HIST 2321:
This course is offered through CourseShare.
In the event of an emergency or announced campus closure due to a natural disaster or pandemic, it may be necessary for Panola College to move to altered operations. During this time, Panola College may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include, but are not limited to: online learning management system (CANVAS), online conferencing, email messaging, and/or an alternate schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor Panola College's website (www.panola.edu) for instructions about continuing courses remotely, CANVAS for each class for course-specific communication, and Panola College email for important general information.
Regular and punctual attendance of classes and laboratories is required of all students. When a student has been ill or absent from class for approved extracurricular activities, he or she should be allowed, as far as possible, to make up for the missed work. If a student has not actively participated by the census date, they will be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. This policy applies to courses that are in-person, online, hybrid, and hyflex.
Attendance in online courses is determined by submission of an assignment or participation in an activity. According to federal guidelines, simply logging into a distance learning course without participating in an academic assignment does not constitute attendance. Distance learning is defined as when a majority (more than 50%) of instruction occurs when the instructor and students are in separate physical locations. Students must engage in an academic activity prior to the course census date.
When an instructor feels that a student has been absent to such a degree as to invalidate the learning experience, the instructor may recommend to the Vice President of Instruction that the student be withdrawn from the course. Instructors may seek to withdraw students for non-attendance after they have accumulated the following number of absences:
Fall or spring semesters:
3 or more class meeting times per week - 5 absences
2 class meeting times per week - 3 absences
1 class meeting per week - 2 absences
The student is responsible for seeing that he or she has been officially withdrawn from a class. A student who stops attendance in a class without officially withdrawing from that class will be given a failing grade; consequently, the student must follow official withdrawal procedures in the Admissions/Records Office.
Please note: Health Science and Cosmetology courses may require more stringent attendance policies based on their accreditation agencies. Please see the addendum and/or program handbook for further information concerning attendance.
Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Request form in the Student Handbook or may request the form from the course instructor.
Use of generated AI Permitted under some classroom circumstances with permission.
There are situations throughout the course where you may be asked to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to explore how they can be used. Outside of those circumstances, you should not use AI tools to generate content that will end up in any student work (assignments, activities, discussion responses, etc.). In such cases for Option #2, no more than 25% of the student work should be generated by AI. Use of any AI-generated content in this course without the instructor’s consent qualifies as academic dishonesty and violates Panola College’s standards of academic integrity.
The purpose of this course is to… teach students how to use primary and secondary sources to
analyze historical evidence from human origins to the 16th century in the Western World. The
course examines major cultural regions of the world in Africa, the Americas, Asia,
Europe, and Oceania and their global interactions over time
After studying all materials and resources presented in the course, the student will be able to:
1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, and cultural forces on this period of
western history.
Students in all sections of this course will learn the following content:
1. Understanding the Past
2. Early Humans
3. Early Civilizations and Urban Societies
4. The Near East
5. Asia in Ancient Times
6. Mediterranean Peoples
7. Experiencing the Roman Empire
8. The Americas in Ancient Times
9. Africa in Ancient Times
10. Empires of Faith
11. The Rise of Islam and the Caliphates
12. India, the Indian Ocean Basin, and East Asia
13. The Post-Roman West and the Crusading Movement
14. Pax Mongolica: The Steppe Empire of the Mongols
15. States and Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa
16. Climate Change and Plague in the Fourteenth Century
17. The Ottomans, the Mamluks, and the Ming
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery: Instruction Methods vary among instructors, although
most instruction generally will consist of lectures, reading assignments, class discussions, handouts,
audio-visual and other historically-related presentations. Distance learning and online instructors will use
current technology to facilitate these specific class environments. Your instructor will notify you in
advance of any alterations to this format, or the integration of any other mediums of delivery to the class.
The periodic daily grade exercises and unit exams are also integral parts of the instructional delivery
process, and are discussed in greater detail under Assessment. Please see classroom policies
description in Canvas for more details about grade determination, instructor expectations, and course
assignments.
- Unit exams will be administered over Open educational resources (OER) assigned readings, and
lecture material. The number and style of the exams may vary based upon the instructor and the
length of the course. The exams will measure the students’ comprehension of the course
material.
2. A research paper will constitute a portion of the class grade. The paper will require students to
research and write of a historical figure within a specified course time period. The paper
requirements, such as length and style, may vary depending upon the length of the course and
the individual instructor. The paper will measure the ability of the students to critically analyze
history.
3. Reading Assignments will be administered during the semester. The assignments will cover
assigned readings through an OER course textbook and other assigned course readings through
OER.
4. All students will be assigned an attendance grade. The means by which the grade is calculated
shall be determined by the individual instructor and vary based upon the metho of course delivery
(i.e. face-to-face or internet class). This grade is given as an incentive for students to attend class
on a regular basis.
1. Students must demonstrate their ability to think critically about history by writing a research paper on
a historical figure within a specified course time period. Students will write a paper analyzing and
contributions of one historical figure who contributed to the early success of Western Civilization.
Students will write a paper analyzing and contributions of one historical figure who contributed to
the early success of Western Civilization. Students will be given a list of historical figures and
events impacted the Western Civilization
2. Unit exams will be administered over textbook (0ER) chapters, assigned readings, PowerPoint
material, and other assigned course materials. The number and style of the exams may vary
based upon the instructor and the length of the course. The exams will measure the students’
comprehension of the course material.
3. Unit quizzes will be administered over textbook chapters, assigned readings, and power point
material. The number and style of the quizzes may vary based upon the instructor and the length
of the course. The quizzes will measure the students’ comprehension of the course material.
Assessment and Assignment Rules:
1. Academic Freedom Instructor Discretion: The history department recognizes the necessity of
academic freedom. As such, each instructor maintains the right to stipulate rules in addition to
this syllabus concerning assignments, make-up work, grading rubrics, classroom recordings,
excused absences, extra credit, and any other matters within the individual course offerings. All of
the supplemental rules must be made available to the students at the start of the semester or in
advance of the completion of individual assignments.
2. Academic Freedom and Code of Etiquette: The history department recognizes the right of the
instructor and the students to address controversial subjects. This right to academic freedom is
recognized as the principle by which truth may be pursued. Consequently, the department firmly
upholds the right of instructors to appropriately express in writing, speaking or action their
understanding, opinions, and knowledge on controversial subjects. Moreover, no student’s grade
shall be diminished because of an appropriately expressed political opinion. However, the
freedom of speech does not act as an excuse for inappropriate language or behavior as it ispossible to freely discuss controversial issues without being obscene. Obscenity consists of
language and behavior that lacks academic value, is repugnant to the standards of the
community, and/or contains libel or slander. Moreover, the freedom of speech does not act as an
excuse for violating standards of academic honesty or poor performance on assignments. The
instructor and the college reserve the right to remove students from the class and hold
disciplinary actions in accord with college policy for obscene language or behavior.
3. Academic Honesty: The central theme of education is the enlightenment of the mind. This can only
be achieved by hard, honest work. Consequently, cheating and plagiarism are strictly prohibited
in the course. A student must not receive from or give to any other student information, answers,
or help during an exam. A student must not "steal" the answers from an unsuspecting student
during an exam. A student must not use any sources for answers during an exam (including, but
not limited to notes, books, or electronic devices) without prior authorization from the professor. A
student must not obtain exam questions illegally, tamper with the exam questions, nor change the
results of an exam after it has been graded. Moreover, students are prohibited from plagiarizing
any assignments. Plagiarism consists in the taking of another person's ideas, words, or
information and claiming those properties as one's own. Properly quoting and citing borrowed
information is NOT plagiarism. However, since academic integrity is based on the originality of a
student's work, no student may submit an assignment that contains an excessive amount of
properly cited material. The standards and violations of academic honesty shall be further defined
by the individual instructor (in accord with college policy). Individual instructors reserve the right to
employ any ample means for proving academic dishonesty. Students have the right to contest a
plagiarism or cheating claim through the college appeals process.
The grading scale for this course is as follows:
Exams/ Research Paper —60 %
Daily Grades—30%
Attendance/Participation Grade—10%
- Open educational resources (OER) as posted on Canvas at the Instructors discretion.
Other:
Courses conducted via video conferencing may be recorded and shared for instructional
purposes by the instructor.
For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings:
https://www.panolacollegestore.com
For testing services, use the following link: https://www.panola.edu/student-services/student-
support/academic-testing-center
If any student in this class has special classroom or testing needs because of a physical learning
or emotional condition, please contact the ADA Student Coordinator in Support Services located
in the Charles C. Matthews Student Center or go to https://www.panola.edu/student-
services/student-support/disability-support-services for more information.
Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This
institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational
experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for
accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting
Accommodations Request form in The Pathfinder or may request the form from the course
instructor.
Withdrawing from a course is the student’s responsibility. Students who do not attend class and
who do not withdraw will receive the grade earned for the course.
Student Handbook, The Pathfinder: https://www.panola.edu/ (located at the bottom under
students)
Open educational resources (OER) as posted on Canvas at the Instructors discretion.
- Courses conducted via video conferencing may be recorded and shared for instructional purposes by the instructor.
- For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings: https://www.panolacollegestore.com.
- For testing services, use the following link: https://www.panola.edu/student-services/studentsupport/academic-testing-center.
- The Accommodations & Disability Support (A&DS) Office at Panola College provides and facilitates support services and accommodations for students with disabilities. The A&DS office works under the federal guidelines included in Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act. Please contact the Accommodations & Disability Support (A&DS) Office located in the Charles C. Matthews Student Center or go to https://www.panola.edu/disabilitysupport for more information.
- Withdrawing from a course is the student’s responsibility. Students who do not attend class and who do not withdraw will receive the grade earned for the course.
- Student Handbook: https://www.panola.edu/ (located on at the bottom under student)