Reading Assignments — You will have three types of readings assigned throughout the term (see list below).  The readings that are assigned for a particular day are to be completed BEFORE you come to class on that particular day. (Click on the appropriate class schedule link above for daily reading assignments.)

    1 — Textbook -- D. Sherman and J. Salisbury, The West in the World, Volume I, 3rd edition. (Referred to on your class schedule as Text.)
                - The textbook is available at the WCC bookstore (for $85.35) and at Campus Book and Supply (1078 Huron River Dr. — MAP).
                - It is also available at Amazon.com (for $71.77 (as of 8/20/08)).
                - If you would rather read the textbook online, you can purchase a 180-day subscription to the text at CourseSmart for only $44 (as of 8/20/08).
                Or you can simply download it to your computer for the same price.  In both of these cases, you can print pages exactly as they appear in the textbook.

    2 — Books (Available in the WCC bookstore, at Campus Book and Supply, and on reserve in the WCC library.)
                - B. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave Wars. (Also available at Amazon.com: new for $14.17 (as of 8/20/08); used for much less).
                - J. Aberth, The Black Death: The Great Mortality of 1348-1350. (Also available at Amazon.com: new for $14.17 (as of 8/20/08); used for much less).

    3 — Assorted documents (Available online and on reserve in the WCC library.)
                - Referred to on your class schedule as DOC
 

Course Web Page and Lecture/Discussion Outlines — This course will make extensive use of the internet. Outlines for each lecture/discussion and all assignments are posted on the course webpage. In addition, we will look at numerous sources on the internet during class. These will include primary documents, various images of art and architecture and other resources that will facilitate your understanding of the course material, such as maps, diagrams and tables.  (Be advised that I reserve the right to ADD or CHANGE information on the outlines and class schedules.  Do not print them out and assume that the information is set in stone for the duration of the course.)
 

Course Grade Breakdown:
 

Item	Point Value
Attendance/Participation	50
Quizzes (5)	100
Map Quizzes (2)	50
Book Quizzes (2)	50
Paper	50
Midterm Exam	100
Final Exam	100
Total Points	500

Course Grading Scale

A  463-500  (93-100%)	B+  438-447  (88-89%)	C+  388-397  (78-79%)	D+  338-347  (68-69%)
A-  448-462  (90-92%)	B  413-437  (83-87%)	C  363-387  (73-77%)	D  313-337  (63-67%)
	B-  398-412  (80-82%)	C- 348-362  (70-72%)	D-  298-312  (60-62%)
			F  297 and below

Midterm Grade Update (MGU) — You should be able to calculate your own grade at any point in the term by adding up your points and dividing that number by the total points available at that point in the course.  However, I will provide you with a midterm grade update (MGU) to keep you aware of your progress in the course.  I will write your MGU at the top of the front page of your midterm exam after I have graded it.

The MGU should give you a good idea of where you stand in the course.  If you receive a D or an F as your MGU, you know you need to work very hard during the second half of the term in order to pass the class, and you know you need to work especially hard to get a C so that the course will be transferable to other colleges and universities.  If you receive an A, B or C, you know what you need to do to maintain that grade (if you are happy with it) or increase it (if you want a higher grade).

*Be advised that your MGU is calculated using the scores from the quizzes that you will have taken by the time of the midterm.  It may turn out, however, that one of these scores is your lowest of 6 quiz scores and I will then drop that score.  Thus, if you receive As on the remainder of the quizzes, your MGU would have been slightly higher.
 

Description of Graded Items
Attendance/Participation — I will take attendance during all classes except the last day of class (i.e., I will be taking attendance during 29 of the 30 class periods this semester).  However, I will only count 25 of these attendance days.  Thus, you can miss up to 4 days of class without losing any attendance points.   Each of the 25 class periods is worth 2 attendance points, for a total of 50 points.  Generally, if you show up for class, you will receive your two points.  However, you will not receive points if any of the following occur: you show up, take a quiz and then leave; you show up for less than half the class; you refuse to participate in any activities during class.

** I take attendance at the BEGINNING of class.  If you arrive late, it is YOUR responsibility to come up to me after class and remind me to mark you present for that day.  This is especially important at the beginning of the term when I have not yet learned the names of all students.

Paper — One paper will be assigned during the term. (See your class schedule for links to the assignment and the due date.)

Book Quizzes — Two book quizzes will be given during the term. (See your class schedule for book quiz dates.)  Each book quiz is worth 25 points.

Map Quizzes — Two map quizzes will be given during the term. (See your class schedule for map quiz dates.) See the Map Quiz Review Sheet for a description of the map quizzes and a list of possible items that will appear on the map quizzes.  Each map quiz is worth 25 points.

Quizzes — Six quizzes will be given throughout the term. (See your class schedule for quiz dates.)  Each quiz will have FIVE multiple-choice/true-false questions (worth 2 points each) and a matching section in which you match TEN terms with their identifications (worth 1 point each).  Each quiz is worth a total of  20 points.

    ** See the Quiz Review Sheet for a description of quizzes and a list of possible identification terms.
    ** Quizzes CANNOT be made up. You will, however, be allowed to DROP your lowest quiz grade.
    ** Quiz Grading Scale: A = 18-20, B = 16-17, C = 14-15, D = 12-13, F = 11 and below

Exams — The midterm and final exams will consist of various types of questions, including multiple-choice/true-false, matching identification, matching cause and effect and an essay. You will receive a review sheet before both exams to assist you in studying. Each exam is worth 100 points.
[Midterm Exam Review Sheet] [Final Exam Review Sheet]

    ** Exam Grading Scale: A+ = 98-100, A = 93-97, A- = 90-92, B+ = 88-89, B = 83-87, B- = 80-82, C+ = 78-79, C = 73-77, C- = 70-72, D+ = 68-69, D = 63-67, D- = 60-62, F = 59 and below

Make-up Exams/Map Quizzes — These will be given ONLY if you have a valid doctor's excuse for an illness or other health-related issues, OR a documented, reasonable emergency.

Other grading items of note — There is NO extra credit and NO grading curve in this course.
 

Other Important Information

The last day to withdraw from the course is 5 December.

Communication — Please feel free to contact me by phone, email or in person. If my office hours are inconvenient for you, call me or email me to set up another time to meet. Also, if you have feedback, comments, suggestions or concerns about any aspect of this course, please feel free to bring them to my attention.

Academic Dishonesty — In accordance with Article 4095 of the WCC Board of Trustees Policy Manual, plagiarism, cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.  Students found to have committed academic dishonesty will be referred to the Dean of Humanities and
Social Science for disciplinary action.

Classroom Behavior — In this class, you are expected to act in a professional manner at all times.  Classroom disruption will NOT be tolerated.  Treating myself or any of your fellow students in an unprofessional manner will not be tolerated.  If you disrupt the class, you will be asked to leave the classroom, and probably drop the course.  See the WCC Board of Trustees Policy Manual for more information.

    ** Please turn cell phones OFF when you come into class.  It is very distracting to myself and the other students when cell phones ring during class.

The Writing Center — This is a great resource if you need help with your writing.  They will NOT write your papers for you, but they will help you with your writing skills and give you assistance with your writing assignments. See their webpage for more information and their hours.

Learning Disabilities — Reasonable accommodation will be made for students with learning disabilities.  You MUST, however, first undergo a Learning Disabilities Assessment at Learning Support Services.  (See their webpage for more information: Learning Support Services.) You MUST present me with written verification from Learning Support Services to receive such accommodation.  (For example, you may NOT have a person taking notes for you in this class without written documentation from Learning Support Services.)

Grade Appeal Procedure — If you have a complaint about your final course grade, you MUST follow the procedure listed in the WCC Board of Trustees Policy Manual.

Go to: [WCC Homepage] [Hist 121/122 Homepage] [Readings] [Outlines]