HIST 102-50:  THE WEST AND THE MODERN WORLD/ J. Bone

MTW  9:30-10:20 -- SCIENCE 439

SYLLABUS INDEX:

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, the relationship between modern society and the natural world; 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 special Honors Section 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 the Age of Discovery.  It will help you build reading, critical-thinking and writing skills that will aid you throughout your academic and/or professional life.  Your 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.  Your written assignments will develop and enhance your ability to assess historical evidence and to structure a well-reasoned, well-supported essay. 

HIST 102-50 The West And The World (Bone) has been been 'bundled' together with BIO 130-50 Field Biology (Risley) and ENG 110-50 Writing Effective Prose (Feldman) into a closely linked grouping we call a Cluster.  

Our Honors Cluster will connect moments and ideas related to the chronological development of society and of political philosophy with biological concepts, especially those related to Evolution. Besides the usual quizzes, tests and papers for each section, Plenary assignments in this Honors cluster will include topics requiring connections between the three disciplines and therefore critical thinking.  They also will include the interpretation of primary sources and their relevance to current experiences. Your Plenary assignments may consist of tests, short writing assignments within the “writing to learn” process, oral presentations as well as lab exercises, a field trip, hands-on projects, and/or other activities.  Throughout the Cluster, we will stress elements of effective writing (especially organization and coherence).

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INSTRUCTOR:

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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].   You MUST purchase the BUNDLED VOLUMES TOGETHER in order to get the free CD-ROM we will be using during the course.

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CLASS CONTENT:

The History component of the Cluster 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 Tuesday and Wednesday for introductory sessions, we will cover one Unit every two class sessions.

Units normally will be divided into two parts, separated by a Plenary Session.

We will begin each Unit on Mondays 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 (Wednesdays) will stress interpretation and analysis.  You will be reading primary documents selected from the required Sources of the West volume or available ON LINE.  We will discuss them critically in the context of 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.  

It is YOUR responsibility to check the Class Schedule carefully and prepare for class accordingly.  You will be informed well in advance of any changes or emendations.

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EVALUATION/GRADING:

I will determine your basic grade for HIST 102 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

Classroom attendance/participation will count 30% of your overall grade for the course. 

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, and at all plenaries.  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 the equivalent of 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 academic 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, hurricane, blizzard, 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 assigned for discussion has a set of Study Questions designed to help you contextualize it.  The Study Questions will help you focus on key ideas and questions surrounding each of the assigned readings.  You are encouraged to submit written responses to them (these should require an average of no more than two pages of writing per class session).  Answers to Study Questions are due BEFORE THE CLASS IN QUESTION.  They may be submitted electronically.  I will record them and return them to you with comments.  Answers may be chosen randomly for peer review during class.  If you complete fifteen (15) sets of Study Questions over the semester I will raise the Class Participation portion of your grade by the equivalent of one (1) full letter grade.         

Finally, participation includes active engagement with activities, mini-assignments, discussions, and other elements of our Plenary Sessions.  These once-weekly sessions will not normally be graded for points, merely tracked on a check plus/check/check minus basis and used to adjust your Class Participation grade.  However they are vital to the success of the Cluster concept.   In particular, they are where the ideas, concepts, information, etc. in each of the three Cluster disciplines are designed to come together.  Thus we expect everyone to take part in helping ensure that the Cluster experience is more than simply the sum of its parts.   

Coffee and beverages are ok at all times.  However 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 attempt to accommodate them.

SHORT ESSAYS

You will be asked to write two four- to five-page Critical Essays for me during the semester.  Essay # 1 will count 15% of your overall grade for my class.  Essay # 2 will count 25%, 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 at least the equivalent 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 PROJECT

There will be a take-home Final Project for this class.  It will count 30% of your overall grade for the course.  Most likely it will consist of an assignment asking you to synthesize what you have learned over the semester.  We will announce details and the due date in class, probably on or about December 1. 

If you fail to turn in a Final Project 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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