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HISTORY 3220

History of Technology
Section 1, Spring 2019

Pamela MackInstructor: Prof. Pamela E. Mack
Office: Hardin 006, e-mail: pammack@clemson.edu
Office Hours: MWF 8-10:45 and by appointment
Class meetings: MWF 11:15-12:05, Hardin 232
this syllabus on the web: http://pammack.sites.clemson.edu/syl3220.html

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a sampling of world history of technology with a focus on Europe. The goal of the course is to think about the interaction between technology and society with the help of the broader perspective that history provides. To that end, the course will closely read four books with different information and different perspectives on the history of technology.
 
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the course students should be able to:
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Analyzing and drawing conclusions from the reading will be central to the course, so it is essential that you do the reading and come prepared to discuss it in class. Attendance will be taken by seating chart and six absences will be allowed without penalty. Coming late or leaving early will count as one half an absence. Excuses do not have to be given for the six allowed absences, but it is expected that these will cover minor issues. Additional absences will be excused for official university activities, emergencies, serious illness, funerals, and job interviews but documentation should be provided if possible, the student notification of instructor process is not sufficient. Students with more than six absences will be penalized 5 points for each additional absence, to be deducted from their participation grade. The class is excused if the instructor does not arrive within 10 minutes of the scheduled starting time. grade distribution Numerical grades out of 100 will be converted to final letter grades by the system 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, below 60=F. I do round up half a point. Grades above 95 are rarely given except for exceptionally fine work.

READING RESPONSES:
short reflections on the reading due by 10:00 am each class day; assignments are on Canvas.  You can do the reading reflection even if you are not going to be in class. I will drop the lowest 9 grades so you have some flexibility to not do every one of these, but late reading responses are accepted only for excused absences.
PAPERS: The details of the paper assignments are found Canvas and in these general paper instructions.  Papers uploaded to Canvas by 11 am on the day due are on time.  Papers handed in later that day get a 2 point penalty for lateness.  Each calendar day after that is an additional 2 point penalty for lateness.

GENERAL EDUCATION: This course meets the STS general education requirements, and your second paper is the artifact that demonstrates that.  The competency is:
Science, Technology, and Society - Demonstrate an understanding of issues created by the complex interactions among science, technology, and society.
 
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited Thomas Green Clemson’s vision of this institution as a “high seminary of learning.” Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form.”

This includes representing someone else's work as your own or handing in the same paper to two different courses without permission of both instructors. You may re-use your exact words (according to the plagiarism standard below) from work done for this course but not from any other course. Be careful to avoid plagiarism--text you take from a web site, from a book, or from online class notes must be either quoted with the source given or restated almost entirely in your own words, with the source given.  The catalog defines as one form of academic dishonesty: "Plagiarism, which includes the intentional or unintentional copying of language, structure, or ideas of another and attributing the work to one’s own efforts."  Note the word unintentional--if you forget to put quote marks or a reference you can be found guilty of academic dishonesty even if it was not your intention to cheat.

It is cheating to cut and paste or otherwise copy portions of a argument paper, exam, or discussion board posting from a book, web site, or from the online class notes, unless you quote and give the source. Changing a few words is not sufficient to make the material your own. It is poor writing for more than about 20% of your paper to consist of quotes.  In most cases when you use specific material from any source you should paraphrase: cite the source and put the ideas into you own words (generally no more than 5 consecutive words should match the source but if the words are mostly the same it could still be plagiarism even if there aren't 5 consecutive words).

The catalog states: "When, in the opinion of a course instructor, there is evidence that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, that person must make a formal written charge of academic dishonesty, including a description of the misconduct, to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies. The reporting person may, at his/her discretion, inform each involved student privately of the nature of the alleged charge. In cases of plagiarism instructors may use, as an option, the Plagiarism Resolution Form available from the Office of Undergraduate Studies."

LAPTOPS AND CELL PHONES:  You are welcome to bring technology to the classroom as long as you can handle it responsibly and respectfully.  Use of laptops, tablets and cell phones during class for purposes not related to this course is disrespectful to the instructor and distracting to other students.  Do not carry on conversations—either out loud or in electronic form—or do work for another class or play games in class.  You may use your devices to take notes during class or to look up further information on a topic being discussed.  Students using their devices during class may be called on to share what they are learning with the rest of the class.

TEXTS: Four books are required.  You need the first book right away, but you can order used copies of the other books (particularly the Graham--the bookstore new price is unreasonable). E-books will not be a problem for course use if that works for you.
Vaclav Smil , Energy and Civilization, A History (MIT Press, 2017)
Joshua B. Freeman, Behemoth: A History of the Factory (WW Norton, 2018)
Loren R. Graham, The Ghost of the Executed Engineer (Harvard, 1993)

Marie Hicks, Programmed Inequality (MIT Press, 2018)
Valcav Smil, Energy
              and Civilization
Joshua Freeman, Behemoth
Loren Graham, The Ghost of
              the Executed Engineer
Marie Hicks,
              Programmed Inequality

SCHEDULE: Readings are listed under each lecture or discussion topic.  Underlined lecture titles are links that lead to notes.

Jan.  9
introduction
       11
Read Smil ch. 1 before class
       14
Smil ch. 2
       16
Smil ch. 3 up to Persistence and Innovation
       18
Smil rest of ch. 3
       21
Martin Luther King Holiday
       23
Smil ch. 4 up to Transportation
      25
guest speaker
      28
Smil, rest of ch. 4
      30
Smil ch. 5 up to Technological Innovations
Feb. 1
Smil rest of ch. 5
       4
Smil ch. 6 up to Consequences and Concerns
       6
Smil rest. of ch. 6
       8
paper topic discussion
      11
Smil Ch. 7 up to Between Determinism and Choice
      13
Smil rest of ch. 7
      15
Freeman introduction--transition
       18
Freeman ch. 1, Smil paper due in Canvas
       20
Freeman ch. 2
       22
Freeman ch. 3
      25
Freeman ch. 4
      27
Freeman ch. 5
Mar. 1
Freeman ch. 6
        4
Freeman ch. 7
        6
Freeman Conclusion and review
        8
in class test
      11
Graham prologue
      13
Graham ch. 1
      15
Graham ch. 2
      18-22
Spring Break
      25
Graham ch. 3
      27
Graham ch. 4
      29
Prof. Mack out of town--no class, view video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvd7SBRio3Y
Apr. 1
paper topic discussion
       3
Graham ch. 5
       5
Graham Epilogue
       8
Hicks introduction, Graham paper due
      10
Hicks ch. 1
      12
Hicks ch. 2
      15
Hicks ch. 3
      17
Hicks ch. 4
      19
Hicks ch. 5
      22
Hicks conclusion
      24
reflections
      26
review
April 30
Takehome final exam due


University Policies for HIST 3220

Student Accessibility Services: Clemson University values the diversity of our student body as a strength and a critical component of our dynamic community. Students with disabilities or temporary injuries/conditions may require accommodations due to barriers in the structure of facilities, course design, technology used for curricular purposes, or other campus resources. Students who experience a barrier to full access to this class should let the professor know, and make an appointment to meet with a staff member in Student Accessibility Services as soon as possible. You can make an appointment by calling 864-656-6848, by emailing studentaccess@lists.clemson.edu, or by visiting Suite 239 in the Academic Success Center building. Appointments are strongly encouraged – drop-ins will be seen if at all possible, but there could be a significant wait due to scheduled appointments. Students who receive Academic Access Letters are strongly encouraged to request, obtain and present these to their professors as early in the semester as possible so that accommodations can be made in a timely manner. It is the student’s responsibility to follow this process each semester. You can access further information at the Student Accessibility Services Website and the Office of Access and Equity Website.

Email Policy / Response Time: Clemson does not provide me with a phone; email is my preferred method of contact for university business. You can expect a response to your email inquiries within 36 hours, excluding weekends and university holidays.

Copyright: All materials found in this course are strictly for the use of students enrolled in this course and for purposes associated with this course; they may not be retained or further disseminated. Clemson students, faculty, and staff are expected to comply fully with institutional copyright policy as well as all other copyright laws.

Privacy Policy:  Because privacy regulations stipulate that faculty and staff communicate with students through authorized University channels, use your University email account (preferred) or Canvas's messaging system to contact me.  This course is designed with your privacy in mind. If, however, you feel that an assignment or technology tool undermines your right to privacy or is uncomfortable for you personally, please contact me immediately. We will work together to determine an alternative assignment that will help you achieve the course learning outcomes.

Online Conduct: Appropriate online academic conduct means maintaining a safe learning environment based on mutual respect and civility. All participants in Clemson courses are expected to behave professionally by adhering to these standards of conduct:

Online communication that fails to meet these standards of conduct will be removed from the course. Repeated misconduct may result in being blocked from online discussions, receiving a grade penalty, or being dismissed from the course. Such misconduct in the online environment may also be reported to officials for appropriate action in accordance with University policy. If you ever encounter inappropriate content in our course, please contact me with your concerns.

Academic Integrity: As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited Thomas Green Clemson's vision of this institution as a "high seminary of learning." Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form.

A simple definition of plagiarism is when someone presents another person's words, visuals, or ideas as his or her own. See the first section of the syllabus for specifics on how this is defined in this course. The instructor will deal with plagiarism on a case-by-case basis. I will use, at my discretion, the Plagiarism Resolution Form. All infractions of academic dishonesty will be reported to Undergraduate Studies for resolution through that office.

See the Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy website for additional information about academic integrity at Clemson.

Academic Grievances: Students are advised to visit the Ombuds' Office prior to filing a grievance. After discussion with the undergraduate academic ombudsman, students should contact Undergraduate Studies (656-3022) for assistance filing official paperwork.

Non-Discrimination: Clemson University is committed to providing a higher education environment that is free from sexual discrimination. Therefore, if you believe you or someone else that is part of the Clemson University community has been discriminated against based on sex, or if you have questions about Title IX, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Alesia Smith, who also serves as the Executive Director of Equity Compliance, at 110 Holtzendorff Hall, 864-656-3181 (voice) or 864-656-0899 (TDD). The Title IX Coordinator is the person designated by Clemson University to oversee its Title IX compliance efforts. Please consult the University's Title IX policy for full details.

Student Support Services:


This page written and copyright © Pamela E. Mack
Send me e-mail at: Pammack@clemson.edu
For my other pages see:  PEM Index Page
last updated 1/9/2019