1. Generally, I lecture on Tuesday and we discuss documents on Thursday. Any revisions to the syllabus or this schedule will be limited, for pedagogical reasons (changes in due dates, readings, specific essay questions, review sheets), and will be announced in class in advance and posted on the web.
  2. His 2560 is designated writing-intensive (the last essay may be submitted as a revised paper; the first may be submitted, but not as a revised paper–I’d prefer that you at least use my comments to make some revision of any paper submitted).The two essays (15% & 20% respectively) due should be typed, double-spaced, and use a clear and consistent form of referencing (see citation guide at http://ux1.eiu.edu/~nekey/citate.htm on the web). These essays are relatively brief, but should be focused and thoughtful. Both paper assignments ask you to analyze a classic 18th-century book (by Voltaire and by Equiano respectively) and put them in the context of other 18th-century documents (provided) and ask you to compare and contrast their respective visions of the 18th-century world with that of selected current world history textbooks.
  3. Participation (based on your contribution to pre-assignments, final debate, and discussion) is required (15%), though extra credit (up to 5%) can be obtained by an optional extra essay on the final. Generally speaking, more than three absences will adversely affect your participation grade. (Because it is participation I seek, I tend not to countenance "excused absences," nor to read excuse “notes” from various authorities.) Your grade as a whole may suffer if your absences fall on the date of assigned reports or exams. There is, of course, no make-up for the final. Other make-ups will be at my discretion. (Anyone with a documented disability should let me know by the second week of class so that we can make appropriate accommodations.) History department graduate students tutor in CH 2726. And ask me for questions and clarifications. I will talk about history virtually anytime.
  4. You must purchase at the University Bookstore, sign, and turn in all exam books a week before the first mid-term exam (that is by 23 Sept.). No one may take the mid-terms (15%) or the final (20%) without an exam book. Exams are a combination of essays, short-answer, matching, and mapping. Improvement during the semester will mitigate disastrous performance early in the course.
  5. I use the following grade scale for tests and for your final grade.
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    last modified on October 9, 2008