History 101-Honors

Ancient and Medieval Europe

Christopher Oldstone-Moore

Overview and Requirements

The fundamental goals of this class are:

1) To become familiar with the great events and persons of Western past.

2) To develop a capacity for analyzing historical evidence and expressing insights verbally and in writing.

3) To recognize more clearly the historical influences that have shaped our own civilization.

This course has an emphasis on cultural history, which means that special attention will be given to literature, art and religion and science in their relation to social and political ideas and institutions. In the final analysis, this course is about the past, but just as certainly it is about the present, because the present is created out of the past in more ways than we are usually aware.

In this honors section, students are challenged to examine for themselves some of the evidence about the past. There are two special projects. First is a research paper on a historical person. Second is the reenactment of "trials" of historical figures.

Special Needs

If any student has a demonstrable need for special consideration with respect to the requirements of this class they should inform the professor immediately.

Course materials online

This syllabus serves as the course homepage. The schedule has links to lecture outlines, art, additional readings and study guides.

Books to purchase at the bookstore

Jackson Spielvogel, Western Civilization Vol. A

Marvin Perry, Sources of the Western Tradition

Requirements

Written Work

• Questions. On most days, the students will prepare questions in advance of class. Some of these pertain to primary source readings, while others draw from the textbook. The professor will call upon students to comment present and explain their responses in class. The professor will randomly collect the questions sheets on their due dates five times during the quarter. The top four scores will count. Questions will not be accepted after class.

•Biographical Brief (2 pages)

•Trial or Conversation Brief (4 pages)

•Essay (4 pages)

•Midterm (Identifications and Short Answer)

•Final (Includes comprehensive essay)

Due Dates

Written assignments will receive a half-grade deduction for every day that it is late. Extensions will be granted only in advance and in pressing circumstances.

Grading

The course is 400 points: The final grade is calculated on this scale:

Questions 40 pts [4x10] 90-100% (360-400pts)= A

Biographical Brief 20 pts 80-89% (320-359) = B

Trial Brief 40 pts 70-79% (280-319) = C

Essay 100 pts 60-69% (240-279) = D

Midterm 100 pts

Final 100 pts