Course Syllabus

Course ID:	HIS277
Title:	The Modern Middle East
Modality:	Internet
Credit Hours:	3.00

Course Section Information

Course Materials

Be sure that you have all the necessary materials prior to the start date of your course.

Textbook required for Course:

Title: Readings: The Modern Middle East
Author: Roskin, Michael G., et al.
ISBN: 9780555004333

Rio Salado College has developed a unique Textbook Savings Program that uses customized textbooks and saves students up to 50% off the original price of textbooks. This textbook is included in the Textbook Savings Program and has been customized specifically for this course at Rio Salado College by Pearson Custom Publishing so that it contains information most relevant to the course. Your course materials are available through the Rio Salado College Bookstore.  All materials should be verified by ISBN before purchasing at the Rio Salado Bookstore or from another seller.

Course Description and Competencies

Official Course Description
Survey of the political and economic development of the Middle East since 1500. Emphasis on the decline of the Moslem empire, the resurgence of contemporary Pan-Arabian, the Palestinian-Israeli question, jihadism, fundamentalist terrorism, the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and the impact of oil production on the region and the rest of the world.
Official Course Prerequisites
None.
Official Course Competencies
Identify and locate on a map the principle geographic features and nations of the Middle East. Describe the impact of Islam on the Middle East. Trace the history of the Middle East during the last half of the nineteenth century. List and explain the forces which led to the formation of the Zionist Movement. Describe modern Israel today, including its peoples, society, and problems. List and explain the forces which led to the rise of Arab nationalism in the 20th Century. Describe the rise of the Palestinian nationalism. List and explain Arab attempts at unity. Describe the rise of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and oil in terms of Arab and Middle Eastern politics and economics Compare and contrast the roles of the United States and the Soviet Union in the Middle East during the Cold War. List the reasons that 1955 is considered pivotal year in the Middle East. Describe the major forces in the Six Day War of 1967. Describe the major forces that contributed to the 1000 Day Egypt-Israel War of Attrition of 1967-1970. Identify and explain the forces that led to the movement toward Arab-Israeli peace in the Middle East. Describe the factors that led to the Yom Kippur/Ramadan Arab- Israeli War of October 1973. Identify and explain the reasons Lebanon was plunged into civil war, 1975-1990. Describe the major factors that contributed to the Israeli- PLO War in Lebanon of June 1982. Explain the causes and events of the Palestinian Intifada. Describe the major events and forces in the Persian Gulf War of 1991. List the impact on the Middle East of 9/11, the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War. List and describe steps taken to promote Arab-Israeli Peace since 1979. Explain predictions for the future throughout the Middle East.

Course Requirements

1. You must complete all of the assignments in the course in order to receive a passing grade. In general, to prepare for writing the papers:
   • Make sure that you have kept up with the assigned reading in the text. None of the paper assignments will require you to use sources outside of the Internet and the textbook for this course. Please do not refer to encyclopedias, published articles, and the like to complete the papers.
   • If you are not familiar with writing papers/essays or if you feel anxious about this type of assignment, there is nothing to fear. You will receive specific instructions, a suggested paper length, and explanation of what will be looked for in assessing the papers.
2. Examinations: There are two examinations (a midterm and a final) in this course.
3. Note: You must earn an average of 60% on the Midterm Exam and Final Exam to pass the course. This requirement is not negotiable under any circumstances. If your exam scores do not average 60% or higher, you will not earn a passing grade regardless of any assignment scores.

Time Requirements

Remember that this is a three credit-hour class. As such, you will need to dedicate significant time to this course. Plan to spend at least three hours on course content and at least six hours on homework for a total of at least nine hours each week. Be prepared to double your weekly class and study time if you choose an accelerated calendar.

Grading Procedure and Scale

Grading Procedure

There are 500 possible points for this course.

Assignment	Points
Four quizzes at 50 points each	200 points
Two written assignments at 50 points each	100 points
One Midterm Exam at 100 points	100 points
One Final Exam at 100 points	100 points
Total Possible Points	500 points

Grading Scale

Letter grades for assignments, examinations, and the course will be determined by the following scale:

Grade	Percent	Total Points
A	90% - 100%	450 – 500
B	80% - 89%	400 – 449.5
C	70% - 79%	350 – 399.5
D	60% - 69%	300 – 349.5
F	0% - 59%	0 – 299.5

Note: You must earn an average of 60% on the midterm and final exams in order to pass the course. If you earn less than 60% on the combined scores of the two exams, you will receive an automatic "F" regardless of your scores on the other assignments. This requirement is not negotiable under any circumstances.

Please Note: The grading procedure for this course is based on the total number of points possible.

The grading scale is administered equally to all students in the course. Do not expect to receive a grade higher than that earned by your total points. There will be no "point adjustments" made for such things as "class participation" or other subjective factors.

Please note: Extra credit is not available for this course.

Final Grade Options

• Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) - awarded if the student completes all work, including the Final Exam.
• Extension (in lieu of Incomplete grade) - Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course. Please Note: Instructors are not obligated to give extensions.
• Withdrawal-Students may submit a withdrawal request on or prior to the “Last Date to Withdraw” indicated in their RioLearn Gradebook.  

  Students should not contact their instructor to request a withdrawal. A student wishing to withdraw from a class within the stated timeline must do so by visiting my.maricopa.edu. In extreme circumstances, students do have the option of requesting a complete withdrawal from the college by providing Student Enrollment Services with appropriate documentation.

• Credit/No Credit Option (P/Z) - This course may be taken on a credit/no credit basis. See detailed information about the (P/Z) option here.

Submitting Assignments

All assignments are listed in lessons under the "Reading Assignment" and/or "Assessing Your Learning" headings. This is where you will find directions regarding submitting the required assignment.

Note to students: Keep a copy of everything that you submit.

Exams

There is a required midterm and a required final exam for this course. Please review the "Grading Procedure and Scale" portion of your syllabus for details. Your course materials may give specific information about these exams and make suggestions for test preparation.

Check your Gradebook for specific due dates for your exam(s).

Hints for Success

When you are doing the reading for this course, you will find that there is a lot of information packed into each paragraph. It is recommended that you read each assigned chapter two or three times in order to absorb and understand this information as thoroughly as possible. Be sure to take notes about what you read and/or try to highlight those passages that you think are most significant and informative. BE SURE THAT YOU CAREFULLY READ ALL CAPTIONS ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, ETC. THIS INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED PART OF THE REQUIRED READING FOR THE COURSE AND MAY FORM THE BASIS FOR TEST QUESTIONS.

Copyright Acknowledgements

Some images used in courses are licensed as follows: Accunet/AP Multimedia Archive, http://www.clipart.com, EBSCO Image Collection.

Late or Missing Assignments

Assignments that have due dates are due on time according to the due dates in your gradebook. If you need to request an extension for an assignment, a request must be made to your instructor via RioLearn prior to or on the due date. You can request a due date change from the "Request a Change" link in the "Assessments and Due Dates" section of your Course Homepage.

Late points may be applied at the instructor's discretion.

Extra Credit

Policy Regarding Extra Credit

There are no extra credit assignments for this course and no paper rewrites are allowed in fairness to all. The scheduled assignments and exams are more than sufficient to measure your understanding of the content and concepts presented in the course. You will have a greater understanding of the subjects covered if you put your efforts into these assignments and exams, rather than scattering your energy over a greater number of projects. What we want to achieve is quality, not quantity.

Course Completion Policy

A student who registers for a Distance Learning course is assigned a "start date" and an "end date." It is the student's responsibility to note due dates for assignments and to keep up with the course work.

If a student falls behind, she/he must contact the instructor and request an extension of her/his end date in order to complete the course.

It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to grant the request.

Departmental Plagiarism Statement

Any plagiarized paper will receive a grade of zero with no opportunity for a rewrite! What is plagiarism? Defined briefly, plagiarism is using another's words and passing them off as your own. Defined in more detail, plagiarism is the use of another's words whereby appropriate quotation marks and source citations are not used for documentation. Plagiarism can involve phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or essays taken wholly or in part from another written source. This includes but is not limited to internet sites and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). It can be disguised by shifting the word order or the word form of the original source. Students will receive zero credit for any assignment that is found to be plagiarized and will risk course failure. If one written submission is severely plagiarized, course failure may be immediate.

Submitting Assignments

Online Submission Platform

The assignment due dates in this course are structured to complete all the lessons over the span of the course. Regular and consistent progress is expected in the course through the submission of assignments. The submission of an assignment can be no earlier than 7 days prior to the due date. Consult your course gradebook for specific due dates. Assignments/acknowledgments must be submitted through the online submission platform unless otherwise directed.

Final Grade Options

• Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F)

• Extension (in lieu of an incomplete grade): Students may request an assessment extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. Assessment extensions may extend up to two weeks beyond the established course end as indicated in the gradebook. Please Note: Assessment extensions are given at the instructor’s discretion. Instructors are not obligated to give extensions.

• Withdrawn Failing (Y) – Students may be removed from their classes with a Withdrawn Failing (Y) grade for non-participation, which counts like an F in GPA calculation.

• Withdrawal (W) - Students may submit a withdrawal request on or prior to the "Last Date to Withdraw" indicated in their RioLearn Gradebook.

Instructors are unable to submit a withdrawal (W) on behalf of a student. A student wishing to withdraw from a class within the stated timeline must do so by visiting View My Classes/Schedule in the Student Center, and selecting Drop Classes. In extreme circumstances, students do have the option of requesting a complete withdrawal from the college by submitting a "Request for Complete Withdrawal From All Courses" available under the Records heading on Rio’s Important Forms page.

Before withdrawing, students should consider contacting their instructor and/or Rio's Counseling Services to see what options are available to help them stay in class.

STUDENTS – STOP Before You Drop! A withdrawal request is irrevocable, and may affect future Financial Aid, Visa status, Veteran benefit eligibility, scholarship eligibility and may delay graduation. Please be sure that it is the right option for you before submission.

STOP BEFORE YOU DROP

• Credit/No Credit Option (P/Z) - Some courses may be offered with a credit/no credit option which, if offered, would be identified in the Grading Procedure and Scale section of this syllabus. See detailed information about the (P/Z) option here.

Note: Choosing the P/Z option is a permanent change to the gradebook. A P/Z grade will not be changed to a letter grade after the course end date.

Regular and Substantive Faculty-Student Interaction

The Rio Salado College faculty provide learners with frequent opportunities for regular and substantive interaction, which are critical components of a quality online program. At a minimum, faculty teaching online courses for credit monitor weekly due dates and initiate contact with students, post course announcements and/or "From Your Instructor" (FYI) notes that are academic and relevant, respond to academic inquiries within 72 hours, and provide detailed, personalized, and timely feedback. In addition, faculty regularly engage in synchronous and/or asynchronous interaction with students via tools such as discussion boards, rubrics, voice threads, video conferences, audio recordings, phone calls, email and/or text messages, social media, and online collaboration software. Though faculty members are responsible for initiating interaction, providing academic information, and facilitating learning, Rio students are responsible for remaining in regular contact with their instructors and engaging with the course content as active participants in the educational experience.

Requirement for Active Class Participation

Withdrawal for Non-Participation (Y) – Students need to communicate regularly with their instructor and engage in academic activities as determined by the instructor and department. Students may be removed from their classes after 14 days of non-participation with a Withdrawn Failing (Y) grade, which counts like an F in GPA calculation.

If you receive financial aid of any kind, it is your responsibility to protect your eligibility to receive financial aid by meeting the active participation requirements of this class.

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Students will not be discriminated against on the basis of a disclosed pregnancy. This includes discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. As a result, a pregnant or parenting student (a student during a defined postpartum period lasting up to 8 weeks after delivery), may be provided adjustments so they are able to access and participate in their educational program or activity.

Please visit the Working with Pregnant and Parenting webpage to learn more about this policy, reasonable adjustments and complete the Pregnancy Adjustment Form. If you have questions about the policy, please contact Rio Salado College’s Title IX/504 Coordinator Tafari Osayande at o.tafari.osayande@riosalado.edu or (480) 517-8196.

In the event of certain pregnancy-related medical complications, contact Disability.Services@riosalado.edu or call (480) 517-8562 for assistance in providing accommodations/academic adjustments.

Basic Needs

If a lack of basic needs such as food, transportation, school supplies, etc. is affecting your participation and/or performance in this course, please contact the Rio Salado Counseling Department at 480-517-8785 or via email at counseling.receptionist@riosalado.edu.

For additional services and resources:

Rio Salado College Counseling and Career Services
Maricopa Basic Needs and Community Resources

Library Services

The Rio Salado Library is committed to student success and provides a variety of materials and services to enhance student learning. Utilizing Rio’s online library for your research is the best way to ensure that your sources are validated, authoritative, and appropriate for college-level coursework. The library's Video Tutorials page provides instruction on how to use the online library to find books, articles, ebooks, and more. Librarians are available to help you at all times via our Ask a Librarian live chat service.

Please note that when library materials (e.g., articles, ebooks, and streaming media) are integrated into your lesson content, you will see the notation “…provided to you through the Rio Salado Library.”

Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct includes cheating, conspiring to cheat, soliciting to cheat, attempting to cheat, plagiarism, fabrication on an assignment, or other forms of dishonest presentation.

Posting assessments on an unauthorized web site, soliciting assessment answers and the unauthorized acquisition of assessments, assessment answers, or other academic material is cheating. Turning in content created by essay generators or other types of artificial intelligence platforms is also academic misconduct.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or sharing of term papers or other academic materials. Information gathered from the Internet and not properly identified is also considered plagiarism.

We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy (including cheating and plagiarism) can expect sanctions as specified in the college catalog.

Rio Salado College uses software that uncovers plagiarism from student to student and other data sources on the Internet. If a student is found to have plagiarized content, grade consequences will be applied in accordance with departmental policies.

Civility Policy

The faculty of Rio Salado place a high value on the importance of general ethical standards of academic behavior and expect that communication between students and instructors or among students shall maintain the level of formality and mutual respect appropriate to any college teaching/learning situation.

Language or behavior that is rude, abusive, profane, disruptive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Activity of this type is Academic Misconduct as defined in MCCCD Policy AR 2.3.11. Students engaging in such behavior will be removed from the course with a failing grade. Additional sanctions may be applied pursuant to AR 2.3.11.

Honors Program

If you are taking this course for Honors credit, you must complete all assessments, including the Honors Project(s). The Honors Project(s) are listed in one or more lessons of the course and are designated for "Honors Students." Failure to complete the Honors Project(s) will result in a failing grade in the course and a loss of Honors credit.

Honors students are also enrolled in a non-credit Honors Achievement Award (HAA) or Presidential Honors Scholarship (PHS) section within RioLearn to submit co-curricular activity submissions. Co-curriculars must be completed in order to receive funding.

The Honors Department is here to support you! Connect with the college and other Honors students in our INSCRIBE community.

The Honors Department is available to provide additional resources and support to support your journey. Please contact the Honors department at RioSalado.Honors@riosalado.edu.

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). Visit district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements for more information.

Religious Accommodations

Rio Salado College will reasonably accommodate the religious needs, observances, and practices of their students, when requested and the requests are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in ND-4. Any student may request a religious accommodation by making a written request for an accommodation to the appropriate faculty member using the Religious Accommodation Request form. To the extent possible, requests must be made at least two (2) weeks before the requested absence from class due to religious holiday or day of observance.

Addressing Incidents of Sexual Harassment/Assault, Dating/Domestic Violence, and Stalking

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, MCCCD prohibits unlawful sex discrimination against any participant in its education programs or activities. The District also prohibits sexual harassment—including sexual violence—committed by or against students, District employees, and visitors to campus. As outlined in District policy, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking are considered forms of "Sexual Misconduct" prohibited by District policy. Visit district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements for more information.

Student Solution Center

Rio Salado College is dedicated to a quality learning experience and has provided the Student Solution Center webpage as a resource for students to raise issues to our attention. We look forward to the opportunity to provide an equitable solution for all involved parties. For grading or instructional issues, students should first contact their faculty member(s) in accordance with the Instructional Grievance Process. For non-instructional complaints, students may contact Institutional Integrity and Compliance by submitting the non-instructional complaint form, emailing studentcomplaints@riosalado.edu, or calling 480-517-8505. Students may also contact their state regulatory agency; the Arizona SARA Council; and/or the Higher Learning Commission to escalate their concerns.

Change of Address

Please notify Course Support at (480) 517-8243 or 1-800-729-1197 or by email at course.support@riosalado.edu. Please include your name, student number, phone number, and new address including city, state, and zip code.

Contact Us

Please see the following page for contact information.

Disclaimer

Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group.

Rio Salado College Copyright

Course Content © Copyright 2021 Rio Salado College. All Rights Reserved.