Dr. Nathan Michalewicz
Class Meetings Mon. / Wed. / Fri. 1:10 PM - 2:20 PM McEwen 205 |
Student Hours Mon. / Wed. / Fri. 9 am - 12 Noon Watkins 207 |
Course Description
From the Renaissance to the present, Europe transformed from a minor region to a global power. This course will explore the process of that transformation that created modern Europe. It will emphasize cultural changes in Europe as well as the role of interactions around the globe—including the exploitation of indigenous populations—on Europe’s path to modernity.
Learning Objectives
By engaging fully in all aspects of this course, you will be able to
- Understand the social, cultural, and political changes Europe experienced between 1450 and 2000.
- Critically analyze primary and secondary sources related to Europe between 1450 and 2000.
- Articulate arguments on the causes and lasting impacts of European social, cultural, and political changes.
- Support your arguments with primary and secondary sources in a reasoned and logical order following standard writing conventions.
Required Reading
All readings, podcasts, and videos for this course will be available on Zotero. Students will not need to purchase any materials for this course. Everything will be available open-access or through the university library.
Some of the readings are in .epub format (the format for ebooks), so you will need an ebook reader. I recommend Calibre, Freda, or SumatraPDF (which reads many different formats beyond PDFs).
Assignments
- Participation (15%) - Since this class is predicated on class discussion, participation is central to the learning environment. I will take class attendance each day. Each day of class will receive a grade. If you attend, you will start with an 85. Participating improves that grade. Behavior detrimental to the learning environment (for example, using your phone, using your computer for activities unrelated to the class, any other activities that distract other students, or being generally disruptive) will reduce that grade. After two absences, not attending class will receive a zero for that day. If you do not miss more than two days, your participation grade will not hurt your overall grade. It will only improve it. Lead Discussion (10%) - Each student will lead a twenty (20) minute discussion at the beginning of each discussion day. If there are more students than discussion days, students will lead the discussion as a group. Students will sign up for their discussion day during the first week of class.
- 5 Discussion Quizzes (2% each) - There will be an open-note, open-source quiz at the beginning of five (5) of the discussion days. The quiz will have an open-ended prompt to which each student will respond in 3-5 sentences. A successful response will make an argument in the first sentence and support it with evidence in the following sentences. An “A” response will make an argument responding to the question directly and use substantive evidence to support it. A “B” response will make an argument, but will not support it with substantive evidence. A “C” response will not make a clear argument or will provide little if any evidence. A “D” response will not meet any of the above criteria. These quizzes are graded quickly and simply: A = 95; B = 85; C = 75; D = 65; F = 55. Map Quiz (5%) - Students will turn in a map marked up with the locations of pre-assigned places. The Map is available on Canvas. Students should download it, write the names of the locations, and turn it in on the assigned date.
- 3 Tests (5% each) - Each student will take three online, open-note, multiple-choice tests.
- 3 Essays (15% each) - Each student will write three essays (750-word minimum). Each essay will respond to one (1) of multiple possible prompts. Each essay should make an argument (thesis statement) that you will prove throughout the essay. Essays should use evidence from the readings, videos, and podcasts from the essay’s section and cite any direct quotations or paraphrases from these sources in a footnote. If you have any questions about citations (or any other questions about writing essays), see my document on writing guidance available here. To receive full credit, essays should reference materials only from this class (class discussions, readings, podcasts, videos, etc.), and each essay should cite at least three (3) different materials from the class, and one of those should be a primary source. Students will be able to submit a revised essay for essays 1 and 2 to improve the grade, responding to the comments on the first submission. Revisions to essay 1 are due before the due date for essay 2. Revisions for essay 2 are due before the due date for essay 3. Due to timing, revisions will NOT be accepted for essay 3.
Class Calendar
Unit 1: The Early Modern World
Unit 2: The Long 19th Century
Unit 3: The 20th Century
- Week 11: World War I & its Consequences
- Unit 2 Essay and Test Due Nov. 12
- Week 12: Inter-War period & the Holocaust
- Week 13: World War II & Thanksgiving
- Week 14: The Cold War
- Week 15: Decolonization
Unit 3 Test & Essay Due Dec. 13
Essay
Essays should be a minimum of 1000 words. This is a minimum, not a target. Essays should be turned in on Canvas. They should also be formatted as a proper essay with proper citations. Each essay should cite at least three sources from the unit (one must be a primary source), and each paragraph (other than the introduction and conclusion) should cite at least one source. The essay should cite sources provided during the unit. Professor approval is needed to cite a source not included in the course. For more information on formatting, organizing, and writing essays, please see my page on writing essays.
When reflecting on your response to the essay prompts, remember that the questions are meant to force you to consider the entire unit.
Essay #1: Due Sunday Oct. 8 @ 11:59 p.m.
In an essay (750-word minimum), respond to one (1) of the following prompts. Make sure to make an argument (thesis statement) that you will prove throughout the essay. Use evidence from the readings and videos provided in the course content folder. Ensure to cite any direct quotations or paraphrases from these sources in a footnote or parenthetical citation. To receive full credit, the essay should reference materials only from this class (class discussions, readings, podcasts, videos, etc.) and cite at least three different materials (one of which must be a primary source).
Prompt 1:
How did European exploration and colonization impact European and global development? Make sure to discuss both the extent and limitations of that impact. Also, be clear about how those impacts changed over time.
Prompt 2:
Make an argument that places the Reformation in its historical context. What influenced it, and how? What were its impacts, both immediate and more broadly?
Essay #2: Due Sunday, Nov. 12 @ 11:59 p.m.
In an essay (750-word minimum), respond to one (1) of the following prompts. Make sure to make an argument (thesis statement) that you will prove throughout the essay. Use evidence from the readings and videos provided in the course content folder. Ensure to cite any direct quotations or paraphrases from these sources in a footnote or parenthetical citation. To receive full credit, the essay should reference materials only from this class (class discussions, readings, podcasts, videos, etc.) and cite at least three different materials (one of which must be a primary source).
Prompt 1:
Discuss the impacts of the Industrial Revolution. What was it? How did it impact society, culture, and state relationships? Make sure to discuss not only the immediate impacts but also the lasting impacts of industrial development.
Prompt 2:
What was the impact of the French Revolution? Was it revolutionary? Were some aspects more influential than others? Do not only consider the immediate impacts but also the lasting influences.
Prompt 3:
Which was more revolutionary: the French Revolution or the Industrial Revolution? Make a historical argument that takes into account the society that came before and the society/events that it produced. Use specific details from the unit; not broad, vague, and generic statements.
Essay #3: Due Wednesday, Dec. 13 @ 11:59 p.m.
In an essay (750-word minimum), respond to one (1) of the following prompts. Make sure to make an argument (thesis statement) that you will prove throughout the essay. Use evidence from the readings and videos provided in the course content folder. Ensure to cite any direct quotations or paraphrases from these sources in a footnote or parenthetical citation. To receive full credit, the essay should reference materials only from this class (class discussions, readings, podcasts, videos, etc.) and cite at least three different materials (one of which must be a primary source).
Prompt 1:
World War I and World War II had tremendous, lasting impacts on European politics, society, and culture. Which was more influential in European history? Do not just consider the immediate impacts but also the lasting impacts of the wars. Also, remember to write the essay as a historical essay. Tell the history of the two wars and their impacts; do not just compare and contrast.
Prompt 2:
How did the Cold War impact the decolonization process? How did it impact the decolonization process for the metropoles and the new states after decolonization?