Course Syllabus

• Instructor: David M. Perry
• Class Time: W 6:30-9:30
• Class location: Parmer 107
• Office: Lewis Annex 2C
• Office Phone: (708) 524-6052
• Office Hours: TR 1-2 and by appointment
• Email: dperry@dom.edu
• Course URL: http://domin.dom.edu/faculty/dperry/hist101/
• Instructor URL: http://domin.dom.edu/faculty/dperry/

Course Goals and Description

For most of you, this will be the only history course you take in college.

When you look back on it, someday, I hope you remember some things about ancient and medieval Europe, but I also hope you think differently about history. It's not just "the past," but a way of thinking about the past and studying it.

But first you are going to need to acquire some knowledge about ancient and medieval Europe. To accomplish this goal, we will need to learn what happened, how people lived, and what people thought.

We're going to spend a lot of time looking at maps, and I'll test you on your knowledge of basic geography. Do you know where Europe is? How about Rome? Ok, how about Normandy? What about Vinland? Don't worry, I don't really know where Vinland is either. No one does! But you'll learn where we think it was and how the geography and environment of Europe influenced the course of history, and how human activities changed the environment in which they lived.

Most of all, we are going to read some of the most interesting and important primary sources - sources actually written during the period that we are studying - that I have been able to find. We'll also learn how to read primary sources, what kinds of data they provide for us, and talk about them in our writing, on our tests, and in personal reading journals. We'll discuss how historians know what they know and what they don't know too!

What we are not doing in this class is pretending to cover every important event, place, or person from the beginnings of human civilization to the Renaissance. This is not a "names and dates" kind of class. But if you do the reading, come to class, listen to lectures and engage with the material, you will find your knowledge of some aspects of human history greatly enriched. More importantly, you'll develop the skills you need to learn about any other historical subject that interests you.

Required Texts

The following texts have been made available for you at the Dominican bookstore. You are required to obtain your own copy.

• Textbook: Western Civilizations
• Geary: P. Geary. Readings in Medieval History. 4th ed.

There will be lots other readings either handed out in class or made available to you through the website. You are required to bring all readings to class on the day for which they are assigned. This means that you must print out online sources!

Expectations

Night classes are tricky. You don't get the regular reminders and deadlines during the week to do you work. If you want until Wednesday afternoon to get to work, you'll be in trouble. But I'll also be in trouble, because I rely on regular contact with you to know what's going on, what's working, and what needs to be improved.

So here are my expectations for you: Show up on time. Bring food if you must, but don't be disruptive about it. Be awake and alert throughout the class. Be involved (more on that later). By every Saturday, you'll need to fill out an online form that answers some very simple questions about the class. By most Mondays, you'll produce a short essay on a single primary text. By Wednesday, you'll have done the readings and come to class ready to start all over again.

What are your expectations for me?

Course Requirements and Assignments (repeating some of the information above).

You must do a week's worth of work for every class and this will take organization on your part. The truth of a once-per-week class is that it's convenient for your schedule, but all the work gets compressed.

• To combat this, we'll have a reading response assignment due every week. It will help split a week's worth of reading into two parts.
• We will also have a class response due nearly every Saturday. It's a chance for you to give me quick feedback and to reflect on your own engagement with the course. It's confidential, but not anonymous (we'll do that too!).
• I'll ask you to turn in some reading notes at the beginning of the semester, and continue to do so if you struggle on early tests and quizzes, as I've found that success in this class depends on your ability to do effective reading on your own (not just giving it time, but doing it well!).
• All in-class quizzes will be open note, but not open book. This means anything you have written (or typed and printed) is fair game.

ASSIGNMENTS

Quiz 1, 2, and 3 - 5% each

• Short 30-minute tests involving identifications. Practice, as much as anything else, for the bigger exams.
• If you receive a "C-" or lower on any quiz or test, you will need to produce textbook notes until such time as you receive a grade higher than a "C-" on a quiz or exam. You may also be asked to produce lecture notes. These may be turned in via email, at my office, or in class. This is NOT punishment, but a way for me to work with you on becoming a better student. I want to see you improve. Reading more effectively is the single biggest step you can take to improve!

Reading Responses 30% (3% each, only top 10 count)

• There are 12 assignments that qualify as "reading responses." In each case, I'll ask you specific and/or general questions and you will need to craft an essay of at least 500 words that answers the question. You will need to put your English 101 skills to work here, and all essays must contain an introduction, and well-organized body with specific textual evidence to support specific conclusions, and an overall conclusion. I will grade equally on style and content.
• Your top 10 grades will count towards your final grade.
• Notice these are worth, collectively, as much as your final exam!

Midterm - 20%

• Half of the exam will require a take-home essay, the other part will be done in class. It will include identifications, quotation analysis, short-answer, and/or essay questions.

Final Exam 30%

• This will consist of two parts. First, you will have a series of short-answer questions and identifications on the second half of the class. Second, you will be asked to write one or more long-answer questions (as a take-home) on cumulative subject matter. This second part will be available as a take-home.

Participation, Attendance, Textbook notes - 5%

• Participation is more than just showing up, but it starts with just showing up.
  • Missing a class = missing an entire week, and you will quickly fall so far behind as to permanently hurt your grade.
  • You may miss one class without any penalty. Do not use it frivolously. The day will come when you feel a little sick and just want to stay home, but don't want to go to the doctor.
  • After missing one class, you will lose 5 points off your final grade for all other absences. Miss more than four classes, I will ask you to withdraw from the class (as that's a whole month!) and you are unlikely to pass.
  • Any more than one absence MUST have a documented medical or familial emergency excuse. Please document your emergency through the Dean of Student's office.
  • You are responsible for catching up on material missed by consulting both me and your peers.
• But participation is about more than just showing up. It's about doing the reading, being prepared to talk about it, volunteering your input, being involved in group work, preparing for discussions, and generally being an asset to the class as a whole. We will have a variety of ways in which you can participate, but none matter more than being an active member in our small-group and full-class discussions. Your participation is a significant percentage of your grade. You will need to earn it. Take initiative. Do not expect to speak only when directly called upon and ace this section of the class.
  • After every class, I will ask you to do a quick (5 minute) class reflection, in which you reflect on your daily contribution, the contributions of your peers, and me!
• Notes
  • Everyone will complete Textbook note assignments at the beginning of the semester. I may ask you to do additional notes depending on the quality of your work on quizzes and other assignments, in order to help you become a better reader. Textbook notes will affect your participation grade, but are really a means to help you grow as a student.

The Grade Breakdown

• Reading Responses 30% (10 highest grades, 3 pts each).
• Quiz 1 - 5%
• Quiz 2 - 5%
• Quiz 3 - 5%
• Midterm - 20%
• Final Exam 30%
• Participation, Attendance, Notes - 5%

Course Policies

1. Follow all Dominican University policies in regards to Academic Honesty. If you are unsure about whether something is plagiarism or cheating, ask first. People caught cheating will be subjected to the fullest penalties allowable by Dominican.
2. No assignment, under any circumstances, will be accepted by fax or email. We use the MyDU system. If you email me an assignment, unless I confirm I've accepted it, you have not turned it in.
3. Students must bring readings to class on the day they are assigned. Print out online materials. If we don't talk about something in class, you need to bring it to the next class too unless told otherwise.
4. Writing assignments and examinations are due at the beginning of class. DO NOT EVER SKIP CLASS TO TRY AND FINISH YOUR PAPER. Printing errors and lost data are a fact of the computer age. If you wait until the last minute and encounter technical difficulties, your paper may still be counted as late.
5. All projects due in class must be typed. No hand-written assignments will be accepted with the EXCEPTION of reading notes. But they need to be legible.
6. For every day a paper or project is late, you lose one full grade per day (A to B, B to C, etc.). Do not test this system. Turn your work in on time.

On to the calendar of readings and assignments.