LEARNING GOALS:

1. To develop a broad, comprehensive understanding of the history of Europe during what we call the Reformation. Content will not be restricted to the major intellectual and cultural changes of that period, but will also cover social, religious and political history from the late Renaissance to the year 1700.

2. To focus on the most significant historiographical problems and debates of the Reformation and Old Regime.

3. To practice analysis of primary sources.

4. To improve reading (content analysis) and writing skills (style and grammar). Students who are not proficient English language writers are strongly advised to obtain a copy of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style (available at the Titan Bookstore).

ASSESSMENT:

Student learning will be assessed primarily on the basis of command of concepts and information presented in the readings, lecture and class discussion. Students will also be expected to demonstrate improvement in communication skills, especially in writing.

"A" level work = In exams, students will be able to articulate clearly and coherently, and in essay format, the answer to the questions asked. By essay format, I mean that their answers will be in the form of an argument, with an introduction, a body of evidence, and a conclusion. They will answer each question completely, and their answers will show evidence of understanding, rather than merely reciting facts or paraphrasing the readings or lectures. In sum, they will be able to demonstrate that they have digested the material rather than merely memorized it. By the same token, in their book reviews, students will discuss the thesis or interpretation of the book, as well as the evidence upon which the thesis is presented, and make a critical judgment about the value of the book. Papers will be well written and well edited for grammar and style. In class discussion students will make thoughtful comments and/or ask thoughtful questions.

"B" level work = In exams students will demonstrate that they have digested the readings and class discussions, similar to that of "A" level work, although their understanding and/or articulation of this will be less complete than that of "A" level work. Their exams are likely to be more "factual" and less thoughtful. Book reviews will demonstrate at least a partial grasp of the thesis of the work, but less understanding of the interpretation than that of "A" level work. Papers will be well edited for grammar but may contain some stylistic errors. Class participation may be less frequent or less thoughtful than that of "A" level work.

"C" level work = Students will demonstrate retention of the gist of readings, lectures and class discussion, but without a grasp of an ability to make connections among the concepts contain in that material. Writing will be edited for grammar but still contain some grammatical and/or stylistic errors. Book reviews will read more like book reports, focusing on the factual information in the book and having little or nothing to say regarding interpretation. Class participation will be infrequent.

"D" level work = Students will complete all of the assignments, but with evidence of minimal effort only. Written work will contain errors in understanding and articulation, including little evidence of editing for grammar and style. Exams will not demonstrate comprehension of concepts, although they may contain fragments of information from readings and class lectures and discussions.

"F" level work = Students will not complete all of the assignments, and their work will be rife with errors of comprehension and articulation, including no evidence of editing for grammar and style. Exams will demonstrate neither comprehension of concepts nor evidence of diligence in completing reading assignments and attending class.

Students will be required to take a midterm and a final exam. The midterm and final both will be worth thirty percent of the final grade. Both will be take home. The midterm will be handed out on Wednesday, October 3, and due during class on Wednesday, October 10. The Final Exam will be handed out on the last day of class and due to me no later than Wednesday, December 12, at 7 p.m.. No late exams will be accepted! All exams must be handed in to me, in class, in my office, or in my box in the history office on the 8^th floor of the History Department.

Students will also be required to write 5 response to the readings papers, each 5-7 pages in length. In these papers students will address the all reading due for the week, and discuss the thesis of the reading and/or its main points, and its relevance to the class. All papers will be due in class the night the readings are discussed. No late papers or emailed papers will be accepted! Since part of the reason for the papers is to help students prepare for class discussion, students must be in class for their papers to be accepted.

97-100 = A+ 93-96 = A 90-92 = A-

87-89 = B+ 83-86 = B 80-82 = B-

77-79 = C+ 73-76 = C 70-72 = C-

67-69 = D+ 63-66 = D 60-62 = D- 59 or below = F