to develop your critical reading and writing skills. We will introduce you to sets of complex historical problems and ask you to order, assess, analyze and conceptualize the material in order to gain greater understanding of the particular problem with all of its ramifications.

To achieve your goals for this class, knowledge, understanding, credits, and grades you must study outside of class the topics assigned, and you will be expected to come into class with questions, and be ready to participate actively in group work and class discussions.

Asking questions reflects the effort you have put forth in studying the material. Your questions will be answer by me, or by one of your colleagues.

The largest portion of each class session will be occupied by group work or class discussion based on the studied material

My evaluation of your work will be based on your effort and on your abilities demonstrated throughout the class

The class calendar, my methods of teaching, the evaluation criteria, could change depending on the class effort and direction

Textbook: Civilization in the West, Mark Kishlansky, Patrick Geary, Patricia O'Brien, Third Edition, V.I

Study Guide to accompany Civilization in the West,, John Paul Bischoff, Third Edition,

Sources of the West, Mark Kishlansky, Editor, Second Edition, Volum I

The reading load has been kept to a minimum. Students are therefore expected to complete all reading assignments. The sources that will be provided by your instructor, book and supplementary reading, which are designed to broaden and enrich your understanding of particular periods and aspects of the emergence of Western Civilization, will be covered in examinations, the term paper, quizzes, assignments and class participation evaluation.

 

In addition to my lectures, you will participate class discussion . The discussions are an important and critical element of History 131. For the discussion to be successful and for you to get the most out of the course you must have finished the assigned reading before you come to class and be prepared to discuss the material. As a general rule it is a good idea to bring the books each week to class. It is quite possible that I will read a paragraph from the material and have you comment on it. In addition you might have questions of your own from the readings that you want to discuss.

Since class attendance (lectures and discussion) is essential for your successful completion of the course, attendance checks will be made each class meeting. You are responsible for all material presented in class, including announcements about course procedures. Part of your grade is class participation. Also, exams, quizzes, and homework often include questions on material presented only in class, so your attendance directly affects your performance. After 3 absences the student will be dropped at the instructor's request.

Evaluation:

Students can accumulate 1000 points:

500 hundred from the exams

200 from the research project

200 from quizzes

100 points from class participation

1. Withdraw and audit -"W" and "Y"- are permanent transcripted grades and will not be change

2. No awarded grade appearing on the transcript will be changed to either Withdraw or Audit

3. Change of awarded grade to Incomplete must be accompanied by detailed explanation and documentation. Final approval is based on the judgment of the Dean of Faculty and registrar

4. The Incomplete is awarded only when student work is deemed to be sufficient in quality but lacking in quantity. Written agreement between the student and Instructor as to work needed to be completed as well as completion date is required. An "I" not changed by the next full-length Fall or Winter semester will remain a permanently transcripted grade unless the course is not offered, for example, in the next full-length semester (Any "I" not changed at the end of one year will remain a permanently transcripted grade)

5. An Incomplete that is transcripted may be changed to a grade by the instructor of record only.

Examinations:

3 partial exams are worth 300 points (100 each)

The final exam is worth 200 points and covers the entire material studied over the semester.

The partial exams are made up of multiple choice, essay, primary sources and true/false questions from the textbook, from class discussion, supplementary readings and primary sources.

The Final Exam will place considerable emphasis on your ability to analyze, synthesize, your critical thinking and communicate in writing your conclusions of the course material.

The Final exam is made up of 40 multiple choice questions (worth 80 points) map exercise (worth 20 points), a primary source interpretation (20 points), and 4 essay questions (worth 80 points).

The quizzes are unannounced and could be made of multiple choices, maps, essay questions, or primary source analysis.

You will work in assigned groups of 3-4 students. The instructor will establish the role of each individual in the group. The instructor will also do this for exams. The ideal group will be composed of equally prepared students, but, if one student misses class, or acts disinterested towards the well being of his or her colleagues, this student will be removed from the group.

Again, the instructor decides the composition of groups for each exam.

Each student will take the quizes and first exam alone, not with their group.

Partial exam 2 and 3 and Final Exam are group exams. Again, the instructor decides the composition of groups each exam.

No exam can be retaken and no make-up for quizes.

If for any family, medical, or personal emergency you find it necessary to miss a midterm or final exam, you must contact the course instructor before the examination. If unable to contact the instructor, leave a message with the building secretary (787-0800, ext. 8152). Medical excuses will require a note from a doctor. A death in the family will require a copy of the death certificate or an obituary. Reasonable accommodation will be made in genuine cases of extenuating circumstances.

Assignment:

You will be required to do a research project, worth 200 points.

I sincerely hope that the research project will not be an exercise in futility or simply be regarded as busy work assignment. In addition I hope that the project will engage your interests and encourage your imagination and creativity.

If you choose a written research project, this must be typed, double spaced, no shorter than 5 pages, and no longer than 8 (the best will be 5 pages long). The project, as well as the essay questions on the midterm and final exam has been designed to sharpen analytical, conceptual and critical skills.

In addition you must have a bibliography page and notes (if you use Internet sources you should present a hard copy of your source.)

The written research project will be graded as following:

1. On historical knowledge of the period: 75 points

2. Ability to analyze, synthesize, compare and contrast different historical events: 100 points

3. Style, vocabulary, and grammar: 25 points

As far as style is concerned, I will accept footnote, endnote or parenthetical format, but ALL references MUST be documented and all sources included in a bibliography at the end of the essay.

A research project (written or any other form) should have at least four sources.

We will talk in class about different types of projects you can choose and about topics for written research projects

4.0: 940 -1000

3.5: 850 - 939

3.0: 800 - 850

2.5: 700 - 799

2.0: 650 - 699

1.5: 550 - 649

1.0: 500 - 549

Below 500 - 0.0

Academic dishonesty will result in a course grade of 0.0

Exam 1

From Paleolithic to the Roman Republic (including the chapter on Roman Republic.) (Textbook, Study Guide : Prologue, Ch. 1, 2,3, 4; Sources: How to read a document, and pages 4-79)

Exam 2

Imperial Rome to the High Middle Ages

(Test book, Study Guide: Ch. 5, 6; 7, 8,9; Sources:,

pages: 79-180 )

Exam 3 The Later Middle Ages through Renaissance and Reformation

(Textbook, Study Guide : Ch. 10,11,12,13 Sources: pages: 180-235)

 

Identify 5 geographic locations on the map provided. The maps will be marked with a number of lettered geographic locations. Chose the letter that identifies the locations listed. Blank maps will be distributed before the midterm and final to aid you in studying. Map IDs may be the sites of events of historical significance (battles, cities, etc.) or regions of specific importance (Peloponnesus, the Fertile Crescent, Bohemia, etc.), geographic features (Rhine River, Pyrenees Mountains) or countries where knowledge of their location is indispensable to under-standing particular events and historical trends etc.

These will be drawn directly from lectures, the course text and from your SOURCEBOOK readings and are designed to test student's assimilation of the course materials. You will not be asked obscure questions or questions designed to trick you.

You will be asked broad questions designed to test the breadth and depth of your command of the course materials. Essays are expected to have an introduction, logical progression in the main body of your answer and an appropriate conclusion. You will have to choose one out of two essays drawn from a list of possible essay questions that will be given to you in advance.

You will be asked to analyze a primary source by answering questions related to the source, and by formulating your own conclusion on the importance of the source for the respective period.

1. 10 MAP IDs (2 points each, total 20 points)

2. 50 MULTIPLE CHOICES (2 points each, total 100 points)

3. TWO ESSAYS (OUT OF FOUR) (60 points)

4. ONE PRIMARY SOURCE (20 POINTS)

It is important that you record names and phone numbers of at least two other class members. I strongly recommend that you study for exams in groups.

In order to succeed in this course it is absolutely necessary for you to attend the class, to participate in discussions, to read the assigned material and, if you are in any doubt about course requirements or materials, please ask, I will be happy to provide clarification. I will be willing to help organize study groups, assign a tutor, or work one on one with each of you. Do not forget: my office is next door and I am here for you during my office hours, or, by appointment, at your convenient time.

Stop in my office even if you do not have problems, so that we can learn more about each other.

Always relate the time you spend on a question to the exam points it carries. It is senseless spending ten minutes on a multiple choice question worth two points.

Essay

1. Attempt to outline briefly your essay before you begin to write. This will help you to write a better organized essay and can prevent you from straying from the point as you go along.

2. Resist the natural inclination to start writing immediately. Give yourself time to think through the question and formulate an outline of your answer.

3. Try to compose an introduction that conveys what you intend to argue. Introductions are very important--they set the tone for what follows.

4. Try to avoid generalizations and ambiguity ("This period saw many changes"), stating the obvious ("The French Revolution saw many revolutionary events"), or simply regurgitating the question.

Again -GOOD LUCK