Introduction
Lsn 1
Syllabus Review
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Objective
Texts
Grading
Schedule
– Blocks 1 through 5
• Office hours
• Academic honesty
• Classroom conduct
ID & SIG
• Identify and state the significance of…
• Should be three sentences with an emphasis on
the significance portion
• Example: equal-field system
– The equal-field system governed the allocation of
agricultural land in China during the Tang Dynasty.
Land was allotted to individuals and their families
based on the land’s fertility and the recipient’s needs.
The system ensured an equitable distribution of land
and helped avoid the concentration of landed property
that had caused social problems during the Han
Dynasty.
Writing Requirement
• 700 to 1,000 word analytical paper
• Analytical writing
• Thesis
Analytical Writing
• GRE Analytical Writing Measure assesses
the applicant's ability to
 articulate complex ideas clearly and
effectively
 examine claims and accompanying evidence
 support ideas with relevant reasons and
examples
 sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
 control the elements of standard written
English
Thesis
• “a position or proposition that a person ...
advances and offers to maintain by
argument”
• Webster’s Dictionary
Writing Style
• Put the thesis and proofs -- the “bottom line” -- in the
first paragraph (BLUF = Bottom line up front).
• Each paragraph addresses one main idea and that idea
is clearly stated in the topic sentence.
– Write paragraphs that average about 7 sentences in
length.
• Document using MLA or APA.
– Use college-level sources. If your main source is
wikipedia or some other .org source, you’re probably
not using appropriate sources.
• Do not use contractions.
Writing Style
• Use quotations for impact (to cite an authority, to get
exact wording, or to connect an important person with a
particular thought). Put them in context. Do not have a
whole sentence be a quotation.
• Avoid the first person.
• If you feel compelled to use them at all, use rhetorical
questions sparingly.
• Use the active voice.
• Write for your audience, but, in general, keep it simple
– Use short sentences (an average of 15 or fewer
words).
– Understand the words you use.
• Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Organization: “M1A1 Paper”
• Intro… tell them what you’re going to tell
them
• Body… tell them
• Conclusion… tell them what you told them
Example
• Introduction
– The University of Southern Mississippi is the best allaround university in the state. It has a diversity of
majors that allows students to explore a range of
academic disciplines. Its central location facilitates
easy trips home for the weekend as well as
opportunities to visit some of the Gulf South’s most
culturally significant locations. It has a richness of
student life where every student can find an
extracurricular activity that meets his interest. These
attributes make the University of Southern Mississippi
the ideal choice for a wide variety of students.
Example
• Para 2
– Majors
• Para 3
– Location
• Para 4
– Student life
Example
• Conclusion
– There is something for everyone at USM. Whether a
student wants to major in dance or polymer science,
he can get a quality education here. Hattiesburg is
truly “the Hub City,” and USM’s location provides easy
access to such places as the Gulf Coast, New
Orleans, and Jackson. Finally, USM offers abundant
student life opportunities ranging from fraternities and
sororities to intercollegiate athletics to clubs. USM is
the total package. It is the best all-around university
in the state.
How to Succeed
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Plan ahead/Prioritize
Come to class
Do the reading
Print out the slides (using “handouts” option; 6 per page)
Highlight the ID & SIGs on the slides
Take your class notes directly on the slides
Use the exam study guides to prepare for exams
Use me and the History Writing Lab for help with your
papers
• Use the “backward planning process” to help focus your
paper preparation
Backward Planning Process
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Due
Finalize
Writing lab draft
Works Cited
Paras 4 and 5
Paras 2 and 3
Prep Day/Obtain all
sources/Make outline
• Workshop/Finalize
introduction
• Write draft
introduction
• Determine proofs
• Write thesis
• Initial research
• Pick a subject
• Today
August 2008
Sun
Mon
3
Tue
4
Wed
5
Intro para due
10
Thu
6
No class
Go to library and
get sources
11
12
Fri
7
Make outline
Sat
1
2
8
9
Finish para 2
13
14
15
16
20
21
22
23
29
30
Finish para 3
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18
Finish para 4
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31
Finish para 5
25
Take draft to
Writing Lab
19
Finish works cited
page
26
27
Finalize Paper
Have friend
proofread paper
28
Paper Due
Sample Notebook
• A. Syllabus (key dates and info highlighted)
• B. Calendar (key dates and your plan to accomplish the
requirements)
• C. Grade sheet and all graded work
• D. Slides (printed six per page in handouts style, ID & SIGs
highlighted, notes in the margins)
• E. ID & SIGs (each lessons terms on notebook paper, your best
effort at answering them done the night before with a couple lines
left blank to fill in additional info during class)
• F. Map study guide
• G. Paper (first para, drafts, writing lab info, outline)
• H. Subjective quiz study guide
• H. Mid term study guide
• I. Final exam study guide
• J. World Civ Film Series Extra Credits
• K. Miscellaneous
Other Tips for Success
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Keep up with your notebook
Sit in the front 1/3 of the class
Attend every class
Show me your first para and paper drafts before they’re due
Show me your mid term and final exam study guides before the
exam
Take notes in class on the slides
Give yourself a practice exam under “game day conditions”
Go to the Writing Lab
Have a buddy “grade” your first para and paper using the rubrics in
the syllabus
Follow the following daily routine:
– Study the ID & SIGs from the previous lesson (15 minutes)
– Read the assigned pages (15 minutes)
– Print out the slides and review them, highlight the ID & SIGs, and
answer the ID & SIGs as homework (30 minutes)
Civilization
• The highest cultural grouping of people and the
broadest level of cultural identity people have
short of that which distinguishes humans from
other species.
• Defined both by common objective elements,
such as language, history, religion, customs,
institutions, and by the subjective selfidentification of people.
– Samuel Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations?”
Characteristics of a Civilization
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Intensive agricultural techniques
Specialization of labor
Cities
A social hierarchy
Organized religion and education
Development of complex forms of economic
exchange
• Development of new technologies
• Advanced development of the arts. (This can
include writing.)
rivers
agriculture
populations
cities
specialization
hierarchy
Agriculture
Inca terrace farming
Egyptian Shaduf
Specialization of Labor
African baskets
Egyptian
Vasemaker
Cities
Cahokia Mounds
Timbuktu
Social Hierarchy
Ancient Egypt
Medieval Serfs
Religion
14th Century Mosque at
Kilwa
Mosaic icon of
Christ from
Hagia Sophia
Economic Exchange
The Silk Road
New Technologies
Bronze Age
Metallurgy
Greek Fire
Art
Music and dance depicted
on a Greek drinking cup
Mona Lisa
Next Lesson
• Mesopotamia