history
2, world civilizations
course description World Civilization reviews the major regions of the world from the European discovery of the western hemisphere to the present. It reviews transformations in Europe, Africa, Islamic Asia, the far east (China, Japan & Korea) and Latin America. It includes topics such as nationalism, the advent of capitalism, and industrialization, and the differing responses to different regions of the world to these changes. The student's challenge will be to look for broader patterns beyond the wealth of detail that will come in readings and in class. prerequisite & workload: While there is no prerequisite for history 2, eligibility for English 1A is recommended; having completed English 1A would be even better. College courses assume that the student will spend two hours outside of class for each hour in class--thus students should expect to spend 7 hours preparing for class each week. I have organized the reading and writing requirements of the course so that you should be able to remain within these boundaries; the reading averages about 54 pages a week. format: W e meet three days a week. We will begin class on Mondays with your questions prior to a quiz that will review major themes in each week's readings. The balance of Monday and Wednesday will be devoted to fleshing out themes from the readings. Fridays will be devoted to discussion of the primary documents found in the Andrea/Overfield text. quizzes: We will begin each week with a quiz whose intent is to "encourage" you to keep up with the reading, so it is important that you come on time. The quizzes will ask questions about broad themes from the week's reading. Each quiz will pose two short answer questions, both of which will be graded 0, 1, or 2, with the total averaged. You must average one point per quiz to pass the class. There will be no make-ups for quizzes; if you can't help missing a quiz and wish to make it up, I will have you write something in lieu (for a point) of up to two quizzes if you inform me ahead of time (via voicemail if necessary). The two students with the highest quiz total at the end of the semester earn an "A" in the class without needing to write the final essay, provided they have met all earlier course requirements. I will drop students who miss both of the first two quizzes. -: Students will write two five-page essays (both due on Fridays). The first essay, assessing differences between Europe and the rest of the world, will be due September 24 and will count 20% of students' final grade. The second essay, on "the great break," will be due November 12 and will count 25% of people's grades. Students may write a final essay instead of the final exam (topics announced later); final essays will be due on the last class meeting prior to the final. first essay: Michel Montaigne suggests that "each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice" (A&O #9, "On Cannibals"). For this essay, you should choose to suggest a definition of either "barbarism" or "civility." You should then provide three examples of such attitudes or behaviors from our readings. You should provide at least one example from the assigned readings in chapters 1, 2 & 3 of Andrea/Overfield. There are a number of topics you might choose to discuss: the status of women, slavery, the conduct of warfare, rulers responsibilities toward their subjects, attitudes toward religion, etc. You must submit the first essay on time or make arrangements for an extension to remain in the class thereafter. second essay: McKay calls the First World War and the Russian Revolution "the great break," but one could make an argument that industrialization, imperialism, nationalism, or some other transition was a greater change from the world that came before. Drawing on McKay and at least three different sources in A&O from different parts of the world, make an argument for the transformation that had the greatest global impact between 1820 and 1920. exams: Students will take two in-class, blue book exams. The first exam will be October 22 and will count 25% of people's grades. The second exam will take place during the scheduled final exam time slot (Dec. 10) and will count 30% of people's grade. You must contact me ahead of time (via voicemail if necessary) if you hope to make up an exam missed due to illness or other unavoidable circumstance. Include a SASE with your final if you wish to have it returned to you; if you don't, I will read and recycle the exam. finally, students with documented disabilities that might impact on their performance in this course should speak with me or contact Disabled Student Services at 222-8060. Reading & essay/exam schedule: readings should be completed by the date shown. In Andrea/Overfield you should read the introductory sections in each chapter and the specific numbered selections indicated in the syllabus. You do not need to read the "Individuals in Society" or "Listening to the Past" selections in McKay; you do not need to read more than 5 A&O selection per week, but choose which ones you wish to read with some thought.
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