Course Syllabus
Professor Areej Zufari
CRN-15226
Fall Term 2015
East Campus
Mon/Wed 1:00-2:15pm
Building 6, Room 231
Contact Information:
AZufari1@valenciacollege.edu
Please include the CRN of the course
in the subject line of your emails.
Office: Building 6 Room 119
407-582-2349
Office Hours:
Monday: Office—11:30am-12:30pm
& 2:30-4:00pm
Tuesday: Online—12:00-2:00pm
Wednesday: Office-- 11:30am-12:30pm
& 2:30-4:00pm
Thursday: Online—12:00-2:00pm
Friday: Online—1:00-2:00pm
Course Description:
The course covers topics such as Middle Eastern religions, philosophy, literature, architecture, visual
arts, music, and the effects of modernity on the Middle East.
This is an elective course.
Major Topics:
Students will have the opportunity to study the culture of the Middle East in an integrated manner
that focuses on the dominant ideas and major trends, including:
Characteristics and Distinctions of Middle Eastern Culture
Themes, styles, and impact of Middle Eastern Literature
Concepts and impact of the religion of Islam
The effects of religion on Middle Eastern peoples
Characteristics and trends in Middle Eastern Art
Characteristics of Middle Eastern Architecture
The Effects of Modernity on the Middle East
Texts:
Beyond the Headlines: A Deeper Look at Middle Eastern Culture by Areej Zufari
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Course Policies:
Students are required to learn and to follow college policies and course policies. You are
responsible for upholding all of Valencia College’s policies and this course’s policies.
Valencia Disciplinary Conduct: Valencia College is dedicated to promoting honorable
personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for
knowing and abiding by the rules articulated in the Student Code of Conduct (6Hx28:10-03).
The instructor reserves the right to refer students who engage in activities that are disruptive to
the learning environment to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. The following list,
though not exhaustive, includes things which are disruptive to the learning environment:
 Use of any electronic devices including but not restricted to: Cell phones, iPods, and
laptop computers (documentation from OSD will be taken into consideration).
 Preparing homework for other courses during class.
 Engaging in private conversations with classmates while class is in session.
 Excessive tardiness
 Leaving and re-entering the classroom while the class is in session.
 In addition, Valencia Community College strives to provide a drug-free learning
environment for all those involved in the academic experience. Our policy is as follows: In
compliance with the provisions of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of
1989, Valencia Community College will take such steps as are necessary in order to adopt
and implement a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit
drugs and alcohol by Valencia Community College students or employees on college
premises or as part of any college activity.
Violations of Valencia’s Disciplinary Conduct Policy will prevent you from earning credit for
any assignment and/or quiz assigned for that class.
No cell phone use during the class session!!! Cell phones should not be visible at any time
during the class. If you violate this policy, you will not earn credit for any quizzes or assignments
due that class period.
During our one hour and fifteen minute class, you are required to turn off your phone, put it
away, and pretend it does not exist. Do not leave the classroom with your phone to take a
call; do not leave the phone visible. If you violate this policy, you will not earn credit for any
quizzes or assignments given during that class period.
No laptop, iPad or any other electronic device will be allowed in the classroom without prior
instructor approval.
Attendance Policy: You are required to attend class ready to engage in discussion free of
distraction. Students who are not present in class will not earn credit for completed work.
Additionally, assignments and quizzes will NOT be accepted through email. They must be
submitted at the beginning of class on the due date in person. Additionally, if you leave class
early, you will not earn credit for any quiz or assignment submitted during that class.
Excused/Unexcused Absences: Certainly problems such as misbehaving cars, illnesses, and
family emergencies come up. There is no need for students to document excused absences.
Students are to take responsibility for attending all possible classes and to accept the policy
that late work will not be accepted, regardless of the circumstance. To compensate for any
missed assignments, students have the option of completing extra credit assignments.
Disruption in the classroom and academic setting will not be tolerated. This includes the
following: persistently speaking without being recognized, interrupting other speakers,
distracting the class from the subject matter, interfering with the instructor’s ability to carry out
the educational process, and refusal to comply with directions from the instructor.
Academic honesty: throughout this course, we will discuss our opinions and insights openly.
However, when it comes to assignments, quizzes, exams, papers, or responses, you may not
share answers with another classmate! Academic honesty is absolutely maintained in this
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course. You will receive a Zero for any assignment that violates the academic honesty policy,
and may receive a failing grade for the course.
Communication with Professor: Valencia faculty and staff communicate with students
through Valencia Email. It is your responsibility to check your Valencia e-mail on a regular
time frame. Failure to check your e-mail account does not excuse you from any notices
that may be sent to you. When communicating with your professors, you should use
professional standards and etiquette. Emails should include a greeting and closing and
should be respectful in tone.
Copyrighted Material: All materials provided online are copyrighted and made available for
educational purposes only. Students may not reproduce copyrighted material without
permission from the appropriate publisher or author.
Grading Policy:
Your grade in the course will be based upon the following:
Quizzes
Assignments
Unit Exams (4)
8-14 Points each
20-30 Points each
50 Points each
In your grades section on Blackboard, you can find all of your graded scores as well as a current
average of all graded submitted material. This is titled “Current Course Grade.” It automatically adds
the points you have earned and divides them by the sum of possible points. In this way, you have
access to your grades and standing in the course at all times through Blackboard.
Quizzes:
Quizzes will be given in class and may or may not be announced ahead of time. Quizzes will consist
of questions that address concepts from the required reading for that class meeting from both the
textbook and online learning units. Students who are not present in class during the entire period—no
arriving late or leaving early—will NOT be eligible to earn credit for the quiz given during that class.
Additionally, students violating course policies such as completing work for other classes or bringing
out his or her cell phone are not eligible to earn points for quizzes or assignments for that class period.
Assignments:
Assignments are found on Blackboard in the Course Menu folder titled “Assignments.” You are
required to download the assignment and complete it, turning it in during the first five minutes of class
in person. You may complete the assignment by typing in the document or by hand-writing your
answers. Either is fine. But you MUST turn in a hard copy in class. I will not accept assignments late or
through email.
Unit Exams:
Unit Exams will also be given in class. They will covered content from the textbook, online learning
units, and class lectures and discussions. There are no make-up exams! Students who are not present
in class on the exam date, regardless of the circumstances, will not be given make-up exams. This
policy is strictly enforced.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit assignments are offered in the course in order to allow students to make up for missed
assignments or quizzes. These assignments will be provided during the course of the semester and
must be submitted by the due date.
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Deadline Policy:
I do not accept late work. Extra credit assignments are available to allow students to make up any
missed points for illness, family emergencies, or other uncontrollable circumstances.
Withdrawal Policy:
It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course if he or she feels he can not complete the
requirements of the course. Students may withdraw at any time until the Withdrawal Deadline and
receive a W. The instructor will not withdraw students for any reason other than for a “no show” at
the beginning of the semester.
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Middle Eastern Humanities (HUM 2403)
Course Schedule
**Subject to Change with Prior Notice
A good suggestion would be to print this schedule and use the boxes to check off your
reading, quizzes, and essays as you complete them.
Unit 1: The Early Middle East
Aug.31— Introductions
Read Syllabus
Learning Unit on Blackboard -Course Policies
Sept. 2— Reel Bad Arabs
Textbook—pages 1-19
Sept. 7—Labor Day—No Class
Sept. 9—Exploring the Middle East
Textbook ——pages 20-34
Anticipate a quiz on course policies and syllabus
Sept.14-16 –The Early Middle East
Textbook ——pages 34-41
Anticipate a quiz that will include identifying Middle Eastern countries on a map
Pre-Islamic Poetry Assignment Due Sept. 16
Unit 1 Exam Sept. 21
Unit 2: Islam & The New Empire
Sept.23 & 28——Islam
Textbook ——pages 42-76
Learning Unit on Blackboard -Islam
Islam Assignment Due Sept. 28
Sept. 30——Islamic Law
Textbook ——pages 76-82
Learning Unit on Blackboard -Islamic Law
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Islamic Law Assignment Due Sept. 30
Oct. 1——The Umayyad Empire
Textbook ——pages 83-94
Learning Unit on Blackboard -- The Umayyad Empire
Oct. 5-7——Art & Architecture
Textbook ——Pages 117-121
Oct. 12-14——The Abbasid Empire
Textbook —pages 94-102
Learning Unit on Blackboard -- The Abbasid Empire
Abbasid Poetry Assignment Due Oct. 14
Unit 2 Exam Oct. 19
Unit 3: Cultural Developments
Oct. 21——Music
Textbook ——Pages 102-116
Oct. 26——Islamic Spain
Textbook ——Pages 102-116
Learning Unit on Blackboard—Islamic Spain
Islamic Spain Assignment Due Oct.28
Oct. 28——Poetry of the Drunkards
Textbook ——Pages 124-137
Learning Unit on Blackboard— Poetry of the Drunkards
Nov. 2-4 & 9——The Ottoman Empire
Textbook ——Pages 137-151
Learning Unit on Blackboard— The Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire Assignment Due Nov.4
Unit 3 Exam Nov.11
Unit 4: The Modern Middle East
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Nov. 16-18——European Imperialism in the Middle East
Textbook ——Pages 157-175
Learning Unit on Blackboard –The Modern Middle East
Nov. 23 ——The Battle of Algiers
Watch the film Battle of Algiers on Blackboard
Battle of Algiers Assignment Due Nov.30
November 25—Thanksgiving Break—No Class
Nov. 30-Dec.2——Modern Middle Eastern Art & Literature
Textbook ——Pages 170-184
Learning Unit on Blackboard – Modern Art & Literature
Dec.7-9——Revolutions & Transformations
Textbook ——Pages 185-194
Learning Unit on Blackboard – Revolutions & Transformations
New Constitutions Assignment Due Dec.9
Unit 4 Exam Monday, December 14,1:00pm
(There is no comprehensive final exam for this course. The Unit 4 exam is the last exam
you are required to take for this course.)