Course Syllabus

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Mr. Lucier’s History 171 (online) Syllabus

History 171 Section 03 (Ref# 4742) World History 1500 - present

San Bernardino Valley College | Spring 2025

Social Sciences, Human Development & Physical Education Division

North Hall Room 345 | (909) 384-4413

Instructor: Bradley Lucier

Email: Blucier@sbccd.cc.ca.us

Room: Online

Office Hours: Online, T/Th 9:40 – 10:40 AM

Time: 6.75 hours each week

Preferred contact: Inbox in canvas

Start date: 3/24/24

End date: 5/16/24

 

Course Description:

This course is a survey of world history from 1500 to present. There is a comparative approach to the study of specific themes including political, social, and economic change, as well as religious and cultural development.

Course Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify and explain the historical significance of key terms, events in World history 1500-Present.
2. Critically evaluate and interpret specific themes such as religion, economic, and political revolutions, industrialization and colonization, and wars and decolonization from a global perspective.
3. Applying a global perspective and comparative approach, analyze the impact of increased interaction between nations and the consequences that modern development had on both individual countries and the world, using evidence based writing (2 or more sources).

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

1. Critically analyze major historical developments, trends, and cycles in world history from 1500 to present times
2. Discuss the impact of interactions between all regions of the world regarding trade, migration, cultural and biological exchanges beginning in the 16th century period
3. Compare and contrast the development and implementation of key political and economic systems
4. Assess the impact of colonialism, imperialism, independence and nationalistic movements
5. Compare daily life in different cultural and geographic settings
6. Analyze the impact of scientific achievements, new technologies, and industrialization
7. Compare and contrast various cultural movements, including key achievements in art and literature in the world from 1500 to present
8. Explain the causes and consequences of major world wars, such as World War I, World War II, and the Cold War
9. Critically evaluate the modern challenges created by globalization, including economic instability, human rights, and environmental concerns

Course Core Competencies:

• Read and retain information
• Write clearly
• Locate and interpret information
• Evaluate authority and bias of information
• Locate, evaluate and select evidence to support/discredit an argument
• Construct a persuasive argument
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, other cultures
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, one’s own culture

 

Required LMS:

Canvas

Required Text:

Textbook is 100% free and online at:

 https://openstax.org/details/books/world-history-colume-2/

OpenStax, World History, Volume 2: From 1400 (Houston: OpenStax, 2022),

 

*Additional required readings will be made available online through Canvas

*Additional readings will be made available on Canvas

Course Requirements:

                                                                                    Grade breakdown:

Weekly Chapter Assignments                                    350 points (points vary per week)

Midterm + Final Exam                                                 350 points (175 points each)

Two Historical Biographical Discussions:                   180 points (90 points each)

Four Primary Source Discussions:                              120 points (30 points each)

________________________________________________________________________

Total points:                                                               1000 points                                                   

 

Grade Scale:

1000-900 points = A

899-800 points = B

799-700 points = C

699-600 points = D

599-0 points = F

 

 

Weekly Chapter Assignments: 

(350 points total, points vary per week) Each week students will be required to complete readings, watch brief videos, and take notes on the chapters covered for that week. Weekly chapter assignments will be a short quiz. Due dates for chapter assignments are each week by Sunday night @ 11:59 PM.  Late submissions are only accepted up to one week past the due date, after that they will not be accepted and are scored as 0.  Weekly chapter quizzes will allow for unlimited attempts and unlimited time.  Any late submissions will have scores reduced by 50%.

 

Midterm + Final Exam: 

(350 points, 175 points each) Students will be required to complete a midterm and final exam.  Exams will test your knowledge on the chapters covered in the textbook. Exams will consist of 25 questions (multiple answer, matching, dropdown) that you will be required to answer in 60 minutes.  Questions are chosen from a pool and shuffled, meaning each exam attempt will generate a different exam.  There are two attempts to account for any technical glitches or internet issues during your initial attempt.  Even if you experience no technical issues on the first attempt, feel free to take advantage of both attempts. No late Exams will be accepted.

                           

Historical Biography Assignment:

(180 points, 90 points each) During the semester students will complete 2 biographical assignments. Each assignment will require each student to participate in two separate discussions. The first; everyone will choose a different person for which they will write a discussion post detailing that individuals’ biography. Participating in the first discussion will avoid two or more students choosing the same person. Duplicate posts receive no credit.

 

The second; there will be a series of questions for which you will answer.  Research will be based from online sources as these assignments will require a deeper understanding than the textbook or videos can provide.  Biographical posts must be put into your own words to avoid plagiarized work. Any work copied and pasted and/or not put into your own words will be considered plagiarism and will be graded as a 0.  Each student must also reply to at least 2 other students posts comparing biographical figures through a series of follow up questions that will be posted.  The specific format for these assignments will be made available on Canvas. Late assignments are only accepted within 1 week of their original due date and will be reduced by 50%.

 

Primary Source Discussions:

(120 points total, 30 points each) Four primary sources discussions will be made available on canvas.  Primary source discussions will require the reading of selected primary sources posted on to canvas.  You will be given a series of questions which you must answer in your discussion.  It is important to include in your initial reply: 1) the primary source read and 2) the question you are answering. Source discussions will be graded on the initial post and the two required peer replies. Late assignments will only be accepted within one week of the original due date.  Late assignments are reduced by 50%.

 

What is a primary source?  A source is anything that informs us about the past.  A primary source is a source that comes directly from the time period/place of historical inquiry. 

 

Ethics, plagiarism, and cheating policy:

A WORD OF CAUTION: Plagiarism includes copying or re-mixing someone else’s work – either from the textbook or the internet - and passing it off as your own. Additionally, the use of a paraphrasing tool, thesaurus, and other text modifiers is also plagiarism. Do not be seduced into using the Internet as a crutch instead of using your own thoughts/words.  Simply changing a few words or punctuation is NOT using ones own thoughts/words, and will be considered plagiarized work.

 

The PLAGIARISM PENALTY: Students who plagiarize will receive a ZERO for the assignment and WILL NOT be able to make it up.  Any secondary incident will lead to additional loss of points, including a FAILING grade for the class. Repeated incidents of plagiarism to the Dean for student code of conduct violations.

 

Good practices to avoid plagiarism: Some advice/best practices to avoid submitting plagiarized work: Do not use words/terms/places that you are personally unfamiliar with, or do not understand. Read first, close browser/book, then write – Do NOT read/write simultaneously.  Work to minimize the content of your sources ie: For every 5 sentences of information read, write 1 sentence on your assignment. Proof-read, proof-read, and proof-read before you submit.

 

Late Work Policy:

No late exams are accepted.  Because the answers are public after exam sessions, no late exams are accepted.  Exam sessions are open for 7 days, if an exam has not been attempted within the exam period, it will be scored as 0.  All other late assignments will only be accepted within one week of the original due date.  After 7 days from the due date, assignments will be closed for submissions and graded as 0. No late assignments are accepted after the end of the semester.   Late assignments will have their scores reduced by 50%.

 

Online Participation/Drop Policy:

Students can be dropped for the following reasons:

1. Failure to pass the Syllabus Quiz within the first 7 days of the course
2. Failure to submit any work for any given 2-week period.
3. Inappropriate, harassing, or offensive comments/statements made to the professor or other students in public discussions.

Drop date: 4/1/25. Withdraw date: 4/24/25. Students are responsible for dropping by the posted deadlines.

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Resources:

ADA Accommodations: If you require a disability-related accommodation, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can assist you in a timely manner. You must also register with the college’s Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS). You will be required to provide DSPS with professional verification of your disabling condition(s). The phone number for DSPS is (909) 384-4443.

 

Course Calendar:

All assignments are due on Sunday by 11:59 PM.  No late assignments accepted for Exam Assignments. No late assignments accepted after 5/18/23

 

Week 1 (March 24 – March 30)

• Openstax Chapter 1
• Complete Chapter 1 assignments
• Complete Syllabus Quiz + Introduction Assignments

 

Week 2 (March 31 – April 6)

• Openstax Chapters 2, 3, 4
• Complete Chapter 2-4 assignments

 

Week 3 (April 7 – April 13)

• Openstax Chapters 5,6
• Complete Chapter 5-6 assignments
• Complete Primary Source Discussion 1

 

Week 4 (April 14 – April 20)

• Openstax Chapters 7,8
• Complete Chapter 7-8 assignments
• Complete Primary Source Discussion 2
• Choose a person for Biography Assignment 1
• Complete Midterm Exam

 

Week 5 (April 21 – April 27)

• Openstax Chapters 9, 10
• Complete Chapter 9-10 assignments
• Complete Historical Biographical Discussion 1

 

Week 6 (April 28 – May 4)

• Openstax Chapters 11, 12
• Complete Chapter 11-12 assignments

 

Week 7 (May 5 – May 11)

• Openstax Chapters 13, 14
• Complete Chapter 13-14 assignments
• Complete Primary Source Discussion 3
• Choose a person for Biography Assignment 2

Week 8 (May 12 – May 18)

• Openstax Chapters 15
• Complete Chapter 15-16 assignments
• Complete Primary Source Discussion 4
• Complete Historical Biographical Discussion 2
• Complete Final Exam
• Complete Semester Survey

 

Note: semester technically ends 5/16 but I will still accept work up to 5/18

* NO assignments will be accepted after May 18 *