Montgomery College

Rockville Campus

 

History 114, The World in the 20th Century

Spring 2009 Syllabus

 

Time:                9:00-9:50am, MWF                              Credit Hours: 3.0

Classroom:       HU 131                                                Prerequisites: None

Instructor Info: Seth Smith                                          Required Texts:

                          Office: Humanities 010                        Findley & Roth, 20th Century World

                          Phone: 202.657.2808                             Wiesner, et al. Discovering the Global Past

                          Office Hours: By Appointment

  E-mail: Seth.Smith@montgomerycollege.edu

                         

Course Description

This class focuses on global developments: the origins and aftermath of two world wars; the birth of mass movements and mass society; the crisis of democracy and the rise of communism and fascism; the emergence of the superpowers; modernization, conflicts, and revolutions in the non-Western world as well as autonomous processes in Africa, Asia, Latin America; North-South relations.

 

Course Goals

-          Students improve their written expression and analysis. 

-          Students should understand modern developments in world history and the issues that resulted from these developments.

 

Course Requirements

Grading

Grading will be based on a 500 point scale.  The points are broken down as follows:

 

           3 Exams – 300 points (100 each)                                    500-450 points = A

           1 Paper – 100 points                                                      449-400 points = B

           3 Assignments – 75 points (25 each)                               399-350 points = C

           Class Participation – 25 points                                        349-300 points = D

           Extra Credit – 10 points                                                 299-000 points = F

 

Exams

Exams will consist of a map section (20 pts), 3 short answer identifications (30 pts), and 1 essay question (50 pts).  Study guides will be available one week before the exam.

 

Paper

Students are required to write one 4-5 page paper for this class.  This paper will examine a historical person or event and its significance in 20th century history.  Students will be required to use at least 3 sources.  Full information about the paper will be provided at the beginning of class on Thursday, September 11.

 

 

 

 

 

Assignments

Students will answer questions about readings from Discovering the Global Past.  Questions will be given a week before the due date.    Answers must be typed and have the student’s name on them.  Grammar and spelling matter will be taken into account.  Assignments are due at the beginning of class.  Assignments sent via email WILL NOT be accepted unless the instructor grants explicit permission.

 

Class Participation

Class participation is based on attendance and participation in the classroom.  This includes participating in class discussion.  Excessive absences and being disruptive in class will detract from a student’s score.  This includes but is not limited to talking to other students, having your cell phone ring during class, answering your cell phone during class, texting, doing homework from other classes, sleeping, and playing video games.  Students are strongly encouraged to turn off their cell phones or put them in silent mode before coming to class.

 

Extra Credit

Students may do one extra credit assignment worth up to ten points.  The assignment is a one page, double-spaced review of a national monument or historic site in the Washington, DC area.  Students will be expected to describe the monument or site and explain its importance.  For a list of sites in the DC area, see:  http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/wash/sitelist.htm

 

Make-Up Policy

Students may make up a missed exam or quiz if they satisfy one of two conditions:

1) They have made prior arrangement with the instructor.

2) They have written proof of sickness or a major emergency.

It is the responsibility of the student to satisfy one of these requirements.

The make-up exam may be a different one than the one given to students who take it on the scheduled exam day.  Make-up exams will be taken at the Assessment Center.  Students will take the test at an agreed upon time.  If they fail to take the exam in this time, no further opportunities will be given to make up the exam.

 

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions.  “Excessive absence” is defined as one more unexcused absence than the number of times the class meets per week during a fall or spring semester (with the number of absences prorated for accelerated sessions).  For example, in a Monday-Wednesday-Friday class, four absences would be considered excessive.  If you miss a class session, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed.

 

Source: Collegewide Policies and Procedures Manual: Academic Regulations: Class Attendance (Section 9.823). http://www.mc.cc.md.us/hrdept/

 

Academic Honesty

Common examples of academic dishonesty and misconduct can be found below and in the Student Code of Conduct, Section IV.  These examples are not an all-inclusive list of all prohibited behavior.  If you are in doubt about what constitutes academic dishonesty, consult your professor or the Student Code of Conduct.

 

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to using “cheat notes” during an exam, copying answers from another student, allowing another student to copy your work, either inside or outside of class; using work from previous semesters; and copying from a book, magazine, Internet source, or brochure when writing a paper without giving credit to the source.

 

Faculty members may impose grade sanctions for violations of academic ethics, normally ranging from a minimum of F on the assignment in which the dishonesty occurred to a maximum of an F in the course.  Faculty members may choose to impose different sanctions.  Faculty members also have the prerogative of referring a case to the campus Dean of Student Development with a specific request that the dean consider imposing additional sanctions.

 

Source: Collegewide Policies and Procedures Manual: Student Code of Conduct: Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct (Section IV). http://www.mc.cc.md.us/hrdept/

 

Support Services

A student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see the class instructor during office hours.  A letter from Disability Support Services authorizing your accommodations will be needed.  The DSS office is located in CAB 122 and may be called at 301-279-5058 or TTY 301-294-9672.

 

Cancellation of Classes

If inclement weather forces the College or any campus or College facility to suspend classes or close, public service announcements will be provided to local radio and television stations as early as possible.  If you have checked several stations and have not heard an announcement, you may go to the College website or call the number located below for the closing information.

 

You will be able to determine the College’s operational status during inclement weather or other emergencies through the following means:

 

-          Tune in to area radio or television stations.  Dozens of stations are notified.  Among those with most frequent updates are:

 

Television: NBC Channel 4/WRC; Fox Channel 5/WTTG; Channel 7/WJLA; Channel 9/WUSA; and cable News Channel 8.  In the Baltimore area, check Channel 2/WMAR.

 

Radio:  WTOP (1500 AM and 103.5 FM), WMAL (630 AM), WAMU (88.5 FM).  In the Frederick area, check WFMD/WFRE.

 

-          Check the College’s website at http://www.montgomerycollege.org or http://www.mc.cc.md.us

 

-          Call the College’s main phone number, 301-279-5000, to hear an updated message in the event of closures or delays.

 

If the campus or College closes, class will be cancelled.  It is your responsibility to find out whether class is cancelled.  The content of subsequent class sessions or other course requirements may be changed to accommodate the loss of one or more class sessions.  Your instructor will notify the class of any changes to the course.

 

Source: College Catalog: Directory. http://www.mc.cc.md.us/courses/

 

 


Course Schedule (Subject to Change)

 

Monday, January 26: Class begins

 

Wednesday, February 11: Assignment 1 due/Discussion of Discovering the Global Past, Ch. 8

 

Friday, February 20: Exam 1

 

Wednesday, February 25: Paper topic due

 

Friday, March 6: Assignment 2 due/Discussion of Discovering the Global Past, Ch. 12

 

MWF, March 16, 18, 20: Spring Break

 

Wednesday, March 25: Paper Outline due

 

Monday, March, 30: Exam 2

 

Monday, April 27: Paper due

 

Friday, May 8: Assignment 3 due/Discussion of Discovering the Global Past, Ch. 15

 

Wednesday, May 13: Final Exam