Course Syllabus

• Instructor: David M. Perry
• Class Times: TR 10:00 AM-11:15 AM
• Location: Lewis 211
• Office: Fine Arts 313
• Office Phone : (708) 524-6052
• Office Hours : MW 12:30-1:30
• Email: dperry@dom.edu
• Course URL: http://domin.dom.edu/faculty/dperry/hist331/

Course Description

This course will examine the lives of people during the Middle Ages and, to a lesser extent, the Renaissance, from a number of angles. We will look at how large events - natural disasters, the rise and fall of political entities, discoveries of new lands or scientific advancements - altered everyday life. We will examine how medieval people constructed their families and organized their lives. We will pay particular attention to the history of women in medieval society, with the aim of incorporating their narrative into the broader history of European life.

We will also continue to refine our abilities to do the work of historians - that is, to read and interpret (verbally and in writing) primary documents and to analyze the work of other scholars. The reading and writing assignments have been chosen with these goals in mind.

Required Texts

The following texts have been made available for you at the Dominican bookstore. Please buy them.

• J. Murray, Love, Marriage, and Family in the Middle Ages: A Reader.
• B. Hanawalt, Growing Up in Medieval London: The Experience of Childhood in History.
• W. C. Jordan, The Great Famine.
• J. Bennett et al., Medieval Europe (available as a used book or as an e-book. Buy either).

There will be numerous 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, please.

Course Requirements and Assignments

• Papers - 15% Each
  • You will be asked to write three short papers on primary documents. These will be at least 3 pages (800 words) and consist of a close analysis of a given source. In each case, you will be asked to think about how the source exemplifies various course themes. More specific information will be given out before the assignments are due.
• Journals - 2% Each
  • At 7 points during the semester, you will be asked to write a one-page (250-300 words) discussion of a primary source on the day that it is due for class. More details to follow before the first journal.
• Final Paper - 25%
  • An 8-10 page research paper on any aspect of medieval "work and family." We will meet individually to discuss topics, work on drafts, and otherwise help you with this assignment.
• Participation and Attendance - 16%
  • Participation is more than just showing up, but it starts with just showing up. You cannot participate if you are not here. I will take attendance every day. Unexcused absences will weigh heavily against your participation grade.
    • Excused absences for legitimate Dominican activities (i.e. official sporting or musical events) will obviously not incur any direct penalty. You need to let me know ahead of time (for events) and you are responsible for catching up on material missed by consulting both me and your peers.
    • Emergency absences (death or illness in the family, weather disaster, illness, etc.) will also not incur any direct penalty, but you need to contact me immediately upon discovering that you will miss class. Again, 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.
  • Finally, being late consistently may be counted as being absent. It will certainly lower your participation grade. Being late is disrespectful not only to me, but also to your peers.

The Grade

• Papers - 15% Each
• Journals - 2% Each
• Final Paper - 25%
• Participation and Attendance - 16%

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.
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. 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. Stapled. With your name on every page. Typed. Double-spaced. In a 12-point font. With room on the margins for comments. Printed on only one side of the paper (for ease of comments). Please! I know this seems like a hassle, but it makes grading them and reading them easier. Be merciful to my eyesight.