HIST 102-16:  THE WEST AND THE MODERN WORLD/ J. Bone

MW  9:30-10:45 -- RAUBINGER 214

SYLLABUS INDEX:

IMPORTANT SCHEDULE NOTE!   University policy requires a make-up session for the class that conflicts with President's Day (Feb. 17).  During the week of Feb 17, we will meet on TUESDAY 2/18 instead of Monday.  See the CLASS SCHEDULE for details.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

The second of a two-semester sequence, this course is designed to provide broad coverage of the shaping of the modern world.  It traces political, intellectual, social, and economic trends between the West and [the rest of] the World from the Voyages of Discovery to decolonization.

(GE requirement; not credited towards the major)

Prerequisite: HIST 101

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COURSE OVERVIEW:

This introductory course is the second in WPUNJ’s two-semester survey of the evolution of modern “Western Civilization.” It begins with the great Voyages of Discovery and closes with the collapse of Soviet-bloc communism at the end of the twentieth century. 

The “West” is a concept, not a geographical area.  Similarly, “Western Civilization” is a term of convenience for the ideas, beliefs, practices, norms, systems, and so on that form the foundation for contemporary Europe.  Focusing on the most significant events and dynamics of the past half millennium, we will explore and explain that foundation.  We will cover such key topics as: state politics; wars; new ideas, ideologies and technologies; the rise of industrial capitalism and its critique, and the evolution of modern class, ethnic, gender and racial identities. Throughout our study, we will be considering them both at the macro level and also in terms of their impact on the daily lives of ordinary people.

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COURSE GOALS:

This course is designed to build a basic understanding of the shaping of the modern West.  Its goal is not just to familiarize you with Western Civilization since 1648.  It is to help you build reading, critical-thinking and writing skills that will aid you throughout your academic and/or professional life.  Readings and lectures will provide you with a thorough factual grounding.  Terms, methodologies, and exercises you will be introduced to will help you interpret historical sources critically and express your conclusions cogently.  Written assignments will develop and enhance your ability to assess historical evidence and to structure a well-reasoned, well-supported essay. 

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INSTRUCTOR:

Jonathan Bone

Office: Atrium 206    Drop-In Hours:  W 2-4 or by appointment

Office Tel: 720-2284

email: bonej@wpunj.edu

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REQUIRED BOOKS:

Kishlansky, Geary, Neal, Civilization In The West (5^th ed), Volume II - Since 1555 (Chs 14-30).  New York: Longman. 2003.  ISBN: 0-321-10501-X

Kishlansky, ed., Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization (5th ed), Volume 2.   Paper ed.  New York: Longman, 2003.  ISBN: 0-321-10551-6

Both titles are available at the WPUNJ Bookstore [located in the Student Center]

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CLASS CONTENT:

This course will combine lectures with discussions, debates, and other non-lecture learning activities.  It contains fourteen Units structured around chapters from Kishlansky et al., Civilization In The West.  After the first week, when we meet only on Wednesday for an introductory session, we will cover one Unit every two class sessions.

Units normally will be divided into two parts. 

We will begin each Unit with a section stressing content and information.  Typically this will involve a lecture on the topic of the assigned chapter from Civilization, supplemented by material that may include: maps, music, posters, images, charts, and anything else I may come up with. 

The second portion of each Unit will stress interpretation and analysis.  You will be reading primary documents from the (required) Sources of the West volume and discussing them with your classmates in the context of the readings, lectures, and/or other material we will have covered previously. 

Note that the unit on the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era has TWO scheduled content/information sections and TWO scheduled discussion sections.   University policy requires that we schedule a make-up session for the class that conflicts with President's Day (Feb. 17).  During that week, we will meet on TUESDAY 2/18 and again on Wednesday 2/19.  See the CLASS SCHEDULE for details.

It is YOUR responsibility to check the Class Schedule carefully and prepare for class accordingly.

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EVALUATION/GRADING:

I will determine your grade as follows:

Scale:

R = Rewrite.  A grade of “R” on either of your short essays means it is so badly written that I cannot grade it as is.  You will need to rewrite it within one week to receive a grade, which will reflect the standard penalty for lateness.  If you fail to rewrite an “R”-graded essay comprehensibly enough for me to evaluate it, your grade for the assignment will revert automatically to F.  As a condition of rewriting, I may ask you to meet with me in my office and/or contact the WPUNJ Writing Center [Atrium 128].

* Excessive absence may cause you to fail the entire course automatically.  See below.

CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

Participation begins with being there, on time and ready to begin.  You hurt yourself as well as your classmates when you are not.

I will take attendance at the beginning of every regularly scheduled session.  I understand that adults sometimes face sickness or unexpected conflicts and that it may not always be possible for you to make it to class.  However I will reduce the Class Participation portion of your grade at least one (1) full letter grade if you have four or more absences without cause.  Four or more absences for any reason during the first six weeks of the semester will result in Early Alert notification of your advisor.  If you are absent eight (8) or more times over the semester without cause I may fail you for the entire course.  I reserve the right to determine what constitutes an absence for cause (e.g. serious illness, grand jury duty, etc.). 

Participation also means expressing ideas, opinions, conclusions, and so on about the content of the class.  Interpretation/Discussion sections are your chance to show me that you’ve gone over the readings and assignments and are prepared to discuss them intelligently.  Don’t worry about being shy: I will make sure that everyone has ample opportunity to be heard.  Neither should you worry about expressing ‘wrong’ or ‘incorrect’ judgments.  The only response I automatically reject is passive, uninformed silence.  What counts most with me is your engagement with the assigned material and your willingness to speak intelligently about it in the context of what you’re learning.

Each document in the Sources textbook has a set of Study Questions designed to help you prepare specially for discussing it.  You need not use them: they are optional.  However I strongly encourage you to work through them systematically and to bring the results to class.  They will help you to focus on the key ideas and questions surrounding each of the assigned readings. 

I will give up to one full letter grade extra credit for Class Participation to students who work through the Study Questions for at least ten (10) different documents over the semester and submit their written-out answers to me prior to each Unit’s Interpretation/Discussion section.  I will accept either electronic or printed submissions.

Coffee and beverages are ok at all times; please do not eat while we are in session.

Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, timer watches, and other disruptive devices while we are in session.  You may tape record classes if you wish, and you may take notes on laptop computers or palm devices provided your doing so does not disturb proceedings.

Students with disabilities or requiring special arrangements should contact me as soon as possible so that I may accommodate them.

SHORT ESSAYS

You will be asked to write two four- to five-page critical essays during the semester.  Essay # 1 will count 10% of your overall grade for the class.  Essay # 2 will count 20%, and will be considered a take-home MIDTERM EXAM.   These essays will ask you to interpret one or more primary sources in the context of the assigned readings, lectures, discussions, etc.  They will be due at the start of class one week after they have been assigned.  Late essays will be penalized a minimum of one full letter grade.  Extreme lateness may result in a failing grade for the assignment.  You MUST turn in complete, legible drafts of BOTH essays to be able to pass the course.

Plagiarism in your essays will not be tolerated.

Plagiarism is trying to pass off someone else's work as your own without proper citation. This includes both repeating source material verbatim without citation (word-for-word copying) and paraphrasing source material without citation. It includes appropriating the ideas of any other party or outside source without attribution (e.g. your professor(s), your classmate(s), anything you yourself have written for another forum, the Internet).

Put as much as possible of what you want to say in your own words.  And when you quote, paraphrase, or otherwise refer to your sources, cite them.  I want to see citations wherever and whenever you have incorporated facts and/or ideas from others.  When in doubt, ask me and/or refer to the University Guidelines.

The minimum penalty for clear plagiarism in an essay will be an F (failing grade) for that assignment. 

Repetition of the offense may result in an F (failing grade) for the course.

FINAL EXAM

There will be a take-home final exam for this class.  It will count 40% of your overall grade for the course.  Most likely it will consist of one or more essay question(s) asking you to synthesize what you have learned over the semester.  I will announce details and the due date in class on April 28. 

If you fail to turn in a Final Exam on time you may not be allowed to make it up unless you provide a satisfactory written excuse, such as a doctor’s note or a memorandum from the Office of the Dean of Students.

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CLASS SCHEDULE:

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