World History II

Getting started

1: Wed, Sep 4, 2024

We’ll start with a discussion of our working methods and processes; when we’e finished with that, we’ll open up a general discussion of what history is and what it’s about, and why one would want to bother studying it. Based on your previous history courses (not just World History 1 here), consider:

• What particular incidents, regions, or cultures fascinated you?
• How did your perception of the history that you‘ve studied change as you learned more about it?
• What particular events (short ofr long), people, or cultures do you want to learn more about this year (events after 1400)?

There are many different approaches to history, and many reasons to study the subject. We’ll try to talk about these things somewhat today.

Please read the discussion linked here on the narrative vs. topical approaches to history.

Please read the discussion linked here on what we’d like you to get from your study of history.

You may also want to have a look at the topical discussions, but those are not necessary quite yet — we'll try to unpack those during the course of the first chapter‘s discussion.

Throughout the course, you will be expected to:

• Read each chapter prior to the first session for which it is assigned.
• Read and consider the complete web page and any linked material prior each class.
• Attempt the homework exercise (if necessary, multiple times to achieve a passing grade) on the chapter by the date and time for which it is assigned. Please pay attention to the exercies closing dates and times. Once closed, an exercise will not be re-opened. This is to ensure that everyone stays current on the reading and comes to class ready to participate in the discussion; the exercises will also give you an idea of what we consider significant enough to put on exams later on.
• Prepare written responses to the questions that ask for them. These will be due the night before the class to which they are relevant. Since the whole point of these essays is to prepare you for the class discussion, late responses will not be accepted (unlike last year)!
• Think about the other questions on each web page and come ready to discuss them.

Grades and grading are perhaps the most odious thing associated with teaching, but everyone seems to want to know about them. We have not fixed an absolute formula for grades at this point, but please note that all of the following will form a significant part of your grade:

• Exercise scores
• Chat Preparation assignments
• Projects (one per unit)
• Exams

Contents of this page © Copyright 2015-25 by Christe A. McMenomy, Bruce A. McMenomy, Sarah E. Esposito, and Karl Oles.
Permission to download or print this page is hereby given to members of Scholars Online for purposes of personal study only. All other use constitutes a violation of copyright.