York College of Pennsylvania

** The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus and its assignments and/or readings at any time.

Course Description: This course covers the history of the western world, or what is called Western Civilization, from the earliest human activity through the Reformation era of the 16^th century. This course will cover the following topics: early civilizations; ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, ancient near eastern empires; ancient Greece and Rome; the rise of Christianity and Europe after the decline of the Roman Empire; European Middle Ages; Western interaction with the non-West; the Renaissance and Reformation. Political, economic, cultural, and social developments will be explored.

Course Objectives

1. To contribute to students’ understanding of the narrative course of Western Civilization in terms of continuity and change, cause and effect and its profound influence on our own society.

2. To contribute to students’ understanding of the interrelationship of Western Civilization and developments in world history.

3. to contribute to students’ ability to “think like an historian.” This means that students will comprehend history as an interpretive, interdisciplinary endeavor, involving not the memorization of dates and facts, but rather as a synthetic body of knowledge that is constructed out of the questions we put to the past and the different kinds of evidence we use to answer those questions.

4. To contribute to students’ understanding of history as a discipline by helping students to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to analyze primary documents and secondary sources, including those available on the Web.

5. To contribute to students’ ability to relate to past and present in an analytically appropriate manner based upon an understanding of the past, the construction of history, and the use of evidence.

6. To contribute to students’ development of reading, writing, listening, and discussion skills.

Techniques to be used in this course to achive Course Goals:

1. Students’ analytical and interpretive abilities, as well as acquisition of content knowledge, will be assessed via writing assignments, either produced in class or as take home assignments. Specific forms of assignments will include in class essay tests, final historical summary paper, take-home essay final, and primary and secondary source evaluations.

2. Students will develop communication skills through class discussions, during which students will be provided with the opportunity to analyze and interpret assigned course materials.

3. Students will be assigned a range of materials used by historians to understand the past, including primary and secondary materials, which may be available in print; as video, art and/or music; or Web-based information resources. Students will be expected to work with this material to develop the analytical skill necessary to construct interpretations and offer arguments backed by evidence drawn from the material.

Basis for Course Grade:

Grades:

Tests: 50%

Quizzes and Source assignments: 25%

Final Project (50pts) 25%

TEST: Essay format

QUIZZES: Short multiple choice questions on text reading.

SOURCE ASSIGNMENTS: Assigned readings and questions from the Sherman text.

FINAL PROJECT: See Guidelines below.

*The student may elect to drop the lowest TEST grade when computing the Final Grade.

Attendance policy: Attendance is your responsibility, not to the professor, but to yourself. I normally do not take attendance. However, the “extra credit” aspect of the course is based upon your attendance. I do not give any “extra” credit assignments nor round if you have not attended class on a regular basis.

Make up policy: Tests may be made up at the discretion of the professor.

Final Examinations and Historical Summary Papers MAY NOT BE MADE UP NOR SUBMITTED LATE.

Statement of Academic Dishonesty of York College

“Academic dishonest will not be tolerated at York College. Academic dishonesty refers to actions such as, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabricating research, falsifying academic documents, etc., and includes all situations where students make use of the work of others and claim such work as their own.

When an instructor believes that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, the instructor must provide written notification to the student, the Department Chair, and the Dean of Academic Affairs or ff the charge and the sanction. Documentation related to instances of academic dishonest will be kept on file in the student’s permanent record. If the academic dishonesty is the student’s first offense, the instructor will have the discretion to decide on a suitable sanction up to a grade of 0 for the course. Students are not permitted to withdraw from a course in which they have been accused of academic dishonesty.

Students who believe they have been unjustly charged or sanctioned in cases involving a first offense must discuss the situation with the instructor immediately. Following this discussion, students may request through the Dean of Academic Affairs that the Student Welfare Committee conduct a hearing to review the charge and/or the sanction in the case. In cases of a first offense, the instructor may request that the Student Welfare Committee conduct a hearing and decide a sanction, which can involved academic suspension or dismissal from the College, if the instructor believes the offense to be of an extremely egregious nature.

If the Dean of Academic Affairs determines that the academic dishonest is the student’s second offense, the Dean will provide written notification to the student, the instructor, and the Department Chair. The Student Welfare Committee will automatically conduct a hearing to review the charge and decide on an appropriate sanction, which will involve academic suspension or dismissal from the College. Students who believe the Student Welfare Committee has unjustly sanctioned them may submit a written request to the Dean of Academic Affairs for a review of the case by the Dean.”

Textbook:

Spielvogel, Jackson. Western Civilization: A Brief History

Sherman, Dennis, Western Civilization: Sources, Images, and Interpretations Volume I: to 1700 (7^th edition)

Ø The textbook is a substantial aspect of the course. I am here to teach you, not read to you. The majority of the lectures should be supplemented with textbook reading. Therefore, to get a better and more complete picture of the periods under study please read the assigned pages and participate in class discussions. You are required to bring the Sherman book to class each week. We will utilize it during the class.

Grading: The letter grades as defined by the Faculty Manual of York College.

%	LETTER GRADE	NUMERICAL GRADE	MEANING
90-100	A	4	EXCELLENT
85-89	B+	3.5	VERY GOOD
80-84	B	3	GOOD
75-79	C+	2.5	ABOVE AVERAGE
70-74	C	2	AVERAGE
60-69	D	1	BELOW AVERAGE
0-59	F	0	FAILURE

4 (Excellent) (90-100): This grade denotes accomplishment that is truly distinctive and decidedly outstanding. It represents a high degree of attainment and is a grade that demands evidence of originality, independent work, an open and discriminating mind, and completeness and accuracy of knowledge, as well as an effective use of the knowledge.

3.5 (Very Good) (85-89): This grade denotes mastery of the subject matter. It represents very good achievement in many aspects of the work, such as initiative, serious and determined industry, the ability to organize work, and the ability to comprehend and retain subject matter and to apply it to new problems and contexts.

3 (Good) (80-84): This grade denotes considerable understanding of the subject matter. It represents a strong grasp and clear understanding of the subject matter and the ability to comprehend and retain course content.

2.5 (Above Average) (75-79): This grade denotes above average understanding of the subject matter. It represents a good grasp of the subject matter and the ability to comprehend and retain course content.

2 (Average) (70-74): This grade denotes average understanding of the subject matter. It represents the grade that may be expected of a student of normal ability who gives the work a reasonable amount of time and effort.

1 (Below Average) (60-69): This grade denotes below average understanding of the subject matter. It represents work that falls below the acceptable standard

0 (Failure) (below 60): This grade denotes inadequate understanding of the subject matter. It signifies an absence of meaningful engagement with the subject matter and that the student is not capable of doing or understanding the work or has made little or no effort to do so.

Statement on Writing Standards: Students enrolled in this course are expected to use literate and effective English in their speech and writing. All papers and test submitted must be well-written; grades on written work (including examinations) will be based on expression well as on content. Students may be required to rewrite papers which are marred by errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or organization. Source: Faculty Manual, C2.11. If I can not read your handwriting I will not grade you test/exam.

Final Project Guidelines: 3-5 page report.

Since the course is a survey from ca. 50,000 BCE-AD 1500, I do not have the time to cover everything in detail. The Final Project is an opportunity for you to choose a broad question to answer, in an attempt to get you to learn a little more, about a topic you find interesting.

Choose a topic from the period under study (antiquity to through the Reformation.) If you need help picking a clear topic please see me and I will assist you.
Find a minimum of two sources about your topic.
After researching your topic create a thesis for your research paper.
Support your thesis in a 3-5 page paper.
LET’S ANSWER THE QUESTIONS NOW:

Q. Internet sites: A. You may substitute ONE text source with an internet site. You MUST still utilize and internally cite one college-level appropriate text source.
Q. What type of sources may I utilize: A. Books, Journals, an (one) Internet site [all internet sites must be email to me for approval. Failure to get pre-approval will mean the source does not count and will result in a reduced final grade.]
Q. “Does spelling and grammar count?” A. YES. See “Writing Standards” section above. Please PROOFREAD and do not rely on spell check. Although I allow a few simple errors the less simple errors the better the grade.
Q. “Do I need to cite anything in the paper” A. YES. You MUST internally cite in all relevant situations. If you have any questions about what to cite or not ask me or better yet.
Q. “Does the College offer any help in writing papers?” A. Yes. You already pay for the Writing Center. They will help you with all aspects of the paper: organization, writing, proofreading, etc. Take advantage of a great program.

FINAL PAPER REQUIRENMENTS:

Title page with your name, date, and topic name.
3-5 pages of text.
Internal citations.
Works Cited Page
Times New Roman font and 12 point.
Standard margin of no more than 1’ top and bottom and 1.25 for side margins.
Double space
Permanently bound together: No paper clips, folded corners, etc.
Visual information where applicable and necessary (does not count as required written text page(s))

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

August 29: Introduction; Pre-History (read Spievogel [here after referred to as Text Ch. 1)

September 5: Mesopotamia and Egypt (Text Ch. 2)

September 12: Near Eastern Empires and the Hebrews

John Romer: Testament: In the Beginning

September 19: TEST

Early Aegean World (Text 3 and 4)

September 26: Civilization of the Greeks and Hellenistic World (text 5 and 6)

October 3: Roman Republic and Empire (text 6)

October 10: Rise and Triumph of Christianity

October 17: TEST

Heirs to Rome: Islam, Byzantium, and the Germans (Text 7 and 8)

October 24: Early Middle Ages (Text 9 and 10)

October 31: High Middle Ages I (Text 11)

November 7: High and Late Middle Ages

November 14: TEST

The Renaissance I (Text 12)

November 21: No School

November 28: The Renaissance II (Text 13)

*Historical Summary Due at beginning of class

December 5: The Reformation

December 12: Final Exam

*If the need arises this syllabus may be altered at the discretion of the professor.