Recommended: Eligibility for English 100 or English 105 or equivalent.

This course is transferable to the UC and CSU system and is applicable for the AA/AS degree. This course satisfies the Area 2, Humanities requirement and fulfills the Cultural and Ethnic Diversity requirement 4B for the AA degree. This course is a core requirement for the International Studies Program. This course is recommended to meet the Area C 2 general education requirement for CSU and it also is recommended to fulfill the Area 4, 3B IGETC requirement.

Course Description

History is the study of humanity and change over time.  Over the course of sixteen weeks we'll see plenty of both: according to Professor Jonathan Dresner, we'll be studying the whole world over the last five hundred years (that's about one year per four minutes of class time). We'll also look at world societies through many lenses: cultural, social, political and economic.  We will look at how the past has defined the present.

The word globalization entered our vocabulary in the latter half of the Twentieth Century.   At a time when peoples from all of the world meet, mingle, interact and do business with each other, a global perspective has become a vital and essential tool for responsible and informed citizenship.

Course Information

Required Book 
The required book for this class is A History of World Societies, Since 1500, Vol. II, 7th edition by McKay, et al. You can buy it at the bookstore.

Goals for the course
I am aware that students sometimes feel overwhelmed by the vastness of the subject. We will make no attempt at a comprehensive examination of all the information. This course is not meant to be rote memorization, and students who actively engage the course material and assignments will not only be gaining knowledge, but will also be developing important skills.  At the end of this course I hope you will be able to do the following:

1. Communicate effectively your ideas both orally and in writing.
2. Develop critical reading and interpretative skills.
3. Understand and apply definitions of words and strengthen your vocabulary.
4. Listen responsively and attempt to maintain a level of open mindedness.
5. Apply ideas and concepts from world history to present day events.
 
 Responsibilities
Your responsibilities include reading the required assignments before coming to class and being prepared for exams or written assignments. This means having a scantron/bluebook and pencil.
 
Attendance
It is important that you come to class, however, attending class does not just mean keeping the seat warm.  I want to know your views and ideas and I will weigh your class participation, as well as attendance, at the end of the semester.  You will be allowed three absences, any over this number and I will deduct three points for each additional absence from your final grade. Chronic lateness will also be penalized by a deduction of ten points at the end of the semester. I also have the option of dropping you from the class for chronic absences and lateness or poor academic performance.

Exams
There will be a series of quizzes, map exercises, exams and class discussions. The quizzes may be unannounced. Keep up with the readings, come to class, ask for help and you shouldn't have any difficulty. Exams must be taken on the days assigned. There will be no make-ups unless a doctor's note on official stationary is provided. Make-ups must be taken within four calendar days from the time of the exam date.  After that-forget it.  Format of the make-up exams will be at the discretion of the instructor.
 
Assignments
You can earn a total of 400 pts. for this class. The breakdown is as follows:
3 quizzes (25 pts. each) May be multiple-choice, fill-in or short essay writing. May be unannounced
2 Map quizzes (25 pts. each)
3 Contemporary Issues assignments - 25 pts. each
Term project - 100 pts.
Final Exam - will be cumulative 100 pts.

NOTE: Once the semester is officially over I will grade you on the materials that are in my possession.
 
Grading Breakdown
400-365 =A
365-330 =B
330-295 =C
295-260 =D
below 260 =F
 
 Please:
1. No sleeping
2. No pagers
3. No cellphones
4. If you are going to be absent for more than one consecutive class, please call me. This is for your protection as well as mine.
5. If you need to leave early please let me know before class begins.
6. Please do not give me elaborate excuses as to why you weren't in class or why you did not do the assignments. I'll respect you more if you tell me the truth.
7. Please be courteous and respectful of others.
 

Students With Disabilities
If you have a disability and require accommodations, please advise me during the first week of class. To be provided with the appropriate accommodations, you will need to obtain a signed form from the Disabled Students Programs and Services (650-738-4280).

Basic Information
1. Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class. For each weekday an assignment is late I will deduct 10 pts.
2. If you are late to any exam I am willing to give you a makeup (see above), however, I ask that you not enter the classroom and disturb others.
3. If you simply stop attending class and do not withdraw through Admissions and Records you will receive an F grade.
4. Attendance will be taken daily.
5. Please turn off all pagers and cell phones before class begins. In case of emergency - and only in these cases - the cell phone may be placed in silent mode.  At no times are cell phones to be answered or used in class for any purposes.
6. All submitted work must be typed (double-spaced) and stapled with your G# on it.  I will not accept papers with social security numbers or names on them.

Integrity-Let me say upfront, if I catch you cheating or plagarizing I will submit your name and any other documention to the Dean of Disciplinary Services.
I can not emphasize strongly enough the importance of maintaining and respecting academic integrity. What we're talking about is cheating and plagiarism. Cheating is the act of obtaining academic work through the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent acts. Plagiarism is taking someone else's work and passing it off as your own. I have "zero tolerance" for cheating and plagiarism. If I catch you plagiarizing (and believe me I will!), you will receive an F for the course. If you want to discuss this further please see me or check out page 24 in the Skyline College catalog.
 
My door is always open should you have questions,concerns or problems.

Reading Assignments

UP