Brooklyn College
HIST 1101 (formerly 3005): THE SHAPING OF THE MODERN WORLD (Code 3173) Fall 2023; TR11 (11:00am–12:15 pm)
Location: Ingersoll Hall 1310
Instructor: Karen B. Stern Email: kstern@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:00pm & by appointment: 1127b Boylan Hall
PLEASE NOTE: I try to be accessible to students both inside and outside the classroom. If you are having problems, don’t understand a point in the lecture or the readings, or just want to keep the discussion going, feel free to contact me. You can best reach me in the following order: 1) by appointment and office hours; and 2) email (see above)
Required Texts: ONLINE ONLY
Course Description:
This course examines broader economic, intellectual, religious, political, and cultural forces that transformed Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, from before 1500 through the present. Central questions of this course shall include: (1) What is the modern world and how was it created? (2) How did different empires develop in distinct regions of the world and what are their connections to processes of modern phases of “globalization”? (3) How did (and do!) contacts between cultures irrevocably change them and shape the world as we know it today? Through examination of primary documents and secondary sources, we will also consider the roles of regional politics, philosophy, technology, war, religious (in)tolerance, and political instability in the precipitation of global events. We start our inquiry just before periods of religious and political change in Europe and contact between Europe, Africa, and Americas, and consider how demographic instability, transoceanic encounters, dynamics of economic and global imperialism, the industrial revolution, nationalism, decolonization, and globalization have created the world we inhabit today.
Learning Objectives:
We will explore broader changes in world cultures from a historical perspective. This means that we will examine individual events and ideas as well as long-term structures and structural changes. Your sources of information will be lectures, the textbook, and various digital media (digital video and audio), as well as online class discussions and group work. In addition, this course asks you to do the work of a historian—to read and critically interpret the primary historical texts (and secondary historical works) that you will access on blackboard and through online links. You will develop these skills both through discussion and writing. With your active participation, you will gain knowledge, improve your critical thinking and writing skills, and learn something about the discipline and practice of history.
Course Goals:
•To provide an overview of how the modern world was created
•To understand how events of the historical past lay the groundwork for future and current political, environmental, and cultural realities
•To train students to analyze different types of historical documents (including written texts, art, video, music, etc.)
•For students to develop students’ critical thinking, writing, and rhetorical skills
Course Objectives: Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Exercise skills of critical thinking that will be applicable to other studies and fields.
• Explain major forces that shaped the emergence of the modern world, including globalization, colonization, disease, transformations of ideas.
• Analyze a wide range of primary documents and appreciate them as historical evidence
• Construct arguments in about history, which are grounded in primary evidence, with an ability to express their arguments both orally and in writing
• Have a clear sense of the importance of historical knowledge and why it matters in the modern world.
Assessment
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Participation/attendance/ group work/breakout sessions |
20% |
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Primary Source Response Paper (1) |
10% |
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Quizzes (online) |
15% |
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Midterm Exams (15% each) |
30% (15% each) |
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Final Exam |
25% |
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Total |
100% |
The Grading Scale
Grades are based on the standard scale (90-100=A, for consistently excellent work; 80-89=B, for good, very competent work; 70-79=C, for satisfactory work; 60-69=D, for passable work; 0-59=F, for unacceptable college-level work). I take improvement over time into consideration; however, you should strive to do well from the start so you do not find yourself entangled in the “delinquent” dilemma (spending the second half of the semester trying to recover from poor attendance/failed writing assignments).
I will not grant incompletes for this course. Course assignments not handed in by the final due dates will receive a “0” in my gradebook.
Late assignments will be reduced by 1/3 of a letter grade for every day past due (i.e. an assignment due on Thursday, but handed in on Friday, will move from a B to a B-; an assignment due on Thursday, but handed in on Sunday, will move from a B+ to a C-). Extensions are given at my discretion; if you sense you will not have enough time to complete an assignment, you must email me at least 48 hours in advance to be granted an extension. On days of unplanned absence, you are still responsible for uploading due assignments by the time class begins to avoid the late penalty. And remember if there are serious problems that delay your submissions, please write to me in advance. However, it is ALWAYS significantly better to submit an assignment late than not at all.
Email policy: I answer my emails within 48 hours if they are sent Sun-Thurs and by Monday afternoon if they are sent Fri–Sunday.
I am happy to review paper drafts, outlines, theses, etc. in office hours or during a scheduled appointment time. I do not review them over email.
Plagiarized work will be given a grade of 0% (F). Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work, words, or ideas as your own. In written work, you are required to give proper credit whenever you use the words, phrases, ideas, arguments, or conclusions of another. Any failure to give proper credit by quoting and/or footnoting constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarized work will also be documented and reported as a violation of academic integrity to the Dean of HSS according to established College procedure. A major academic offense, plagiarism may lead to course failure or dismissal from the college. As noted above, please note also that the use or incorporation of any AI-generated content (whether ChatGPT, Dall-e, or similar) in assignments is not permitted, because this also constitutes plagiarism (passing off materials of another source as one’s own). Any questions? Feel free to ask in class or during office hours. Chances are that whatever question you have someone else will have also.
Help?! How do I properly cite sources? Footnote! Quote! Parenthetically cite! Come see me in office hours! We will review these citation practices as they relate to your papers. For now, further information on how to avoid plagiarism by citing sources properly is here: http://www.northwestern.edu/provost/policies/academic-integrity/how-to-avoid-plagiarism.html.
Outcomes will be assessed by:
Policy on Absences and Writing Assignments:
Quizzes, group work, and exams all draw from class lectures; if you do not attend class, you cannot perform appropriately on your quizzes and exams. One absence is anticipated; more than this number detracts from your citizenship grade.
Student Responsibilities:
Attendance is required. Remember that the classroom is your best textbook.
Please note also that you are expected to complete the reading and video assignments for discussion before you come to class. Participation in discussion is encouraged, enhances your grade, and (most certainly!) your experience in the course. You should ensure that all primary source documents, including readings, are accessible to you during class. These are the necessary tools for participation.
If students become sick and are unable to come to class for health reasons, it is student responsibility to reach out immediately to me so that we can arrange for you to maintain your work level in the class whenever possible.
Please remember that, in the event of your absence, you are held responsible for all course materials that you may have missed; quizzes and exams heavily weigh information discussed in lectures and class discussions. If you happen to miss a class, adopt the following procedure: (1) contact a peer to see what information was missed, then, (2) email and/or schedule an appointment to see me. Please don’t ask me IF you missed something in a class meeting; you necessarily did. Instead, please consider something you missed that you particularly don’t understand and I am happy to clarify it with and for you.
Office hours
•If you are having difficulties attending office hours, please send me an email to: kstern@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Email etiquetteI look forward to corresponding with students over email or meeting in person. Please remember, when addressing an email to me, to begin the message with the salutation, “Dear Professor Stern-Gabbay.” It is great for all of us to practice different registers of communication!
Each Class
Class Requirements
1. Class Participation
Attendance and class participation constitute 20% of your grade. This might seem like a large percentage for a large class. Participation, however, is measured by your appearance in class (an easy way to assure a boosted grade), as well as your comments in lectures and class discussions. Your presence is recorded on the roster (as is your sudden absence should you leave the discussion), as is your time of disappearance. If you appear for only a portion of the class, you will not receive credit for being present for the entire class. Additionally, I take careful note of individuals, who actively participate in the class. Please note that any behaviors that distract other students (including talking, texting, disrespectful behavior etc.) will negatively impact your class participation grade.
2. Several quizzes are given during the semester, nearly every week. Most of these will be on blackboard; usually opening on Thursday evenings unless otherwise noted. Quiz averages will count 15% toward the final course grade, but your lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Quizzes will be brief, multiple choice, short answer, and given through the “assignments” section on blackboard, and will include questions about the readings assigned for that week and (primarily) material discussed in the preceding class session. Quizzes will be timed and completed before the following class period; no make-up quizzes will be given!
3. Primary Source Response Paper 10% Guidelines to be posted on blackboard and papers will be submitted via blackboard. You will choose only 1 of 3 possible topics to submit during the semester. Look ahead in the syllabus to identify which topic will be most interesting to you. You will submit this paper via Turnitin on Blackboard.
4. Midterm Exams 30% (15% each). These exams combine multiple choice and short essay formats; they will be timed and similar to the quizzes (more information through the “Assignments” section of blackboard). You will have two midterms during the semester.
5. Final Exam 25% This exam will follow the same format as the midterms and will be cumulative.
6. Please note that ALL of the above requirements must be fully completed in order to pass the course.
7. EXTRA CREDIT IS OFFERED!!! And students have some of their best class experiences doing extra credit. Guidelines for this will be discussed in class.
Class Citizenship and Rules of Conduct
1. Your cell phone and other electronic devices must be turned off during class and put away, except for explicit purposes of class notes and participation.
2. This syllabus constitutes one of the materials for the course. You are responsible for knowing and understanding what it says. The syllabus may change through the semester, in order to respond to contingency and student interest; if so, changes to the syllabi will be posted and announced on blackboard. If you have any doubts or questions, clear them up sooner rather than later. You can see me after class, stop by during office hours, or send an e-mail.
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3. Read, carefully and thoroughly, the current Brooklyn College Bulletin, for a complete listing of academic regulations. Familiarize yourself with Brooklyn College’s rules and regulations on, and penalties for plagiarism. Plagiarism—using other people’s ideas and words (let alone quiz and exam answers) as your own—is an academic sin that can result in course failure and college dismissal. If you have ANY questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please see me immediately. Please note: “Academic Dishonesty is prohibited in the City University of New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion, as provided herein.” — CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity. Adopted by the Board of Trustees 6/28/2004. Please note the language in the bulletin: “The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation can be found at www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation. Students should be aware that faculty may use plagiarism detection software.” Please note also that the use or incorporation of any AI-generated content (whether ChatGPT, Dall-e, or similar) in assignments for this class is not permitted. |
4. Brooklyn College expects you to attend every class and I share those expectations. Many of the readings for the course are complex and the classroom, ultimately, is your most important textbook. Experience, furthermore, shows a direct correlation between regular attendance, doing the assigned reading, and quality of performance. If you find yourself struggling with readings, classroom discussions, or writing assignments, please come to my office hours, or make an appointment, so we can discuss your concerns. Feel free to visit often, and contact me early to avoid last-minute panic attacks at the end of the semester.
5. You need to complete the reading assignments for each class BEFORE we meet for that class so you can engage in class lecture and participate in class discussions. If you do not raise an issue or ask a question in class, but want to notify me of your interest in further discussion, please see me after class, stop by during office hours, or send an e-mail. I endeavor to answer all e-mail within 48 hours.
6. Please note that in your final grade assessment, I will take improvement over time into consideration and I sometimes (depending on grade averages) grade on a curve (I curve up, not down). I do not, however, grant incompletes. If you have any questions about this, discuss it with me sooner rather than later.
Topics/Readings and Writing Assignments: Practicalities and Deadlines
A list of weekly topics, reading assignments, and exam due dates for the semester follows. You need to complete your readings before lectures/discussions, so you can participate in discussions about the themes/debates we will explore. -Readings are accessed through (1) assigned textbook (2) via the hyperlinks in the online version of the syllabus on Blackboard and (3) files available through the “Course Documents” section of Blackboard. If you encounter any technical difficulty accessing these readings, please email me as quickly as possible.
Please note: if you have any problems, questions, or concerns during the semester, please alert me AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. Many problems can be resolved more easily when they are discussed in real time; matters are generally more difficult to resolve after the fact.
Student Services at Brooklyn College:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal anti-discrimination statute, provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, the legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. The Center for Student Disability Services (CSDS) will be working remotely for the fall semester. In order to
receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be
registered with CSDS. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to schedule an interview by calling (718) 951-5538 or emailing testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu. If you have already registered with CSDS, email Josephine.Patterson@brooklyn.cuny.edu or
testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu to ensure the accommodation email is sent to your professor.
Personal Counseling and Academic Support Brooklyn College offers academic, counseling, and campus services. Many of these are posted online under “Student Support Services.” At times, personal counseling can offer an important support for you, both inside and outside of classes. Resources are available for these types of support here. You can also stop by 0203 James Hall to speak with a professional counselor directly during school hours or email them at BCPersonalCounseling@gmail.com. For academic support, please see additional college resources here.
Student bereavement services are also available. Please refer to the contact information I have posted on Blackboard for contacts.
Throughout the semester, we will spend some time discussing how to read more effectively, efficiently, and critically, so you have more time to think about what you have read rather than just plowing through the material without retaining the important points (the thesis, evidence, structure, and questions remaining/issues ignored). Please visit office hours often to discuss readings and issues in greater depth.