This course will examine the history of Europe from the Middle Ages through the Early Modern period. We will cover major events, social developments and themes in the history of the West. The goal of this class is to better your understanding of the societies which gave rise to the early modern European and modern societies that we know today.
Although your textbook will provide much vital information, the lectures will also provide detailed perspectives on information which is not in the text. Lecture attendance will provide the bulk of material covered on the exams. It is important that you master the ideas and themes that we will cover in the lectures.
Course grading will be based on the following criteria:
* Midterm exam 25%
* Final exam 25%
* Beer Commercial Document analyses 20%
* Quizzes and assignments 20%
* Class participation 10%
Exams will consist of fifty points' worth of short answer and short
essays. There will also be a long essay counting 50 points. I will hand out
a study guide a week prior to each exam with important terms and potential
questions for the long essay.
Make-up exams are permitted only in the event of illnesses or other emergencies.
If you are ill, I expect you to contact me and let me know that you will
miss the test.
Quizzes are my way of keeping you honest. Prepare the readings before each class. If I think you are not reading, I reserve the right to give pop quizzes. There will always be a quiz on the day that each major reading assignment is due. I will grade these quizzes on a point scale, and the average will make up your quiz grade.
Class participation will be essential to a good grade; it includes
attendance. I will pass around an attendance sheet during every class and
you must sign it to get credit for attending that day. Students are allowed
three unexcused absences during the semester; more will detract from your
participation grade.
Come to class ready to talk and respond to your classmates. You
are responsible for all material covered in the course -- lectures, readings,
and discussions. What you miss, you miss at your peril. Chronic tardiness
or excessive absenteeism will result in a participation grade of F.
Reader. Nearly every class period, you will be required to read
a short selection of a source from our period. If you look at the schedule
below, you will find online reading assignments for many class periods. You
may gain access to these readings two ways:
1. Via the World Wide web at
http://faculty. juniata.edu/tuten/emreader.html
. You may also get there from my homepage:
http://faculty.juniata.edu/tuten/
.
2. Via the P drive at P:\TUTEN\HS105\
This contains all the readings, in numerical order, plus the syllabus
(emodern.doc). I will also post study guides for exams here.
If you live off campus or don’t have access to a computer, you may borrow
the fully printed copy I have in my office and make your own complete copy
of the reader.
If you have difficulty with ANY of these options, please come and see me!
I'll be glad to introduce you to the web, to the P drive, or to the reserve
system.
Document analyses. Nearly every class period, you will be required
to read a short selection of a source from our period. It will be accompanied
by study questions, which are designed to help everyone focus on what to look
for in the document.
Each class period in which a reading is assigned, one group of students will
be required to hand in a one to two-page analysis of the document based on
the “Beer Commercial Theory” below. I will grade each set of answers using
a check, check-plus and check-minus system. A perfect record of checks for
all questions and all assignments will gain a grade of B. For an A, I expect
genuine effort. Whether you have to turn the questions in or not, you MUST
READ the daily readings. Pop quizzes are possible if I get to a discussion
and discover no one has a clue!
THE BEER COMMERCIAL THEORY OF DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
Every document is like a beer commercial. You don’t believe everything a
beer commercial tells you; nor should you necessarily believe everything a
historical document tells you. So ask the following questions of any document:
1. Who is selling (or writing)?
2. What are they selling?
3. How are they selling it?
4. To whom are they selling it?
5. Do you buy it? Why or why not? (Careful: be sure to distinguish between
you, personally, and the author’s intended audience!)
Use your textbook and your dictionary to help you with words and people you
don’t know!
Required texts: All are available at the bookstore; all but the textbook are on reserve at Beeghly Library. You may, if you wish, buy only the textbook and read the other readings on reserve. Be advised, however, that not having bought the book does not excuse not having read it!
Academic Integrity: All students are expected to observe the Juniata
College policy on Academic Integrity for all class periods, assignments,
tests and papers. This includes all policies involving cheating, plagiarism,
and conduct. Any questions about these policies should be addressed to me
(please ask if you don't know!). The complete policy may be found at
http://www.juniata.edu/catalog/policy/pathfinder/acadhonesty.html
Withdrawals. I will allow withdrawals after the midterm IF all class assignments have been completed satisfactorily up to that point. Students who have "blown off" the class will receive the grade they have earned, which is usually an F.
How to Find Me: If you need to contact me, the best way is by email
or by leaving a message on my office phone. I am on campus every day, and
can usually schedule an appointment if you can’t make my regular office hours.
Click here for My Home
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