Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
Literature, philosophy, religion and the fine arts integrated with the history of Western Civilization since the French Revolution of 1789.
Delivery
This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and WebCT, a computer conferencing program. WebCT requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
Prerequisites
none
Instructor
Gregory Bruess, Associate Professor of History
Gregory Bruess is an associate professor of Russian and Modern Greek history who joined the staff in 1989. He received his B.A. in biology at Augsburg College and later earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in history at the University of Minnesota. His specialty is Imperial Russian History with an emphasis on Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Greek-Slavic relations. His research interests afford him the privilege of traveling to either, or both, Russia and Greece every summer. He has published a book and numerous articles on religion, identity and empire in the modern era.
At UNI, Bruess teaches Humanities II and III as well as courses on Imperial and Soviet Russia and Modern Mediterranean Europe. He also offers a study abroad course in Greece each summer that satisfies the Capstone requirement of the UNI Liberal Arts Core.
If you have any questions about this course, please do not hesitate to contact Bruess at bruess@uni.edu.
Evaluation
11 assignments, 4 exams
Overview
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to a survey of European history, society and culture with an emphasis on supplemental historical readings. It is my hope that each student will recapture the spirit of European life as it entered the modern era and changed from a predominantly agricultural and aristocratic society in the late eighteenth century to an almost completely democratic and urban society in the twenty-first century. Throughout this transformation, social, economic and political change was reflected in the arts. In this course we will read a number of literary texts created during this 200-year period and discuss the context of their creation.
Upon the completion of this course you should possess much more than a hazy recollection of major "historical" events such as wars, plagues and the reigns of monarchs. Although the "facts" are essential, more importantly, you should come away from this study with an enriched understanding of how the western world has evolved since the late eighteenth century and, perhaps, some sense of history's significance in understanding present-day ideas, conflicts and dynamics.
Written Assignments
The written assignments in this course are of two types: 1) study guide identifications and 2) short essay questions on the four novels. The purpose of the identifications is to ensure your progress through the text, indicate any problems you might have in understanding that material and prepare you for your exams. The essay questions are intended to introduce you to the practice of understanding literature in its historical context and to give you practice in essay writing and written communication.
Identifications should be no longer than three sentences each. In each answer you are to identify the individual, place, concept or event and to state its significance to the chapter and subject. Read the text through once and then attempt to answer the identifications. Always use your own words. Do not just copy from the text. These terms are integral to understanding the most important issues raised in the course. The better you do them, the better prepared you will be.
The identifications, 11 in total, will constitute 25% of the course grade and will be graded on a 4-point scale (4 is excellent and 0 is unsatisfactory). Unsatisfactory work must be resubmitted and accepted before an exam may be taken.
The four short essays will constitute 25% of course grade. Those will be scored on some variation of the 100-point scale. When you type the essays leave one-inch margins and double-space the text. I expect essays of at least 1000 words for each novel.
Exams
There will be four proctored multiple-choice exams of 70 questions each and the exams will constitute 50% of the course grade. These will be unit exams, i.e., they are not comprehensive. The exams will come after lessons 3, 6, 9 and 11.
Plagiarism Caution
Representing someone else’s work as your own constitutes plagiarism. To avoid any confusion regarding plagiarism, please visit www.turnitin.com; it has a very useful section on how to cite sources correctly, how to paraphrase, and how to avoid plagiarizing. As a means to prevent plagiarism, you are not to use the Web or Internet when writing the essays. The first instance of plagiarism will result in a “F” for the assignment; the second instance will result in an “F” for the course.
Grading
Your final grade in the course will be based on the average of the four exams (50%); the grades you received on the four short essays (25%); and the overall quality of the 11 study guide identifications (25%).
Textbook(s)
Jackson Spielvogel, Western Civilization, Vol. C: Since 1789 , 6th ed.
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein.
Emile Zola, Germinal.
Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front.
Albert Camus, The Stranger.
Texts are available from the vendor of your choice or
University Book and Supply
1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
For more information
Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu