Dr. Kathryne Beebe Office Number
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HIST 2301: History of Civilization Spring 2017 Instructor: Dr. Kathryne Beebe Office Number: University Hall 319 Office Telephone Number: none Email Address: [email protected] Faculty Profile: https://www.uta.edu/mentis/profile/?kbeebe Office Hours: Virtual and by appointment, Mondays & Wednesdays 10:00am-11:30am Section Information: HIST 2301: Sections 002 Time and Place of Class Meetings: Online Description of Course Content (Course Catalog): Significant developments from prehistoric times through the 16th century. Achievements and experiences of great civilizations, emphasizing major historical figures and epochs, important ideas and religions, and factors of continuity and change. Provides a foundation for understanding our heritage and shared values, and introduces students to the historical forces that have shaped today's world. Introduction: According to Felipe Fernández-Armesto, the author of the textbook assigned for this course, “Civilization is now a discredited word. People have abused it as a name for societies they approve of, which usually means societies that resemble their own. They have also denied the term to cultures they deem alien or lacking in material culture or institutions similar to their own. Or they have misapplied it as the name of a supposedly universal stage of development, even though we have no evidence that societies follow any universal course of development. We can, however, understand a civilization simply as a society that, for good or ill, engages ambitiously with its environment, seeking to remodel the rest of nature to suit human purposes” (pp. 42-43). In this course, we will examine the histories of various “civilizations” through the lens proposed by Fernández-Armesto. We will explore how selected human societies have interacted with nature to obtain sustenance and shelter, combat disease, harness energy, develop technologies and arts, and more. And, we will explore how those societies have interacted with one another through migration, trade, war, imperialism, gift exchange and diplomacy, and through social frameworks, whether political or economic, based on gender, class, or age categories. By tackling the history of human existence in this manner (and in small bites) we will also consider a fundamental question: what experiences, approaches, or goals link and connect humankind in an amazingly diverse world? Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: Demonstrate knowledge of major themes and events in the histories of diverse civilizations and in the history of the world. Consider and discuss definitions and meanings of “world history” and the “history of civilizations,” and their significances and usefulness. 1 Identify, describe, and utilize historical source materials, or “primary sources,” according to the historical method. Demonstrate a critical understanding of books and articles in writing. Construct fact-based arguments and present them in writing. Required Textbooks and Other Course Materials: Textbook Felipe Fernández-Armesto, The World: A History. 3rd ed. Pearson, 2016: Volume 1: To 1500 ISBN: 978-0-134162-35-5. We will read, discuss, dissect, and digest this excellent world, or global, history text over the length of the course. Other Additional readings as assigned during the course will be available online. Descriptions of major assignments and examinations: Grading Student performance will be evaluated on the following: Points Week 1 Introduction Forum 10 Unit Discussion Forums 300 (15 x 20 points each) Unit Quizzes 130 (13 x 10 points each) Primary Source Assignments 180 (4 x 45 points each) Midterm Exam 150 Final Exam 150 TOTAL: 920 Your final grade will be determined by: dividing the number of points you earn / by the total possible points. Extra Credit Opportunities Extra credit opportunities will be made available at various points throughout the semester at the discretion of the instructor. The deadline to complete any extra credit opportunities that are made available is 11:59pm on Friday, May 5, the last official day of classes. 2 LATE WORK POLICY LATE WORK WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR THE PRIMARY SOURCE DROPBOX ASSIGNMENTS. NO DISCUSSION FORUMS, QUIZZES OR EXAMS WILL BE ACCEPTED LATE WITHOUT AN EXCUSED ABSENSE. Accepted late work will be subject to a penalty of 25% off the original grade. If emergency circumstances require you to submit late work, you must speak to me before the assignment is due when at all possible to avoid the penalty. Only an emergency, school, or family conflict will exempt you from the late penalty. The final deadline to turn in any late work will be by 11:59pm on Friday, May 5. Important Dates for this Semester, Spring 2015 First Day of Class: Tuesday, January 17. Midterm Exam: to be taken between 12:01am, Friday, March 10 and 11:59:59pm, Sunday, March 12. Last Day of Class: Friday, May 5. Final Exam: to be taken between 12:01am, Monday, May 8 and 11:59:59pm, Wednesday, May 10. Expectations and Policies The greatest expectations of this course are the expectation of a willingness to explore new concepts and ideas, to work hard, and to create an atmosphere of respect. Discussion and writing are very important in this class, and you will receive a great deal of support to help you express your ideas clearly in both ways. In order to succeed in this course, you should: plan to log in and check the website announcements and forum discussions at least every other day during the week to read the textbook to take lots of notes from the textbook and the online PowerPoint lectures to participate regularly and meaningfully in class Forum discussions to complete thoughtfully and submit all assignments on time. Assignments: All assignments must be turned in on the date on which they are due. See above, under “Grading,” for further information about late work. Attendance: At The University of Texas at Arlington, taking attendance is not required but attendance is a critical indicator in student success. Each faculty member is free to develop his or her own methods of evaluating students’ academic performance, which includes establishing course-specific policies on attendance. As the instructor of this section, I have determined that 3 your participation grade (detailed above) depends on your attentive, prepared, and courteous participation in the features of our online class. See the section on “Grading” above for a breakdown of the point value of participating in each element of class. However, while UT Arlington does not require instructors to take attendance in their courses, the U.S. Department of Education requires that the University have a mechanism in place to mark when Federal Student Aid recipients “begin attendance in a course.” UT Arlington instructors will report when students begin attendance in a course as part of the final grading process. Specifically, when assigning a student a grade of F, faculty report the last date a student attended their class based on evidence such as a test, participation in a class project or presentation, or an engagement online via Blackboard. This date is reported to the Department of Education for federal financial aid recipients. Grading: See above for a detailed explanation of the grading policy. Make-up Exams: It is not generally possible to make up missed exams. However, see the section concerning “late work” under “grading” above. Expectations for Out-of-Class Study: Students enrolled in this course should expect to spend at least 9 hours per week of their own time in course-related activities, including reading required materials, completing assignments, preparing for exams, etc. Grade Grievances: Any appeal of a grade in this course must follow the procedures and deadlines for grade-related grievances as published in the current University Catalog. See http://catalog.uta.edu/academicregulations/grades/#undergraduatetext. Drop Policy: Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently) classes through self-service in MyMav from the beginning of the registration period through the late registration period. After the late registration period, students must see their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw. Undeclared students must see an advisor in the University Advising Center. Drops can continue through a point two-thirds of the way through the term or session. It is the student's responsibility to officially withdraw if they do not plan to attend after registering. Students will not be automatically dropped for non-attendance. Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be required as the result of dropping classes or withdrawing. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (http://wweb.uta.edu/aao/fao/). Disability Accommodations: UT Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of all federal equal opportunity legislation, including The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. All instructors at UT Arlington are required by law to provide “reasonable accommodations” to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of disability. Students are responsible for providing the instructor with official notification in the form of a letter certified by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). Only those students who have officially documented a need for an accommodation will have their request honored. Students experiencing a range