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Online Course Syllabus:
World History to 1500
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All
lecture notes can be downloaded for free from the site. Prerequisite:
None—;But there is an intensive amount of analytical writing in
this course as well as critical thinking. However, it is assumed that most
of you do not have college level or academic writing skills and there
will be online help available.
Course Objectives: The student will be able to: Understand
historical causality Analyze historical events Explain historical events
and processes Think critically about historical events Write analytically
to explain the course of history
*Note: Syllabus subject to possible revision
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Requirements:
Students
must stay up with all assignments and readings and check email everyday. The
key for doing well in this course and understanding the history that we
cover is that you be informed as to what is happening about you. History
is not "dead", it is constantly affecting your reality, and if
it is dead, then we all are affected by the ghosts of the past. History
is the analysis and understanding of processes that have created our
present reality
The hours/week arranged listed for online classes must be fulfilled
through an arrangement established between the instructor and the
student. They do not represent an increase in the total number of hours
for an online course. Hours/week arranged do not have to be fulfilled by
in-person class attendance.….
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Course
Description:
The course is a world history course and for this reason will not be a
Euro-centric history course. Course will focus on the beginnings of
civilization some five to seven thousand years ago in Mesopotamia,
Africa, Asia and the Americas. We will then proceed to Classical
Civilizations, the Axis Age and conclude the course with an understanding
of the world in 1500. Lecture will stress social, cultural, political and
economic history of the various world civilizations. The readings and
lectures are designed to challenge erroneous assumptions about world
history and the current reality that the last 5,000 years has bequeathed
to us. Therefore, the course is built around critical thinking and online
historical problem solving, not rote memorization or "regimented
learning". Memorization and regimentation have nothing to do
with learning, but rather lead to mental conformity and the
impoverishment of intellectual development. Finally, this is not a
"lollipop" history course where everything works out for the
best. World History is a terrible drama full of triumphs and tragedies. We
will be studying world history in all its forms and not world mythstory
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Required Texts:
(1) J.M. Roberts, The Penguin History of the World
(2) Before European Hegemony: The World System A.D. 1250-1350, by
Janet L. Abu-Lughod
(3) Europe and the People Without History, by Eric Wolf
All books are available for purchase at the VVC bookstore, or order
them online at Victor Valley College Bookstorewww.vvcrams.comIf you buy your books
at the VVC Bookstore proceeds from the book sales help fund the UN Club's
trip to Washington DC. Finally…there are lecture notes and
links on the site that proceed in order. And you will click to them when
to get to the course readings.
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Attendance: It is the
students’ responsibility to make sure that they have been dropped,
reinstated, or are currently enrolled in the course. I will not do any
grade changes that are related to attendance or registration issues. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BEEN
DROPPED. DO NOT ASSUME THAT I WILL DROP YOU AS A MATTER OF COURSE DUE TO
YOUR LACK OF ATTENDANCE. Once the semester ends I will not reinstate
students so double check that you are properly enrolled in the course
before the semester ends.
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Grading: The grade break down
is as follows: Essay Exam 1 = 20% of final grade; Essay Exam 2 = 20% of
final grade; Final Essay Exam = 20% of final grade; Book Review = 20% of
final grade; Book Analysis = 20% of final grade. In order to pass the
course all outstanding assignments or exams must be turned in by the day
of the final examination. I do not round up grade percentages. I accept
late work up until the last day of class, but the highest grade possible
on late work is a "C". The grade splits are as follows:
90%-100% = A; 80% -89% = B; 70% -79% = C; 60% -69% = D; 0% -59% = F
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Course
Mechanics:
The course is lnternet driven. Therefore it is essential to surf the net
regularly and check your email everyday for updates and stuff. My
ultimate goal in the course besides teaching world history is to empower
students who will be able to argue logically, and back up their
assertions with evidence. An objective of this course is to teach
students the analytical reading and writing skills that they need to
educate themselves. While the course is "text" driven I will
suggest films and movies, that students can analyze The course stresses
on-line, interaction. This course will not be a passive learning
experience, it will be highly interactive via analytical essay writing
and in terms of how you explain historical causality and outcome. I will
read/proof one draft of each assignment.
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