PRESENTATION COLLEGE – ABERDEEN, SD

 

WORLD CIVILIZATION I (HS253-IN)

Three Semester Hours

Web-CT

FALL 2008

 

Welcoming people of all faiths, Presentation College challenges learners toward academic excellence and, in the Catholic tradition, the development of the whole person.

 

Instructor:                  Dr. Brad Tennant, Assistant Professor, Department of Arts & Sciences

Office Hours:             C334 MWF 11:00-11:50 am; TR 8:00-11:50 am CST

or by appointment.

                                    (605) 229-8577 or 1-800-437-6060 ext. 577 

                                    E-mail:  Brad.Tennant@presentation.edu

 

Text:               Western Civilization – A Social and Cultural History (Third Edition) by Margaret L. King.  Prentice Hall Inc., 2006.  ISBN: 0-13-192957-7

 

Course Description:

            WORLD CIVILIZATION I (HS253) is a general survey of the historical, cultural, and political highlights of civilized society from the beginnings of civilization up to circa 1500.  Particular emphasis is placed on the development of western (European) history.  World Civilization I fulfills the requirements for a social science/human culture core elective and a cultural diversity elective.

 

Presentation College General Education Course Goals and Outcomes for HS253:

 

Goals

Outcomes

1. Graduates will read with understanding and think critically.

1.a.  Read and analyze a short written work concerning a topic of interest.

1.b.  Demonstrate the critical thinking skills of comprehension, understanding, analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation that pertain to general academic disciplines.

2. Graduates will express themselves clearly, correctly, and succinctly in writing.

2.d. Compose a research-based essay correctly using multiple resource types.

5 Students will develop a critical awareness of the diversity of human cultures found in the historical or contemporary world.

5.a. Analyze historical events from a multi-cultural perspective.

5.b. Articulate interrelationships of individuals, societies, and historical/cultural context.

5.c. Comprehend the diversity of perspectives among people of differing religious beliefs, backgrounds, races, genders, ages, sexual orientations, physical capabilities, and ethnicities.

5.d. Demonstrate reading and critical thinking skills in the context of the social sciences.

7. Graduates will understand and appreciate the range and/or depth of creative achievement in human thought and works, as found in the traditional humanities disciplines.

7.b.  Demonstrate competence in contextualizing creative works and ideas.

7.c. Demonstrate reading and critical thinking skills in the context of the Humanities.

9. Graduates will show proficiency in the use of technology.

9.a. Use the computer as a word processing tool.

9.b. Use the Internet as a research tool.

Instructor Objectives:

1)      To gain a broad understanding of the people and events that have shaped the course of world history.

2)      To learn more about the social, political, and economic factors that have contributed to the development of civilizations.

3)      To gain a better understanding of the complex diversity of human experiences included in the history of today’s world.

 

Instructional Techniques:

            This is designed entirely as a Web CT course.  Assignments involve reading the text or a website and responding to questions.  Check each assignment on a regular basis for individual due dates.  Discussion boards will be used to post your thoughts or questions about the various topics.  Please feel free to ask questions or make comments.

 

ADA Statement:

            Presentation College is committed to ensuring equal learning opportunities for all students and provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with the College’s procedures.  If you are a student requiring accommodations or services, please contact the Office of Disability Services, Main Building Room 365 – phone (605) 229-8438 or

1-800-437-6060, Ext. 438.

 

 

Assessment and Grading:

            Students should also be familiar with Presentation College's policies regarding academic integrity.  These are found in the college catalog under "Academic Policies."

 

CHAPTER QUESTIONS:  You will be given a selection of essay questions for each chapter from which you may choose THREE to address.  Each essay should be no longer than 1-2 paragraphs and will be marked 0/3/5 points.  All written work should be paraphrased from the readings as opposed to copied word for word.  The odds of two people using exactly the same wording in their responses are not that great.  DO YOUR OWN WORK.  These will be emailed through Web CT as attachments.

 

DISCUSSION POINTS – For each set of chapter questions, you will write a paragraph with your thoughts or questions related to the chapter topics.  These can be about any topic mentioned in the chapter.  These will be posted on the Discussion Board under “your thoughts.” 0/3/5 points for each posting.

 

PAPER:  The paper topic is “Life as a common person in . . .”.  You will research and write a paper focusing on the life of a common person in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, or the Middle Ages.  The paper should be typed in 12-14 font Times New Roman, double-spaced, and 5-6 pages in length.  A bibliography should also be included. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Student assessment will be based on the following:

            3 questions x 5 points x 9 chapters        =          135

            “Your thoughts” 5 pts x 9 chapters        =            45

            Paper                                                   =            30

                                                                                    210 points possible

 

The following grading scale will be used based on the highest total number of points earned by any student in the class.

            96% and above            =          A

            90-95%                       =          A-       

            87-89%                       =          B+

            83-86%                       =          B

            80-82%                       =          B-

            70-79%                       =          C

            60-69%                       =          D

            59% and below            =          Failing

 

Rubric for assessing chapter questions:

  • Advanced (5 points): Student includes accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context with virtually no significant mistakes.  Work is accurately paraphrased and not simply copied and pasted.
  • Average (3 points): Student provides a general understanding of the topic but is limited in specifics or contains a significant mistake.
  • Unsatisfactory (0 points): Student does not demonstrate any accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context.

 

The following rubric will be used for assessing the paper.

·                    Advanced (30/28 points “A/A-”): Student includes accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context with only minor mistakes.

·                    Above Average (26 points “B”): Student uses relevant and accurate information but 

      either has minor mistakes or lacks specifics.

·                    Average (23 points “C”): Student provides a general understanding of the topic but is

       limited in specifics or contains a significant mistake.

·                    Below Average (20 points “D”): Student demonstrates a vague or poorly developed

      understanding of the topic with several significant mistakes.

·                    Unsatisfactory (0 points “F”): Student did not submit a paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attendance:

            As stated in the Presentation College catalog, "Each student is expected to attend every class session and be on time.  If for any reason a student must be absent from class, the responsibility of making up work rests entirely upon the student."  This is also true when submitting your work on time.  It is your responsibility as the student to stay on task with the assignments.

-         This is a survey of the history of civilization to circa 1500.  It will require a great deal of reading and writing.

-         Assignments are due by 12:00 noon (CST) of the scheduled date.  Please allow me two to three days to respond to your work, although I will try to reply by the end of the day.  I will not be in a rush to correct work that is submitted late.

-         Two points will be deducted after 12:00 pm (noon) each day an assignment is late.

-         You may work ahead if you so desire.  Although I will try to reply as soon as possible, I may not correct your work until it is closer to the actual due date.

-         I do not give “incompletes.” 

 

Schedule:

Assignments are posted online for each chapter.  Due to the large number of students enrolled, the due dates are based on your last initial (A-K and L-Z).

 

Wednesday, August 27             -           Classes Begin

Thursday, September 4             -           A-K: Chapter 1

Thursday, September 11           -           L-Z: Chapter 1

Thursday, September 18           -           A-K: Chapters 3 and 5

Thursday, September 25           -           L-Z: Chapters 3 and 5

Thursday, October 2                -           A-K: Chapters 6 and 8

Thursday, October 9                -           L-Z: Chapters 6 and 8

 

Thursday, October 16              -           *L-Z: Chapters 9 and 11 (note change in order)

Thursday, October 23              -           *A-K: Chapters 9 and 11 (note change in order)

Thursday, October 30              -           L-Z: Chapters 13 and 14

Thursday, November 6             -           A-K: Chapters 13 and 14

Thursday, November 13           -           No Assignment Due - Prepare your research paper

Thursday, November 20           -           A-Z: Final Paper Due