H114 – History of Western Civilization II, Fall 2012, Section 8740
Prof. Jennifer Sovde Office: CA-313S
Class Time: MW 3:00-4:15 Office Hours: MW 12:00-1:00; or by appointment
Class Room: CA-217 Email:
Course Description
This course is an introductory survey of the history of “Western Civilization” from the age of absolutism to the fall of the Berlin Wall and assumes no prior knowledge of the topic. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to: the rise of the middle class, parliamentary institutions, liberalism, political democracy, industrial revolution, capitalism, socialist movements, nationalism, imperialism, international rivalries, the two world wars, the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Each course session may consist of lecture, discussion, and other in-class activities.
Course Goals & Objectives
Students will gain an understanding of:
· the major social, political, intellectual, and cultural developments in Western Europe from c.1648 to 1989
· the impact of these developments on individuals and groups in European society
· sources and methods used by historians to “create” history
Students will develop the ability to:
· critically read and analyze source material, both primary and secondary
· synthesize information into a coherent argument supported by evidence and clearly convey it in writing
These objectives are consistent with those IUPUI "Principles of Undergraduate Learning" concerning “understanding society and culture” and “core communication and quantitative skills."
What to expect from this course:
v Students should be prepared to spend at least 6 hours each week reading, writing, and preparing for any 3-credit course. You will be required to read, on average, approximately 40 pages per week. Complete the assigned readings for each class meeting before the class meeting; this will allow you to actively participate in class discussions. There will be material presented in lecture that is not in the textbook. Exams will cover both material presented in lecture and in course readings.
v My responsibilities: We are all responsible for the success of this course. As an instructor I am a facilitator and a guide who does not have all the answers. My ultimate goal is to make you think critically about the world and yourself. It is my responsibility to guide you in meeting the course objectives through clear presentations, encouraging participation, explaining and grading assignments appropriately, and returning them in a timely fashion with proper feedback.
v Your responsibilities: It is your responsibility to read the material, reflect on it, and be prepared to ask critical questions in class. Completing the homework, actively taking notes, and listening to the ideas of others are your contributions to the success of this class.
Contacting Me
v Office: CA-313S, stop by Monday & Wednesday, 12-1 pm or make an appointment for another time
v Email: Use Oncourse email, I will respond to emails M-F by 5:00 pm. Responses to emails sent on Saturday or Sunday are not guaranteed until the following Monday. My failure to respond to your email is not a justification for your failure to complete assignments on time.
Use of Oncourse – the following will be posted on Oncourse:
v the syllabus, course readings, lecture outlines & slides, exam study guides, and other materials
v a lecture outline and lecture slides will be posted the night before class so you may print them out.
This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Adjustments will be announced in class and posted on Oncourse. Check Oncourse regularly.
Student Conduct
We are adults and I expect all members of this class to treat others with respect. In this course I hope to foster an atmosphere in which students feel comfortable to express informed opinions and perspectives so that we may all learn about the past, ourselves, and others. Disrespect will not be tolerated and students are expected to abide by all policies in the IUPUI Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using the ideas or words of another person without citing the source of those words or ideas. For more information on what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it see more information on plagiarism.
If a student is caught cheating or plagiarizing on an assignment or exam the student will receive a 0 on the assignment for the first incident and an F for the class for any subsequent offenses and be subject to IUPUI policies concerning academic misconduct found in the IUPUI Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. Students caught cheating or plagiarizing are not allowed to earn extra-credit points.
Electronic Devices
v The use of electronic devices including, but not limited to, laptops, audio recorders, video recorders, cell phones, etc. is not allowed in this class unless I receive documentation from AES.
v ALL electronic devices should be turned off and stowed BEFORE class begins. If you need to have your cell phone on for a family emergency please let me know at the beginning of class and set the phone to vibrate.
Academic Assistance and Counseling Services
v If you have questions about how to take notes, read, write papers and study for this course feel free to speak to me about various strategies for approaching this course and the assignments.
v Adaptive Educational Services (AES) - If you have a documented disability see the Office of Adaptive Educational Services in Joseph T. Taylor Hall, Room 137 as soon as possible so appropriate accommodations can be made. In order to maintain student privacy, please inform me in person and in private if you receive AES services. For more information on AES see the AES website.
v University Writing Center (UWC) - The University Writing Center provides tutoring on all kinds of writing assignments and projects. For information or an appointment, visit the UWC website.
v Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) – CAPS provides counseling and assessment services for issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, learning issues, and substance abuse. See the CAPS website for more information.
Attendance, Drop/Add, and Withdrawal Policies
v Attendance and your course grade: Attendance will be taken in this course. Chronic late comers and those who leave class after attendance is taken will be marked absent. You are allowed 4 “free” absences (no explanation necessary) over the course of the semester. Excused absences will be granted for participation in authorized university activities and other reasons at my discretion based on proper documentation. Your final course grade will be reduced 1 grade increment for each unexcused absence beyond the 4 free absences. For example, if your course grade was an A- it would fall to a B+ with 5 absences, a B with 6 absences, and so on.
v Drop/Add – Once you are enrolled in this course you remain enrolled in the course until you withdraw. If you are waiting to get into another class, YOU MUST DROP this course via eDrop/eAdd or a paper Drop/Add slip when you add the other course. Administrative withdrawal is not available for this course. See the schedule of important dates at the registrar’s website for more information.
v Withdrawal from the university – Unexpected personal circumstances or military deployment may arise during the course of the semester requiring a student to withdraw entirely from the university for the semester. IUPUI has policies in place to deal with these situations. For military withdrawals from the university see the IUPUI Military Withdrawal Policy and for non-military withdrawals see the IUPUI Emergency Withdrawal Policy.
Required Readings:
v Thomas F. X. Noble, et al., Western Civilization: Beyond Boundaries, Volume II: Since 1560,6th Edition (2011)
v Heda Margolius Kovaly, Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968
Please note that Under a Cruel Star is difficult to find in retail bookstores. If you do not buy it from the bookstore you will need to order it from another source. A copy is on reserve at the University Library for in-library use only.
v The other required readings for the course are accessible through Oncourse.
Here is how to find the required primary source readings:
1. Go to the Resources tab in Oncourse and click on the “Primary Source Readings” folder
2. Inside the “Primary Source Readings” folder click on the folder for the appropriate week. For example for the first primary source readings you would select the “Absolutism and Constitutionalism, 8/27” folder.
3. Once inside the folder for the specific week click on the “Readings for Discussion Papers” folder. The primary source readings upon which the discussion papers are to be based are located in this folder.
For a visual representation of the above explanation go to the Resources in Oncourse and open the “How to Find the Primary Source Readings on Oncourse” file.
Course Requirements Grade Scale
2 quizzes on Kovaly (5% each) 10% A 93-100 C 73-76
4 discussion papers (5% each) 20% A- 90-92 C- 70-72
Fill-in-the-blank quiz 10% B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
Midterm exam 25% B 83-86 D 63-66
Final Exam 25% B- 80-82 D- 60-62
Leading 2 discussions (5% each) 10% C+ 77-79 F 59 and below
Extra-credit options (maximum 6%)
Make-up exams & quizzes
Make-up exams will only be granted for excused absences at my discretion based on proper documentation. It is up to you to contact me as soon as possible to schedule a make-up exam. Make-up quizzes will only be granted for excused absences and must be completed within one week of the scheduled quiz date.
Description of Assignments
In-class quizzes – There will be 2 in-class quizzes on Under a Cruel Star. Discussion questions for Under a Cruel Star are located in the Resources on Oncourse. For the quiz you will simply write a short answer in class to one of the questions (chosen at random). These quizzes will be graded using the 10-point grading scale. There will also be 1 fill-in-the-blank quiz as preparation for the first exam.
Quiz Dates: fill-in-the-blank quiz – Wednesday, September 26
Under a Cruel Star (part 1) – Wednesday, November 14
Under a Cruel Star (part 2) – Wednesday, November 28
Discussion papers and leading discussion – 4 discussion papers are required. The papers are based on the primary source documents and answer the Discussion Paper Question. Each paper should be 1-2 typed pages (double spaced, 12-pt. font). In the paper you should present an argument based on your reading of the primary sources and support the argument with evidence or examples from the primary sources. Your paper must include specific references to at least 3 of the assigned primary documents using parenthetical citations [example: (Name of source, page #).]. A paper copy must be handed in at the end of class on the day it is due. Late or electronic versions of the position papers will not be accepted except for the most extraordinary of circumstances at my discretion. Discussion papers will be graded based on the 10-point grading scale.
Leading discussion – Each student must write 4 discussion papers. For 2 of the 4 discussion papers you must also assist in leading the classroom discussion. At the beginning of the semester you must sign up in advance for the 2 discussions you wish to lead. Sign up is not necessary for the other 2 discussion papers, for those papers simply choose the 2 discussion questions you wish to write papers on and turn them in on the due date.
Grading Scale for discussion papers & reading quizzes: (10 pts possible)
10 – work contains a clearly stated argument or thesis, analysis of sources rather than mere summary, incorporation of relevant examples from source to support the argument
9 – work meets all of the above criteria but writing is weak or unclear (this includes typos for discussion papers)
8 – work fails to successfully incorporate relevant references to the sources
7 – work lacks a clear argument or thesis, does not answer the question
6 – work summarizes rather than analyzes sources
5 – work simply too short & insufficient
0 – paper or quiz not handed in
Exams – All exams are noncumulative and will be comprised of fill-in-the-blank questions and one essay. A study guide for each exam will be posted on Oncourse 2 weeks before the exam date.
Exam Dates: Exam 1: Wednesday, October 24
Final Exam: Wednesday, December 12, 3:30-5:30 pm, CA-217
Extra-credit Options - You may earn up to 6% extra-credit with the following options:
1. Historical Film Reviews: First, you watch one of the historical films listed on the syllabus. Next, you must write a 1-page paper answering the questions: “How does this film relate to the historical context as presented in class and in the reading? Based on what you have learned, what aspects of the film do you think are historically accurate? What aspects of the film do you think are historically inaccurate?” Each paper is worth a maximum of 3%. Papers that do not show an understanding of the film or the historical issues will not receive full credit. The paper should not simply be a plot summary of the movie – it must relate the film to history and topics presented in class. You may choose which films to review but may only review 1 film on a given topic. For example, there are 3 film choices for WWI; you may only review one of those films. However, if films are listed for both class meetings in a given week you may choose a film from each day. A paper copy of the film review must be submitted in class on the due date, film reviews will not be accepted after the due date.