Requirements


HISTORY OF MIDDLE EAST CIVILIZATION I HISTORY 251
COURSE INFORMATION Summer Session

History 251 Index l Semester Syllabus and Study Guides I Summer Syllabus and Study Guides I Semester Requirements I Summer Session Requirements I Museum Field Trips I Cultural Projects I Videos I Maps I Websites I Bibliography

Attendance Office Hours Textbooks Library Examinations Grades on Subjective Questions Grades on Objective Questions Rules for Examinations Examination Book Grading Criteria, Cultural Project Your Final Grade

Attendance
NVCC is a state institution. The state and NVCC administrators require regular attendance in class. Absences do occur, some excusable and some not. If you are absent more than three hours (one class session) you will be withdrawn from the course as of that date. This action is reported to the Admissions and Records Office. When an absence is anticipated, the Instructor should be notified. When a student misses two class sessions, regardless of reason and succession of hours the instructor will withdraw the student.
Withdrawal from this class, without penalty, is the responsibility of the student. Any student who disappears and fails to withdraw will receive "F" as a final grade.

[Top of Page]

Office Hours
All NVCC instructors have office hours. As soon as the class assignments have been stabilized for the summer, I will give my scheduled office hours. It would be a wise procedure to make an appointment with me--sometimes three or four students will be waiting which places me under a bit of tension while trying to deal with student problems.
You will need to telephone me when you have problems relating to examinations or class absence. Please place the call to NVCC during my scheduled office hours (703-845-6357). If an emergency should develop, I do not mind you calling me at home--I have an answering machine (202-546-7510). NVCC will not give you my home telephone number. The most efficient way to contact me is by email (jebraden@nvcc.edu.

[Top of Page]

Textbooks
Textbooks can be purchased at the NVCC Bookstore in the Tyler Building. The bookstore is open one night during the week.

[Top of Page]

Library
The NVCC Library of the Alexandria Campus is located on the second floor of the Bisdorf Building. Assigned reading material not found in the text will be placed on Closed Reserve and kept at the Library Circulation Desk. Closed Reserve permits maximum student accessibility to limited materials. Reading material may be checked out overnight but must be returned the next morning. Audio-visual material must be used in the Library.

[Top of Page]

Examinations
During the semester you will be expected to complete two examinations. The first examination will be taken during the seventh session and will cover all class lectures, discussions, library assignments, handouts, and textbook material dealing with material covered during the first six sessions.. The second examination will be taken after the twelfth session (July 18, 2008).
Each examination contains two or more sections (multiple choice questions, identification items, essays, short answer questions, etc.). All grades received are equal when calculating the final grade. For example, the grade of "B" on the essay is equal to the grade of "B" received on multiple choice or identification items. At the end of the semester all grades will be converted to their mathematical equivalents and divided by the number of grades received. The two examinations will considered 80 points of the final grade.

[Top of Page]

Grades on Subjective Questions
The general essay or essays on each exam will be taken from examples provided on your study guides. You have your essay from the first day--think about the topic and know what you intend to write before you arrive in the testing situation. If you wish to discuss certain aspects of an essay prior to the exam, your instructor is available during scheduled office hours.
Generally, on the essay, "A" is excellent (you know and understand the material and have shown in your work considerable understanding of the concepts and interpretation of the subject matter under consideration); "B" indicates good work (understanding and interpretation at a high level); "C" indicates fair work (understanding and interpretation in little evidence, but with a knowledge of the material); "D" is not a failing mark, it means only that the work under consideration is poor. If you ever have questions abut any earned marks, please see me. I may be able to help you improve your future earned marks.

[Top of Page]

Grades on Objective Questions
The multiple choice questions are designed to test your general understanding of classroom lectures and discussions, reading of the textbook and library materials, and your ability to reach conclusions when dealing with several known factors. Grades on the multiple choice sections are "scaled" in relation to the highest score obtained by an individual student on a particular exam (i.e., highest score (42), 90% of 42 -- "A", etc. . .)

[Top of Page]

Rules for Examinations
1. No notes
2. No books
3. No helpful friends
Always check to see if you have placed your name on the examination book, the test, and the answer sheet.

[Top of Page]

Examination Book
You will need two examination books, which can be purchased at the bookstore. Also, a No 2 lead pencil and two Scantron Sheets are needed. The college does not furnish examination books, No. 2 pencils, or Scantron Sheets..

[Top of Page]

Grading Criteria, in order of importance:
1. Command of material
2. Ability to think originally
3. Clarity (if you can't say it, you don't know it)
4. Interest
5. Ability to write English

[Top of Page]

Cultural and Museum Field Project
As indicated in the NVCC catalogue, this course sequence is a survey of civilization. Each student is urged to investigate some aspect of the social structure of the civilization under consideration. The Museum Field Project might include a trip to the Islamic Center, Sackler Gallery, Metropolitan Museum, Walters Art Gallery, etc. You would be advised to undertake a field project in the field of your greatest interest and discuss your selection with your instructor. Usually, a field project requires a trip to museum to examine works of art of artifacts of the civilization under study.
The Museum Field Project will be worth 10 points of the final grade.

Each student is required to complete a Cultural Project. A Cultural Project could be about Middle East food, dress, funeral service, wedding, dance, poetry, film, etc. You would be advised to undertake a cultural project in the field of your greatest cultural interest and discuss your selection with your instructor. Usually, a cultural project requires an interview with someone from a Middle East country or of Middle East heritage. The Cultural Project will be worth 10 points of the final grade.

[Top of Page]

Your Final Grade
The final grade will be calculated from three activities--the two examinations (80 points), the cultural and field project (10 points each). All students are required to complete the two examinations in order to receive a grade. It is not required that students complete the cultural project or the museum project in order to get credit for the course. If, on the final day of the semester, any segment of the two examinations, the museum field report, or the cultural project is not completed, the reported grade will calculated with an "F" assigned to the missing segment.
A student, given extenuating circumstances, can be given an "I." Please note that an "I" must be completed prior to the end of the next semester. For example, an "I" received at the end of the Summer Session must be completed prior to the end of the Fall Semester. There is a college form that must be signed by both the teacher and the student before the letter "I" can be given.

[Top of Page]

Last update, June 9, 2009
© Jean H. Braden, 2004
email: jebraden@nvcc.edu
Return to History 251 First Page

Braden NVCC Home Page I Alexandria Campus Page

NVCC Home Page