Instructor Information
Prof. Nicholas Wolf
nmwolf@vcu.edu
(804) 828–8577
History Dept, room 206 (813 Cathedral Pl.)
Office Hours: Mondays 1-3 pm
nmwolf@vcu.edu
(804) 828–8577
History Dept, room 206 (813 Cathedral Pl.)
Office Hours: Mondays 1-3 pm
Course Objectives
Students will obtain key skills in quantitative and qualitative primary-source research, hone online and in-library search techniques, and improve their ability to analyze, collate, and and organize historical data. This will be accomplished in the course of exploring the key political, economic, and cultural features of British and British imperial society between 1688 and the present day.
Course Website
The website for this course is www.britain320vcu.weebly.com. Please note that this will be the primary means of keeping up with this course (aside from grades, which will be posted on Blackboard). Get in the habit of checking back several times a week to stay on schedule.
Assignment Weights
1. Midterm Exam: 30%
2. Final Exam: 30%
3. Participation: 15%
4. Research Paper and Preparatory Work: 25%
Requires complete submission of following components:
a. Group research plan (due Feb. 7)
b. Individual research data (due March 4th)
c. Outline of paper (due March 21st)
d. Rough draft of paper (due April 18th)
e. Submission of final paper (due April 30th)
Note that the instructor will exercise discretion in assigning a grade for participation and the research preparatory work. For participation, it will not be enough to have strong attendance to receive an excellent or above average grade. Full and active participation will be required. Similarly, the research preparatory work will not yield a top grade if work is completed to a low standard.
2. Final Exam: 30%
3. Participation: 15%
4. Research Paper and Preparatory Work: 25%
Requires complete submission of following components:
a. Group research plan (due Feb. 7)
b. Individual research data (due March 4th)
c. Outline of paper (due March 21st)
d. Rough draft of paper (due April 18th)
e. Submission of final paper (due April 30th)
Note that the instructor will exercise discretion in assigning a grade for participation and the research preparatory work. For participation, it will not be enough to have strong attendance to receive an excellent or above average grade. Full and active participation will be required. Similarly, the research preparatory work will not yield a top grade if work is completed to a low standard.
Grading Scale
The following grading scale will be used to determine final grades:
A (90%+)
B (80-89%)
C (70-79%)
D (60-69%)
F (Below 60%)
A (90%+)
B (80-89%)
C (70-79%)
D (60-69%)
F (Below 60%)
Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to attend all class meetings unless prevented from doing so by illness. Two absences are allotted to students over the course of the semester for illness. You do not need to contact me to alert me when this occurs. Anything more than two days (i.e. an extended illness or travel for college-related activities) will require a doctor’s note or some form of documentation.
While in class, students are requested to turn off cell phones.
Late work will be assessed a penalty of one letter grade for each day it is late. No assignment will be accepted later than seven days after its original due date.
While in class, students are requested to turn off cell phones.
Late work will be assessed a penalty of one letter grade for each day it is late. No assignment will be accepted later than seven days after its original due date.
Texts
The following textbooks are available at the campus bookstore, with many online suppliers, and on library reserve. If you purchase these books from a source other than the bookstore, please take care to purchase the edition listed below, since this will save a lot of headaches in matching page numbers with the standard text. The best way to do this is to order using the ISBN number listed below:
- Ellis Wasson, A History of Modern Britain, 1714 to Present (ISBN 9781405139366, ppbk)
- Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings (ISBN 978014243716, ppbk)
- June Purvis, Emmeline Pankhurst, A Biography (ISBN 0415325935, ppbk)
- Irish Murdoch, The Bell (ISBN 9780141186696, ppbk)
University Policies on Students, Safety, and Academic Integrity
Safety: Sign up to receive VCU text messaging alerts (www.vcu.edu/alert/notify). Keep your information up to date. Know the safe evacuations route from each of your classrooms. Emergency evacuation routes are posted in on-campus classrooms. Listen for and follow instructions from VCU and other designated authorities. Know where to go for additional emergency information (www.vcu.edu/alert). Know the emergency phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234). Report suspicious activities and objects.
VCU Honor System: Students are reminded of the terms of academic honesty set out by the Virginia university system Honor Code which apply to all academic work submitted for grades. Plagiarism and cheating in matters related to academic work violate this code. Recall that any use of another author’s ideas or writings, in full or in part, without assigning proper credit to that source, constitutes plagiarism. All work submitted for this course must be original work. Cite all sources used for written essays carefully. If in doubt, contact me for further guidance. Know the VCU Honor System policy statement and its purpose.
Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with disabilities or special academic needs, please speak with me and contact VCU Disability Support Services (907 Floyd Ave.) at (804) 828-2253 to make arrangements.
VCU Honor System: Students are reminded of the terms of academic honesty set out by the Virginia university system Honor Code which apply to all academic work submitted for grades. Plagiarism and cheating in matters related to academic work violate this code. Recall that any use of another author’s ideas or writings, in full or in part, without assigning proper credit to that source, constitutes plagiarism. All work submitted for this course must be original work. Cite all sources used for written essays carefully. If in doubt, contact me for further guidance. Know the VCU Honor System policy statement and its purpose.
Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with disabilities or special academic needs, please speak with me and contact VCU Disability Support Services (907 Floyd Ave.) at (804) 828-2253 to make arrangements.
