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Toggle navigation UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE • ADELPHI • SYLLABUS • HIST 125 6383
TECHNOLOGICAL
TRANSFORMATIONS (2175)
HIST-125
Summer 2017
Section 6383
3 Credits
05/22/2017 to 07/16/2017 Faculty Contact
Andrew McMurray Drew.McMurray@faculty.umuc.edu Course Description
A focused survey of the intersection of technology and history and the evolutionary process that marks what we call progress. The objective is to apply historical precedent to everyday responsibilities and relationships in order to advance the goals and ideals of contemporary society; compare and contrast historical eras; and describe how events influence our sense of time, space, and technology. Course Introduction Investigating the intersection of technology and history is the perfect stepping stone for engaging the
human condition. In this course, you will view history through the lens of technological change, with particular emphasis on how specific innovation and invention create clear lines of demarcation in history.
During this course, you will investigate the methodology and changes in human interactions, and compare and contrast historical eras. To do this, you will complete a staged project in which you will describe how events influence our sense of time, space, and technology. You will also apply historical precedent to everyday responsibilities and relationships in order to advance the goals and ideals of contemporary society. Course Outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to: • accurately and effectively communicate ideas, information, arguments, and messages to present material in a historical context • investigate and evaluate historical information from global, social and ethical perspectives to guide decision making • apply historical precedent to contemporary roles, responsibilities, and relationships in order to advance the goals of a community or organization Course Materials
Click to access your course materials information Class Guidelines
Contacting your Faculty Member
You can use the Pager feature within the classroom to send a message to your faculty member.
Click the Classroom Walkthrough Videos link below, and then click The Pager link, to view a howto video on how to use the Pager function within the classroom:
Classroom Walkthrough Videos Link
Within the Content section of your classroom, view the Start Here section or Additional Course Information section within the Syllabus to learn more about contacting your faculty member. Academic Policies
University policy information is available in the classroom Content > Syllabus > Academic Policies
section of the classroom. For a video demonstration on how to load the Content portion of your classroom, follow the link below, and then click on Course Content:
Classroom Walkthrough Videos Link
For more information about student services and other general information, visit UMUC’s website at http://www.umuc.edu/
HIST Program Policies and Information
Preventing Plagiarism
According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, plagiarism can be defined as “the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person” (http://www.merriam
webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism). In other words, it is literally a form of theft. If your professor finds
evidence that you have plagiarized, s/he must report that evidence. This can result in a zero grade for the entire assignment, not just the plagiarized sentence, text, illustration, chart, table, etc. The consequences of committing plagiarism are extremely high for you as students and as citizens in a rapidly increasing digitized world. An accusation of this form of theft is extremely serious and has resulted in firings, resignations, and humiliation for professors, news and television reporters, and even political leaders. Therefore, the history program strongly encourages all students to take the UMUC Academic Integrity Tutorial (https://www.umuc.edu/students/academic
integrity/tutorial.cfm). Your professor may also require you to complete the tutorial and submit the certificate of completion. In addition, the history program strongly encourages students to read and fully understand the university’s policies on academic dishonesty and plagiarism. The policy guidelines are located at http://www.umuc.edu/policies/academicpolicies/aa15025.cfm.
The instructions for the tutorial are below. When you successfully finish it, an online certificate of completion will appear. To take the tutorial, click on the Resources tab located in the navigation bar at the top, then click on the Effective Writing Center link. You will see a link for the Academic Integrity Tutorial; clicking on the link will take you to the tutorial. After you have completed the Academic Integrity Tutorial and successfully taken the quiz, please be sure to submit a copy of your certificate to your professor if you are required to do so.
When you reach the tutorial, complete these steps:
1. Read and complete Modules 14 of the Tutorial. 2. Take the quiz at the end of the Module 4. 3. Once you have received a passing score on your quiz, follow the instructions at the bottom of
the certificate to see how to download and save a PDF copy to your computer. 4. The tutorial instructions will tell you how to email the certificate to your instructor. Do Not Do This. 5. Upload the saved copy of your certificate to the assignment folder in your class labelled "Academic Integrity Certificate of Completion The history program wants to help all students achieve academic and professional success. If you have any questions about proper citation formats or doubts about when it is appropriate to document
your information, your professor and the staff of the Effective Writing Center are available to assist you.
Departmental Statement on Submission of Original Work
All work submitted must be written for this course during the term in which the course is being completed. Work from other courses or from other academic or nonacademic settings, past or present, is not acceptable and will result in immediate failure for that assignment. No opportunities for resubmission or revision will be granted.
When assignments involve research, students may make reference to work originally submitted for other courses or other settings. If students wish to submit extensively revised or expanded work previously submitted in this or another course, they must obtain the approval of the class instructor in advance.
UMUC Effective Writing Center
The Effective Writing Center (EWC) provides online services and resources to help students improve
their writing. You can see what the EWC offers by clicking on the Resources tab located in the navigation bar at the top, then clicking on the Effective Writing Center link. The EWC offers a guide to writing and research located at www.umuc.edu/writingcenter/onlineguide/index.cfm. The center also offers direct feedback from a trained, experienced writer called a writing advisor at www.umuc.edu/writingcenter/writingadvising/index.cfm. You can also submit any piece of writing or writingrelated questions by email to writingcenter@umuc.edu. For additional information about the EWC, see the Frequently Asked Questions section located at http://www.umuc.edu/writingcenter/writingresources/faq.cfm.
Using Library Services
Extensive Library resources, including Library research databases covering a wide variety of subject areas with tens of thousands of full text articles and other materials as well as extensive ebooks collections, and services are available online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.umuc.edu/library/index.cfm. To find the library link within this course, click on the Resources tab located in the navigation bar at the top, then click on the Library Services link.
The UMUC Library provides research assistance in creating search strategies, selecting relevant databases, and evaluating and citing resources in a variety of formats via its Ask a Librarian service at www.umuc.edu/library/libask/index.cfm, which includes 24/7 chat and email. The Subject Guides area of the library's Web site at www.umuc.edu/library/libresources/subjects.cfm provides a listing of resource guides for each subject area, with each guide containing relevant research databases, Websites, books, and other resources along with technical and citation assistance. A guide to locating scholarly articles and using UMUC's library databases is available at www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/articles.cfm. UMUC Library OneSearch allows users to simultaneously search for scholarly articles, books, and/or other research resources via a single search engine in most of the databases to which the UMUC Library subscribes, either directly or as additional resources (www.umuc.edu/library/index.cfm).
Preparation
To prepare for weekly work in History 125, please be sure to be mindful of readings, assignments, and due dates. The syllabus, course calendar, and announcements in the "News" area of the course LEO site are all helpful. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to be diligent in your work in History 125. It is generally best to get in a routine with regard to the readings, discussion activities, and written assignments. Also, if you do have any questions or concerns, please be sure to let me know as soon as possible. I will do everything he can to ensure that you will be successful. However, I cannot help you if I am not aware that you are in need of assistance. So, please do not be shy! Classroom Management
As a student in History 125, you can expect that your instructor will be active in the course LEO site on a regular basis. You will notice that I will participate in discussion activities in the form of posting links of interest, responses to students, followup questions, and general observations regarding discussion. You can also expect me to grade discussion activities in a timely manner. With regard to written assignments, I will provide feedback in the form of comments and corrections and will use a rubric to grade each assignment. You can expect written assignments to be returned by no later than five days following the due date of the assignment. If, at any time, you have any questions about a grade, please inform your instructor as soon as possible. Preferred Contact Method
Please contact me at drew.mcmurray@faculty.umuc.edu in the event that you have question or concern. As this email account is linked directly to my phone, I will respond in short order. Grading Information
This course consists of the followinggraded items with the following weighting: Assignment Percentage of
Grade Discussion Activities (16 * 2%) 32% Research Project: Topic Selection 5% Research Project: Annotated Bibliography 13% Research Project: Midterm Paper 25% Research Project: Final Paper 25% Late Policy No late work will be accepted without prior approval from the instructor. If extenuating circumstances prevent timely submission of course assignments, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. In the rare event that such contact was impossible, the instructor reserves the right
to assess each case individually.
Extra Credit Policy No extra credit will be offered in this class. Project Descriptions
These assignments are subject to change by the instructor.
Discussion Participation
For each of the eight weeks of the term, two discussion questions will be posted to the appropriate discussion forums. The questions will be identified as "Question 1" and "Question 2" for each week. For example, "Week 1/Question 1" would be the title of the discussion area that contains the first discussion prompt for the first week of the term. Each student is responsible for a thorough, well
reasoned, and substantive initial response to the prompt in each discussion area (for a total of two initial responses each week). Typically, a thorough, well reasoned, and substantive initial response will consist of at least 300 words of text. Be sure to avoid superficial responses to the prompt. Initial responses are due by the end of the day (11:59 PM EST) on Thursdays.
Students are also responsible for interacting with classmates throughout the discussion period. Responses to classmates should also be substantial and offer additional insights, meaningful questions, and/or tangential topics for further discussion. No fewer than two responses to classmates are required in each discussion area each week (for a total of at least four responses to classmates each week). Typically, meaningful responses to classmates will consist of at least 100
words of text. Responses to classmates are due by the end of the day (11:59 PM EST) on Sundays. The grading rubric for Discussion Participation is located in the Course Resources area of the History 125 course site.
The "Research Project"
In History 125, the term "Research Project" refers to a collection of four distinct assignments that build, one upon another. The first of these is the Topic Selection, due at the end of week two. Following this, the Annotated Bibliography is due by the end of week three. The Midterm Paper is due by the end of week four. The final assignment of the four that comprise the "Research Project" is the Final Paper, which is due by the end of week eight. Each of the four assignments is described in detail below.
Topic Selection Assignment (Part 1 of the "Research Project.")
By the end of week two of the term, each student will need to identify which technology or technological transformation they would like to study with a concise statement to be posted to the Topic Selection Assignment discussion area. This discussion topic is located in the week two discussion forum. The statement should include specific reference to the technology or technological transformation to be studied as well is the historical context within which the technology developed or technological transformation took place. As the first half of the course is primarily focused on pre1700 history and the second half of the course is primarily focused on post
1700 history, pay special attention on which side of this historical divide your technology or technological transformation falls on. This information will be very important as you complete the Midterm Paper as well as the Final Paper. Early in week three (or earlier), the instructor will provide feedback regarding this selection. Once an appropriate topic has been selected, students will receive credit for completion of this first part of the "Research Project."
Annotated Bibliography (Part 2 of the "Research Project")
By the end of week three of the term, each student will submit an Annotated Bibliography dealing specifically with their selected technology or technological transformation. The annotated bibliography will include no fewer than six viable academic sources dealing with the selected topic. Please make note of the need to evaluate any web resources that may be used. Click HERE for a handy guide to assist you in doing this. Please note, inclusion of web resources that do not meet the
threshold for inclusion in a collection of academic resources will not be counted toward the required six entries for the assignment. Generally speaking, resources from the UMUC Library database (for history, JSTOR and Academic Search Complete are good places to begin) as well as other "traditional" academic sources in the forum of journal articles and books are the safest routes to ensure that the six sources are considered to meet the threshold for inclusion of academic resources
for the "Research Project." If you have any questions about the viability of any sources, please let me know.
After selecting no fewer than six viable academic sources dealing with the selected topic, you will need to construct bibliographic entries for each in Chicago/Turabaian format. Please click HERE for a quick reference guide regarding this. After typing the bibliographic entries for each of the selected sources, add a brief paragraph to follow each entry. This paragraph, or annotation, will include an overview of the contents of the resource, how it is related to your topic, and why the resource is appropriate for use in an academic research project. Each annotation should include at least three welldeveloped sentences and no annotations should exceed 150 words. The Annotated Bibliography is intended to be a beginning point for student research of their topic. Students should add to their sources as the term progresses. Additional sources will be used, in conjunction with the original six, to complete the subsequent written assignments. Upon completion, the Annotated Bibliography should be uploaded as an MS Word file attachment to the appropriate dropbox located in the"Assignments" tab. The submission should include a title page and doublespaced text. The dropbox is also available via the week three content area.
The grading rubric for Annotated Bibliography is located in the Course Resources area of the History 125 course site.
Midterm Paper (Part 3 of the "Research Project")
In a 7501000 word essay drawing on the readings, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of Course Goals 1 & 2:
1. Accurately and effectively communicate ideas, information, arguments, and messages to present material in a historical context. 2. Investigate and evaluate historical information from global, social, and ethical perspectives to
guide decision making. You will choose two groups (women, laborers, farmers, believers, scientists and scholars, the middle class, the aristocracy, the agrarian poor, artisans, merchants, military people, entrepreneurs, religious authorities, heretics, artists, patients, builders and architects, physicians, musicians, entrepreneurs, etc.) and trace how technology or technological transformations had an impact on their lives, society, and/or culture, as well as the possible changes in how these groups viewed the world or the universe prior to 1700. If the technology or technological transformation you selected as
your topic (in week two) occurred prior to 1700, this is where you will utilize the information you have
already gathered. If your topic of interest occurred after 1700, you will need to use this essay to "set the stage" for the technology or technological transformation that has been the focus of your research to this point. You will do this from drawing from the course readings as well as any other external sources (each must be properly cited) that prove helpful.
Begin your essay with an introductory paragraph and working thesis statement (the final sentence of the introductory paragraph) and be sure to end the essay with a concluding paragraph. The body of the essay should include information related to how the technology or technological transformation you selected in week two impacted the two groups selected or, if your technology/technological transformation occurred after 1700, how these two groups were impacted (or not) by general technologies/technological transformations leading up to 1700. Be sure to integrate the resources from your annotated bibliography into your essay (use either footnotes or endnotes). By the end of week four of the term, the Midterm Paper should be uploaded as an MS Word file attachment to the appropriate dropbox located in the "Assignments" tab. The submission should include a title page, bibliography, and doublespaced text. The dropbox is also available via the week four content area.
The grading rubric for Midterm Paper is located in the Course Resources area of the History 125 course site.
Final Exam Paper (Part 4 of the "Research Project")
After revising your Midterm according to the feedback you receive, you will add an additional 750
1000 word essay to it. This second 7501000 word essay will draw on the readings and will address one of two things (see below). This cumulative essay will allow you to demonstrate your mastery of Course Goals 1 & 2:
1. Accurately and effectively communicate ideas, information, arguments, and messages to present material in a historical context. 2. Investigate and evaluate historical information from global, social, and ethical perspectives to
guide decision making. In total, this essay will be 1,500 words long, but do not panic! You will have already have written the first half of the essay. You are simply revising and adding to it in order to improve your writing and critical thinking skills. The inclusion of the Midterm Paper with the Final Paper as a single cohesive essay will provide you will a fascinating analysis of your two chosen groups as you trace the technological transformations in their lives and the changes in how they see the universe. Again these groups are any number of people: women, laborers, farmers, believers, scientists and scholars, the middle class, the aristocracy, the agrarian poor, artisans, merchants, military people, entrepreneurs, religious authorities, heretics, artists, patients, builders and architects, physicians, musicians, entrepreneurs, etc. The groups studied to complete this essay will need to be the same as the groups studied in the previous essay.
To complete the Final Paper, you will continue your study of the two groups you selected earlier and
trace how technology or technological transformations had an impact on their lives, society, and/or culture, as well as the possible changes in how these groups viewed the world or the universe after 1700. If the technology or technological transformation you selected as your topic (in week two) occurred after 1700, this is where you will utilize the information you have already gathered. If your topic of interest occurred prior to 1700, you will need to use this essay to continue your analysis
of how technology/technological transformations continued to impact the two groups you selected in week four. You will do this from drawing from the course readings as well as any other external sources (each must be properly cited) that prove helpful.
Begin your essay with an introductory paragraph and working thesis statement (the final sentence of the introductory paragraphyour thesis may be a bit different from that in week four) and be sure to end the essay with a concluding paragraph. The body of the essay should include information related to how the technology or technological transformation you selected in week two impacted the
two groups selected or, if your technology/technological transformation occurred before 1700, how technology/technological transformations continued to impact the two groups you selected. Be sure to integrate the resources from your annotated bibliography into your essay (use either footnotes or endnotes). By the end of week eight of the term, the Final Paper should be uploaded as an MS Word file attachment to the appropriate dropbox located in the "Assignments" tab. The submission should include a title page, bibliography, and doublespaced text. The dropbox is also available via the week eight content area.
The grading rubric for Final Paper is located in the Course Resources area of the History 125 course site.
Academic Policies
Academic Policies and Guidelines
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
As a member of the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) academic community that honors integrity and respect for others you are expected to maintain a high level of personal integrity
in your academic work at all times. Your work should be original and must not be reused in other courses.
CLASSROOM CIVILITY
Students are expected to work together cooperatively, and treat fellow students and faculty with respect, showing professionalism and courtesy in all interactions. Please review the Code of Civility for more guidance on interacting in UMUC classrooms: https://www.umuc.edu/students/support/studentlife/conduct/code.cfm. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
UMUC is committed to ensuring that all individuals are treated equally accor...
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