HIST/WMST 444  Seminar: The Witch Hunts 1400-1800 (3 Credits) Syllabus Spring 2019 (For more courses on the witch hunts, click here).

Prof. Pavlac Office: Hafey-Marian 307   Office Hours: Office hours: MW (9:20-9:50 am and 1:00-2:30 pm and by appointment. Tel: (570) 208-5900, ext. 5748

 Witch Hunt Main Page | Witch Hunt Simulation | Timeline | Class Schedule 

 Grading Policy | Paper Presentation

I. Description

"She's a witch!"  was a cry heard from the fifteenth to the eighteenth the centuries, when many Europeans developed a heightened concern with the phenomenon of witchcraft, seeing a new sect hostile to humanity.  The end of the Middle Ages and the religious Reformation increased the intensity of the "Witch Craze."  Finally, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment brought an end to the hunt for powers that did not empirically exist.  Through reading and discussion of primary and secondary sources, you will learn how these Europeans defined and treated their alleged witches, within the context of other economic, social, and cultural relationships. Included in this study will be the examination of new technologies and methods of rule in the rise of the modern state, and the roles of class and gender in focusing hostility on certain people, especially women. 

II. Purpose

This is a History Major, European course.

Departmental Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will develop and apply knowledge of major historical subjects, themes, and concepts.
2. Students will critically engage sources and assess historiographical arguments.
3. Students will illustrate participation in historical conversations by producing original scholarship.

In addition to the more content related objectives described above, this course has some general liberal learning goals. Successful completion of this course is expected to help improve your ability

• To manage information, which involves such things as sorting data, ranking data for significance, and synthesizing facts, concepts and principles.
• To understand and use organizing principles or key concepts against which miscellaneous data can be evaluated.
• To differentiate between facts, opinions and inferences.
• To frame questions so as to more clearly clarify a problem topic or issue.
• To compare and contrast the relative merits of opposing arguments and interpretations, moving between the main points of each position.
• To organize your thoughts and communicate them clearly and concisely in a written form and oral presentations.
• To obtain practice in selecting and presenting information and arguments within a restricted environment, especially the limitations of time in exams.

III. General Requirements

A. Academic Integrity:

Review the academic honesty policy concerning cheating and plagiarism, differing levels of violations, and your moral, ethical, and legal obligation only to submit work completed by you yourself. (click here for more information from the Student Handbook <http://www.kings.edu/non_cms/pdf/StudentHandbook.pdf#page=45>).  Also see <Help stop Plagiarism!>.

B. Reading and Noting Texts (50 points):

The readings are intended to provide you with important factual and background information before class, a basis for discussion during class, and to be used as review and reference works afterwards.

Please obtain the following textbooks (which should be clean unmarked copies):

• Kors, Alan Charles and Edward Peters, ed. Witchcraft in Europe 400-1700: A Documentary History. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000.  ISBN 978-0-812217513
• Oldridge, Darren, ed. The Witchcraft Reader. Second Edition. London: Routledge, 2008. ISBN 978-0415415651
• Pavlac, Brian A. Witch Hunts in the Western World: Persecution and Punishment from the Inquisition through the Salem Trials. Lincoln, NB: Bison Books, 2010. ISBN 978-0-803232907

You will also be reading from Pavlac, Brian A. The Witches of Innsbruck to be provided by the instructor, materials for your research project, and other handouts as provided.

Before class, you will read according to the class schedule, below. In all of your classes, you should prudently mark up, underline, highlight, annotate and otherwise critique your texts as you study. For this class, you are required to do so.

To help you learn the material, you are required to read and mark up the texts assigned for that day according to the class schedule. The Pavlac text and introductory sections of Oldridge and K&P provide context and background. Of particular interest are the secondary sources in Oldridge and primary sources in K&P. When reading these sources, or any as a history student, you should think about and try to answer (writing in notes or comments written in your textbooks) the following questions:

• What is the thesis?
• What evidence is used to support the thesis? (Find at least three facts).
• What other historians are mentioned and how are they used (for support or critique)?
• What primary sources are used?
• Which hunts/victims/writers are mentioned and how do they compare to use by other historians we or you have read?
• How does the article fit into the "10 Origins of the Witch Hunts?"

Primary:

• Who wrote this source?
• Why did this person write this source?
• What is the point being made?
• What evidence is used to support that point, if any?
• Which hunts/victims/writers are mentioned and how do they compare to use by other sources we or you have read?
• How does this specific source provide information for understanding the witch hunts?
  

Carefully reading and noting texts is so important that the instructor applies two methods of evaluation:
First, quizzes may be given. Quizzes are usually open book, so you may use notes from your text to complete the quiz. Use your own words: language similar to the texts may be plagiarism, unless using direct quotes in quotation marks.
Second, you are required to turn in your textbooks at exams; then the instructor will evaluate how well you have marked them up.

If you have a used textbook that has been already marked up or an electronic version of the textbook, or some other problem with obtaining a textbook, see the instructor within the first two weeks of classes so that solutions can be found for your use of the textbook and subsequent evaluation.

C. Class Participation & Attendance (200 points):

Participation and attendance are necessary because lecture and discussion provide the essentials for achieving class goals and objectives. Thus a portion of your grade will depend on your in-class performance, aside from graded quizzes, exams, and papers. You are required to attend each class, arrive on time, remain attentive, maintain proper classroom decorum, respond to questions, and participate in discussion and small-group activities. After class, regularly through the semester, you should review your class notes and compare them with the texts.

You are encouraged to take notes and ask questions. Some class material will examine explicit issues of sex and violence.  Students are expected to be informed about significant current events, to enable mature engagement with the relevance of our society's past to present problems and controversies.

During class electronic devices may only be used for tasks and information relevant to the classroom activity and may not distract you or other students. Only with the instructor's permission may class be recorded, only to be used for your own study, and the recordings must be erased after the final exam.

Any student who has a learning disability, physical handicap, and/or any other possible impediment to class participation and requirements (whether vetted by the Academic Skills Center or not) should meet with the instructor within the first two weeks of classes to establish available accommodations.

If, at some point during the semester, you must discontinue the course, whether due to poor performance, illness, or some other cause, be sure to follow proper procedures for withdrawal through the Registrar.

No magic, witchcraft, or sorcery of any kind may be used in conjunction with this class, upon penalty of expulsion from and failure of this course.  

D. Absence Policy:

Since participation and class attendance are necessary, if you miss a class you must complete an Absentee Assignment (see below) so that the instructor may evaluate whether some learning has taken place (see below).
If you arrive at class late, after attendance is taken, you must personally request that the absence be turned into a tardy mark; otherwise an Absentee Assignment (see below) may be required. Students who need to leave a class early, except for an emergency, should notify the instructor before class begins.

Missing a class falls into two categories, excused or unexcused, either of which requires submission of an Absentee Assignment (see below).

1. Excused absences are due to college activities, an emergency, or extended illness. They require a notification by the appropriate College official (coach, director, etc.). If you know in advance, you should consult with the instructor about making up/turning in missed work; otherwise contact the instructor as soon as possible after your return. They should have no negative impact upon your grade.

2. All other absences, for whatever reasons, are unexcused, but do not require any written documentation. More than a few will lower the class participation portion of your grade.

After any absence, you are also responsible for requesting any hand-outs and already-returned assignments from the instructor, or borrowing notes from other students.
If you miss any quizzes and/or class projects due to an excused absence, you may make them up with the explicit permission of the instructor, who may require any equivalent assignment. 
If you miss an exam, you do not need to complete an Absentee Assignment, but contact the instructor as soon as possible to schedule a make-up for the exam. You may take a missed exam only at the discretion of the instructor.

A few unexcused absences or a make-up exam should not significantly lower your grade.  Always, your health is your first priority. If you are sick, stay away from class, and seek proper treatment and rest before returning to class.

E. Absentee Assignment:

Since participation and class attendance are necessary, if you miss a class you must complete an Absentee Assignment so that the instructor may evaluate whether some learning has taken place.
For an Absentee Assignment, you are to write a no-more-than-one page essay (in proper presentation format) covering that day's readings or discussion topic.
These papers are ungraded, without points, and not returned; yet failure to complete Absentee Assignments will significantly lower your grade, perhaps resulting in failure of the course.
Deadlines: The assignment(s) should be turned in to the instructor at the beginning of the next class after you return.

F. Exams:

You will take one midterm exam and one final exam, which is comprehensive, as assigned during finals week.

Both exams will consist of short identifications quizzing knowledge of detail and significance, and essays testing your understanding of the course material through logical presentation of facts and explanation of historical trends. Only paper from the instructor is to be used. Please write legibly, in blue/black ink (no pencils).

To study for the exams you should regularly, at least once a week, review your class notes, and refer to the study questions linked below. You should also compare and contrast these notes with your textbook and with the issues and trends emphasized in the class description. To avoid common exam errors, check this page.

IV. OTHER ASSIGNMENTS

A. Witch Hunt Web Simulation report (25 points): You are to write a three-page report of your own experience of a re-creation of a witch hunt.

Purpose:
Simulations create a learning experience drawn from a game format as an alternative to other forms of learning. This particular simulation presents the challenge of making choices faced by the victims of the original witch hunts. You can learn something about the structure of a hunt as well as the consequences of particular choices in that situation.

Procedure:

1. On a computer with internet access go to A Witch Hunt: Germany 1628 URL: <http://www.brianpavlac.org/witchhunts/1628/>.
    Read the instructions page and begin the hunt simulation.
2. As you proceed, take notes on any key turning points, choices you made that led to particular consequences.
3. Answer the questions at the end of the hunt.
4. Retake the hunt at least once, making different choices at particular places and note the different consequences.
5. Write a two-page report on your experiences with the hunt. You should explain in detail about why you made the choices you did, and what happened as a result, and what was different, or not, when you made different choices. On a third page, include your responses to the questions at the end of the hunt.
6. Turn in your final draft in proper presentation format, due according to the class schedule.
   

B. Witches of Innsbruck Project (75 points):

Purpose: This event marks one of the key developments in witch hunting.  Understanding its basic content is essential to comprehending the phenomenon of witch hunting.

Procedure: The instructor will provide you with the text in the second week of classes. You will mark up the text as required and and fill out answeres as descrived in the text.Due according to the class schedule.

C. Salem Research Project (200 points):

For instructions and information on how to carry out this project click on the link above. Due according to the class schedule.

Deadlines: Meeting deadlines is an important aspect of assignments.  Papers should be handed in to the instructor, by you yourself, at the beginning of class on the due dates assigned or e-mailed by the proper time.
The grade of any assignment you turn in late will lose at least 10% after the beginning of the first class, 20% after the second, and 35% after the third.
No late papers will be accepted after the last day of class. For general information about presentation and writing of papers click here.

IV. Grades:

You earn your grade through work done for this course.  You are responsible for understanding why you have achieved a certain grade and what you can do to maintain or improve your grade.  You are encouraged to consult with the professor during office hours or by appointment both before and after exams and written assignments. 

For your protection, in case of errors of recording, you should keep copies of all exams and assignments until you have received official notice of your final grade.  Any and all materials done for this course may become the property of the professor, who may use them for assessment, evaluative, scholarly, or research purposes. 

Click here for a Grading Policy with more information on the parameters of evaluation and grading. For more information on grades, see your Student Handbook and the college catalog.

Your final grade will be based on a percentage (above 90%=A, 89%- 80%=B, etc.) of the sum of the following points:

Class Discussion (200); Quizzes and in-class Projects (5-15 points each); Report on Witch Web Simulation (25); Witches of Innsbruck Project (75); Midterm Exam (75); Salem Research Project (200); Final Exam (150)

V. Class Schedule:

Should the College cancel classes, or have a compressed schedule, still do the work according to the schedule, until otherwise instructed by the instructor.  Meeting time under a compressed schedule for a 10:00 am class is 11:30 am to 12:05 pm.

 Witch Hunt Main Page | Witch Hunt Simulation | Timeline

Grading Policy | Paper Presentation

Although the syllabus presents the basic content and requirements of the course, the professor reserves the right to change anything (e.g. assignments, point values, topics, due dates, grading policy, etc.), at any time, at his discretion.  

URL: http://www.brianpavlac.org/witchhunts/444.html Site built, maintained & © MMXIX by Brian A. Pavlac Last Revision: 2019 January 20