REQUIRED E-TEXT

This is a zero-cost course, utilizing Online Educational Resources available free of charge to users and made available in the course itself. Click on the hyperlinks below to access your free OER e-text (pdf version) for the course:

Christopher Brooks, Western Civilization, A Concise History, Part 2, Portland, OR: Portland Community College, 2019, Open Educational Resource released under the Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike).

Christopher Brooks, Western Civilization, A Concise History, Part 3, Portland, OR: Portland Community College, 2019, Open Educational Resource released under the Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike)

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

A chronological and thematic introduction to the history of European interaction with the wider world from the 1400s to the end of the 1800s. The course focuses on the central themes of global interconnectivity and discussions of nationalism, capitalism, colonialism, slavery, and trade. The purpose of this course is to give the student a taste of the people, events, triumphs, failures, anxieties, hopes, and fears that have shaped our histories and cultures.

PREREQUISITES/CO-REQUISITES: CUNY proficiency in Reading and Writing

COURSE CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT METHOD

Learning objective – For the successful completion of this course, students should be able to: Distinguish between different approaches to world history.

Assessment Method – Instructional activity and evaluation methods; Students will: Read and discuss a variety of historical texts. Students will use these texts to complete written assignments and presentations.

Learning objectives: Understand how historians utilize sources and critical analysis to draw historical conclusions.

Assessment Method: Use primary and secondary sources to create their own historical conclusions. Students will discuss their conclusions in written quizzes and exams, as well as in online class discussions.

Learning objective: Explain how the impact of western and non-western peoples shaped the foundation of the modern world.

Assessment Method: Read from a variety of primary and secondary sources in history, philosophy, sociology, and economics. Students’ content knowledge and critical thinking ability will be tested through quizzes and exams, as well as through online class discussion.

GENERAL EDUCATION BASED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge – Learning Objective: Engage in historical inquiry, research, and analysis.

Assessment Method: Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate a variety of historical sources for their credibility, position, and perspective, as well as contextualize materials from the past with appropriate precision and detail.

Students will demonstrate this competency complete written exams, quizzes, assignments, and online class discussions.

Skills – Learning Objectives: Understand the complex nature of the historical record and generate significant, open-ended questions about the past and devise research strategies to answer them.

Assessment Method: Students will demonstrate the ability to 1) Distinguish between primary and secondary source materials and decide when to use each, 2) Choose among multiple tools, methods, and perspectives to investigate and interpret materials from the past, and 3) Recognize the value of conflicting narratives and evidence, 4) Generate significant, open-ended questions about the past and devise research strategies to answer them, 5) Seek a variety of sources that provide evidence to support an argument about the past, 6) Develop a methodological practice of gathering, sifting, analyzing, ordering, synthesizing, and interpreting evidence, and 7) Identify and summarize other scholars’ historical arguments.

Students will demonstrate this competency complete written exams, quizzes, assignments, and online class discussions.

Integration – Learning outcomes: Craft historical narrative and argument.

Assessment Method: Students will demonstrate the ability to 1) Generate a historical argument that is reasoned and based on historical evidence selected, arranged, and analyzed 2) Write effective narrative that describes and analyzes the past for its use in the present, 3) Understand that the ethics and practice of history mean recognizing and building on other scholars’ work, peer review, and citation, and 4) Defend a position publicly and revise this position when new evidence requires it. Students will demonstrate this competency complete written exams, quizzes, assignments, and online class discussions.

Values, Ethics, and Relationships – Learning outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to 1) Engage a diversity of viewpoints in a civil and constructive fashion, 2) Work cooperatively with others to develop positions that reflect deliberation and differing perspectives, and 3) Apply historical knowledge and analysis to contribute to contemporary social dialogue.

Students will demonstrate this competency complete written exams, quizzes, assignments, and online class discussions.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

Access to Online Course in Blackboard: All assignments for this course will be submitted via Blackboard. If you have technical issues, please check your device, and/or City Tech Online.

Deadlines: All assigned assignments are due by Sunday at 11:59 pm, except Virtual Museum Visit Reports which is due on Wednesday at 11:59 pm, and the Mid Term due date is given in the Course Guide. The Final Exam is due on the first Day of the Examination week at the end of the course (exact date in Course Guide). There will be no extensions beyond this, and no make-up exams for the initial, mid-term and final exams.

Participation: Students are expected to participate in all activities, and timely submit all assignments.

Communication with the Instructor: Please use the Blackboard course messaging for communication. Expect to hear back from me within 24-48 hours.

FORMAT: INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODULE ASSIGNMENTS

Please follow the instructions carefully and be specific in your answers. This is for your use throughout this semester. Each section will have assignments, based on the required course materials. These readings are to help you extract the important elements of each section through maps, primary sources, and review questions. You will also place the era of Western history in a wider geographical context in the global connection assignment. Review the various writing assignments before you begin to read. As you read through the chapters, you will then be able to take notes on the questions posed. The answers to the questions are to be submitted on the online website on the indicated due day.

All assignments must be typed in the following format: Font Times New Roman; Size 12 font; Single-spaced sentences.

• Primary Source Document Analysis (20% of overall grade) – submit one 250-word assignment due by Sunday at 11:59 pm.
• Discussion by Module (20% of overall grade) – post your first 200-word post by Wednesday at 11:59 pm, and post your second (and more) 200-word posts by Sunday at 11:59 pm.
• Assorted Assignments (15% of overall grade) – investigative project, based on an omnibus of primary and secondary documents – twice in a semester, before the mid-term week and before final examination week.
• Virtual Museum Visit Report (15% of overall grade) – submit one 250-word write up and submit by Wednesday at 11:59 pm.
• Mid Term Exam (15% of overall grade) – choose any two (2) of the given three (3) questions and reply in essay format, use 600-word reply, with at least 4 dates, by Wednesday at 11:59 pm of the Mid Term Exam Week.
• Final Exam (15% of overall grade) – choose any two (2) of the given three (3) questions and reply in essay format, 600-word reply, with at least 4 dates, by the first day of the Final Examination Week, by 11:59 pm.

GRADE BREAKDOWN

Exams: Mid Term, Final (30%)

Primary Source Document Analysis (20%)

Assorted Assignment (15%)

Virtual Museum Visit Report (15%)

Discussion (20%)

GRADING EXPLAINED

Letter Grade	Meaning of Letter Grade	Number Grade
A	Exceptional	100-93
A-	Superior	92.9-90
B+	Very Good	89.9-87
B	Good	86.9-83
B-	Above Average	82.9-80
C+	Slightly Above Average	79.9-77
C	Average	76.9-70
D	Poor	69.9-60
F	Failure	59.9-0

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

This class has a strict attendance policy. Participation in discussion sections is required as a basic form of weekly attendance. At NYCCT, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. Therefore, in this class, you are allowed a maximum of 4 hours of absence, which essentially means you can miss under two weeks (modules) of this class, except during examinations. With each additional week (module) of absence, grade will be lowered.

COLLABORATION AND WRITING ETIQUETTE

Be willing to collaborate with your classmates on projects and homework, using your student e-mail account for communication, and utilizing the NYCCT Library. Should you need to communicate in writing with your lecturer, do follow the written norms of English language and e-mail etiquette, e.g. Dear Prof. (Last Name) / Text / Your First and Your Last Name and Class (Note: before sending: re-read it and do a spell check. Please use standard English writing conventions). Reminder: Blackboard messages are the way to communicate with the instructor during the semester (not e-mail). Thanks.

NYCCT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT

Students and all who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Thus, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.

PLAGIARISM – DETAILS

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, of technical work as one’s own creation. Using the work of another is permissible ONLY when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Lack of dishonest intent does not absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. Students who are unsure are advised to consult with the library. The assignments are to be submitted on Blackboard; if the percentage or non-original non-attributed work is over 20% the automatic grade for the assignment or exam will be nil (‘0’). Specifically, only less than 20% of an assignment may be cited from another source. If the violation occurs again, it will result in an automatic F for the entire course.

ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. NYCCT is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.

OUTLINE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

Module 1: Introduction; Overview; The State of the World in the 1400s: Renaissance, and Global Trade

• Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Module 2: Reformation, Religious War and the Global Spread of Christianity, 1500-1648

• Chapters 7, 8, 9

Module 3: Transatlantic Encounters, 1450 -1700

• Chapters 6, 11

Module 4: Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Europe and Asia, 1600-1715

• Chapter 10

Module 5: A New World of Enlightened Reason and Scientific Reform, 1600-1789

• Chapters 12, 13

Module 6: Social Class and Status in Europe and the Americas, 1715-1789

• Chapter 14

Module 7: Overturning the Political and Social Order, The Atlantic Revolutions, 1789-1815

• Chapter 15 (from Brooks, part 2) and Chapter 1 (from Brooks, part 3)

Assorted Assignment; Mid-Term Exam

Module 8: Factories, Cities, and Families in the Industrial Age, 1780-1848

• Chapter 2

Module 9: Coping with Change: Ideology, Politics, Revolution, Immigration, 1815-1850

• Chapter 3

Module 10: Nationalism and State-building, 1850-1870

• Chapter 4

Module 11: Mass politics, Imperial Domination, 1870-1914

• Chapter 6

Module 12: Modern Life and the Culture of Progress: Western Society and the World, 1850-1914

• Chapter 5

Examination Week: Assorted Assignment; Final Exam

(Syllabus subject to change)