General Education 111
World Civilizations Spring
Section 25
Location: Cue 219
Time: Tuesday/Thursday 12:00 – 1:15
Instructor: Trevor James Bond, Associate Professor tjbond@wsu.edu 509 335-6693
Office: Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections, Terrell Library, Ground
Floor.
Office Hours: Wednesdays 3-4 pm.
Note: I am available to meet at other times. I enjoy meeting with students. Please
email me to make an appointment that meets your schedule or you can “friend me”
on Facebook.
Course Abstract: During the course, we will take a comparative global
approaching to examining world cultures from 1500 to the present. Through the
careful reading of a variety of primary and secondary sources, we will examine a
number of broad topics including the Age of Exploration, the Reformation, slavery,
the Enlightenment, World Wars, and globalization. You will be challenged not to
merely memorize and recite “facts”, but to critically read and evaluate documents,
make judgments based on these readings and class discussions, to synthesize
diverse sources of information, and to articulate your views orally and in writing.
Course Outcomes:
You will be able too articulate basic knowledge of the major world civilizations and
be able to build on that foundation.
You will be required to think critically and to solve problems, to identify what
kinds of evidence or methods are required to answer particular questions, and to
synthesize diverse kinds of information in solving problems or answering
questions.
You will improve and develop your writing skills and your ability to express your
ideas clearly.
You will learn basic information retrieval and library research skills, including the
ability to navigate the WSU library system and find resources, to evaluate those
sources, and to use and understand the basic principles of citation.
Disability Accommodations:
Students with Disabilities: I am committed to providing assistance to help you be
successful in this course. Reasonable accommodations are available for students
with a documented disability. Please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC)
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during the first two weeks of every semester to seek information or to qualify for
accommodations. All accommodations MUST be approved through the DRC
(Admin Annex Bldg, Rooms 205). Call 509 335 3417 to make an appointment with a
disability counselor.
Academic Honesty:
All students are expected to do their own work. Any instances of academic
dishonesty (plagiarism, copying, using notes during in class exams) will be
reported. For more information, consult the Student Handbook section on academic
integrity: http://www.conduct.wsu.edu/academicIntegrity.asp
See also the WSU Libraries’ guide on what constitutes plagiarism:
http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/plagiarism/.
Classroom Conduct:
Everyone is encouraged to ask questions during class and to participate in
discussions. However, private conversations, napping, text messaging, reading the
Evergreen, arriving late or leaving early, are activities that are not appropriate in a
University classroom. If you wish to use a lap top to take notes, you must sit in the
front row. I do not wish to see or hear any cell phones during our special time
together.
Grading:
In grading assignments and exams, the instructor and grader will be careful and
fair. Because of this, frivolous complaints about grades are not encouraged. If you
feel strongly that an error was made in grading and you want me to reconsider a
particular grade, you must prepare a type-written request stating your case with as
much detail as possible. I will then give the exam or assignment a second reading,
but will not necessarily raise the grade, and may in fact lower it. Note: There will
be no make-up exams or late assignments accepted, unless you have a documented
emergency. I will not accept papers sent by email. Contact me if you are in trouble.
Assignments and Exams:
Book quizzes or short take-home essays. The best 4 will be counted @ 25 points
each for a total of 100 points
3 Essay Exams @ 100 points each for a total of 300 points
Library Research Paper 100 points
Cultural Assignment or Service Learning Paper 25 points
Class participation including weekly writings, group activities, and small
assignments 100 points
Total possible points: 625
Prize Books:
To reward outstanding course work, one student from the class will be selected to
receive a prize book at a General Education awards ceremony.
Required Texts:
Reilly, Kevin. Worlds of History a Comparative Reader. Volume Two. Third Edition.
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Benjamin Franklin’s The Autobiography and Other Writings
David Northrup’s The Atlantic Slave Trade
Zlata Filipovic’s Stolen Voices Young People's War Diaries, from World War I to Iraq.
Pang-Mei Chang’s Bound Feet and Western Dress.
Course Structure
This class consists of a mixture of discussion and lectures, which are not
simply a repetition of the information found in the text. Also, films and film
clips will be shown at various times over the semester. Information from
these films will be used to support and reinforce the discussions and lecture
material. Exams will cover material from the reading assignments, the
films, and the lectures. You will be responsible for the lecture material.
Course themes and readings. Note: this is a tentative schedule and may change during
the semester.
Week 1 (January 8 and 10)
Topic: Exploration
Readings: Reilly 1-41
Week 2 (January 17, no class on the 18th)
Topic: Atlantic world encounters.
Readings: Reilly 42-67
Week 3 (January 22 and 24)
Special assignment: Book quiz 25 points
Topic: Slavery.
Readings: The Atlantic Slave Trade. Reilly 75-86
Week 4 (January 29 and 31)
Special assignment: short essay on Slavery 25 points
Topic: Religion and civic government
Readings: Reilly 88-121
Week 5 (February 5 and 7)
Topic: Women and family
Readings: Reilly 122-158
Week 6 (February 12 and 14)
Special assignment: Exam 1 due Feb. 12. 100 points
Topic: Scientific revolution
Readings: Reilly 159-192
Week 7 (February 19 and 21)
Special assignment: Book quiz 25 points
Topic: Ben Franklin and Enlightenment
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Readings: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Week 8 (February 26 and 28)
Topic: Enlightenment and Revolution
Readings: Reilly 193-226
Week 9 (March 4 and 6)
Special Assignment: exam 2 due March 4. 100 points
Topic: Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution
Readings: Reilly 227-272
Week 10 (March 11 and 13)
No Class: Spring Break
Week 11 (March 18 and 20)
Topic: Colonialism
Readings: Reilly 273-307
Week 12 (March 25 and 27)
Topic: World War I
Readings: Reilly 346-382; Stolen Voices Piete Kuhr 3-39 (For March 27)
Week 13 (April 1 and 3)
Topic: World War II
Readings: Reilly 383-420, Stolen Voices Sheila Allan 109-133 (for April 3)
Week 14 (April 8 and 10)
Special Assignment: exam 3 due April 10. 100 points
Topic: Middle East, Religion and Politics
Readings: Reilly 421-448, Stolen Voices Zelikovich and Hazboun 235-259 (for April 10)
Week 15 (April 15 and 17)
Special Assignment: book quiz April 17
Topic: Globalization
Readings: Reilly 506-531, Bound Feet and Western Dress for April 17
Week 16 (April 22 and 24)
Special Assignment: Bound Feet paper due April 22. 100 points
Special Assignment: Cultural event paper due April 24 25 points
Topic: Modern China and America
Readings: Discuss Bound Feet and Western Dress
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