GRADE REQUIREMENTS

 OTHER ASSIGNMENTS

             Students will write a reaction paper over each of the three outside readings for the class. The reaction paper should cover a short summary of the identification of the book’s themes, and a conclusion based upon their analysis of the work. Each reaction paper is worth 25 points for a total of 75 points. Finally, there will be one quiz during the semester. Those grades will be added to the total number of points available for each student in determining the student’s final grade. Late papers will be accepted, but will be reduced by five (5) points each day that they are late.

 GRADES

             Unlike other disciplines at other institutions of higher education, students enrolled in Modern World Civilization will be evaluated by a standard distribution and not a curve. The distribution will follow a 90, 80, 70, and 60 percentile ranking system from the 475 points available to all students. Students are reminded that the evaluation process is solely based on the merits of each individual and not an arbitrarily established system.

            In order to do well in class, it is important that students attend class on a regular basis, take notes, study, and read their assignments. If a student has a question they are strongly encouraged to ask them and also to seek help from the professor if needed.

DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES

        Grades will be distributed in the following manner during the course of the semester:

            Three Examinations     – 300 points

            Three Reaction Papers –   75 points

            Attendance Points        – 100 points  

BOOKS  

Required Texts

Chodorow, Knox, Schirokauer, Strayer, Gatzke, The Mainstream of Civilization: Since 1500. Harcourt Brace, 1994.

Cipolla, Carlo. Faith, Reason, and the Plague in Seventh-Century Tuscany. W. W. Norton, 1981.

Charles Dickens. The Christmas Carol. Bantam Books, 1850.

Richard Preston. Demon in the Freezer. Fawcett, 2003.

Optional Books

George Orwell. Animal Farm. Signet, 1947.

___. 1984. Signet, 1948.

Richard Preston. The Hot Zone. Anchor Books, 1985.

___. The Cobra Event. Bantam Books, 1997.

Upton Sinclair. The Jungle. Signet, 1905.

Eric Maria Remarque. All Quiet on the Western Front. Bantam, 1928

Elie Wiesel. Night. Bantam, 1954.

Barbara Ehrenreich. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Owl Books, 2001.

Thomas Frank. What's the Matter with Kansas? Metropolitan Books, 2004.