This course is one of Eastern Nazarene College’s Cultural Perspectives (CP) classes.  CP courses integrate various disciplines in the liberal arts, including: history, literature, fine arts, philosophy, and natural science.  The goal is to help students understand and appreciate the developments of western culture within a world perspective.  Since Eastern Nazarene College is a Christian liberal arts school, the course will focus considerable attention on the role of faith in the shaping of societies.  The West in the World examines the reformations of the 1500s, the development of nation states, the birth of modern science, the Industrial Revolution, transformations in identity (related to race, class, and gender), and changes in politics and culture.  Stress will be placed on diverse groups of people and major movements around the world that helped create the world we live in today.  Students should develop a special appreciation for how the past differs from the present and how the past still influences us now.  Throughout, we will ask questions like the following: What are the legacies and achievements of western and world cultures? How do we explain the development and impact of wars, religious movements, political parties, and artistic and literary schools?  Is there a Christian perspective on history? Who are we, and how has history made us the way we are?

Students will be evaluated on how well they identify and explain the significance events, terms, ideas, movements, and individuals of the eras studied.  Students will also be graded on the basis of their reading, writing, and thinking skills.  Those enrolled in this course are expected to read all assignments and come prepared to discuss these in class.  Always be prepared; I may call upon you at any time. Those who fail to keep up with the reading will do poorly in this course. Participation and attendance is required of each individual in this class and will figure into your overall grade.  (Obviously, if you don’t attend or read the assignments, you can’t participate, you will miss in-class assignments, and your grade will suffer.)  This course has a student instructor, Austin Steelman, who will lead regularly scheduled review sessions.  These will help you understand the course and excel.  You are strongly advised to attend.  Those who go to five or more sessions will also receive extra credit.
   
Three major tests will be administered over the course of the semester.  (More information on these will be given out prior to each.)  In addition, there will book and map quizzes, along with unannounced pop quizzes will be administered occasionally at the beginning of class.  These quizzes will cover the most recent reading assignments and the lecture material.  (Always take good notes.  Not all lecture material will be included in your text.)  Those who arrive late or fail to attend class will not be allowed to retake quizzes or tests, unless, of course, a written medical excuse can be provided.

In addition to a satisfactory evaluation of this work based on content, you are expected to demonstrate competence in English composition and grammar.  Students will complete several writing assignments. Sets of discussion questions are listed on-line.  You must answer four sets of these questions over the course of the semester.  These will be graded on a pass/fail basis. (There are a number of sets from which to choose your four.) Your answers to each must be typed, one to one-and-a-half pages long, and double-spaced.  I will not accept handwritten responses.  Your answers are due in class on the day that the reading is assigned.  Late answers will not be accepted. Assignments will absolutely not be accepted via e-mail.

Finally, a note on proper behavior and academic honesty.  Talking with fellow classmates, eating, doing other work, reading newspapers, using a laptop to access Facebook or fritter away on trivialities, texting, leaving cell phones on, walking out early or arriving late all reflect poorly on you as a student and will hurt your overall grade.  Cheating and plagiarism are even worse and will not be tolerated.  Be advised: ANY instance of cheating on tests, essays, or other assignments may result in immediate failure of the course and the evidence will be filed with the Dean of Students Office for inclusion in the student’s permanent record.  For more on this fascinating topic, please refer to the ENC guidelines concerning academic honesty.  Or, view this page: www.enc.edu/history/stephens.plagiarism.html.  Those who are guilty will be caught.  Incriminating evidence is only a Google™ search away.
   

3 Exams - 45%
4 Short Response Papers - 15%
2 Short Quizzes on the Basic Content of the Olaudah Equiano and Pearl Buck Books - 10%
3 Map Quizzes - 15%
Participation, Attendance, and Pop Quizzes - 15%