TIME:            Monday and Wednesday from 11:45 to 1:20pm

TEXTBOOK: Richard W. Bulliet, et al., The Earth and Its People, 5th Edition, Cengage, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-1-111-52075-5
ISBN-10: 1-111-52075-5 (This is a special edition produced for my classes in black and white to reduce the price dramatically. I checked online & a full used edition costs about $30 more plus shipping. A new fifth edition is about double the price.

PROCEDURE: 
The usual class attendance, taking notes on lectures (with instructor's hope that something is happening), exams, group meetings and class discussions
               .
NOTE ON READING: 
Please be careful to  check your  assignment  sheets  before each  section as textbook readings will vary each week.  Also noted on the course assignment sheets will be the date of  group  meetings and   the question you are expected to prepare.
                           .
GROUP MEETINGS:
There will be ten group meetings during the semester. Students will interact with four or five other individuals to discuss the readings, creative insights and personal hang-ups(not required) according to the questions in each chapter(except for the first group meeting).

Each student is to come prepared to discuss the material in accordance to the questions or problems in the chapter as specified on the assignment sheet.

In order to facilitate these discussions, students must bring a 3 x 5 card (or equivalent) with notes or a short outline pertaining to the material the student will discuss. Students ARE NOT to read an answer.
              
GROUP EVALUATION: 
Group meetings will count 1/4 of your grade.  Each group meeting is worth 10 points--a total of 100 points.

The 10 points for each group meeting will be given by a self-evaluation form which will be checked against a group chairperson's evaluation and the instructor's opinion from listening to the group discussions as he moves from group to group.

MISSING MEETINGS: 
If you should decide to be absent the day of the group meeting or if you decide you do not want to participate in the group meeting, you must submit within three weeks of your return to class a 2-page typewritten (3 pages if handwritten) answers to the questions due for that group meeting
       
COURSE GRADE:
The course grade will be the exact average of the three exams and the sum of the 10 group meetings. The maximum number of points is 300. Please do not ask m for extra credit or I will recommend returning you to Kindergarten. :0)

WARNING:      
You can withdraw from this class within the first three weeks of the semester without any notation appearing on your transcripts.  Between the third and the twelfth week of the semester your withdrawal will appear on the transcript as a W.  After the twelfth week I must give you a grade for the course.  If  you withdraw after this deadline the only grade I will give you is an F. All withdrawals must be done through the Registrar's office. If you are in class anytime during the semester and do not withdraw officially, you will  receive an F.

CREDIT/NO CREDIT: 
This course may be taken for credit/no credit. You must register with the admission's office no later than the fourth week of the semester. To receive credit for the course you must receive at least a C grade.

ONLINE: This course outline and example exams are on the internet.  You can get to the Western Civilization website in one of three ways:

                                                http://www.ohlone.edu /people/akirshner

                                                OR
                                   
                                                http://www.kirshnerisms.com

                  After  entering the site, click on “About My Courses.”

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty defrauds all those who depend upon the integrity of the college, its courses, and its degrees and certificates.  Students are expected to follow the ethical standards required in Ohlone courses.  These standards are defined in the "Policy on Academic Dishonesty."   Violations of this policy include cheating and plagiarism. If you cheat on an exam you will obtain a 0 on the exam and an F in the course.  Once I enter the F grade you will not be able to take a W for the course.

STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT:
The student has the right and shares the responsibility to exercise the freedom to learn.  The student is expected to conduct himself/herself in accordance with the standards of the College that are designed to perpetuate its educational purposes.  

BEWARE:
“Too many people today view the world with a sense of personal entitlement.  They harbor a belief they are somehow entitled to a grade, a degree, a job, a raise, a mortgage, a home, the good life in general; rather than recognizing most of these things actually need to be earned.  We need to keep our commitment to a general and liberal education, with critical thinking as a core focus.  Personal assumptions and beliefs need continual reflection and scrutiny under the bright lights of reality and social awareness.  A sense of entitlement is difficult to maintain if one truly thinks in a critical manner.”  From Dr. Jim Wright, Ohlone College’s Vice President of  Academic Affairs, February 23, 2009

OFFICE HOURS: I will hold court in 8320 between 10:45 and 11:40 AM Monday through Thursday. On Friday you can reach me between 11 and 12 Noon via e-mail or (510) 659-0358. If I cannot minister to your needs during these hours, please contact me & I will try and fit you in some other time. You are also welcome in my office any time my door is open even if I seem to not be there. My spirit remains.

TELEPHONES: My office number is 659-6242.  In case of an emergency, you can call me at (510) 659-0358.  My e-mail is akirshner@ohlone.edu.

I.             BOUNDED:  The Rise of National States

II.            EMERGING:   The Baroque Era & The Enlightenment

III.           EXPULSION:  The Age of Revolution

V.              ENERGY:  Industrialism and the Rise of the Masses

VI.            SCRAMBLE:  Western Imperialism

VII.           EXPLOSION:  World War I and Its Aftermath

IX             IMPLOSION: World War II and its Aftermath

X.             POLARIZATION:  Cold War, Détente & Modernity

EXAM III (Click see a sample exam).

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
I.            BOUNDED:  THE RISE OF NATIONAL STATES
Dates:            January 24, 26, 31, February 2
                       REQUIRED READING: Chapter 17, 18, 19

                       OPTIONAL VIEWING:  Ohlone iTunes video podcasts 1/29/07 (Part 1), 1/29/07 (Part 2), 1/31/07, 2/9/07, 2/12/07

                       Group Meeting (February 2):  Discuss the emergence of the Nation-State.  How did it occur?  What did the Nation-State mean for world history?                                              

II.          EMERGING:  THE BAROQUE ERA & THE ENLIGHTENMENT

Dates:            February 7, 9, 14, 16,
                      REQUIRED READING: Everyday Life in the 17th Century, http://www.localhistories.org/stuart.html (also read the material at the links at said site)

Daily Life in the 18th Century plus attached links, http://www.localhistories.org/18thcent.html

                       OPTIONAL VIEWING:  Ohlone iTunes video podcasts 2/21/07, 2/28/07, 3/5/07

                       Group Meeting (February 16):  What was enlightened during the Enlightenment?

III.   EXPULSION:  THE AGE OF REVOLUTION
Dates:            February 23, March 2, 7,
                       REQUIRED READING: Chapter 22

                       OPTIONAL VIEWING:  Ohlone

                       Group Meeting (March 7):  Describe the long range impact of the French Revolution on Western Civilization.

EXAM I   (MARCH 9)

IV.   CHANGE:   THE RISE OF NATIONALISM   
Dates:            March 14, 16, 28, 30,

                       REQUIRED READING: Chapters 25, 27

                       OPTIONAL VIEWING:  Ohlone iTunes video podcasts , 3/14/07 (repeat--especially last part of

                       Group Meeting (March 30):  How did the 19th century set the seeds for the 20th century?

V.   ENERGY:   INDUSTRIALISM AND THE RISE OF THE MASSES
 Dates:              April 4, 6,

                       REQUIRED READING: Chapters 23

                       OPTIONAL VIEWING: Ohlone iTunes video podcasts  4/2/07, 4/4/07, 4/6/07, 4/9/07  ALSO VIEW: Video, "Disease in the 19th Century"(#VID/071)

                       Group Meeting (April 6):  Describe the impact of the Industrial Revolution had on sex, family life and health.

VI.   SCRAMBLE:   WESTERN IMPERIALISM
 Dates:            April 11, 13,

                       REQUIRED READING:   Chapters 28
        
                       OPTIONAL VIEWING:  Ohlone iTunes video podcasts 4/11/07,  4/13/07

                       Group Meeting (April 13):  Do you think Imperialism was beneficial for the world?  Explain!

VII.   EXPLOSION:    WORLD WAR I AND ITS AFTERMATH
 Dates:            April 18, 20,

                       REQUIRED READING: Chapter 29

                       OPTIONAL VIEWING: Ohlone iTunes video podcasts 4/16/07, 4/18/07

                       Group Meeting (April 20):     Describe the impact of World War I on the rest of the twentieth century.

EXAM II  (APRIL 23)

VIII.   ANTITHESIS:  THE MASS MOVEMENTS OF MARXISM AND   FASCISM
 Dates:              April 25, 27

                       REQUIRED READING: pp. 794-808
         
                       OPTIONAL VIEWING:  Ohlone iTunes video podcasts 4/30/07, 5/2/07, 5/7/07   Also VIEW:   Videos, "Fit to Rule"  (#VID/072) and "The Twisted Cross" (#VID/073)

                       Group Meeting (April 27)  Bring material to the group meeting that will aid you in developing an essay based upon my lecture outline.

IX.   IMPLOSION:     WORLD WAR II AND ITS AFTERMATH
Dates:              May 2, 4

                       REQUIRED READING: pp. 808-818

                       OPTIONAL VIEWING: Ohlone iTunes video podcasts 5/11/07, 5/14/07, 5/16/07

                       Group   Describe people’s lives after World War II.

X.   POLARIZATION:  COLD WAR—DÉTENTE & MODERNITY      
Dates:             May 9, 11

                       REQUIRED READING:   Chapters 32, 33, 34
         
                       OPTIONAL VIEWING:  Ohlone iTunes video podcasts 5/18/07

                       Group Meeting (May 11):            Paul Valery a French Poet wrote:  “The future isn’t what ” EXPLAIN!

EXAM III (FRIDAY, MAY 20, 9:30 to 11:30 AM)

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