HISTORY 324B COURSE INFORMATION
The following texts are required reading for this course and will be available in the bookstore at the beginning of term:
America and the Great War 1914-1920
Home Front USA: America During World War Two
Computers and Course Outlines:
This course, both in weekly readings and discussions, and in assignments, is built around the use of the internet and materials available on the internet. Students will require a basic familiarity with how to use the internet for this course, and at the beginning of term we will spend some time on creating a basic familiarity with using materials available on the internet. Please note that there will not be a complete course outline handed out in class for this course. All of the information necessary for this course will be contained within the History 324B website. Students are not required to have their own computers, as there are facilities available on campus for those who do not own their own. Please check schedules for computer lab availability on campus.
Style:Plagiarism:
You are plagiarizing if you use ideas, information, or
language taken from another author without acknowledgment or submit work
which is not your own. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will
be dealt with accordingly. It is highly recommended that students
familiarize themselves with the student conduct policy in the college calendar.
Examinations:
Examinations are an integral part of the course and is
the student's responsibility that they attend at the proper time and place.
Failure to write the examination at the proper time and place will result
in a grade of zero (0). Proper medical documentation may be accepted
in some circumstances.
Due Dates:
These dates are not set as a rough guide for your convenience,
but are a the final dates on which the assignments will be accepted,
barring unforeseen serious circumstances. Having been given the due
dates from the first day of class students should not, when the assignment
is due, plead lack of time, schedule conflicts, or computer failure.
Only in the most serious circumstances will extensions be granted. Extensions
are a privilege not an automatic right, and any extensions must be negotiated
with me beforehand. Under no circumstances will a late paper
be accepted unless an extension has been negotiated beforehand. Papers
will be accepted on the due date until the end of class, after which they
will be considered late and not accepted.
NOTE:
For the actual
assignment dates, please check under the assignment heading on the History 324B
homepage
Classroom Behaviour
A classroom is built on a foundation of courtesy and
respect for others. In the classroom students will be treated with
respect and courtesy, and I and fellow students should expect the same
in return. Classes begin promptly at the assigned times and students
wandering in after the start of class, or in and out during class, are
disruptive to everyone. There are of course times when such actions
cannot be avoided, and if you must do so, please be as quiet and unobtrusive
as possible. Unnecessary disruptions will not be tolerated and offending
students will be asked to leave.
Readings, Attendance, and Participation
Classroom discussion of readings will be an integral
part of the course and it is essential that students prepare the assigned
readings and attend class to participate in discussions. The second
half of each class is reserved for group discussion of the weekly assigned
readings. I will not be lecturing during that time, but we will instead
be working as a class to examine and understand the material.
The success or failure of that discussion therefore depends on the class
as a whole. Coming to class unprepared is to let your classmates
down. Everyone is expected to be a contributing member of the class.
NOTE:
All of the readings for this course are online and together
would be the equivalent of another course text. When preparing the
weekly material it is necessary to have a hard copy both for class discussion
and for the final examination. Due to the time that is sometimes
necessary to print the required material, it would be advisable early in
the term to find partners or groups to share the task of collecting materials.
Student Presentations
Everyone will have to do a 5-8 minute presentation
to the class about their research essay towards the end of term as
noted in the class reading and discussion schedule. The purpose of
the presentation is to share with the class how your research and topic are
connected to the wider body of material that we have examined this term. Essentially,
the presentation is to place your work in the wider context of the course, and
the presentation materials will be used as part of the examination material for
the course. As part
of the presentation you will be required to distribute to the class one
week prior to your presentation a 1-2 page summary of your
research and arguments. For further information see the student
presentation information page.
A sheet will be posted outside my office during the first
week to sign up for the presentations.
A War and Society discussion page can be accessed through the discussion group link on the History 324B homepage. I have added this feature as a means on continuing discussion outside of the classroom format. It can be used to discuss the course readings, research, etc. I will not be moderating the discussions but I will be reading the postings from time to time and I will be adding my own comments. From time to time I will also be posting my own questions or observations based on the course content or the readings. In addition to being a forum for sharing information, participation in the group will count for a five (5) percent participation mark for the term. Students will be required to participate in the discussion a minimum of five times during the term. For that participation students will be expected to contribute something of more than simply one or two sentences. The contributions should help to further thought and discussion, and can be used, for example, to raise and discuss questions on course material, or to comment further on class discussions. It is meant as a forum to explore materials beyond what we do in class and as a way for the class to "meet" and discuss the course outside of our limited class time. The only requirement for the use of the group is that students must sign on with their own complete names.
My regular office hours are Wednesday 1pm to 4pm, or by appointment. I am usually in my office in the hour before class, so feel free to drop in at that time. I can be contacted by email by clicking on the email link on the course homepage. There is no guarantee though that I will be answering my email every day, or even every two or three days depending on my schedule and how busy I am. I will answer email, but if an immediate answer is required it is better to leave a voice message or see me in person. Questions of a detailed nature on course materials, research essays, etc, must be done in person.
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