Prof. Riedlsperger

Spring, 2003

MECHANICS OF THE COURSE

This syllabus and its linked assignments (Notices) and Outline constitute the operative syllabus for this course. If you will be accessing this site via a modem, it is advisable that you use the Cal Poly modem pool. You can sign up the web at http://www.imagine.calpoly.edu/ This page will provide you with all the information you need about web-access.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

• Lectures are organized parallel with the readings in A History of Western Society, but include additional materials germane to the course.
• Assignments in the text and collateral readings book.
• Oral Discussions: Questions are encouraged at any time. Specific topics for oral discussion based on the readings for the course may be assigned.

READING ASSIGNMENTS- Click on : Course Outline

• Text: McKay, Hill and Buckler, A History of Western Society, 7^th ed., Vol. II
• Collateral Readings:
  • Riedlsperger, Readings and Essays in Western Civilization.
  • Wiesner, Ruff, Wheeler, et. al., Discovering the Western Past, 4th. ed. Vol. II.
• Optional: Schmiechen, McKay: A Study Guide for a History of Western Society, Vol. 2.

GRADING. Click here for a description of "the curve."

• Your final grade will be based on the following:

Quizzes (6) = 100 points

Mid-term = 100 points

Final = 200 points

Total= 400 points

• Quizzes: Click here for a description.
• Reading for Content: For excerpts from an essay on reading for content and tips click here.
• Five of these quizzes will count toward the cumulative total of 100 points. You may therefore miss ONE quiz without penalty. Students who take all six quizzes will automatically have the total of the five highest scores counted for the final grade. THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP QUIZZES.The quizzes are designed to be completed in ten minutes. They will, however, be destributed as close to the beginning of the hour as possible so as to provide extra time if desireable. If you are late you will have less time for the quiz. They will be collected promptly, ten minutes after the formal beginning of the period.
• Quiz Analysis: Click here.
• Examinations:
• The mid-term examination will consist two parts: 1) twenty-five multiple choice questions worth 50 points. Approximately half of the questions will be taken from the first three quizzes, 2) an essay section worth 50 points.
• The Final Examination will likewise consist of two parts:
• Essay examination similar to the mid-term that will cover all materials studied since the mid-term. (100 points). There will be a good selection of questions, for varying numbers of points---- some perhaps worth 75 or even 100 points and certainly at least 3 worth fifty and 3 worth 25 points.
• A comprehensive, fifty question, 100 point, objective examination over the material covered over the course of the entire quarter. Approximately half of the questions will be taken from quizzes given during the quarter.Click here for an analysis of this section of the Final.
• You are advised to review quiz results with me during the course of the quarter. Do not expect to be able to do this all at once at the end of the quarter. (100 points)
• Schedule of exams:
• Mid-Term: sixth week.
• Mid-term make-up: The last Friday of the quarter at a time and place to be announced
• Final: Mon. June 9, 10:-1.

OFFICE HOURS: click here for times.

Faculty Office Building 25C . 756-5706. You are welcome to call me (756-5706) during office hours or indeed if you find me there not during office hours. Rather than using voice mail, please send me email. unless it is an emergency and you do not have access to a computer. . You are particularly encouraged to come in and review your quiz results.

Computer Labs: If you do not have a computer of your own with which to access my website, the university has an abundance of labs for you to use. For more information, click here.

OBJECTIVES:

• The objectives of this course is to use the methods of historical inquiry so as to acquaint the student with:

• Historical processes
• The range of thought and human behavior
• The role of institutions
• The range of human behavior so to promote the understanding of one's self in relation others in the framework of the contemporary world.

• The specific objective of this course is to analyze the interaction of selected traditional and modernizing non-Western cultures with Western industrial societies. Within this context, the course will evaluate both the nature of industrial imperialism and the way in which it influenced and/or interfered with that culture.

Dropping a Class:

Drop all classes using CAPTURE (drop-only line 756-7888) or Power by the 10th day of instruction. For withdrawal after this date see Cal Poly Catalog 2001-2003 p. 89-90. Failure to comply with the procedures outlined above will result in a grade of "U" in the course.

ATTENDANCE

Good attendance is necessary for a good performance in this class. I write examinations in such a way as to reward students who have been diligent in their class attendance. Despite this, of late, some students seem to want to try to see if they can cut class and still pass the course. This has lead to an unusually high number of D's and F's among these students. While I discourage missing any classes, 3 cuts seems a reasonable number to accept without penalty. Please try and arrange appointments for a time other than class meeting. In the hope of trying to dissuade students from suicidal behavior, beyond three cuts, I will deduct 20 points per unexcused absence. This is the equivalent to receiving a 0 on a quiz and is the equivalent to approximately a half-a-grade deduction in your final grade. Leaving class is rude. If for some reason you must leave class early, please have the courtesy to inform me at the beginnng of the period.

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