Course Syllabus
Section 1-CID #
3 Credit Hours
Fall Semester, 2012
Location of Class Meeting: Online
Class meeting Times: By Arrangement
Instructor: Nicholas C. J. Pappas
Office: AB4, Room 474.
Office phone: 936-294-3617.
Cell phone: 936-668-0993
Office hours: by arrangement.
E-Mail address: HIS_NCP@shsu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will study the political, economic, social, and cultural development of the Near East and Mediterranean from earliest times to the end of the Fifth Century. It will investigate such areas of history as the cradles of civilization of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the empires of Babylon, Assyria, and Persia; Ancient Israel and Phoenicia; Minoan, Mycenean, and Archaic Greece; Hellenic and Hellenistic Civilizations; the rise of Republican Rome; the Roman Empire from Principate to Autocracy; the Celts and Germans; and the end of the Ancient World. Parallel develpments in other parts of the world, notably China and India, will also be analyzed. The course will also attempt to assess the impact of these and other subjects upon today's world. PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE: 1) To acquaint students with the political, social, economic and cultural history of the Near East and the Mediterranean from earliest times to 500 A.D. 2) To sharpen the students' skills in historical interpretation, research and writing. 1) The class schedule will consist of two study units per week. Each study unit will consist of between two and six modules. Each module will be a a ten-to-twenty minute video lecture dealing with themes and sub-themes of the study units. Most of the modules will be videotaped from archaeological sites, museums and other locations in Greece, Turkey and elsewhere. Discussion forums will be available for questions and comments on the modules. 2) The modules will both supplement and complement reading assignments, as well as introduce problems to be brought up in the discussion forums. Discussion forums investigate problems and look into interpretations of subjects in the readings and/or modules. 3) Streaming videos, most readings, examinations, maps and other supplementary materials will be distributed to students on eCollege. STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE: 1) Attendance: Students are expected to log in regularly to read the web sources, view the modules lectures, participate actively in discussion. Attendance will be taken regularly and each student is responsible for keeping up with the class through regular eCollege attendance and eCollege announcements. The instructor reserves the right to penalize students fall behind due to irregular eCollege attendance, as mentioned in the policy below. Good eCollege attendance will be weighed as a factor in borderline grades. 2) Reading assignments: Readings from the text and supplementary sources are given on a weekly basis. 3) Examinations: Exams will be presented on the fourth, eighth, twelfth and finals week. Each examination will consist of one essay section. Each examination consist of one essay question from a field of 4 (50 points); multiple choice section, consisting of ten multiple-choice questions each based upon quotations taken from the web readings (20 points); and a matching geography section based upon three maps (30 points). Each exam will be worth 100 points. In total, the three examinations will count 300 points toward the course grade. All exams will be administered as timed exams on ECOLLEGE. The instructor reserves the right to change the dates of examinations in the Course Schedule and Outline. 4) Written assignments: Students may opt to write two movie reviews during the semester. a) Movie Reviews. These reviews will be based upon viewing films and reading web sources related to them. In each review, students will, in one paragraph for each numerical item, give their impressions of the film and answer the following questions. How does the film relate to the primary and secondary sources of the web readings? What point of view does the film represent? (what are the film-makers try to say)? What does it contribute to your understanding of world history? Students will give each film a rating on a scale of 1 to 10. Each review and rating will be worth 100 points. Movie reviews will be due by specific dates. The review will be due BOTH digitally on the dropbox sections of ECOLLEGE. The instructor reserves the right to change the movie review due dates in the Course Schedule and Outline. b) Films to be Reviewed: The films for review will be available on ECOLLEGE or for rental though an online service such as NETFLIX or BLOCKBUSTER. The titles of the films, the corresponding readings, and format for each review will be given in a study guide for each review. Students may choose to view and review one film from the available titles, within each each of the chronological sections, due in order during the semester. It is your ultimate responsibility to view and review your films ON TIME. Due dates will be announced in class. 5) Makeup assignments: Only students with legitimate excuses backed up with written documentation will be allow to make up an exams or reviews that they have missed. GRADING PLAN: Examinations will count 300 points or about 1/2 of the Course grade. Movie reviews will count toward 200 points or about 1/3 of the course grade. Regular eCollege attendance and participation in the discussion forums will count 100 points or about 1/6 of the course grade. Student attendance and participation will play a role in the grading in cases of borderline grades. Students with 3 or less absences will receive grade boost if they are one percentage point below the next highest grade The grade scale will be: 540-600=A; 480-539=B; 420-479=C; 360-419=D; 0-359=F. There will be no extra credit in this class. Only students who cannot finish the course because of documented health or emergency problems will be allowed a one extension grade of X in order to complete coursework. REQUIRED READINGS: Other Primary and Secondary Source Readings available on the Web Page. (Readings). WHILE SOME OF THESE DO NOT NECESSARILY APPLY TO A READINGS IN HISTORY COURSE, I HAVE INCLUDED ALL STUDENT REGULATIONS FOR COURSEWORK AT SHSU BELOW IN THE NEXT SECTIONS. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: All students are expected to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. The University and its official representatives may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including but not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work which is to be submitted, plagiarism, collusion and the abuse of resource materials. For a complete listing of the university policy, see: http://www.shsu.edu/administrative/faculty/sectionb.html#dishonesty STUDENT ABSENCES ON RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS POLICY: Section 51.911(b) of the Texas Education Code requires that an institution of higher education excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. Section 51.911 (a) (2) defines a religious holy day as: “a holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20….” A student whose absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable time after the absence. University policy 861001 provides the procedures to be followed by the student and instructor. A student desiring to absent himself/herself from a scheduled class in order to observe (a) religious holy day(s) shall present to each instructor involved a written statement concerning the religious holy day(s). The instructor will complete a form notifying the student of a reasonable timeframe in which the missed assignments and/or examinations are to be completed. For a complete listing of the university policy, see: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES POLICY: It is the policy of Sam Houston State University that individuals otherwise qualified shall not be excluded, solely by reason of their disability, from participation in any academic program of the university. Further, they shall not be denied the benefits of these programs nor shall they be subjected to discrimination. Students with disabilities that might affect their academic performance are expected to visit with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities located in the Counseling Center . They should then make arrangements with their individual instructors so that appropriate strategies can be considered and helpful procedures can be developed to ensure that participation and achievement opportunities are not impaired. SHSU adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. If you have a disability that may affect adversely your work in this class, then I encourage you to register with the SHSU Counseling Center and to talk with me about how I can best help you. All disclosures of disabilities will be kept strictly confidential. NOTE: No accommodation can be made until you register with the Counseling Center . For a complete listing of the university policy, see: Students will refrain from behavior in the classroom that intentionally or unintentionally disrupts the learning process and, thus, impedes the mission of the university. Please turn off or mute your cellular phone and/or pager before class begins. Laptop computers must be used for the curricular purposes of the course and not for net surfing or recreational purposes. Students are prohibited from eating in class, using tobacco products, making offensive remarks, reading newspapers, sleeping, talking among each other at inappropriate times, wearing inappropriate clothing, or engaging in any other form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result in a, minimally, a directive to leave class or being reported to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action in accordance with university policy. VISITORS IN THE CLASSROOM: Only registered students may attend class. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis by the professor. In all cases, visitors must not present a disruption to the class by their attendance. Students wishing to audit a class must apply to do so through the Registrar's Office. INSTRUCTOR EVALUATIONS: Students will be asked to complete a course/instructor evaluation form toward the end of the semester. REQUIRED SUPPLIES: Notebook and writing instruments to take notes in class, as well as four scantrons for the four examinations. Use of a computer with a broadband internet connection for viewing web sources and films. If you do not have a computer at home, please make use of computer labs on campus. TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE: Unit 1: HUMAN BEGINNINGS Unit 2: ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA. (8/30-9/03) Unit 3: ANCIENT EGYPT. FIRST FILM REVIEW PERIOD ENDS. Unit 4: THE NEW KINGDOM AND THE HITTITES. Unit 5: DISRUPTIONS OF CIVILIZATION, 2000-1000 B.C. FIRST EXAMINATION Unit 6: CIVILIZATIONS IN MINIATURE: KINGDOMS AND CITY STATES. Unit 7: THE RISE OF EMPIRES IN THE NEAR EAST. SECOND FILM PERIOD ENDS. Unit 8: PARALLEL DEVELOPMENTS IN EAST AND SOUTH ASIA. Unit 9: THE ORIGINS OF HELLENIC CIVILIZATION. SECOND EXAMINATION Unit 10: CLASSICAL GREECE AND THE POLIS. Modules # 20: The Acme and Decline of the Polis: The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars. Reading Assignment #20 Unit 11: THE RISE OF MACEDONIA AND HELLENIC CIVILIZATION. (11/01-11/5) THIRD FILM REVIEW PERIOD ENDS.. Unit 12 : HELLENISTIC CIVILIZATION AND EARLY ITALY. Unit 13: THE RISE OF ROME. THIRD EXAMINATION Unit 14: THE ROMAN EMPIRE--STATE AND CULTURE. Unit 15: CHRISTIANITY, ROME AND THE CIRIS OF EMPIRE. FOURTH FILM REVIEW PERIOD ENDS.. Unit 16: THE END OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. FOURTH EXAMINATION will be held during Finals Unit and will be announced later in the semester. |
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