General Education 111 World Civilizations 1500 to the present Spring 2005

Instructor: Jeff Sellen

Office: CUE 519C Phone: 335-3354

E-mail: sellenj@wsu.edu

Course home page: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/111/sellen.htm

Office Hours: MTWTh 10-11. Or by appointment.

Teaching assistant:

Office:

Office hours:

E-mail:

≥But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally sheπs going to adopt me and sivilize me and I canπt stand it. I been there before. THE END. YOURS TRULY, HUCK FINN.≤

"The past isn't dead. It isn't even past."--William Faulkner

OBJECTIVES

∑ To develop a historical context for making decisions (both now and in the future) on issues with global implications

∑ To explore a variety of viewpoints on global issues

∑ To develop the following critical thinking abilities: recognizing and analyzing problems; synthesizing diverse kinds of information; and making judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods

∑ To explore the shaping influence of culture upon human groups and individuals and to examine some dynamics of cultural change

∑ To develop a broad global perspective as a means of understanding contemporary world issues, including issues of American diversity

∑ To gain experience with college writing in diverse situations, including exams, informal writing, and research

TEXTS

Reilly, Kevin. Worlds of History: A Comparative Reader. Volume II. Second Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004.

Hagedorn, Jessica. Dogeaters. New York: Penguin, 1991.

Additional Texts: Additional texts may be passed out in class or made available online.

Recommended: A Writerπs Resource. (Also used in English 101 courses)

REQUIREMENTS

Research Modules: There will be four. Each of these research modules will require you to write a mini-research paper using a couple of sources. Research modules are to be done on an online tool called PBJ, which is accessed through myWSU. Because research modules will often be used to prepare for in-class discussions, they can not be made up. Each module is worth 5% of your final grade.

The Nation Project: Each of you will choose one nation (or a part of a nation) to research over the course of the semester. The Nation Project will consist of a number of components, including a formal research paper. All of these components combined will be worth 30% of your final grade.

Regular Writing Assignments: For each day for which you have a reading assignment, you will write a short analysis/synthesis of the readings. Sometimes a particular question or questions will be provided to guide your writing; frequently you will follow your own interests. These assignments are worth 15% of your final grade.

Participation: A class participation score will be based on your work in small and large group discussions as well as occasional in-class writing assignments. Your participation is worth 10% of your final grade.

Exams: There will be two. The first is worth 10% of your final grade. The second is worth 15%.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Because this course deals with issues that have significant personal dimensions, we will depend upon class participation to move the discussion forward. You will be expected to participate in small group and large group discussions, ask questions, and make comments.

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Short research projects will be offered from time to time when questions come up in class that need further research. A separate handout gives more details.

LATE WORK

Late work may be handed in for credit (except for bridge assignments and in-class writing assignments). However, grades for late papers will be reduced by 5% for each day they are late. Exams cannot be made up without an impressive excuse. You must talk to the instructor in advance if you foresee a problem.

GRADING

A 93-100%; 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 60-67; F below 60

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Academic dishonesty, including all forms of cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication, is prohibited and will result in failure on the particular assignment or in the course.

SOME KEYS TO SUCCESS

This course requires much more than simple absorption of a bezillion facts. You will need to consider the course material carefully and engage yourself with it. Passive learning will not take you far. You will need to approach the course with this in mind: you are a participating member of a culture, and your experience provides you with a context for the course. At the same time, the course will provide you with the experience of others in their own cultures. (As Henry David Thoreau said, ≥Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each otherπs eyes for an instant?≤) A successful student integrates these two levels of experience in exams, papers, discussion groups, and class participation.

For some students, success may depend upon meeting with the instructor or the teaching assistant. If you are having difficulty, we invite you to talk with us. Do it sooner rather than later.

NEGOTIATING GRADES

Statements such as "I really need to get an (A, B, C, etc.) in this class in order to (remain eligible for ___, remain in my house, remain in my family, remain alive, etc.)" will be met with (disbelief, disdain, disrespect, etc.) A better way to negotiate for a grade is to offer (more money than you have, your firstborn, to work harder, etc.)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For a variety of web resources, visit the World Civilizations Home page at http://www.wsu.edu/~wldciv

The WSU Writing Center, located on the 3rd floor of the CUE, can help you with writing assignments in any course. Writing Center tutors do not proofread papers. They do, however, help you with broader writing issues. Take a copy of your assignment with you when you go. For on-line help with your writing assignments, the Writing Center operates the Online Writing Lab at http://owl.wsu.edu.