World Civilization I

TR 2-3:15 p.m.

Room 217

Dr. Leslie Heaphy

 

Office:  310 D

Office Hours: MW 1-2 p.m., W 4:30-5:30 p. m., TR 1-2 p.m. or by appointment

Phone: 330-244-3304

E-mail: Lheaphy@stark.kent.edu

 

Course Description

This course will examine the development of early civilizations and peoples around the world.  In order to fully examine this developing history we will be exploring geography, politics, religion, social and cultural issues and many other topics.  We will look for common patterns and themes in development as well as significant differences.  We will explore the rise and fall of many civilizations, asking questions about how they rose and why they fell.  We will also be interested in their lasting influences and connections we may see to the present.

 

Course Objectives

1.      To give students a greater understanding of the beginnings of history

2.      To help students understand some of the differences between the different early peoples

3.      To encourage students to look for connections between the past and present

4.      To develop students ability to communicate in written and spoken formats through discussions and various writing assignments

5.      To help students learn a greater appreciation for the differences that exist throughout the world

6.      To help students develop their critical thinking skills

 

Required Texts

Longman Atlas

Essential World History Vol I

Selections from Longman World History Vol. I

 

Grades

A         450-500 points

B          400-449 points

C         350-399 points

D         300-349 points

F          Below 300 points

 

Exams ……………….100 points each (300 total)

Map Quizzes………… 10 points each (20 total)

Journal ……………….45 points total

Short Papers ………… 25 points each (100 total)

Participation …………. 35 points total

 

Total ………………… 500 points

 

Policies/Services

Students with Disabilities

University Policy #3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content.  If you have a documented disability and are seeking academic accommodations please contact Kelly Kulick in the Office of Student Disability Services at 330-244-3287.  Students need to understand that if they will be requesting academic accommodations they are required to present medical documentation that addresses their disability before they are eligible for assistance through the Office of Student Disabilities.  After the middle of September the Office will be relocated in the new Campus Center.  The new office number for the Office of Student Disability Services will be #47.  The new phone number will be 330-244-5047.

 

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 will be located in the lower level of the new Campus Center.  Call for hours and other information.  Currently the office is still located in the lower level of the library.

 

Campus Theme

This year the Campus Theme is Globalization.  The campus theme is designed to help students see connections between the classes they are taking as different disciplines may introduce the same topic but deal with it in different ways.  The book Globalization:  A Short History is available in the library for those interested.

 

Assignments

Exams

Students will take three essay exams during the semester.  Each exam will consist of short and long essays.  A review sheet will be given out a week before each exam.  Make-up exams are not automatically given but at the discretion of the instructor.  If you know of a problem it is your responsibility to talk to the instructor to see if something can be worked out for emergencies (ie. Death in the family, hospitalization).  Any make-up exam will be taken in the Testing Center located in the new Campus Center.  All make-ups must be done within a week of the original test.  The questions used will be different from those on the in-class exam.

                        Review 1

                        Review 2

                        Review 3

 

Map Quizzes

Each student will complete two map quizzes during the semester.  A review sheet will be given out the class before the map quiz.  Quizzes will be taken at the start of the assigned class and if you are late you must take a make-up quiz.  Make-up quizzes for the map are automatic-you do not need to get permission from the instructor.  All make-ups must be taken within one week of the original or the student receives a zero.  The make-ups will be different from the in-class quiz.  They will automatically be sent over to the Testing Center after the class in which the quiz was given.

                        Review 1

                        Review 2

Short Papers

 

Each student will be expected to complete five short papers, the lowest of which will be dropped.  The due dates and particulars of each assignment are given below.  The basic requirements for all papers are the same—typed, double-spaced, no cover page necessary, and the use of citations for all quoted, paraphrased and borrowed ideas.  Failure to cite sources can result in a failing grade on the paper and in the class.

 

Optional Topic

Students can replace one of the required topics below with a paper that addresses one of the following two ideas.  This paper will be due on the last day of regular classes.  Late papers lose three points for each day they are late.

  1. Students can write a review of a speaker that they visit on this campus or at the Kent campus.  Students must get the speaker approved as a topic ahead of time by the instructor.  Students are expected to write a 2-3 page review of the presentation.  The review should address the following questions/issues

·        Thesis

·        Supporting material used

·        Credentials of speaker

·        Questions still left with

·        Tie-ins to history

For example, on Tuesday September 21st Lani Silver will be speaking at 7 p.m. in the Main Hall Auditorium.  She is a Holocaust Oral Historian/ Activist.  This event is free to all.

Another acceptable event would be the Global Media Panel on September 20th at 7:30 p.m. in the Timken Great Hall in the Conference Center.

 

  1. Students can participate in the Gold Rush events at the Physical Education building and turn in a 3 page report about the country that they represented in the Olympic events.  Topics to be covered should include:
    • Style/type of Government
    • Language (s) spoken
    • Main economic strengths
    • Religious affiliations
    • Key geographic features
    • A brief review of historical development of country—when founded etc.
    • One thing that surprised you about the country

 

Regular Paper Assignments

Students will complete five assignments from the following list or four if they choose one of the optional papers described above.  Each of these papers is based on the readings in the Longman text.  Due dates are listed in the course outline and late papers will lose three points each day they are late. 

            Paper number 1

Students can answer one of the following questions regarding the documents presented in Chapter 2 of the Longman text.  The paper should be 2-3 three pages typed.

            A)  Discuss the major similarities and differences presented in the various documents.  Use evidence from the documents for support.

            B)  What can one learn about the different societies from these documents?  What do they value or think is important?  Be sure to use evidence from the documents as support.  If you quote or paraphrase ideas just give the page number in parentheses.

 

            Paper Number 2

Students can answer one of the following questions regarding the documents presented in Chapter 3 or 4 of the Longman text.  The paper should be 2-3 three pages typed.  Be sure to use evidence from the documents as support.  If you quote or paraphrase ideas just give the page number in parentheses.

 

A)    Why are creation myths important?  What can one learn about the things a society values from these stories? 

B)     What different views of society and how they should be governed are represented in the documents about China?  What are the similarities?

           

Paper Number 3

Students can answer one of the following questions regarding the documents presented in Chapter 5 or 6 of the Longman text.  The paper should be 2-3 three pages typed.  Be sure to use evidence from the documents as support.  If you quote or paraphrase ideas just give the page number in parentheses.

A)    What is life like in Classical Greece?  What do the different documents tell us and why are such diverse documents helpful?

B)     As pointed out in the introduction to chapter 6 much blood has been shed over the centuries by many trying to restore the idea of the Roman Empire—what idea is that and how do these documents help develop or show off that idea?

 

 

            Paper Number 4

Students can answer one of the following questions regarding the documents presented in Chapter 7, 18 or 20 of the Longman text.  The paper should be 2-3 three pages typed.  Be sure to use evidence from the documents as support.  If you quote or paraphrase ideas just give the page number in parentheses.

A)    What advice about living in the Islamic world can be taken from the documents in chapter 7? 

B)     Describe the relationships between the West and South Asia illustrated in the documents in chapter 18.

C)    What do these documents reveal to the reader about the Ottoman Empire and what it was like to live there?

 

            Paper Number 5

Students can answer one of the following questions regarding the documents presented in Chapter 8, 9 12 or 13 of the Longman text.  The paper should be 2-3 three pages typed.  Be sure to use evidence from the documents as support.  If you quote or paraphrase ideas just give the page number in parentheses.

A)    What advice do these documents provide for individuals of that time about how to live their lives?

B)     Describe the role of religion in the development and decline of Byzantium.

C)    What do these documents tell the reader about life in India and Southeast Asia and how it changed with the coming of Islam?

D)    Why is this period seen as one of Imperial Splendor for China?

 

Journal

Each student will keep a journal that will be collected three times throughout the semester.  The journals will be due on the same day as the exams.  If for some reason you are not there then you must make other arrangements with the instructor since late journals will lose 3 points each day they are late.  Students can type or handwrite the journal, the choice is yours.  The journal can be handed in in the form of a notebook, folder or disk, whatever the student prefers.

The journal will include one entry per week-fifteen entries in all.  Each entry should be at least 200 words.  The journal will be used to examine the readings for the class and how they connect to the class lectures and discussions.

Journals should address the following questions:

  • Main topic of the readings being discussed
  • Tie-ins to what is being talked about in class
  • New things you learned
  • Questions it leaves you with
  • Any connections to current world situations/news

 

Journals will be graded on the following:

  • Handed in on time
  • Correct number of entries
  • Show that students did the reading
  • Adherence to questions
  • Proper grammar
  • Citations if needed

 

Attendance/Participation Points

Students are expected to attend class regularly.  Failure to attend class can adversely affect a student’s grade.  A certain number of points are awarded for participation during in-class assignments.  Since these projects are assigned in-class if you are missing you will not be given those points.  In-class assignments cannot be made up.  For students who miss class regularly you will miss these assignments and the points that go along with them.

 

Course Outline

All readings should be done before class.  This is a tentative outline and is subject to change throughout the semester.  Students will be updated as to changes made to readings and topics being covered.

 

 

Week 1                        Overview and Background-earliest River valley civilizations

                                            Read in Essentials chapter 1

Week 2                        Earliest Civilizations

                                                Read in Essentials chapter 1 (finish) and Chapter 8—Africa

                                                Read Longman Chapter 2 and chapter 19

                                    ****Map Quiz September 9th**********

Week 3                        India

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 2

                                                Read Longman chapter 3

                                    *******1st Paper due September 16th************

Week 4                        China

                                                Read in Essentials-Chapter 3

                                                Read Longman chapter 4

Week 5                        The Early Greeks

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 4

                                                Read Longman chapter 5

                                    ***1st Exam on Sept. 30th ******

Week 6                        Greek Civilization                                

                                    ****2nd Paper due October 7th*************

                                                Finish Longman chapter 5

Week 7                        Roman World

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 5

                                    ****Map Quiz October 14th*********         

Week 8                        Roman Exploration and Growth

                                                Read Longman chapter 6

Week 9                        The New World

                                           Read in Essentials-Chapter 6,

                                    Read Longman chapter 11

                                    ****3rd Paper due October 28th**********

Week 10                      The Coming of Islam

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 7

                                                Read Longman chapter 7

                                    ****Exam #2 on November 4th ******

Week 11                      Islamic Growth

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 7

                                                Read in Longman chapter 20

                                    ***Veteran’s Day November 11th—No Class********

Week 12                      Expanding World

                                         Read in Essentials-chapter 9 and 10

                                                Read in Longman chapter 18

                                    ****3rd short Paper due on Nov. 18th*****

Week 13                      East Asia and the Pacific Rim

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 11

                                                Read Longman chapter 12 and 13

                                    ****Thanksgiving November 25—No Class**********

Week 14                      Middle Ages

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 12

Week 15                      Byzantium and beyond

                                                Read in Essentials-chapter 13              

                                                Read in Longman chapter 8 and 9

                                                ****Final paper due on Dec. 9th*****

Week 16                      ***Final Exam on Tuesday, Dec. 14th at 1 p.m.******