COURSE SYLLABUS
for
HS302
Instructor: Dr. Daniel
T. Dorrity
Office: Library 326
Office Telephone:
635-2117
Office hours: MTWR 0900-1000am
Email: ddorrity@lssu.edu
Web Site: www.lssu.edu/faculty/ddorrity.htm
Course
Description
A history of
Required Text
Students are
required to read (study) the following textbook: Stuart E. Prall and David Harris Willson, A History of England, Vol. II, 1603 to the Present. 4th Edition.
Students will also be assigned
excerpts from various writings. These will be placed on reserve in the Library.
Course Objectives
Students will gain a knowledge and
understanding of:
The major themes of British history
in the period from the reign of Queen Anne to the present
They will also gain a deeper
understanding of the processes of history
A greater ability to perceive the
progress of history and to think critically about the major issues from age to
age and the means and methods used to solve them
A perception of the complex nature
of history and the multiplicity of disciplines that comprise it and contribute
to an understanding of it
A comprehension of the importance
of a historical perspective in understanding current issues and problems
And a keener perception of the
nuances of historical explanation and a greater precision in the expression of
that understanding
Among the specific substantive
issues addressed are:
Whigs and Tories and the
settlement of 1688
The evolution of power
between crown and parliament
The development of the
office of prime minister and the cabinet system
The commercial and
colonial conflict between
The American War of
Independence and the loss of the first
The French Revolution
and the British reaction
Irish grievances and the
Act of Union
The Industrial
Revolutions
British Policy toward
Reaction and reform in
the period 1815-1848
The Crimean War and
British Interests in the
Political and Social
Reform, 1867-1914
The new imperialism, the
Irish problem, and the advent of World War I
The Great Depression and
World War II
The post-World War II
era: Social Reform, Retreat from Empire,
Class Schedule
The class will meet on MTWR from 1000-1050am.
Course
Requirements
Exams
There will be four exams
for the course. These exams will be made up of multiple choice and written questions,
and will be based on the textbook, and other assigned readings, on lectures and
class discussions, and on videos shown in class or assigned for viewing outside
of class.
Grading
The grade for the course
will be computed on the basis of your performance on the various exams, the
quality of your contributions in class, on class attendance, and on extra
credit assignments, in cases where those are allowed. Each of the four exams
will carry the same weight.
|
A+ |
97 |
B+ |
87 |
C+ |
77 |
D+ |
67 |
|
A |
93 |
B |
83 |
C |
73 |
D |
63 |
|
A- |
90 |
B- |
80 |
C- |
70 |
D- |
60 |
Extra Credit
Students may be
permitted to do special assignments for extra credit. The instructor's decision
to permit a student to do these will be based on the student's attendance,
constructive contributions in class, and the Instructor's perception of the
student's work ethic. Students deficient
in any of these areas will not be permitted to submit work for extra credit.
Attendance Policy
To be discussed and
announced in class.
Class
Participation
Students are strongly
encouraged to participate in class discussions. Your contribution is important
for various reasons. First it can indicate to the Instructor where he may need
to provide further clarification or more information. Second it helps the
student by gaining further explanation, while at the same time it will help
fellow students who may be experiencing the same problem. Third it helps students develop the ability
and confidence to express themselves in a group
setting, and it will also help them gradually to express themselves with
greater clarity, as well as encouraging classmates to do likewise. And fourth
it will help engage the class in a group discussion of the issue or problem
that is of special benefit because of the various sides of the issue that can emerge
and the variety of explanations possible. Finally it makes the student an
active participant in the classroom who provokes and stimulates discussion and
the search for explanations and understanding rather than a passive recipient
of knowledge.
Honor Code and
Plagiarism
Ethics is an important
aspect of the human being. It is indispensable to the effective functioning of
all societies and to reliable and successful relations between all human
beings. Consequently you are expected that all work submitted to the Instructor
as a part of this course be your own, unless otherwise
denoted in footnotes or by some other appropriate means. The University imposes
very severe penalties for plagiarism, so you should be sure to avoid this at
all costs. If you have some doubts about all the different forms and aspects of
plagiarism, you should log on to the
Research Paper
All written work
submitted for this course must follow the bibliographic, footnoting, and
quotation style presented by Kate L. Turabian. Copies of her books on style are
in the library and excerpts and examples are on the
Correct Form for
the Term Paper
Follow the Turabian
style and suggestions available on
Bibliography
Bibliographies must
follow the style set out by Turabian and available on Duke University’s and
Long Island University’s web sites which are linked from my web site. Be sure
to follow her warning not to cite or list encyclopedias or textbooks in your writings.
Also note her comments on the proper title for your bibliography. Once again,
be sure in all historical research papers to concentrate on primary sources,
using secondary sources mostly as a guide to primary ones and also to
familiarize yourself with the major perspectives and interpretations of your
topic.
Textbook
To be announced in
class.