History 2312 CRN 47132 Western Civilization II
Spring 2015 MW 11:00 to 12:30 p.m.
Houston Community College Southwest-Stafford Campus
Instructor: Dr. Lori Lehtola
Email: lori.lehtola@hccs.edu
Website: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/lori.lehtola
Office: C305, Phone: 713-718-5592
Learning Objectives: This course will enable the student to gain a clearer understanding of Western Civilization by
examining the social, political, and economic factors influencing the West from the Renaissance to the aftermath of
World War 2. Included topics are the religious Reformations, the various national, technological and economic
revolutions, the two World Wars, and the Western World after the political realignment of Eastern Europe. Students will
gain a clear perspective on how these issues form an interconnected and continuous web of history. Furthermore,
students will increase their critical thinking skills and their writing ability through the use of essay exams. In addition,
students will read/assess primary source documents on the internet, expanding their computer skills, and their
knowledge of the historical era studied.
Learning Outcomes:
a. To create an argument through the use of historical evidence
b. The ability to analyze and interpret primary and secondary source documents
c. The capability to analyze the effect of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global forces on
different eras of history
d. To explain the importance of chronology and how earlier concepts and actions shaped later events
Texts:
The Western Heritage, v. 2, Kagan, Ozment, Turner (recommended)
The Making of the West, v. 2, Hunt, Martin, et al recommended)
The 95 Theses, Dr. Martin Luther http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.htm
Assertio Septum Sacramentorum, Henry VIII
http://www.forgottenbooks.com/books/Assertio_Septem_Sacramentorum_1000618059
A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Purchasing a textbook for this class is not required. If you want a textbook for this class, two choices are The Western Heritage,
v.2 or The Making of the West, v. 2. This course is lecture intensive however and reading a textbook will not replace lecture
notes. Any textbook should be used as a supplement to the information presented each day in class.
This syllabus is flexible; if there is a subject that you would like to spend additional time on, please let me know and we
can certainly accommodate your request. Please feel free to ask questions and participate – this is a friendly class and
your involvement is most welcome! The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time, with
notification to the students.
Maps: Western Civilization is not confined to one geographical area, but is instead spread out over Europe, Eurasia, Africa, and
the Americas. In addition, as the history of Western world progresses, borders shift, nations are created, disappear and
reappear, and populations migrate. It is important to understand that this class “jumps” from different regions and that the
student may be learning about topics that occurred in different regions simultaneously. Maps will be posted on the Learning
Web.
Exams: There will be two exams given during the course of the semester, a reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo, a
midterm, and a final. You do not have to participate in the Battle of Waterloo, which will take place on a Saturday
morning and should be about 11/2 – 2 hours long. You have the option of writing a 10 page report on the Napoleonic
Wars instead; please see me for details. All exams consist of essay content and will be done outside of class. Please
see the statement on academic dishonesty. If you miss the deadline to turn in an exam, I do NOT accept email
assignments. Complete your work in a timely fashion. If you do NOT turn in your exams by the deadline, 20 points will
be deducted from your grade.
Readings: There are three selected readings for this course. Assignments over the readings will be done outside of class and are
essay in content. The book will not be available in the HCC bookstore, but it can be purchased at bookstores in town; the
assignment can be accessed on online websites or at the links which will be provided on my learning website. Again, late
assignments will have 20 points deducted from the final grade.
Grades: Your grades in this class are a reflection of your critical thinking skills, how well you analyze the data presented to you
and how you organize this data into educated opinions. You will do this by writing essays. The purpose of an essay is to present
your point of view about a given topic. In this class, an essay is the vehicle to demonstrate your mastery of the subject and your
organization of these facts into a logical conclusion that states your opinion of the given subject. You will be graded on content
AND grammar. If English is your second language, you will not be marked down for grammar, but you will be expected to do the
best you can.
Houston Community College now charges higher tuition rates for students who repeat a class for the third time (or more).
Your final grade will be derived from the sum of your exams and book assignments.
2 Reading Assignments: 100 points each = 200 points
Battle of Waterloo: 100 points
Midterm: 100 points
Final: 100 points
Total available points: 500
The grading scale is as follows:
A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-0
Final Grades will be available to students by May 22. There is no curving of grades in this class.
Extra Credit: I do not give extra credit assignments so do not ask for special consideration. If you have time for extra
credit assignments, then you have time to do the work to pass the class.
Free Online Tutoring: HCC has implemented a free online tutoring program for all HCC students. The web address is
www.hccs.askonline.net. You will need to enter your email address, choose a username and password and to know
your HCC student ID number (the one that starts with a W). Please take advantage of this resource.
Incompletes: If you experience an unexpected hardship or personal matter during the course of the semester, you may
be able to take an incomplete for the class. The requirements for an incomplete are as follows: you must have a
passing grade for the class and you must have completed at least 75% of the classwork. Remember that any
incomplete work must be finished within a semester or the “I” will change to an “F”.
Open Computer Lab: There are several open computer labs available on the West Loop Campus that will provide
students with access to the internet and email. You can also purchase a printing card to use the printers in these labs.
Please see the instructor for more information if needed.
Computers and Tape Recorders: If you wish, you may use tape recorders and computers to facilitate note taking in
class. Note that if you use a computer to play games or surf the web in this class, it is a distraction to others in the class
and you will not be allowed to bring it again.
Cell Phones: Cell phones are highly disruptive in class. All students are required to either turn their cell phones to
vibrate or power them off. In the case of a student expecting an important phone call, please inform me of the situation
before class. If your cell phone rings during class, I reserve the right to deduct one point from your final class average.
Students receiving or sending texts during class will be asked to leave. If texting in class is continual, I will drop that
student.
Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited by HCC policy and by
the rules of this class.
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Plagiarism is the use of the ideas or words of another person (either whole or in part) without crediting the
source and constitutes the theft of another person’s intellectual property. It is the most common form of
academic dishonesty. If you are unclear as to what constitutes plagiarism, you should seek clarification before
beginning an assignment.
Cheating involves fraud and deception for the purpose of violating legitimate testing rules. Cheating includes,
but is not limited to: copying from another student’s test paper, using during an exam materials or resources
not authorized by the instructor; collaborating with another student during a test; knowingly using, buying,
selling whole or part of an unadministered test.
Academic dishonesty constitutes a severe violation of HCC policy and rules and is subject to stringent
penalties. Violations of these policies will result, at a minimum, in the automatic failure of this course. Severe
violations could result in suspension or expulsion from HCC.
*** International students, students receiving financial aid, and veterans must be enrolled full time (12 hours)
in order to maintain their status. Please keep this in mind; if you plagiarize or cheat, you will not receive
special consideration just because you are in one of the above categories. The bottom line is that if you
plagiarize or cheat in this class, you will fail the class, and no excuses whatsoever will be accepted.***
Attendance Requirements: Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. I cannot stress enough the importance of attending
classes. Excessive absences will negatively affect your grade. If you wish to drop this class, please inform me that you intend to
do so. It is your responsibility to drop this class if you so desire. The final date for withdrawal is April 7, 2015. If you do not feel
you will pass the class, you must take the responsibility to withdraw on yourself. International students, students receiving
financial aid and veterans must be enrolled full time (12 hours) in order to maintain their status. Please keep this in mind if you
decide to drop this class. The HCCS History Department has mandated that NO ‘”W” will be changed to an “F”. Also, make an
effort to arrive in class on time. You will not be penalized if you are late, but excessive tardiness will be noted.
(Please be aware of the fact that you are limited to six withdrawals over your college career when you are considering dropping
the class.)
The final date to drop this class is April 7, 2015.
Students with Disabilities: I will make every effort to accommodate those students with disabilities. Any student with a
documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable
accommodations must contact the Disability Support Service Counselor, Dr. Becky Hauri (713 718-7909) at the
beginning of the semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the
Office of Disability Support Services (DSS). Students who are requesting special testing accommodations must first
contact the office.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System: At Houston Community College, professors believe
that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be
asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the
survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for
the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
FERPA Statement: All communications between the Professor and his/her class are subject to the Federal Educational
Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). The Professor may not discuss specific grades or attendance with anyone other than the
student and selected HCC administrators (e.g., department chair). The Professor is not allowed to discuss grades over
the telephone, as privacy cannot be guaranteed. Likewise, discussion of grades over email is prohibited except over a)
an official HCCS email address or b) within the Eagle Online LMS environment.
I will NOT respond to ANY emails sent from non-HCC accounts. Emails must be sent from your student.hccs.edu
account. This is to comply with FERPA and other relevant state laws (e.g. Open Records Law)
Caveat: The College purges students who have not paid their tuition or who have some other glitch with their registration every
weekend. However, it does not inform those students who have been dropped from their classes. It would be in your best
interests to pay your tuition on time and ensure that you are still enrolled in classes by the 12 th class day, by midterm and
before finals. I cannot re-enroll students who have been dropped by administration, no matter what their class standing might
be. Please take care of any registration problems promptly.
Course Calendar:
Week 1 Jan 19
Introduction, the Renaissance, Humanism
Start reading
Week 2 Jan. 26
Topic One:
The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation
Week 3 Feb. 2
Topic Two:
The Age of Conflict
Week 4 Feb. 9
Topic Three:
Absolutism vs. Constitutionalism
Week 5 Feb. 16
Topic Four:
The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
READING ASSIGNMENT DUE: Martin Luther vs. Henry VIII
Week 6 Feb. 23
Topic Five:
Enlightened Monarchies
Week 7 Mar. 2
Topic Six:
The Age of Revolutions
Week 8 Mar. 9
Topic Six:
Age of Revolutions/Midterm
Week 9 Mar. 16
SPRING BREAK!!!! (And there was much rejoicing!!!)
Week 10 Mar. 23
Topic Seven:
Napoleonic France and the Congress of Vienna
Battle of Waterloo!!! (tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 28 th).*
Week 11 Mar. 30
Topic Eight:
The 19th Century and “-isms”,
WATERLOO ASSIGNMENT DUE
Week 12 Apr. 6
Topic Nine:
Revolutions, Part Deux
Week 13 Apr.13
Topic Ten:
The Great War
Week 14 Apr. 20
Topic Eleven:
A World Shattered
READING ASSIGNMENT DUE: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Week 15 Apr. 27
Topic Twelve:
The “Post-Modern” World
Week 16 May 4
May 11
Catch up
FINAL 11:00 a.m., Tuesday