Course Syllabus

EUH 3122: Medieval Society

Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities

3 Credit Hours

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Table of Contents

• General Course Information
• Course Description
• Course Materials and Resources
• Student Learning Outcomes
• Course Activities
• Grading Information
• Course Schedule
• Policy Statements

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Instructor Information

• Instructor: Dr. Alison Hudson
• Office Location: 312C Trevor Colbourn Hall
  
• Office Hours:
  • Monday: 10:30-11:00 AM (in TCH 312C)
  • Thursday: 3:00-4:00 PM (click on the link above for details of the Zoom Room)
  • You can also schedule an in-person meeting or an appointment at a different time, pandemic permitting. Please contact me via Webcourses@UCF messaging or at alison.hudson@ucf.edu
• Phone: 407-823-2225 (UCF History Department phone number)
• Messaging: You can contact me via Webcourses@UCF messaging or at alison.hudson@ucf.edu.

Course Information

• Term: Spring Semester 2022
• Course Number & Section: EUH 3122.0W60
• Course Name: Medieval Societies
  
• Credit Hours: 3
• Meeting Days and Times: This course is asynchronous, which means we do not have a set meeting time. You can work on the modules whenever is convenient for you (as long as you make sure to finish each assignment by the deadline). Generally, you will work through one module each week.
  
• Class Location: Webcourses
• Course Modality: W

Enrollment Requirements

Course Prerequisites: EUH 2000 Western Civilization

Course Description

The period between 300 AD and 1500 AD saw dramatic changes in Europe and the Mediterranean. Population sizes fluctuated drastically, trade transformed and expanded, and dozens of forms of artistic expression were pioneered. This period saw the emergence and spread of two major world religions, of universities, of codex books and printing, and of concepts of human rights, among other things. This class will explore the social and cultural history of this ‘medieval’ period on its own terms. Students will engage with the whole range of surviving sources, from texts to material culture to music, to analyze complex social and cultural changes. Students will also be able to interrogate popular assumptions about the Middle Ages and the various ways in which ‘medievalism’ and beliefs about the Middle Ages are still (mis)used in our culture today.

Course Materials and Resources

Required Materials/Resources

• Barbara H. Rosenwein, ed., Reading the Middle Ages: Sources from Europe, Byzantium, and the Islamic World, 2^nd ed. (Toronto: Toronto University Press, 2014).
  

  • Other required readings will be made available online, via a direct link or an upload to the course’s Canvas site. Required readings for each module will be specified when you see this symbol in the module:
    

Optional Materials/Resources

Some students prefer to have a structured textbook alongside the modules. I recommend:

• Wim Blockmans and Peter Hoppenbrouwers, Introduction to Medieval Europe, 300–1500, 2^nd ed. (Abingdon/New York: Routledge, 2014).

Third-Party Accessibility and Privacy Statements

In this course, you will be using the third-party system Turnitin to hand in assignments. Be sure to review Turnitin's accessiblity and privacy and security statements.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Comprehension and synthesis: You will be able to identify the key ideas from a range of different secondary texts and primary sources and to summarize them in your own words in the two major essays you will write during this course.
2. Researching and deploying historical evidence: You will be able to explain which primary sources support your ideas and arguments. You will be able to identify which sources are primary sources for a given topic. To that end, you will choose and analyze at least three primary sources in each of the two major essays you will write during this course. You will also be able to evaluate what types of information are provided by different sorts of medieval sources, including texts, architecture, and objects, which you will analyze in the primary source commentaries and essays that you will write during this course.
3. Critical thinking: You will be able to evaluate the reliability of the narratives that you encounter in class and in your reading. You will make up your own mind about historical debates and express you own stance in the two major essays assigned for this course.
4. Coherent and persuasive written expression: You will be able to communicate your ideas effectively, both in written assignments and in a presentation with a visual component. You will be able to argue a clearly defined point (or thesis) in two essays of at least 2500 words, as well as in non-narrative visual presentations.
5. Comprehension of different worldviews: You will be able to recognize that not all humans have shared the same worldview. You will be able to explain the social and cultural contexts associated with some different worldviews.

Beyond this course, these skills will be valuable for informed, thoughtful citizens and for many different types of employment.

Course Activities

This course will be assessed primarily through written assignments. Additionally, you will earn points for completing the readings, surveys, quizzes, discussions and other activities embedded in each module.

1. Primary source commentary: 10 points
2. Midterm essay: 25 points
3. Art and architecture primary source presentation: 10 points
4. Primary source discussions and general participation: 20 points
5. Final essay : 25 points

Rubrics will be provided for each assignment on Webcourses.

I generally deduct one point for each day a major assignment is late. (This  ranges from about 10% to 5% of the final grade, depending on the assignment.) Please let me know as soon as possible if you think you will not be able to submit an assignment on time. If you have completed an assignment but are having difficulty submitting it via Turnitin, please email it to me so I can see that you did it, and we can ask UCF IT support to help you troubleshoot Turnitin.

Each written assignment will require you to refer to one or more primary sources. Essays need to incorporate at least three primary sources. Therefore, be sure to keep up with the reading as we work through the course.

• • I generally do not offer separate extra credit opportunities. However, I do operate a "revise and resubmit" policy for each written assignment, where you can earn more points on each assignment if you edit it again. I will explain this further after the first written assignment.

Activity Submissions

Written assignments should be submitted via Turnitin in Webcourses. You can find detailed instructions for submitting assignments via Turnitin here.

Attendance/Participation

20% of your grade depends on participating in class. Since this is an online class, participation will be measured by the completion of each module and all the activities embedded in each module (surveys, discussions, free text responses, etc). Each module will end with a discussion board, which is how you can be sure you have completed the whole module.

• Although some activities may be labelled "quizzes", don't panic! These will be graded for participation only. Treat these the same way you would treat a question asked in a face-to-face class.

In some circumstances, you may need to be excused from a module. The UCF Undergraduate Catalog states, “Reasons for acceptable absences may include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements (e.g., judging trips, field trips, professional conferences), military obligations, severe weather conditions, and religious holidays.” Students must notify their instructor in advance if they intend to miss class for a religious observance. For more information, see the UCF policy at <http://regulations.ucf.edu/chapter5/documents/5.020ReligiousObservancesFINALJan19.pdf>. Please contact me as soon as possible if that is the case, with proof of absence (doctor's note, etc).

Make-up Exams and Assignments

Per university policy, students who represent the university in an authorized event or activity (for example, student-athletes) and who are unable to meet a course deadline due to a conflict with that event must provide the instructor with documentation in advance to arrange a make-up. No penalty will be applied. For more information, see the UCF policy at <https://policies.ucf.edu/documents/4-401.pdf>

Assessment and Grading Procedures

The table shows the weight distribution for each assignment.

Assignment	Percentage of Grade
Primary Source Commentaries	30%
Midterm and Final Essays	50%
Participation	20%
Total	100%

 

This table shows the range for each letter grade and uses a plus/minus system.

Letter Grade	Points
A	93 – 100 points
A-	90 – 92 points
B+	87 – 89 points
B	83 – 86 points
B-	80 – 82 points
C+	77 – 79 points
C	73 – 76 points
C-	70 – 72 points
D+	67 – 69 points
D	63 – 66 points
D-	60 – 62 points
F	59 and below

 

Consult the latest Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for regulations and procedures regarding grading such as Incomplete grades, grade changes, and grade forgiveness.

Course Schedule

The course is divided into one module per week, due on the Sunday at the end of the week. Each module will usually be split into two halves to help you pace yourself. You can find the full course schedule here.

 

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University Services and Resources

Academic Services and Resources

A list of available academic support and learning services is available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Academic Support and Learning Services" on the right-hand side to filter.

Non-Academic Services and Resources

A list of non-academic support and services is also available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Support" on the right-hand side to filter.

If you are a UCF Online student, please consult the UCF Online Student Guidelines for more information about your access to non-academic services.

Policy Statements

Regarding COVID-19

I recognize and understand the difficult times we are all in. The COVID-19 pandemic impacts us all in many ways, including physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, academically, and professionally. I will work with you on challenges you may be encountering and to provide support to help you succeed. However, please keep in mind that I will hold you accountable, especially in terms of class attendance, participation, and contributions.

UCF expects that all members of our campus community who are able to do so get vaccinated, and we expect all members of our campus community to wear masks indoors, in line with the latest CDC guidelines. Masks are required in approved clinical or health care settings.

If the instructor falls ill during the semester, there may be temporary changes to this course, including having a backup instructor take over the course or going remote for a short time. Please look for announcements or mail in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email for any temporary alterations to this course.