HIST 2311 CRN 65223 Western Civilization I
Fall 2013 TR 11:00 to 12:30 pm
Houston Community College Southwest-West Loop Campus, Room C252
Instructor: Dr. Rogan Ellen Brunet
Email: rogan.brunet@hccs.edu
Website: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/rogan.brunet
Office: C256, Phone: 713-7188024
Course Description: History 2311 is a survey of Western Civilization from the Neolithic Revolution to
the Renaissance. It will focus on the evolution of the economic, social/cultural and political institutions
which define the development of Western Civilization and its people. Although this course is built
around historical events and processes, it is much more than a simple recitation of facts. Students will
learn and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and will work with historical documents,
maps and economic and demographic models.
Prerequisites: Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing.
Learning Objectives: The objective of this course is to enable the student to gain a clearer
understanding of Western Civilization by examining the social, political, and economic factors that
influenced the West from the beginnings of civilization to the Renaissance. Included topics are the
Ancient World, Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. 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 eras studied.
This is a working syllabus and remains flexible. I reserve the right to modify this syllabus during the
course of the semester. Students who miss a class are responsible for enquiring about any changes
that are made to this syllabus. Please feel free to ask questions and remember that participation is
highly encouraged (and welcome) in class.
Texts:
Recommended-The Western Heritage, v. I, 9th ed., Kagan, Ozment, Turner
Required-Creation Myths, on Learn Web
Required-The Oresteia, Aeschylus
Required-Beowulf, Anonymous
Required-Grendel, John Gardner
The recommended text book is The Western Heritage. Please make sure that you buy Vol. 1 of the
text. This course is lecture intensive…reading the text book will not replace your lecture notes. Use
your text as a back-up to the information given each day in class.
Exams: There will be two in class exams in this class. These exams will consist of a series of essay
questions. It is assumed that all students will take all exams at the assigned times, unless you make
arrangements to the contrary ahead of the scheduled exam time. Points will be deducted for late
papers.
Reading Assignments and Web Assignment: The outside readings for this class are listed above. You
will find internet links to the reading selections on my Learning Web page. They can also be purchased
at book stores in town or on the internet. These readings will not be available for purchase in the book
store. There will be a book reviews on each of these monographs that will be done outside of class.
Please refer to the academic dishonesty statement below. In addition, there will be on web
assignment. This will be handed out in class and will also be posted to the website. In addition, there
will be one web assignment. Look for this assignment on the learning web.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor, and only if the student
has a university approved reason for missing an exam. You must have the approval of the instructor to
schedule a make-up exam. Students will take make-ups at a scheduled time at the end of the
semester. Please note that students are limited to one make-up exam.
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 new resource.
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 an essay on
each exam. 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.
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 three exams (200 pts) and reading exams (300
pts), divided by the total number of points possible (500 pts). 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 Dec 20. Please note that there will be no curving of
grades in this class.
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 I will have you dropped from the class.
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 phones rings during class, I reserve the right
to deduct one point from your final class average. In addition, students will be required to put away
their cell phones during exams.
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.
Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. If, in the course of the semester, any student misses
more than six classes, then that student WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY DROPPED. 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 Nov 1. 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. If you are not in class when roll is
called you will not be counted present for that day.
The final date to drop this class is November 1.
Please be aware of the fact that you are limited to six withdrawals over your college career when you are
considering dropping the class.
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.
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 (712 718-7909) 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.
Caveat: The College purges students who have not paid their tuition or 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 12th 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.
This is a working syllabus and remains flexible. Please feel free to ask questions and remember that
participation is highly encouraged (and welcome) in class. The instructor reserves the right to modify
the syllabus at any time, with notification to the students.
Course Schedule:
Aug 27
Aug 29
Introduction to the class
Topic One: The Origins of Man
Sep 3
Sep 5
Topic Two: The Neolithic Revolution
Sep 10
Sep 12
Topic Three: The Earliest Civilizations, Mesopotamia and Egypt
Sep 17
Sep 19
continue Topic Three
Sep 24
Sep 26
Topic Four: Bronze Age Civilizations
Oct 1
Oct 3
Topic Five: The 13th Century Crisis and Aftermath
Due date: Creation Myths Essay
Oct 8
Oct 10
Topic Six: Classical Greece
Oct 15
Oct 17
Topic Seven: Alexander and the Hellenistic World
Midterm Due
Oct 22
Oct 24
Topic Eight: ROME (enough said, bring extra paper and caffeine)
Oct 29
Oct 31
continue Topic Eight
Due Date: The Oresteia
Nov 5
Nov 7
Topic Nine: The West in Transition or Vandals, Mongols and Huns, Oh My!
Nov 12
Nov 14
Topic Ten: Late Antiquity or the Early Middle Ages
Nov 19
Nov 21
Topic Eleven: The High Middle Ages
Due Date: Beowulf/Grendel
Nov 26
November 28
Topic Twelve: The Really Horrible, Terrible, Not-So-Great 14th Century
Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec 3
Dec 5
Topic Thirteen: The Late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance Europe
Dec 10
FINAL EXAM Due 11:00 am Tuesday