In order to successfully complete this course, you must demonstrate your understanding of the course materials by:

• participating actively in the discussion activities,
• writing and submitting the journals,
• submitting the virtual museum report,
• earning a combined average of at least 60% on the proctored assessments.

Here is an overview of all of the different types of assignments in the course. You can find detailed directions for the assignments and the grading rubrics in the module where they are assigned.

Course Basics Quiz

The course site contains very important information about grading, due dates, taking proctored assessments, plagiarism, and other topics that you must understand to succeed in this course. By preparing for and taking this Course Basics Quiz, you will ensure that you are aware of key course components and important NOVA Online and course policies.

Discussions

You will analyze and evaluate significant topics from your text. You will also examine and respond to your classmates' perspectives. Your initial response must:

• Have a brief introduction.
• Have a main point or "thesis."
• Support the thesis with evidence, such as examples, reasons, or data. There should be at least two well-developed supporting paragraphs.
• Have a conclusion.
• Be at least 350 words. If you have more to say, say it. 

Reply to two of your classmates' posts. Your responses must:

• Be specific and analytical. No "good job" or "great idea" comments, please.
• Address specific points made by the writer to whom you are responding.
• Make at least two positive remarks about the essay content.
• Raise at least two questions about the essay content.

Journals

You will write three Journals in this course that allow you to think critically--and receive feedback--about specific ideas in the textbook reading assignments. They also help you practice for the exam essays.

In style, your journal should be more informal and spontaneous in tone, more exploratory in thinking, than a formal "essay." It is not intended to be a document that you work and rework as carefully as you would essay drafts. Relax and have fun with the ideas you're presented with. At the same time, a good command of English language diction, grammar, and syntax is expected. You might also benefit from reviewing the basic format of an expository essay to help guide your journal entries. 

Virtual Museum Visit and Report

This assignment is your chance to break away from the textbook and instead go online in pursuit of the fine arts! With your fresh knowledge of ancient civilizations, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance, this assignment will allow you to explore works of art with new, informed perspectives. It will also ask you to reflect on your learning.

You will write a report of 1000-1200 words about what you saw to discuss how what you have learned in this course informed your visit and how you can historically and culturally contextualize what you saw in the virtual museum of your choice? 

Proctored Assessments

There are three proctored assessments in the course. They are to check your understanding of the concepts learned in the course. Each proctored assessment consists of two open-book essay questions.

• There is a two hour time limit for the proctored assessment. That is ample time for you to provide analysis of specific examples and logical discussion to support your assertions
• For the first essay, you should plan to spend about 40 to 60 minutes.
• For the second essay, you answer ONE of the two choices only.  Prepare to spend 30 to 40 minutes on this essay.  Again, analysis of specific examples, and logical reasoning, are expected.
• Open book assessments assume that the student has carefully prepared for the proctored assessment.  An open book allows you to select and check specific examples and ideas, but a student who reads the ‘open book” for the first time during the exam will do poorly.

Please find the information on how to take a proctored assessment in the Taking Proctored Assessments section below.