Course Description:  Economic, social, political, and cultural development from earliest times to about 1700.

Course Objective:  To improve the students' understanding of the unique relationship between technological development and the growth of civilization.  Students will be required to evaluate a segment of the film "2001:  A Space Odyssey" through a written essay.  It is expected that at least 75% of the class will identify three relevant traits.

Class Conduct:  University policy expressly prohibits smoking in the classroom.  I expect you to comply with this regulation.  Any student engaging in disruptive behavior will be required to leave the class.

Attendance:  I do not intend to pester you about attendance.  I will, however, suggest that it is to your benefit to be here.  Of course, students are responsible for all material covered in class on dates in which they are absent.  A maximum of nine (seven in the summer) absences will be allowed.  Ten absences (eight in the summer) will automatically result in a 250-point deduction from your final grade.  In short, you cannot miss ten (eight in the summer) sessions and still pass the course  (Note:  Exceptions will only be made in extraordinary cases which can be documented in advance).

Tardies:  IT IS RUDE AND IMPOLITE TO DISTRACT YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS BY COMING IN LATE.  YOU SHOULD SHOW THEM THE SAME COURTESY YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR YOURSELF.  Each of you will be granted two (2) grace tardies.  After that, for every time you are late, I will deduct five (5) points from your final grade.

Cell Phones:  As ringing cell phones (even those set on vibrate) also represent an unnecessary disruption of class, each one will also count as a tardy.  Again, exceptions will only be made in extraordinary cases which can be documented in advance.

Textbooks:  The required textbooks for this course are:  The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Theban Plays by Sophocles, and Beowulf.  In addition, each student has the option of purchasing one other text--The Western Heritage:  Volume One, to 1715 (7th ed.) by Kagan, Ozment, and Turner.

Exams:  There will be a total of four examinations in this course.  Each will be of an objective nature (Note:  Each exam will be given in a scantron format.  You are strongly encouraged to choose your answers (i.e. to write) on the exam forms because your instructor will not correct the machine.  ALL SCANTRON GRADES WILL BE FINAL.).  The final exam will not be comprehensive.

Quizzes:  In addition to the four exams, each student will have the opportunity to earn 40 bonus points through four in-class quizzes.  The dates for the quizzes will be announced in class.  Other projects for extra credit will not be accepted.

Cheating:  This is a university course, and cheating will not be tolerated in any way.  If I catch you cheating on a quiz or on an exam, you will receive an automatic "F" in the course.  The Campus Student Services Officer will also be notified for further disciplinary action.

Make-up Work:  Make-up work is discouraged.  If, however, you have a valid reason for missing a quiz or an examination, your instructor will consider giving you an alternate quiz or essay exam.  A maximum of three make-up quizzes will be allowed.  In the grading of a make-up exam, your instructor will take into consideration grammar and mechanics as well as content.  The scheduled date for make-up exams will be (see printed syllabus).

Grading:  Each examination will consist of twenty (20) questions and will carry a numerical value of 100 points.  At the end of the semester, course grades will be determined by the number of points you have earned on the four exams and on the bonus quizzes.  The grade scale will be as follows:

In Case of Emergency:  If someone in your family needs to contact you in an emergency, use the following telephone numbers:

Daytime     439-3720
Evening      439-3714

Students with Disabilities:  Refer to syllabus distributed in class, or contact the Counselor for Special Student Services at 439-3720.

Note:  The instructor reserves the right to change or modify any of the above statements/policies with one week's advance notice in class.

NMSU-A Mission:  The mission of New Mexico State University at Alamogordo is to provide quality learning opportunities to individuals in the diverse communities we serve.