-
His 2400 surveys Western Civilization, which developed primarily in Europe,
since the Renaissance. Western civilization is an idea, and this course
emphasizes intellectual as well as political, religious, and social factors
in the construction of this idea. This course also emphasizes the practice
of history: the reading and analysis of documents in a historical context.
Thus, discussion and essay writing are important aspects of this course.
-
Everyone will write three typed, double-spaced essays: a brief report of
the objectives, experience, and outcome of one country, social group, or
region (assigned) in eighteenth-century war, 1701-1763 (2 parts, 2-3 page,
5%), a position paper on the French Revolution debate (3 page, 10%), and
an essay analyzing documents from World War I (4-5 page, 15%). Use a clear
and consistent form of referencing (see citation
guide).
-
You must purchase at the University Bookstore, sign, and turn in all
three exam books two weeks before the first Mid-Term (that is by Sept. 14).
You cannot take an exam if you have not turned in the booklets. There will
be two mid-terms (15% & 20%), and a final exam (25%). The mid-terms and
final (covering 1350-1789, 1789-1914, and 1900-present respectively) will
consist of map questions, short-answer, identifications, comparisons, excerpts
from the assigned primary sources, and related essay questions.
-
Participation (based on your contribution to discussion, reports, and debates)
is required (10%), 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 that
I am concerned with, I tend not to countenance "excused absences.") Of course,
your grade as a whole will suffer if your absences fall on the date of assigned
oral reports or the exams. There is, of course, no make-up for reports or
the final. Other make-ups will be at the professor's discretion. (Anyone
with a documented disability should let me know the first week of class so
that we can make appropriate accomodations.) The history department has graduate
students available for tutoring. And do approach me for questions and
clarifications. I will talk to you about history virtually anytime.
back to His 2400