Calendar for HIST 103 DCE – Fall 2008

 

The course calendar is organized mainly around the lectures, or episodes. In association with each lecture you have readings from Tocqueville to discuss via the list and an online quiz to take. Be sure to read this calendar in conjunction with the study guides for the lectures, because the study guides provide more information about documents to review and themes to emphasize. Also, keep an eye on the weblog framed into the home page of the course. That’s where updates and explanations will be posted. Here are a few things you’ll notice about the dates posted in the calendar.

 

·        Generally, units (time periods during which we focus on a particular lecture and on particular readings from Tocqueville) are scheduled on a Monday-through-Saturday basis. Sunday is open time—no discussion postings should be sent to the e-mail list on Sunday, no quizzes taken on Sunday. Feel free to post discussion items to the list and carry on discussions pertaining to the unit Monday through Saturday. Make sure you take the quiz for the unit by Saturday.

 

·        The calendar ignores holidays. No holiday takes up a whole week. Thanksgiving takes two days, so do the work earlier in the week, or over the holiday if you prefer (hey, anything to get away from the relatives for a while).

 

·        The calendar builds in a little slack time at the beginning. We need this for the sake of logistics. During the first week of term, we need to get the roster settled, get access and permissions arranged, get mailings out, that sort of thing.

 

I emphasize again: keep up with the work! The course has a lot of flexibility—do your work in your pajamas at two in the morning, no problem—but you have to stay on schedule with the class.

 

26-30 Aug

Preliminaries

Explore website, familiarizing yourself with course requirements and procedures

Send an e-mail to your instructor, who will subscribe you to a section of Cumberland Gap and mail you your CDs

 1-6 Sept

Unit 1

Read the introductions to Tocqueville (a.k.a. TQ), so you understand where the book is coming from

Study Episode 1, complete Quiz 1

Send your introductory message to Cumberland Gap (a.k.a. the list)

 8-13 Sept

Unit 2

Discuss TQ Ch 12, “Unlimited Power of the Majority in the United States and Its Consequences”

Study Episode 2, complete Quiz 2

 15-20 Sept

Unit 3

Discuss TQ Ch 1, “Origin of the Anglo-Americans”

Study Episode 3, complete Quiz 3

 22-27 Sept

Unit 4

Discuss TQ Ch 2, “Democratic Social Condition of the Anglo-Americans”

Study Episode 4, complete Quiz 4

 29 Sept – 4 Oct

Unit 5

Discuss TQ Ch 48, “Why Great Revolutions Will Become More Rare”

Study Episode 5, complete Quiz 5

 6-11 Oct

Unit 6

Discuss TQ Ch 7, “Aspects of the Federal Constitution”

Study Episode 6, complete Quiz 6

 13-18 Oct

Unit 7

Discuss TQ Ch 8, “Political Parties”

Study Episode 7, complete Quiz 7

 20-25 Oct

Unit 8

Discuss TQ Ch 51, “Some Considerations on War in Democratic Communities”

Study Episode 8, complete Quiz 8

25 Oct

Deadline noon today for earning bonus hard points for early submission of soft-point assignments (see Evaluation page)

 27 Oct – 1 Nov

Unit 9

Discuss TQ Ch 11, “Advantages of Democracy in the United States

Study Episode 9, complete Quiz 9

 3-8 Nov

Unit 10

Discuss TQ Ch 15, “Future Prospects of the United States

Study Episode 10, complete Quiz 10

10-15 Nov

Unit 11

Discuss TQ Ch 41, “How Americans Understand Equality of the Sexes”

Study Episode 11, complete Quiz 11

17-22 Nov

Unit 12

Discuss TQ Ch 9, “Liberty of the Press in the United States

Study Episode 12, complete Quiz 12

24-29 Nov 

Unit 13

Discuss TQ Ch 5, “Decentralization in America—Its Effects”

Study Episode 13, complete Quiz 13

 1-6 Dec

Unit 14

Discuss TQ Ch 20, “Why the Americans Are More Addicted to Practical than to Theoretical Science”

Study Episode 14, complete Quiz 14

 8-13 Dec

Unit 15

Discuss TQ Ch 25, “Some Characteristics of Historians in Democratic Times”

Study Episode 15, complete Quiz 15

 13 Dec

Deadline

All written assignments for soft points must be submitted by noon this day; no credit for any work submitted after this

 15-17 Dec

Wrap-up

Take authorized make-up quizzes

Complete final assessment (via email reply to instructor)

 

HIST 103 DCE Home Page