history 114 intro

Welcome Message

  • Welcome students to the department.

  • Explanation of the importance of knowing each other and support available.

  • Reminder that the university belongs to the students; they are not outsiders.

Encouragement to Seek Help

  • Students should always feel free to approach professors with problems.

  • Directly go to Doctor K for significant issues.

  • Importance of not feeling like a bother to faculty.

Tips for Success in Lectures

  • Importance of sitting at the front to get more value from lectures.

  • Encouragement to take handwritten notes instead of typing.

    • Studies show handwritten notes improve memory retention.

  • Active listening through writing down keywords is key.

    • Avoid passive listening (e.g., taking photos of slides).

  • Recommendations to review notes within 24 hours for better retention.

Language Diversity

  • Acknowledgment of diverse backgrounds; English and Afrikaans offered for exams/essays.

  • Encourage students to express language difficulties.

Friendships and Networking

  • Encourage students to make friends; don’t confine yourself to those who mirror your identity.

  • Value friendships that provide new perspectives and opportunities for growth.

Course Overview

  • Introduction of the first history module focusing on the last five million years.

  • Breakdown of historical topics to be covered:

    • Human evolution.

    • Rise of civilizations and agriculture.

    • Fall of the Roman Empire.

Study Strategies

  • Understand the key guiding questions for the course.

  • Importance of maintaining attention during lectures; close laptops and phones.

  • Utilize SunLearn for supplementary material and slides.

Assessments and Requirements

  • Breakdown of assessment components:

    • Tutorials (20%)

    • Essay (30%) due April 11

    • Semester test (50%)

  • Compulsory attendance for tutorials starting Week 3.

  • Late submissions and attendance policies outlined.

Notional Hours for Study

  • Total time commitment for a 12-credit module is approximately 120 hours over the term.

  • Emphasis on planning and managing study hours effectively.

Class Representative Role

  • Class representative acts as communication link between students and faculty.

  • Responsibility for minor issues, while major issues go directly to the lecturer.

Additional Resources

  • All course materials, including readers and additional readings, available on SunLearn.

  • Invitation to visit the library for more resource options.