HIS 131.AH1
Winter 2018
Number of Course Credits:
Days:
Time: / 4
Monday and Wednesday
3pm – 4:50pm
Location: / Justin Whiting Hall, Room 201
Instructor: / Elaine Themm
Contact Email: /
Course Description: / This, together with History 132, constitutes the basic history course, as well as an introduction to the humanities.
HIS. 131 examine the roots of Western culture and its development from the beginning through the Reformation. The course surveys the social, philosophical, scientific, artistic, religious, and political setting evolution with emphasis on the role of ideas and their consequences in the history of the human kind from the beginning to 16th century.
Prerequisite(s): / ENG 085 and ENG 090
Course Goals:
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.
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.
This course has two major goals:
- First, we will study history as a process through which our society came to be as it is today. Our society today 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 of the problems that challenges us. One historian has written: "A nation's attitudes towards its own history is like a window into its own soul and the men and women of such a nation cannot be expected to meet the obligations of the present if they refuse to exhibit honesty, charity, open-mindedness and a free and growing intelligence towards the past that makes them what they are."
Performance Objectives:
The General Education Outcome for this course is:
GEO 5: Understanding human behavior and social systems, and the principles which govern them.
To achieve this outcome, students will learn to:
- Recognize factors that determine and govern human behavior. Acknowledge the interaction of personal and social factors.
- Articulate the methods of analysis and interpretation used by behavioral sciences.
- Begin to use appropriate terms and concepts.
- When prompted, engage in discussion of the relevant issues, reflecting knowledge of behavior and systems.
- Identify the critical assumptions involved in behavioral science research and the limitations of each research method.
- Identify at least two social systems designed to regulate human behavior and the limitations of each.
1. Work effectively in groups, demonstrate an ability to consult with others, reach consensus and collaborate to create solutions to a given problem.
2. Utilize critical thinking to problem solving. This includes the ability to support claims with relevant and credible evidence, recognize and respond to bias, and apply accurate and logical analysis to achieve desired outcomes.
3. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication to a wide range of audiences.
American Honors Learning Outcomes:
1. Effective Communication and Collaboration
a. Foster cooperation with peers to increase constructive collaboration.
2. Critical Thinking
a. Employ academic sources to support claims with relevant and credible evidence.
b. Utilize acquired knowledge, effective academic research methods, and critical
thinking skills to generate new ideas, processes or approaches to relevant issues.
3. Knowledge Application
a. Synthesize information across multiple disciplines to create a more fully contextualized response to a problem or issue.
Textbook: Western Civilization: A Brief History, Volume I, 2016 by Perry, Marvin
ISBN: 978-1305091597
Text Book Zero - The textbook is available in a digital format and may be purchased in the bookstore.
Student Requirements:
- Read the "Learning Goals" at the beginning of each chapter. (The goals summarize the key points in the course and provide a guide for studying the information for the examination questions.)
- Read the outlines and power points for each chapter
- Read the textbook chapter at least twice. The first time scan the chapter topics reading the major points, and then the second time, concentrate on trying to understand the information, which will require asking yourself questions about what you are reading.
- Answer focus/discussion questions.
- Participate in class discussion.
- Take the quizzes/examinations.
- Submit the written assignments.
Learning Activities:
Various learning activities will be used to accomplish the course goals. The textbook, online readings and videos are used to introduce materials, methods, and concepts.
* Attend class.
* Read the chapters in the text.
* Participate in class discussion.
* Submit in time the written assignments
* Do the Art Project/Presentation
* Take exams
Grading Procedure:
Students can accumulate 770 points:
200 points from Exams
150 from Oral Presentation
100 points from Written Assignment
220 points from Gallery Walk Assignment and presentation
100 points from Class Participation
Exams: 200 points
Chapter tests (200 points total)
Each test will consist of short answer/essay questions.
Test 1 (45 pts): Chapters 1 and 2 Due by 2/11
Test 2 (45 pts): Chapters 3 and 4 Due by 3/04
Test 3 (45 pts): Chapters 5 and 6 Due by 4/08
Test 4 (65 pts): Chapters 7, 8, 9 and cumulative questions Due by 5/02
Tests 1-3 are online via JetNet and due by 11:59 on the date listed above. These are NOT open book, open note tests.
Test 4 will be given on the last day of class.
Class participation: 100 points
This includes general class participation during lectures and involvement with the group when we break down into small group activities. There may be quizzes or writing assignments as a part of course participation.
Oral Presentation: 150 points
Students will orally present a topic discussed from the class time period that demonstrates knowledge and understanding of significant individuals, groups, ideas, events related to the assigned topic. The topic must be chosen from possible topics provided by the teacher. It is important that each member of the group participate equally in the presentation. This is a student led teaching assignment. More information on this paper is included in a separate assignment handout.
Written Assignment:100 points
Write a paper on a person or event covered in HIS 131. Your topic must adhere to the time frame of Western Civilization from Ancient Times through 1555. Each student will compare primary and secondary sources on the person or event chosen. More information on this paper is included in a separate assignment handout.
Gallery Walk Assignment: 220 points
For this assignment, you will select a piece of art from Ancient Times through 1555.
Each student must write a paper on a specific piece of art and create a visual presentation of the artwork. The assignment will also include a service learning aspect. Students will present, either with a partner or on their own, a art piece at a local elementary school. More information on this paper and presentationsare included in a separate assignment handout.
Late Work:
No late work will be accepted. Please plan accordingly so all assignments are submitted on time.
Students are graded based on the rubrics provided to them for each assignment. The class calendar, my methods of teaching, the evaluation criteria, could change depending on the class effort and direction.
Grading Scale:
4.0 / = / 94-100%
3.5 / = / 89-93%
3.0 / = / 84-99%
2.5 / = / 78-83%
2.0 / = / 72-77%
1.5 / = / 66-71%
1.0 / = / 60-65%
0.5 / = / 55-59%
0.0 / = / 0-54%
Student Responsibilities:
Course Class Behavior:
- Be considerate.
- Be respectful of the comments and thoughts of your colleagues.
Academic Dishonesty:
In accordance Jackson College guidelines on academic dishonesty, plagiarism, cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. Students found to have committed academic dishonesty will be referred to the Dean of Humanities and Social Science for disciplinary action.
Academic Honesty is defined as ethical behavior that includes student production of their own work and not representing others' work as their own, by cheating or by helping others to do so.
Plagiarism is defined as the failure to give credit for the use of material from outside sources. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:
- Submitting other's work as your own
- Using data, illustrations, pictures, quotations, or paraphrases from other sources without adequate documentation
- Reusing significant, identical or nearly identical portions of one’s own prior work without acknowledging that one is doing so or without citing this original work (self-plagiarism)
- Plagiarizing in any form
- Using notes/books/electronic material without authorization
- Copying
- Submitting others' work as your own or submitting your work for others
- Altering graded work
- Falsifying data
- Exhibiting other behaviors generally considered unethical
- Allowing your work to be submitted by others
Help:
The Center for Student Success (CSS) is committed to providing all students the opportunity to achieve academic success by providing a variety of support services free of charge to Jackson College students. This includes, but is not limited to, peer and faculty tutoring, mental health referral, temporary assistance with transportation, various workshops/seminars, and the TRiO program.
In addition, the CSS staff is committed to adapting the College’s general services to meet the individual needs of otherwise qualified students with disabilities, for the purpose of providing equal access to all programs and facilities.
Center for Student Success is located in Bert Walker Hall.
Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the office of Learning Support Services at 787-0800, extension 8270/8553 as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Calendar:
*Please note: Calendar timelines and assignments are an approximation and could be changed.
Week / Dates / Studying/Chapter Readings / Exams, discussions and written assignments due / American Honors Outcome Achieved by Activity
1 / 01/15
and
01/17 / Introduction to the class, expectations, assignments.
Discussion of topics for presentations / Select two topics before coming to class on 01/17 / 2
2 / 01/22
and
01/24 / 1. The Ancient Near East: The First Civilizations. / By the end of 01/22, final topic for class presentation due
3 / 01/29 and 01/31 / 2. The Hebrews: A New View of God and the Individual. / Paper topic due 1/31
4 / 02/05
and
02/07 / 3. The Greeks: From Myth to Reason / Test #1 due 2/11
Class Presentations / 1, 2, 3
5 / 02/12 and
02/14 / . / Class Presentations / 1, 2, 3
6 / 02/19
and
02/21 / 4. Rome: From City-State to World Empire / Paper Sources due 2/19
Class Presentations
Artwork paper due 2/21 / 1, 2, 3
7 / 02/26
and
02/28 / Class Presentations
Test #2 due 3/04 / 1, 2, 3
8 / 03/05
and03/07 / 5. Early Christianity: A World Religion. / Class Presentations
Paper Comparison Points due 3/07 / 1, 2, 3
9 / 03/12and 03/14 / SPRING BREAK
10 / 03/19
and
03/21 / 6. The Rise of Europe: Fusion of Classical, Christian, and Germanic Traditions. / Artwork Poster due 3/21
Class Presentations / 1, 2, 3
11 / 03/26
and
03/28 / Class Presentations / 1, 2, 3
12 / 04/02
and
04/04 / 7. The Flowering and Dissolution of Medieval Civilization. / Class Presentations
Test #3 due 4/08 / 1, 2, 3
13 / 04/09
and
04/11 / 8. Transition to the Modern Age: Renaissance and Reformation / Class Presentations / 1, 2, 3
14 / 04/16
and
04/18 / Written Paper due 4/18
Class Presentations / 2, 3
1, 2, 3
15 / 04/23
and
04/25 / 9. Political and Economic Transformation: National States, Overseas Expansion, Commercial Revolution / Class Presentations / 1, 2, 3
16 / 04/30
and
05/02 / Test #4 05/02