HIST 1110-090
Summer Semester 2015
Office Hours by Appointment
[email protected]
8312
Dr. G. L. Smoak
On-line course
CTIHB 315
(801) 581-
Western Civilization II
William Blake: Newton (1795)
COURSE CONTENT :
In this class we will be examining history through many different time periods,
civilizations, and peoples. History is made up of many groups of people, and we will
attempt to solve the puzzles they present to us. We will do that by looking at the social,
economic, and religious aspects of their lives in addition to the political. It is only with
this complete and complex picture that we can fully appreciate their history. The
institutions, structures, and relationships in our lives today can often be traced directly to
the past, and we see the legacy of historical civilizations all around us. Therefore, we
will study these factors in particular to discover our present and our future. If “history
repeats itself,” perhaps we can see where we are going. Specifically, I feel that it is
important to study not only the majority, but also the minority, for together they make up
the whole picture. We will, therefore, be studying such groups as peasants and women
who, while perhaps not involved in “legitimate” institutions, did help to shape the history
of their civilizations.
CAVEAT:
This class is different from previous on-line courses you may have taken. In this course
you are expected to watch lectures and take notes, read in the textbook and supplemental
works, engage in class discussion, take timed quizzes that test your specific factual
knowledge, write essay exams, and produce papers demonstrating your knowledge and
ability to use historical sources and data, JUST LIKE IN A “LIVE” CLASS! It is
essentially the same as the “live” class I teach in the regular semester and I have the same
expectations for your performance. All Western Civilization survey classes contain an
enormous amount of information and move extremely quickly through the centuries, and
are therefore very difficult for many students. Many students have less success in the
online format, which you many want to consider that fact in your decision to take it
online and not “live”. Also, please note that you will be expected to spend several hours
a week on this class to do well. Just as in a live course, you will be expected to spend an
average of 6-9 hours a week on this course! I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO YOUR SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS TO WATCH THE
ONLINE LECTURES. The exams and quizzes primarily test from lecture notes, so you
will not be able to do well just by reading the text or using the internet.
You should keep up with assignments and communicate with your Learning Community
(LC) and the instructor often so that you can receive feedback and ask questions when
they arise. I am usually able to answer all emails within 24 hours. For technical
difficulties please contact TLT at (801) 581-6112.
COURSE FORMAT:
This course consists of lessons, each found in a separate module. Each lesson will
contain video lectures, a reading assignment, study themes and other materials. The
review sheets will be included in the first module for each exam. Exams consist of both
identification and essays, which will require that you answer general and specific
questions about the lecture material and the sources. The identifications will come from
the review sheets and the essays will come from the themes in each lesson. You will
have a list of 10 terms, of which you must identify 4 (5 points each), including
information about who, what, when, where, and the historical significance of that term.
You will also have a choice of 4 essay questions, from which you must choose 2 to
answer (40 points each). The essays will be graded on thesis, supporting evidence from
readings, lectures and other materials, and argumentation. Exams are take-home and you
will have a 48 hour window in which to take the exams and post them to Canvas, where
they will be run through Turnitin. Quizzes can be found on Canvas. Each consists of 10
multiple choice questions and are based on lecture material. They are timed at 10
minutes and you will not have time to “look up” answers during the quiz. A template for
the Primary Source Paper Assignment will be posted in the Week One Module.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
This course consists of modular lessons each week. There are two exams, four quizzes
and a primary source analysis assignment which will be completed in your Online
Learning Community (LC). You will also be required to engage in periodic
discussions. You can access the discussions through your Learning Community. In
order to find your LC go to the CURRENT GROUPS in the red banner called Courses
and Groups, click on User Group.
Exam #1
Exam #2
Primary Source Analysis Paper
Rough Draft of Paper
Peer Review
Quizzes
Discussions
100 points
100 points
40 points
10 points
10 points
35 points
10 points
Total: =305 points
93%-100%=A
90%-92%=A87%-89%=B+
83%-86%=B
80%-82%=B77-79%=C+
73-76%=C
70-72%=C67%-69%=D+
63%-66%=D
60-62%=DBelow 60%=F
OBJECTIVE AND POLICY:
At the end of the course, you will be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of
historical content and analysis; in other words, to be able to think historically, and to see
the big picture as well as the “facts.” You will learn to critically read primary sources
and to place them into chronological and historical context. Academic dishonesty will
result in a failing grade for the class. Plagiarism includes using material from published
or unpublished works, websites or the internet, or other students without permission and
without citation. You will receive a 0 on the assignment, and will be subject to academic
sanctions by the university. You will be reported to the Associate Vice President for
Academic Affairs in accordance with the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Humanities Academic Misconduct Policy: Academic misconduct includes cheating,
plagiarizing, research misconduct, misrepresenting one’s work, and inappropriately
collaborating. Definitions can be found in the Student Code at
http://www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.html.
If you are suspected of academic misconduct, the process proceeds according to the rules
found in the Student Code, University Policy 6-400(V). According to that policy, after
meeting with you, the instructor must determine whether academic misconduct has, in
fact, occurred.
--If s/he determines that no academic misconduct has occurred, s/he will document that
you are not responsible for any academic misconduct.
--If s/he determines academic misconduct has occurred and this is the first instance in
which you have been alleged to have committed academic misconduct, s/he will take into
account whether the act was intentional or a result of negligence in determining the
appropriate sanction, which can be up to failing the course. The sanction will be noted in
the resolution of the case and your right of appeal is as specified in Policy 6-400(V).
--If s/he determines academic misconduct has occurred, and you have previously been
sanctioned for an act of academic misconduct, and the prior instance of misconduct
resulted in a sanction less than failing the course, the department will follow the process
to fail you for the course. If the prior sanction was failure of the course, your new act of
misconduct will result in failure of the course and the department will also follow the
process to seek your dismissal from the program and the University.
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and
activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class,
reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Union
Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make
arrangements for accommodations.
TEXTS:
Clifford R. Backman. The Cultures of the West: A History. Oxford, 2013. Vol. 2.
ISBN#978-0-19-5388916.
Smith. Not So Quiet. Consortium. ISBN# 9780935312829.
Voltaire. Candide. Penguin. ISBN# 9780140440041.
Wiesel. Night. Random. ISBN# 9780553272536.
THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THE CONTENTS
OF THIS SYLLABUS.
Course Schedule:
Week One
Week of May 18
Introduction
Early Modern Europe
Backman, chp. 11
Backman, chp. 12
Wednesday, May 20
Syllabus Quiz Due
Saturday, May 23
Discussion #1 Due in LCs: Introduction
Week Two
Week of May 25
Wars of Religion
Absolutism
Backman, chp. 14
Week Three
Week of June 1
Scientific Revolution
Backman, chp. 13
Saturday, June 6
Quiz #2 Due
Week Four
Week of June 8
Week Five
Week of June 15
Week Six
Enlightenment
Eighteenth Century
Backman, chp. 15
Candide
French Revolution
Backman, chp. 16
Week of June 22
Industrial Revolution
Revolution and Reform
Saturday, June 27
Exam #1
Week Seven
Week of June 29
Sunday, July 5
Week Eight
Week of July 6
Nationalism
Unification
Backman, chp. 17
Backman, chp. 18
Backman, chp. 19
Backman, chp. 20
Quiz #3 Due
Age of Progress, Modernity Backman, chp. 21, 22
and Anxiety
Week Nine
Week of July 13
World War I
Saturday, July18
Quiz #4 Due
Week Ten
Week of July 20
Interwar Period
Monday, July 20
Discussion #2 of Source Monographs within LC
Wednesday, July 22
Post Rough Draft of paper to your LC
Saturday, July 25
Post Peer Review to your LC
Week Eleven
Week of July 27
Monday, July 27
Week Twelve
Week of August 3
Final Exam:
World War II
Holocaust
Backman, chp. 24
Not So Quiet . . .
Backman, chp. 25
Backman, chp. 26
Night
Post Final Paper within your LC
Post War Period
Cold War
Due Friday, August 7
Backman, chp. 27