Clayton State University

Course Syllabus
Fall 2011
Modern World History Online

 
Goree Island, Senegal. Photo by  Victoria Pasley

 

Course Number:  HIS 1112-90 ONLINE                                                   

Dr. Pasley                                                                   
Credit hours: 3
Office:                                                                        
Phone:
E-mail: VictoriaPasley@clayton.edu

Office Hours: TBA  (Please e-mail if you are coming to see me)
Online Hours W 8 pm - 12 pm Online

This course is 100 percent online. There are not meetings on campus. You are required however to be online for the set exams and to check in to the course at least every other day. Our course week is from Tuesday - Tuesday. The first quiz opens on Tuesday August 16th and closes on August 23rd - quizzes open and close on Tuesdays

Course Description:
A survey of the modern world from the 1500s to the present  which places equal emphasis on the history and development of different world regions including China, India, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.

Text Book
World History, Volume II since 1500 6th ed., by Duiker and Spielvogel, Wadsworth Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-4955-6903-9 (N.B You cannot use previous editions as the book has been updated.) This book is required. Please do NOT get other editions or the short edition. Page numbers are required for discussion and images will be used for image exam.

Overview of Content
Topics include the Conquest of the Americas, Islamic Empires, Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade, India, China, Middle East nationalism and imperialism, colonialism, World War I & II and de-colonization and the Cold War.

Outcomes
This course will develop the following skills:

1.Reading comprehension: by reading the text book and supplementary materials
2. Selectivity: Including the material that is important and leaving out the rest. You will do this whenever you take notes from the text or answer a question on an exam.
3. Communication skills: The ability to write in such a way that clearly communicates your ideas to another person. The sources for this are class discussions online
4. Research and writing skills. The main source for this will be the research paper as well as the weekly quizzes.
5. Critical Thinking:  Students will be encouraged to critical question and analyze all course materials and discussions.

Student Learning Outcomes: The following links provide information about general education outcomes for this core curriculum course, which is a part of Area E: Social Sciences.
http://a-s.clayton.edu/corecurriculum/outcomes.htm

http://a-s.clayton.edu/corecurriculum/Area%20E.htm
 

HIST 1112 Learning Assessments (based on Learning Outcomes listed above):
1. Successful completion of HIST 1112 based in part on scores on 3 tests of knowledge of basic historical chronologies of modern world history as well as weekly open book quizzes and discussions..
2. Successful completion of 3 exams requiring identification and evaluation of pre-modern world history as well as quizzes and participation in discussion
3.  Satisfactory completion of HIST 1112 writing assignment which is the image exam.

Computer Requirement:
Each CCSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CCSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm. 

Computer Use in This Course:
Student notebook computers are required for this course
. You cannot take this course without a computer and students must regularly check into the course. This course requires that your computer be set up for WEBCT. Please contact the HUB. Please contact me through WebCT e-mail. If it is urgent please contact me at victoriapasley@clayton.edu

Computer Use Pre- Requisites
Ability to use GA View  for discussions, quizzes, e-mail,  and exams as well as upload the research paper as an attachment.
Knowledge of Microsoftword
Ability to open PDF files

Please e-mail questions in GA View e-mail. I will reply to your question within 24 hours. Usually I respond in much less. I also expect students to respond to my e-mails or answer within 24 hours.

General Requirements

·        Students must abide by the policies found in the Clayton State University Student Handbook and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities 

·        Students are required to Log onto the website regularly, check e-mail and announcements and participate in discussions

·        To ensure fairness late assignments will not be accepted without written documentation. Students may lose points for late work.

·        Student must keep up with the readings and other assignments. This is particularly important in an online course where reading is the primary learning tool.

·        Please think carefully before posting to the discussion. Remember, the recipients cannot see your facial expressions and body language making it easy to misinterpret what your are saying



Grading
A: 90%
B: 80%
C: 70%
D: 60%
F: Less than 60%

Grade Total
20 %  Exam 1
25%  Mid-term Exam
25%Final Exam  
15 % Image Exam (details will be given)
10 % Discussion (There will be 7 discussion questions over the duration of the course. Grades will be as follows: 0 for no response, 5 for limited response, 10 for full response- Please use the text book and give page nos.)
5 % in total Quizzes - weekly  (The quizzes are to help you keep up with the reading. They are open book and point you to important areas of the text. They also serve as a study guide. Exams will include the material from the quiz questions. Quizzes will not be re-opened once closed so please do them in good time- if you  have an error or other problem I can re-set the quiz but I cannot re-open once closed.

Make ups will only be given in exceptional circumstances. Written documentation must be provided for all emergencies.  A doctor’s note is required if you are too ill to take the exam. Please contact me as soon as possible if you miss an exam.  

Online Etiquette (Netiquette)
Discussion and e-mail spaces within this course are for class purposes only, unless otherwise stated. Please remember to conduct yourself collegially and professionally. Unlike in the classroom setting, what you say in the online environment is documented and not easily erased or forgotten. The following guidelines apply:

 

Plagiarism
I take plagiarism very seriously. Please refer to student handbook  Clayton State University Student Handbook): No student will represent the work of others as his or her own. Themes, essays, term papers, tests, presentations and other similar assignments must be the work of the student submitting them. When direct quotations are used, they must be indicated and when the ideas of another are incorporated, they must be appropriately acknowledged. As a general rule if you use more than four words of someone else’s writing (including the internet) you must use quotations marks and cite the writer/source. Do not copy and paste from internet sites. It’s very important that you learn to paraphrase and use quotes sparingly.

Academic Misconduct:  Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Clayton State University 's academic misconduct policies can be found at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentlife/judicial_affairs.htm.

Regents’ Courses and Testing :
The University System of Georgia requires that each student receiving a degree must have successfully demonstrated competence in reading comprehension and writing by passing two courses:  Regents’ Writing Skills and Regents’ Reading Skills.  Students can satisfy course requirements through examination.  The Regents’ Testing Program of the University System of Georgia is administered by the Testing Center at Clayton College & State University for three days each semester.  Testing dates and registration procedures are in the Class Schedule and Registration Guide each semester under REGE 0001.

Center for Academic Assistance (CAA): The CAA offers a variety of personalized academic services including staff and peer tutoring and multimedia instruction to all Clayton State University students.  Standardized testing is offered through the Testing Center.  The CAA develops and coordinates online instructional resources, workshops, courses, and external labs teaching interdisciplinary academic skills. The Learning Support Program (COMPASS Testing Program, Regents Testing Program, and Learning Support and Regents Test Remediation courses) is also facilitated by the CAA.

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact 
the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445,
disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

University Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

The purpose of the new policy is to increase retention.   Students who have poor class attendance records often do poorly in our courses (In this course attendance is online and includes reading and posting to the discussion, reading announcements and e-mails, and doing the weekly quizzes.  The new policy is designed to emphasize to students that attending class is important and expected. In the case of an online class your attendance is recorded when you log in – it is imperative that you log in regularly to the class at least two or three times a week. WEEKLY QUIZZES WILL NOT BE RE-OPENED ONCE CLOSED - They are there as a tool to keep you on track and also serve as your study guides for exams. Please do them ahead of time.

The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/ professional education associations.  Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site:
http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm

Please contact me if you have any questions or worries. Please e-mail me in GA view. If it is an emergency e-mail my csu account.

Orientation for the class will be online August 16-17th. You must introduce yourself, do the orientation quiz. The class begins on August 16th-17th -- The first Quiz opens on August 16th and closes on August 23rd at MIDNIGHT.

You are also REQUIRED to take three online exams and am image exam at the times indicated below. No exceptions. Please make sure it is set up for GA View -- see HUB for any problems)

EXAM DATES for Fall coming (They will  be Tuesdays 8:00 pm - 9:15 pm)
First Exam: Tuesday Sept 13, 8:00 pm - 9:15 pm  (Unit I)
Second Exam: Tuesday October 19th , 8:00 pm -9:15 pm (Unit II)
Image Exam  Tuesday Nov 1st 8- 9.15 PM (This assignment requires 5 paragraphs)
Final Exam: 29th Nov Tuesday, , 8:00 pm - 9:15 pm (Unit III)
Last day to drop Oct 7th.

Make ups will only be given in exceptional circumstances. Written documentation must be provided for all emergencies.  A doctor’s note is required if you are too ill to take the exam. Please contact me as soon as possible if you miss an exam.