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345-15 Western Civilization I
3 Hours Humanities or Social Sciences
Instructor: Mr. Corley Odom, Jr.
1624 Mallard Circle
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
(205) 349-1629 (home, before 10pm CST)
(205) 956-5911 (w)
cwodomjr@juno.com
*Internet access required. Email submission of assignments preferred,
unless student has received instructor's approval for using snail mail.
Important
Contract Policies
Purpose
Surveys the political, social, religious, cultural, ideological, and
economic history of Western Civilization, from the Paleolithic Era to the
period of the Renaissance and Reformation, c. 10,000 BC to 1648 AD. Topics
include:
Learning Objectives
1. Early
Mesopotamian Civilizations
2. Egyptian
Civilization and Culture
3. Classical Greece and
Hellenistic Culture
4. Republican and
Imperial Rome
5. The Rise, Growth,
and Spread of Christianity
6. The Byzantine Empire
7. The Rise of Islam
8. Medieval Europe
9. The Crusades
10. The Renaissance
11. The Reformation
12. Beginning Early
Modern Europe
*Students will be expected to be able to move beyond the
memorization of names and dates and should be able to critically examine
the development of Western Civilization with the purpose of comprehending
its complex legacy, and appreciating its contributions to the present day
world.
Methodology
1. Students will
choose 4 topics from a list provided by the instructor and write a complete
and insightful essay on each topic. The essays should be between 3-5 pgs.,
typed, DS, using 12 pt. font. Your reading, in preparation for these
essays, must include the textbook chapters directly related to the topic,
any references in the question itself, and the Internet site noted under
each topic on the Essay Topics list. Only 1 essay will be graded at a time.
These essays should be submitted periodically throughout the duration of
the contract. (An essay format will be provided.)
2. Students will
choose 1 book from the contract Book Review/Web Sites Resources list (see
Resources) and write a critical book review of no more than 5 pgs., typed,
DS, using 12 pt. font. In writing the review, the student must note the
topic and thesis of the book. The student should attempt to describe how
the book contributed to their understanding of Western Civilization. For
examples of acceptable book reviews, students may consult the New York
Times Review of Books, The New York
Review of Books, Reviews
in American History, or other similar publications.
Resources
1. Text: Chapters
1-14, Western Civilizations,
13th ed. Lerner, Meacham, and Burns
2. Book Review
Texts/Web Sites (students may purchase these books OR visit the
corresponding web site for each text):
a) Gilgamesh: A Verse
Narrative, trans. Herbert Mason. New York: Native American Library, 1970.
An interpretive translation. You should read with the idea of understanding
the importance of religion, death, and politics to the early Mesopotamian
civilizations. http://www.angelfire.com/tx/gatestobabylon/temple1.html
b) Martyrdom of Perpetua.
W.H. Shewring, trans. The Passion of
Perpetua and Felicity, (London:
1931). Written by a woman, the text is an autobiographical account of her
trial for being a Christian. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/perpetual.html
c) Two Lives of Charlemagne,
ed. Lewis G. M. Thorpe. Baltimore:
Penguin, 1969. An insightful look at Western views of kingship. Internet
translation: Einhart: The Life of Charlemagne. Translated by Samuel Epes
Turner. (New York: Harper and Brothers. 1880).
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/einhard.html
d) The City of God.
Augustine. Trans. By Rev. Marcus Dods, D. D. http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/ecf/npnf102/htm/CityofGod.html
e) "Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power of Efficacy of
Indulgences."
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/ninetyfive.html
f) The Prince, by Nicolo
Machiavelli. http://www/fordham/edu/halsall/basis/machiavelli-prince.html
Evaluation
1. The student will
be graded on college-level presentation and analysis of the 4 assigned
essays and book review. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation will be taken
into account when the material is evaluated. The essays and book review
must be insightful, carefully constructed, and show thorough reading and
thoughtful analysis of the subject matter.
2. Grading:
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4 topical essays @ 100 pts. each
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= 400 pts.
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1 critical book review @ 100 pts.
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= 100 pts.
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Total
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= 500 pts.
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3.
4. Scale:
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A
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= 450 - 500 pts.
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B
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= 400 - 449 pts.
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C
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= 350 - 399 pts.
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D
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= 300 - 349 pts.
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F
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= below 300 pts.
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5.
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