Course Syllabus
Course: Western Civilization II, 3 credits
Days and Times: Online, Distance
Learning
Semester: Spring 2008
Department: Social Science
Instructor: Dr. Victor A. Triay
On-campus Office: Snow Hall, 508
Number: (860) 343-5746
Welcome
I would like to welcome all of you to HIS 102. My name is Dr. Victor A.
Triay, and it is my pleasure to be your professor for this course.
As
I have always done in my courses, I will begin by giving you a brief glimpse
into my background and experience. As some of you may know, I was born
and raised in
I
joined the faculty at MxCC in 1992, a few years before completing my Ph.D.
work. Even though I was far from home, receiving a job at Middlesex was
“a dream come true” for me, since I had dreamed of becoming a community college
professor ever since I was a student at Miami-Dade. After completing my
Ph.D. in 1995, in addition to teaching at Middlesex and starting a family, I
devoted a great deal of time to research and writing. As a result, I have
published three books and a handful of essays, all dealing with Cuban and Cuban
exile history.
After
more than fifteen years at Middlesex, I am as happy and enthusiastic as I was
on my first day. Every year, every semester, and every class, is a new
and exciting experience for me. Therefore, I look forward to working with
each and every one of you during the present semester. I know this going
to be a fantastic course.
I sincerely hope you come away from this course a better informed and more
enlightened student. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or a
returning student, I applaud your decision to enroll in college since the
monumental shift we are experiencing in our economy had made a sound
educational base an indispensable asset.
Besides the practical reasons for receiving an education, there are
others. Allowing ourselves to become educated is one of the most exciting
experiences available, for it opens our minds and allows us to become
stimulated intellectually.
At one time the opportunity to become educated was limited to very few.
Our society, however, has created mechanisms such as the community college
system so that every person could have such an opportunity. So, now that
you have the chance, use it to its fullest.
COURSE
STRUCTURE
As in all courses, it is imperative that the professor and students are clear
on requirements and expectations. Please read the following carefully.
1) Weekly readings
On the schedule below, you will see
the readings you are expected to complete on a week-by-week basis. You
are expected to read these chapters (or sections thereof) thoroughly and to
understand them fully.
2) Weekly discussion questions
--Each Monday at 1am you will be given a discussion
question. You will have until the following Sunday at 11pm to complete
and post it.
--It is expected that you will provide answers that are
complete and thoughtful.
--Answers should be based on the readings. You may
reference information from outside the readings if you choose, but it must
be clearly cited.
--Answers will be graded on scale of 0 (the lowest) to 10
(the highest). --At the end of the semester, I will add up you ten best
scores and average it as a test grade at the end of the semester.
--If a response is late, the final score will be penalized one
point per day. After three days the assignment will not be accepted
and you will receive a zero. Please notify me immediately if you have
technological or other issues that prevent you from completing the assignment
on time. These situations, which should be very rare, will be handled on
a case-by-case basis.
--And, please, use proper English in your responses and not
codes and language used in instant messaging!
s
3) Tests
--Tests will be posted on the home page and must be
completed individually, i.e., no collaboration.
--You will complete five tests. You will have a full
week to send each to me electronically as a submission in the electronic drop
box (because of the depth of the material covered by Test 3, you will have two
weeks for this test only). All attachments should be in .rtf format. Instructions
on submitting attachments in the electronic drop box can be found here.
--The tests will be made up exclusively of essay questions
(the number will vary).
--Your answers should be based on the assigned
readings. If you use any outside information, please make sure that:
a) the core of your answer should
reflect the main information from the
assigned
readings, and
b) that you clearly cite the
outside information
--Make sure to use your own words on the test and not merely
copy from the textbook or from other sources.
--If a test is late, the final grade will be penalized ten
points per day. After three days the test will not be accepted and you
will receive a zero. Please notify me immediately if you have
technological or other issues that prevent you from completing the test on
time. These situations, which should be very rare, will be handled on a
case-by-case basis.
--And again, please, use proper English in your responses
and not codes and language used in instant messaging!
5) Final evaluation
The five tests and the final accumulated grade
from the weekly discussion
scores will
be averaged together to provide you with your final grade. Each of
the six component parts will carry equal value.
6) Setting the boundaries/Professor availability
Because this is an online course,
it is important to establish and boundaries and parameters with reference to
when I will get back to your emails and communications. As you may know,
I also teach four on-ground courses usually with around forty students in each.
Therefore, it will be impossible for me to respond to your emails
instantly.
I will respond to your emails by
Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoons at 5pm. So, any email sent after
Thursday afternoon, I will respond by the following Tuesday at 5pm. Any
email sent after Tuesday afternoon, I will respond by Thursday at 5pm.
This arrangement should be useful to you since these days fall during the
middle of the week, at around the time you should be in the heart of working on
your tests and/or discussion questions.
The above should also serve
as an advisory to manage your time wisely, and not to leave the completion of
tests and discussion questions for the last minute. You should at least
review the questions and the material before Thursday afternoon so that you may
contact me for any clarifications, etc.
Of course, if you have an unexpected
or pressing matter, you may telephone me directly at my on-campus office.
You are also more than welcome to make an appointment to come see me personally
during my office hours.
GRADING
TABLE
A=90-100;
B+=87-89; B=80-86; C+=77-79; C=70-76; D+=67-69; D=60-66;F= below 60
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
Students will explore the significant economic, social, political, military,
and intellectual trends in Western society during the past three hundred
years. Particular emphasis will be given to the ideas of political and
economic freedom, the impact of the Industrial Revolution, changing
intellectual climates, colonialism, the two World Wars, and the Cold War.
COURSE
RATIONALE-WHY WE TAKE THIS COURSE
In general, we study history for many reasons. Most importantly, studying
history satisfies our natural human desire to establish a link with our
past. On a more pragmatic level, a sound understanding of how our
institutions, beliefs, and society originated and grew gives us an accurate
perspective on the present and helps our decision making for the future.
Although history does not literally "repeat itself," there are certain
patterns in every human society that, with our knowledge of them, makes the
present more comprehensible.
COURSE GOALS
You shall be expected to demonstrate a working knowledge of the patterns,
trends, individuals, and various facts concerning Western Civilization since
1715.
REQUIRED
TEXT
Kagan,
Ozment, and Turner, The Western Heritage,volume 2, brief fifth edition.
You may
purchase the textbook at the
DIVERSITY
COMPONENT
This course examines a wide
range of ethnic issues, including the rise of nationalism across Europe, 19th
century European colonialism in Africa and
Academic
Ethics and Classroom Behavior: At