Rosemary Bell, Professor
History 106AH, World Societies II
CRN: 38702
T/TH 11:10 - 12:25 pm, Room 1-1304
Office Hours: MWF 11am - noon, or T/TH 12:30-1pm
Email: bellro@smccd.edu
Voicemail: 650 738-4213
Website: http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/bellro/

HISTORY 106AH, WORLD SOCIETIES II
Human Rights in World Societies

Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100, 105 or equivalent. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C2, D3).   Designed primarily for those in the Honors Transfer Program, but open to all students.  All students enrolling in this course will be required to do Honors-level work. 

Course Description:  A global and history survey of human and civil rights in world societies with an emphasis on the 20th century.

Required Reading material:

Handouts will be supplied by the instructor, or internet sites will be used.

Important Links:  I ask that you bookmark these documents, or download them and bring them to class with you.

U.N. Declaration of Human Rights - http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.html

Declaration of Independence - http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document

Declaration of the Rights of Man
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp

Human Rights Watch - http://www.hrw.org/en/home

Convention of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1978) - http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/ha/cedaw/cedaw.html

http://learning.berkeley.edu/AIUSA-syl/ (Great reference!)

Course Objectives:
The concept of Human Rights has been around since 2300 BCE, yet it has only been since the Second World War, and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, that individuals and organizations have dedicated themselves to upholding human rights and dignity around the world.  We will look at this topic through the lens of the last century.

Student Learning Outcomes:
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 this course to present day global events.

Responsibilities: This class will be interactive in nature; i.e. students are expected to participate extensively in discussion of the material covered in each class session. As a result, regular class participation is considered an essential part of the student's educational experience, as well as a requirement for an adequate evaluation of student academic progress.  
It is your responsibility to communicate with the instructor and your classmates especially during Group Project and Term Project assignments.

It is your responsibility to advise me if you are having difficulties with the course or personal issues. I can help.

It is your responsibility to keep track of your progress. Hold onto all the handouts and papers until the end of the semester.

Attendance:
It is important that you come to class. It is extremely important that you be here and on time during group and individual presentations. 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 five points at the end of the semester. I have the option of dropping you from the class for missing six or more classes, chronic lateness or poor academic performance. I will advise you via email if I intend to drop you from the course.

This is an Honors course.  Students who are not performing at Honors level will be counseled out of the course.

Exams:
There are numerous ways to assess your success in the class. First, is by class participation. Second, is by written assessments.

Assignments:
The bulk of the class consists of a group project and term projects which includes an oral presentation.  There will be no midterm or final exam in this class.

Grading - You can earn a total of 400 pts. for this class
Human Rights Watch individual presentation and assessment: 75 pts.
Human Rights Group project, presentation, writing assessment- 135 pts.
Term project - 125 pts.
Oral presentation - 50 pts.
Class participation - 15 pts.
(pts. will be awarded for active participation - discussion, questions, responses to questions)
                                         
Grading Breakdown

400-365 =A
365-330 =B
330-295 =C
295-260 =D
below 260 =F

What constitutes a grade?
A - Mastery of the material, including an in-depth understanding of course topics, high level of analytical skills and rational thinking.  Offers insight into the course, participates on a regular basis.  Has read material before coming to class.  Prepared for exams.  Students are on time and attend regularly

B - Solid understanding of course material; a good level of analytical skills.  Participates on a regular basis, has read material before coming to class.  Prepared for exams.  Students are on time and attend regularly.

C- Satisfactory understanding of course material, a cursory understanding of course, attendance is spotty, material turned in late or incomplete.  Last minute preparation for exams.  Numerous missed classes, chronic lateness.

D - Limited understanding of course material, poor analytical skills with little, if any participation.  Poor attendance.  Little, if any preparation for exams.

F- Lack of effort, simply put you're wasting your time.

NOTE: Once the semester officially ends I will grade you on all of the materials that are in my possession.
 
Please:

1. Be ready, willing and able to go!
2. If you are going to be absent for more than one consecutive class, please call or email me. This is for your protection as well as mine.
3. If you need to leave early please let me know before class begins.
4. 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.
5. Please be courteous and respectful of others.

Students With Disabilities:
In coordination with the DSPS office, reasonable accommodation will be provided for eligible students with disabilities. If you do not yet have an accommodation letter, please contact the DSPS office and meet with an advisor. (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. There is no extra credit available.
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 electronic equipment 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.
7. Computers will not be allowed for note-taking unless you have a letter of accomodation from DSPS.
8. All submitted work must be typed (double-spaced) and stapled with your G# on it.  I will not accept papers with social security numbers on them.
9. Each student has the obligation to know and uphold the College Rules and Regulations. Students who engage in disruptive behavior-conduct that interferes with the instructional, administrative, or service functions of the course-can be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion from the course and/or college. Specifically, cell phone interruptions, the use of iPods, habitual profanity or vulgarity and continued willful disobedience will result in disciplinary action.

Integrity:
I cannot 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, or paraphrasing an article 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 may 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.

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