Honors Colloquium:  World Civilization I

Fall 2003

TR 11-12:15

Dr. Leslie Heaphy

 

Office: 310D

Office Hours:  MW 9-10 a.m., W 1-2 p.m. and 3:30-4:30, TR 12:30-1:30 or by appointment

Contacts:  244-3304 or e-mail at Lheaphy@stark.kent.edu

 

Course Description

This course will examine the growth of early civilizations through the dawning of the Modern Age.  The focus will be chronological as well as thematic.  Topics will range from the Sumerians to the Middle Ages.  Materials will be explored through lectures, discussions, readings, projects, videos and individual research.

 

Course Objectives

This course has several objectives:

 

1.       To strengthen your reading and critical thinking skills through a careful consideration of the reading assignments;

2.       To exercise and improve your writing skills with many opportunities;

3.       To enhance your ability to express yourself through classroom discussion, and to foster your respect for and appreciation of beliefs with which you may not agree;

4.       To promote your understanding and appreciation of historical changes and the impact such changes have upon humanity;

5.       To improve your knowledge of early World History and how it connects with the present

 

 

 

Required Texts

Epic of Gilgamesh

The Bhagavad-Gita

Life in Ancient Rome

World Atlas

Textbook given out in class

 

Course Assignments

Project……………………………………………….150 total

            Topic…………………………………………5 points

            Rough Draft…………………………………15 points

            Final Project…………………………………100 points

            Presentation………………………………….30 points

2 map quizzes………………………………………….10 points each (20 total)

2 exams………………………………………………..100 points each (200 total)

Journal…………………………………………………45 points

Writing Assignments…………………………………25 points each (50 total)

Participation…………………………………………..35 points

                                                                                                            500 total

Grading Scale

A                     90-100             (excellent scholarship)   450-500

B                      80-89               (above avg. scholarship)           400-449

C                     70-79               (avg. scholarship)                      350-399

D                     60-69               (below avg. scholarship)           300-349

F                      Below 60         (failing)                         Below 300

 

Class Participation and Attendance

Students are expected to attend class each week.  Students are responsible for the material covered on the days they are not there and for getting assignments turned in on time.  There will be in-class assignments that cannot be made up.  Missing class will result in points lost for these assignments.

 

Students with Disabilities

In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course; please contact Kelly Kulick in Student Services to submit documentation.  Then you must contact the instructor so they are aware of any required accommodations.

 

Academic Honesty

All work that students hand in is expected to be their own.  Failure to do so is plagiarism and students could be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the "Cheating and Plagiarism" section of the University's Digest of Rules and Regulations.  Your instructor may use software to identify portions of papers which have been copied from websites.

 

Writing Center

Located in Main Hall, Room 202, the Writing Center offers students help and instruction on any writing assignments in this class or any other.  They offer tutorials, handouts and brochures, and information on their website:  www.stark.kent.edu/writing.  There is no cost to use this service.

           

Testing Center

The Testing Center is located in the lower level of the Stark Campus library.  Call ext. 53332 for hours and other information.

 

Library Services

For help with research related questions students can call the library (ext. 53330) or email us at refdesk@stark.kent.edu to set up an individualized instructional

session with one of our four librarians.  Students are not required

to schedule an appointment, they can just come in at any time. 

However, if we have advance notice we can prepare for the student's

visit and more efficiently address their needs.

 

Finally, for students unable to come into the library, OhioLINK now

offers online, real-time assistance in the form of a Chat Reference

service.  Students can connect with an OhioLINK librarian (not always

a KSU librarian) from off-campus (http://chat.ohiolink.edu) and

engage in a chat session to assist them with the use of the many

online services available to them from home.

 

Campus Theme

This Year’s Campus Theme is Globalization.  The purpose behind the campus theme is to help students see connections in their education from course to course as well as seeing how different disciplines can examine the same ideas.  A common text called Globalization: A Very Short Introduction is available for those interested in reading more about this idea and what it means for our daily lives in the twenty-first century.

 

Course Outline

This is a tentative schedule of topics with readings dependent on the text each student has.  If topics change students will be made aware of this.  This class will involve a lot of discussion so it is expected that students will complete all reading before class.

 

Week 1                        Background and the coming of Civilization

 

Week 2                        Mesopotamia and beyond

                                                Read Epic of Gilgamesh

Week 3                        The Egyptians

                                                Map Quiz-9/11

Week 4                        India and the East

                                                Read The Ramayana

                                                Topics due-9/16

Week 5                        The Eastern World

                                                1st writing assignment—9/25

Week 6                        The Greeks and their contributions

                                                Journals—10/2

Week 7                        The Coming of the Romans

                                                Start Life in Ancient Rome

Week 8                        The Rise of Christianity in Rome

                                                Continue Life in Ancient Rome

                                                First Exam—10/16

Week 9                        Barbarians at the Gates of Rome

                                                Finish Life in Ancient Rome

                                                2nd Writing Assignment-10/23

Week 10                      The Fall of Western Rome?

 

Week 11                      Byzantium

                                                Journal-11/6

Week 12                      The Rise of Islam

                                                Map Quiz-11/13

Week 13                      The Dawn of the Middle Ages

                                                Rough Draft-11/20

Week 14                      The Crusades and the Struggle for the Modern World

 

Week 15                      Presentations-projects due 12/4

 

Week 16                      Exam/journal and Presentations-Tues. Dec. 9th at 10:30 a.m.

 

Exams

There will be two exams during the semester.  The questions will be a combination of long and short essay.  Each exam will be take home with the questions handed out two weeks before the due dates.  No late exams will be accepted.  Further directions will be included with each exam.

 

Map Quizzes

Students will complete two map quizzes during the semester.  These can be automatically made up in the testing center within one week of the assigned date if missed for any reason.  The make-up will be different than the in-class quiz.  If not made up within one week students will receive a zero for that quiz.

 

Journal

Students will keep a journal throughout the semester that will collected on three occasions during the course.  There will be one entry per week for a total of fifteen entries at the end of the semester.  The focus of the journals will be to discuss the nature of history as shown through their reading of different textbooks.  Often people believe that history is just a series of names and dates but it is so much more than that.  Each student will be given a different textbook for the semester to show how historical interpretation can change depending on focus, theme, context, support used etc. 

In each journal entry students will be asked to reflect on the topics covered that week and how their text chooses to discuss the topics.  This reflection should not be a summary of the topic but a discussion of how the topic is covered and what that reveals about the author(s) view of history.  For example, if we are discussing Egypt and your text focuses solely on the Pharaohs and not the daily lives of the people what does that say to you the reader about Egypt, what is left out or missed and why that is the chosen approach?

Entries can be either handwritten or typed—length will depend on this.  Each entry should be 1-2 pages.

 

Writing Assignments

Students will complete two short writing assignments during the semester worth 25 points each.  The writing assignments will be based on readings for the course.  Students will be able to choose which questions they wish to write about.  Both papers cannot be based on questions about the same reading or event.  Each paper will be 2-3 pages, typed and lose three points each day they are late.

            Questions to choose from:

  1. After reading the Epic of Gilgamesh discuss common themes revealed throughout the poem about the nature of humankind—things that still hold true today.  Be sure to use examples from the poem to support your ideas.
  2. After reading the Epic of Gilgamesh examine what it tells us about life at that time.  What do we learn about these early peoples and their lives and beliefs?  Be sure to use the poem as support for your ideas.
  3. After reading Life in Ancient Rome discuss the role of education in the lives of different groups in Roman society-how important was it and why?  Be sure to use the text as support.
  4. After reading Life in Ancient Rome, discuss the different ways two groups of people filled their days—what types of things were they able to do or not do and why?  Be sure to use the text for specific examples of support.
  5. After reading Life in Ancient Rome, compare or contrast the daily life of the Romans with one other group we have discussed in class.  Be sure to give specific examples and stay focused on a few key ideas.
  6. After reading The Bhagavad-Gita, choose one of the following ideas to focus on in your paper:  use of symbolism, role of the Gods or the overall theme or purpose of the text.
  7. Choose any other reading handed out in class and discuss the key theme and how it is or is not supported in the reading.
  8. Find one event happening at Kent State or in the community that deals with a topic related to this class—discuss what is presented and how it enhances what was learned in class—differences/similarities etc.

 

Project

Each student will complete a semester long project on a topic of their choosing related to the time frame of this course.  All topics must be approved by the instructor by September 16th.  The form of the project will also be something the student chooses—it can be a research paper, a web site, a poster project, scrapbook etc.  All students will turn in a final project on December 4th as well as present their project to the class during either the last week of classes or the final exam period.  A sign-up sheet will be passed out in class for this.

After choosing their topic students will need to begin their research and think about what form they would like their project to take—rough drafts of all projects are due on November 20th.  The form of the draft will vary depending on the nature of the individual project.

Though each project will be different there will be certain common elements expected in each:

  • Bibliography- at least four sources consulted, not including encyclopedias
  • Citations
  • One page reflection on the research process itself
  • Written thesis and abstract of project (150 words or less)
  • Presentation to class-12 minutes maximum

 

Types of approaches to projects:

Research paper:  10-12 pages, at least 4 sources,

Poster Presentation:  5-7 posters, at least 2/3 original work

Web site:  opening page, links to original work and maximum of 2 sites done by someone else that might be useful to project

Scrapbook:  title page, 2/3 original work

Diary as a first person account: at least 20 entries, historical accuracy is key

Video/film: 10 minute piece, can include up to 2 minutes of clips from other works

Diorama or other three dimensional object:  must be created by the student

Cd-Rom:  2/3 original work, can use music from other sources for background

 

If a student has another idea for the format of their project they can speak to the instructor so details of requirements can be worked out. 

 

Possible topic ideas (just a few suggestions)

Diary of a participant in a major event such as the Peloponnesian War

Model of a Roman bath house

Map of the journey of Alexander the Great as he tried to conquer the world

Model of a catapult

Epic poem about a historical event such as the life of Julius Caesar

Video/film recreating daily life in one of the ancient civilizations

Piece written about Egyptian life in hieroglyphs

Virtual tour on CD or website of a pyramid, palace at Knossos etc.

Scrapbook of Byzantine art

Historical account of the Children’s crusade

Examination of the role of the Knight’s Templar

Write a short Greek comedy or Tragedy

Program for the first games at Olympia-events, rules, participants etc

Scrapbook or other depictions of the gladiator games