HST HST 401: History Capstone Seminar                                                                  Winter 2008

SCI 102                                                                                                                      MWF 1-1:50pm


Instructor:  Dr. Ilicia Sprey
Office:  Core 258
Office Phone: 219-866-6387
E-mail:  ilicias@saintjoe.edu

Homepage:  http://www.saintjoe.edu/~ilicias
Office Hours:   MWF 9-11am, TR 2.30-3pm and after class, and by appointment.  I will be in the office at other times when not in meetings,  so call or come by.

Books:

  • Edward J. Larson, Summer for the Gods
  • Brook Thomas, ed. Plessy v. Ferguson:  A Brief History with Documents
  • Additional materials will be available both on-line and on reserve in the Library. 

Course Description:  This is the capstone seminar for junior and senior History majors and is deliberately designed to be a  course in which students intensively apply the skills they have developed in their earlier History classes – use of primary sources, analytical thinking, clarity of thought, writing of persuasive papers based on use of evidence and analysis, thinking across time periods and geographical borders and political boundaries to identify patterns, etc. – in a focused setting. 

The format for this course is that of a seminar which by definition means that it is a group of students led by a professor in an in depth discussion , exchanging thoughtful ideas and analyzing materials, resulting in and sharing original reports and research.  As such, each student is responsible to the group to be prepared, having done their assignments in advance and having thought about the ideas contained in the readings.  Also, students will be regularly leading discussion on the material being considered over the course of the semester.

The specific topic of this seminar is “Law and Society” and covers a time period from circa 2000 B.C.E. to the present era and geographically examines the interaction of legal thought and action, political intent, and societal values, mores, concerns, and ideals of diverse populations on five continents.  This will allow students who have taken courses in American, European, Middle Eastern, African, and Asian history previously to call upon that knowledge, while also requiring students to expand their knowledge base and comfort zone by examining the experience of various peoples whose history they have not yet studied in detail.

While shorter papers will be due through throughout the semester, each student will do original research on a topic approved by the professor in advance and which is related to the topic of the seminar.  Periodic presentation on these research projects will be made by the students over the course of the semester. Because this is the History Department’s capstone class, the final research paper will be evaluated by Dr. White, Prof. Chattin, and Dr. Sprey.

What you can expect from me:  You can expect that I:

  • will be available during office hours and by appointment to discuss any issues you might have in class.
  • will be prepared for our sections and on time
  • will clearly state the criteria on which your work will be evaluated
  • will be interested in helping you improve as students and becoming more analytical in your thinking, and in getting as much out of this class as possible
  • if changes to course content are required to explain why and the impact of those changes

What I expect from you:  The following paragraphs explain what I expect of you in terms of work and behavior.

Evaluation and Requirements:
Attendance:  Because this is a seminar it is vital that students attend class on a regular basis in order to fully participate in discussions and to get the most out of the course.  If you are unable to attend class due to a health issue or emergency and need to reach me leave a message on either my e-mail or voice mail if I am out of the office.  Failure to come to class will affect your grade.  Coming to class and texting or not participating will negatively impact your final course grade.

It is the responsibility of student athletes to inform the instructor of any class absences due to competitions.  In accordance with College policy athletes will be excused a reasonable number of absences due to competitions and reasonable accommodations made, but student athletes will not be excused absences due to practices.  Any missed work, quizzes, exams, or papers must still be handed in on time.

Students who have between 3 and 6 unexcused absences will lose one full letter grade from their final class grade.  Students who have between 6 and 9 unexcused absences will have their grade dropped two letter grades, and those who miss more than 9 classes will automatically fail the course.

Appropriate classroom behavior is required and expected of all students at all times.

Assignments:  Readings and class assignments will be based on selected readings from a variety of sources, with those not listed above being available on-line and on reserve in the Library.  All readings are to be done prior to the class meeting for which it is assigned.

Any assignments not handed in on time will have 5 points deducted for each weekday they are late, not for each class session.  For example, a paper due on Monday but handed in on Wednesday will have 10 points deducted from the original grade it would have received otherwise.   All papers are to be typed or produced on a computer.  No late work will be accepted after the last class for the semester.

Students who decide to drop this course ARE RESPONSIBLE for obtaining the correct forms and getting them to the professor prior to the College's announced deadline for withdrawing from classes.

Academic Honesty:  Neither cheating nor plagiarism will be tolerated in this or any other class.  The purpose of this course is to have you do your best work not to submit someone else's efforts, therefore anyone found cheating or plagiarizing the work of another will receive an automatic F for the course and the case will be referred to the appropriate academic officer in accordance with the College’s policy (see College Catalog).

Grading in this course is based on a combination of presentations, leadership in discussion of topics, written work, a research paper, and a final exam.  Quantity, but particularly quality of participation is important.  

Papers:  Students will write a series of two-page typed papers analyzing and reflecting on the readings, as well as the research paper. 

Final Grades will be based on the following formula.

Presentations

200 pts

Final exam

150pts

2-page papers

400 pts

Research paper

250 pts

Total

1000 pts

 

Grade Points 

Grade Points

A 930-1000

C+ 780-799

A- 900-929

C 730-779

B+ 880-899

C- 700-729

B 830-879

D+ 680-699

B- 800-829

D 600-679

 

F 599 or below

 

Date

Assignment

Week 1:  January 5-9

 

Discussion on Law and its Role, Society and its expectations

 

Week 2:  January 12-16

 

The Ancient World:  Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, and Israel

 

Week 3:  January 19-23

 

Classical World:  Greece, Rome, Carthage

Week 4:  January 26-30

 

Asian and South Asian Concepts of Law:  China, Japan, and India

Week 5:  February 2-6

 

Medieval Law:  Secular

Week 6:  February 9-13

 

Medieval Law:  Canon (Church)

Week 7:  February 16-20

 

Islamic Law and Customs:  Middle East, Africa, and Indonesia

Week 8:  February 23 - 27

 

Enlightenment Era ideas

Week 9:  March 2-6

 

Spring Break – no classes

Week 10: March 9-13 

 

Saddler Commission, Child Labor, and Labor Law in Britain

Week 11:  March 16-20

Scopes Trial

Week 12:  March 23-27

 

 

Plessy v. Ferguson and Board v. Board of Education

Week 13:  March 30 – April 3

Civil Rights in the United States

Week 14:  April 6 –10

Nuremburg Trials – Development of International Law on Human Rights

 

Week 15: April 13 –17

South Africa – Reconciliation Trials

 

Week 16:  April 20-24

Modern Human Rights

 

 
The Final Exam Monday, April 27, 3-4:50pm

Page last updated 1/18/09 by IJ Sprey.