EUH 4500
English History to 1485
Comm. 115Instructor: Dr. Peter L. Larson
MWF 12:30-1:20 p.m.Office:Colbourn Hall 537
Fall 2009History Dept. Office Phone: 407-823-2225
Credit: 3 units (3,0)Email:
Office Hours:M 2-3:00 & WF 2-4:00 p.m.,
& by appointment
Course home page:
Course Description and Objectives
In this course we will examine the history of England from its first appearances in written records to the rise of the Tudors. The course is organized chronologically, first by major political events and later by reign; this is not ideal, but it provides a convenient framework. While there is a necessary emphasis on the basics of political and constitutional history, we will spend considerable time examining changes in culture and society, as well as the roles of women, merchants, peasants, and minority groups. We also will examine the history of England in the wider British context, and when possible focus on developments elsewhere in the British Isles.
Required Texts
The following books are required, and are available at the University Bookstore:
- Sir Frank M. Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, 3rd ed. (Oxford). ISBN 978019280139.
- David Carpenter, The Struggle for Mastery: The Penguin History of Britain 1066-1283 (Penguin, 2004). ISBN 9780140148244.
- Miri Rubin, The Hollow Crown: A History of Britain in the Late Middle Ages (Penguin, 2006).
ISBN 978014014825.
- Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, trans. D.H. Farmer et al. (Penguin 1991 revised ed.). ISBN 978-0140445657.
- Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, ed. V.A. Kolve and G. Olson (Norton, 2nd ed. 2005).
ISBN 978-0393925876.
Assignments and Grades
- Participation10%
- Exams (2)40%
- Short essays (2)20%
- Term Paper30%
Important note for majors regarding Portfolios:All History majors are required to turn in a portfolio during the semester they intend to graduate. This portfolio should contain 8-12 examples (the originals not copies) of graded, written work (research papers, book reviews, essay exams, etc.) from History classes. For more information on History graduation requirements see
Grading
So that there is no confusion, here are the criteria that I use when assigning letter grades on assignments, and for your final grade. Note that I am under no obligation to round up your grade.
93.00 to 100 = A87.00 to 89.99= B+59.99 and below = F
90.00 to 92.99= A-83.00 to 86.99= B
80.00 to 82.99= B-
etc. for Cs and Ds
Conduct, Participation, and Attendance
I expect you to act professionally - to attend all classes, to complete required readings and analyze them before class, and to participate actively. Cell phones, pagers, and beepers must be off during class, and taping of lectures is forbidden without my express permission. All lecture notes and powerpoints are for your personal use only; they cannot be sold or distributed.
I expect participation in class. Students who participate actively in discussion do better on papers and exams. If you fail to participate at all this will be reflected in your Conduct grade.
Attendance Policy: You are permitted three unexcused absences. Beginning with the fourth absence, you will lose 1 point per absence from the points allotted for Conduct in the course; these points will be deducted after I have calculated your Conduct grade. Excessive tardiness will be treated as unexcused absences.
For an absence to be excused, I must have written proof that your absence was beyond your control, e.g. a copy of a court summons, a note from your boss that you were called in unexpectedly, and so forth. For illnesses, I require a doctor’s note explaining that you were under care and unable to attend class. I do not need to know specifics; you may black out any diagnosis, cause, or personal information. Please note: failure to find parking, self-diagnosis, breakup with your boy/girlfriend, etc., are not excused absences. If you miss class, whether the absence is excused or not, you are responsible for what you missed. For notes, see one of your classmates, and then talk to me if you have any questions.
Assignments
- Essays (2): There will be two short (3 to 5 page) papers answering assigned topics (to be announced).
- Exams: There will be 2 in-class examinations; there is no final examination.
- Term Paper: A 10-15 page research paper; the choice of topic is yours but must be approved by me. You must use multiple primary sources as well as journal articles.
Full details of the assignments will be posted on the class website.
Extra Credit: I do not offer individual extra-credit assignments. Complete the assigned work.
Turn-it-in.com Requirement
You are required to submit all papers to Turn-it-in.com, an automated system which instructors can use to quickly and easily compare each student's assignment with billions of web sites, as well as an enormous database of student papers that grows with each submission. You will be expected to submit all assignments in both hard copy and electronic format. After the assignment is processed, as an instructor I receive a report from turnitin.com that states if and how another author’s work was used in the assignment. For a more detailed look at this process, visit
Exam Make-up Policy
A make-up exam will be permitted only with acceptable written proof of absence. For in-class exams, the timing of the makeup exam is at the convenience of the instructor, who will take into consideration the reason(s) for the absence to provide a fair testing opportunity. For the final exam, due to the deadlines for submitting grades, arranging a makeup exam is difficult and you should contact the instructor immediately.
Tardiness to exams: I will allow students who are late to class to take the exam, although extra time will not necessarily be provided. If you are late, please enter the classroom and take your seat as quietly as possible.
General Writing Assignment Policies
Spelling, grammar, and style count; for help, consult the online Style Guide and Grading Criteria. Most errors can be avoided by using both a spell and grammar checker, and by setting them to “formal”.
Late Papers: All papers must be submitted to Turnitin.com by the beginning of class; this provides a time stamp. A hardcopy of your paper is due in class; however, because things do happen, you have until the end of my office hours to submit the hardcopy as long as you attend the class at which the paper is due. After the Turnitin.com cutoff, you have seven full days (that includes the weekend) to turn in the paper with a 10 point penalty (one full letter grade). After that, papers will be accepted until the last day of class, but the grade will be halved (e.g., an 88 becomes a 44). If you had an excused absence, the due date is the class when you return.
Extensions for papers are at my discretion and generally must be sought at least 48 hours before the paper is due. I will require documentation for most extensions. Do not put a paper off until the last minute; due dates are published in the syllabus, so plan accordingly.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation (consciously or unconsciously) of someone else’s words or ideas as your own, whether you paraphrase another scholar’s words too closely or you cut-and-paste or purchase an entire paper on the internet. Plagiarism is not limited to published works; it includes other students’ papers and web sites. You may quote works by others when proper reference is given, but under no circumstances should you incorporate someone else’s work into your own without proper citation. If you refer to someone else’s idea, even if it is not a direct quote, you must cite that information; unreferenced paraphrasing is plagiarism.
Plagiarism is a serious offence. Plagiarism, and cheating of any kind on any assignment, will result in a 0 for that assignment (and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. See the UCF Golden Rule for further information. I will assume for this course that you will adhere to the academic creed of this University and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. If you have any questions or concerns, please see me or the UniversityWritingCenter.
Office Hours
You can find me in my office during my stated office hours, or you can set up an appointment. The best way to contact me, home or office, is by email, though it may take up to two days for me to get back to you.
Disability Statement
The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact me at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD only phone (407) 823-2116, before requesting accommodations from the professor.
Finally…
Communication is key. If there is anything that may affect your performance in class or on the assignments, let me know!! I am willing to be flexible and offer help, but I can only do so if you ask me before something is due; coming to me after the fact, without any documentation, will not change anything.
Schedule of Classes
Note:The readings under a class should be completed for that class.
Readings from the Internet do not need to be printed, but be prepared to discuss them.
Week I
M 24th Aug.Introduction; the British Isles
W 26thRoman Britain
Bede: 44-56
F 28th The Coming of the Anglo-Saxons
Stenton: 1-31
Bede: 57-72
Week II
M 31stThe Arthurian Age
Stenton: 32-94
W 2ndSept.The (Re-)Conversion of England, part I: Kent
Stenton: 96-113
Bede: 72-117
The Laws of Ethelbert:
(Note: there are other sets of laws here; just read through those of Ethelbert)
F 4thThe (Re-)Conversion of England, part II: Northumbria
Stenton: 113-129
Bede: 117-185
Week III
M 7thLabor Day – No Class Today
W 9thThe Northumbrian Golden Age
Stenton: 130-200
Bede: 186-201
Skim the Lindisfarne Gospels,
F 11thThe Age of Bede
Bede: 202-301 (the rest of the work)
Week IV
M 14thThe Viking Invasions
Stenton: 202-248
W 16thAlfred the Great
Stenton: 248-276
Alfred and Guthrum’s peace:
F 18thHeirs of Alfred
Stenton: 277-363
Week V
M 21stThe Danish KingsPaper #1 due
Stenton: 364-432
St. Wulfstan, Sermo Lupi ad Anglos:
(Note: You will need to click on ‘translation’ on the left, which will bring up the
translation in the bottom frame. Try to see if you can read the original.)
W 23rdLate Saxon England
Stenton: 433-544
Laws of Alfred and Edward the Elder
Anglo-Saxon Elf Charms:
F 25thEdward the Confessor & 1066
Stenton: 545-598
Look at the Bayeux Tapestry in full:
Week VI
M 28thDomesday: The Reign of William I
Read either: 1) Stenton: 598-657, 680-687 Or: 2) Carpenter: 61-105, Stenton 680-687
And:
Laws of William the Conqueror:
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle on Domesday Book
Extracts from Domesday:
W 30thWilliam II and Henry I
Carpenter: 125-162
Peter of Blois on William II and Henry I:
Coronation Charter:
F 2nd Oct.Stephen and Matilda
Carpenter: 163-190
Henry of Huntingdon, Chronicle:
Week VII
M 5thExam #1
W 7th Henry II & the Angevin Empire
Carpenter: 191-244
Peter of Blois on Henry II:
Gervase of Canterbury, on Thomas Becket’s death:
F 9thBirth of the English Common Law
Constitutions of Clarendon:
Assize of Clarendon:
Week VIII
M 12thAnglo-Norman Britain
Gerald of Wales, on the Conquest of Ireland:
W 14thRichard I
Carpenter: 245-262
F 16thKing JohnWithdrawal Deadline
Carpenter: 263-299
Magna Carta:
Week IX
M 19th Henry III and ParliamentInitial Topic Due
Carpenter: 300-391
Statuta Armorum:
W 21stEdward I and Reform
Carpenter: 466-494
Summonses to Parliament:
Assize of Bread et al.:
Judgment of the Pillory:
F 23rdWars of Edward I
Carpenter: 495-530
Week X
M 26thEdward II
Rubin: 1-56
W 28thEdward III and the Hundred Years War - CrecyPoitiers
Rubin: 72-97, 109-113
Jean Froissart, On the War:
F 30th The Black Death
Rubin: 57-72, 97-105
Ordinance of Labourers:
Statute of Labourers:
Week XI
M 2ndNov.Exam #2
W 4thRichard II
Rubin: 128-172
F 6thLate Medieval England
Week XII
M 9thEngland according to Chaucer
See Reading Guide
W 11thVeteran’s Day - No Class Today
F 13thHenry IV and the House of LancasterPaper Topic and BibliographyDue
Rubin: 173-199
Week XIII
M 16thHenry V and the Hundred Years War
Rubin: 212-223
W 18thHenry VI
Rubin: 224--265
F 20th Wars of the Roses, part I
Rubin: 265-274
Jack Cade, Grievances:
Week XIV
M 23rd Wars of the Roses, part II
Rubin: 275-312
W 25thEdward IV and Peace?Paper #2 due
F 27thThanksgiving Break – No Class Today
Week XV
M 30th Richard III and the end of the House of YorkLast day to submit
Rubin: 312-318a draft for comments
W 2nd Guest Speaker – Title TBA
F 4thLaw and Lordship in the Wars of the Roses
Week XVI
M 7th The Rise of the Tudors
Rubin: 319-322
F 11thTerm paper due by 1pm
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