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Instructor: Dr. Michael Cullen Office phone: 479-2026 email: mc42@evansville.edu Office: Koch Center (KC) 231A Office hrs: M, F - 1:00 to 3:00 PM Lecture: M, W, F. - 12:00 to 12:50 PM Room: KC 124 Electronic Communication: Notes and supplemental materials may be found on the World Cultures 2E website at: http://faculty.evansville.edu/mc42/03wc120. Background: The period from the mid 1500s until the current time is characterized by religious, commercial, scientific and cultural changes that formed the foundation for and defined the issues of the modern western civilization. The European expansion following the Reformation led to political changes and revolutions in science and technology that continue to shape and challenge society, particularly the multicultural society of the modern world. A consequence of these Post-Reformation changes and the political outcomes is a fundamentally different way that humans related to the world and think about themselves compared to the outlook of the people of the earlier centuries. The ideas developed since the 1500s allowed the West to emerge as the global force it is today. |
Objectives: This course will study topics that characterize the period from approximately 1500 to now; included among these topics are: the European Expansionism; the Challenges to Political Authorities in the Age of Enlightenment; Scientific and Technological Revolutions; and Cultural Conflict and Multiculturalism. The goals of the course are to: 1) explore the historical period from approximately the early 1500s to the end of the 20th century using selected historical text; 2) discuss how the essential principles and ideas developed during this period changed western society and the manner in which humans thought about themselves; 3) relate the changes beginning in around 1500 to the antecedent Renaissance and Reformation, relate the developments of the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s to the growth of industrialization and class consciousness, relate the beliefs of the late1800s to the internationalism and competition that eventually led to the emergence of West at the center of global affairs, and relate the outcomes of globalization to ongoing problems and selected cultural conflicts; and 4) improve skills in critical analysis of literature, formulation and integration of ideas, oral discussion, and written expression and support of ideas. | |
| Books: You must have your own copies of the textbook editions/versions noted below. The Hodges' Harbrace Handbook is the reference text for writing style. | ||
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John Hodges, Robert Miller, Winifred Horner, and Suzanne Webb, Hodges' Harbrace Handbook, 14th ed., Harcourt College Publishers, 2000, ISBN: 0155067656 | |
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Wendell Berry, Life is a Miracle, Counterpoint Press, 2001, ISBN: 1582431418 | |
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Stillman Drake (Editor), Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo, Anchor Books, 1957, ISBN: 0385092393 | |
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Aldous Huxley, A Brave New World, Harper Perennial, 1998, ISBN: 0060929871 | |
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Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place, Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2000, ISBN: 0374527075 | |
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John Locke, The Second Treatise on Civil Government, Prometheus, 1986, ISBN: 0879753374 | |
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Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto, Penguin USA, 1998, ISBN: 0140444785 | |
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Alex De Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Bantam Books, 2000, ISBN: 0553214640 |
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Richard Wright, Native Son, HarperCollins, 1998, ISBN: 0060929804 | |
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World Cultures 120: The Emergence of the Modern World, Reader collection of articles (Available at the bookstore) | |
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Course Requirements:
To obtain the value of this course you must do the required reading prior to
the session at which the topic will be discussed or presented. Not
only is reading assignments ahead of time crucial to understanding the
material, but also you must be prompt to class, prepared to listen
attentively, and willing and able to express your ideas. It will be
common to have a quiz or essay assignment at the beginning of a class
period. In-class quizzes/essays will be unannounced, and the only
basis of a makeup is an excused absence for reasons of documented illness,
athletic travel, or emergencies. Messages regarding emergencies may be
left at either the voicemail or email numbers given above. During the course of the semester you will receive both in-class and outside of class writing assignments. Formal writing assignments will determine 50% of your final grade; the remainder of your grade will be determined by quizzes/essays (15%), the final exams (15%), and class participation (20%). Daily points for participation will be as follows: 3 pts for an outstanding contribution or insight; 2 pts for normal discussion and class support; 1 pt for attentive listening; 0 pts for an unexcused class absence. More than three (3) unexcused absences will result in deduction of points and a lowered course grade. The large group lecture presentation is required and will be the basis for written assignments or exam questions. Two of the formal papers will be on topics assigned by the instructor. The final research paper will be on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor. You must turn in hard copies and electronic copies of your papers. The final letter grade for the course will be determined as follows:
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| Honor Code: All students are expected to adhere to the Academic Honor Code in all phases of quizzes, examinations, or preparation of class assignments. While collaboration is appropriate and will be required at certain times, students will neither give nor receive unauthorized aid nor tolerate an environment which condones the use of unauthorized aid. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade. Note that paraphrasing is a form of plagiarism and is not acceptable (see the Hodges' Harbrace Handbook or the Turnitin.com resource page at http://www.turnitin.com/research_site/e_home.html for more thorough discussions). If at any time you have questions about plagiarism or cheating issues, please consult with the instructor. | Expectations: I sincerely hope that WC 120 introduces you to the excitement, cultural changes, and intellectual endeavors that shaped Western civilization and the modern world in which we live. The expectation is that you will come to class having read all required readings and with proper materials and preparation to contribute to discussions. Spirited and constructive dialogue is expected, and disruptive or destructive behavior will not be tolerated. I will help you to succeed in your studies and I encourage you to seek out advice and help as needed. I will provide feedback in a constructive and as timely manner as possible. | |
Writing Exam:
As a graduation
requirement you must successfully complete the Writing Proficiency Exam. The
exam tests your ability to clearly analyze an essay and write an organized
discussion that logically defends your point of view. You may take the exam
on one of two different days and times:
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Research Paper:
The specific topic will be your selection in consultation with the
instructor. The topic must be related in some way to the historical
periods covered in this course (i.e., from the Expansionism period of the
late 1500s to the present). Our consultation will help you to
determine the scope and direction of the paper; select a limited and
manageable topic you can cover in a minimum of 8 pages and a maximum of
11 pages. The title page, bibliography, and any illustrations do
not count toward the final page total. The paper must be word
processed (typed), double spaced, and of font size 12 or 13. A
separate title page is to be included, and the entire paper and title page
are to be stapled in the upper left hand corner. Do not put the paper
in a folder or plastic binder. In addition to the hard copy of your
paper, you must turn in a version to Turnitin.com.
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Turnitin.com:
To ensure students are turning in original work, all
out of class writing assignments must be submitted to
www.turnitin.com. The procedure
takes about 5 minutes and you must have access to the internet. Your
assignment will not be graded, and may be counted as late, until I receive
the turnitin.com confirmation that your paper has been received. The
procedures are: |
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