Contact information for your specific course section instructor will be in Canvas.
Contact information for Professor Evans, course author
Email: charles.t.evans@gmail.com
Web page: www.ctevans.net
Professor Blois: bblois@nvcc.edu
This is the HIS 241 home page. Here you will find information about the course and links to the course weekly assignment schedules.
Required books
The text for the course is Nicholas Riasanovsky and Mark Steinberg, A History of Russia, 9th ed. (Oxford University Press, 2019, ISBN 9780190645588). Earlier editions of this textbook cover much of the same material but lack coverage of Russian events over the last twenty years. If you wish, you can read my Explanation of why I choose this text.
There are two short paperbacks required.
- Ivan Turgenev, Fathers and Sons (Signet Classic, ISBN 9780451529695, although any edition is acceptable).
- Leo Tolstoy, The Cossacks and Other Stories (Penguin Classics, ISBN 978-0-14-044959-4)
Please check Canvas course syllabus for more information about purchasing your books.
If you are wondering whether you must buy the textbook, then please watch this short video.
General course purpose
This course reviews the history of Russia from earliest times to about 1900 and introduces students to the developments of medieval and imperial Russia. Students will examine the major themes and issues that have defined Russia's past and also study some Russian cultural achievements in areas such as art, architecture, music, theater, dance, literature and philosophy.
Course objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to
- Establish a chronology of historical events in Russia before 1900.
- Obtain a knowledge of the historical geography of Russia up to 1900.
- Define the importance of key individuals and developments in Russian history before 1900.
- Identify the social, economic and political forces at work in the historical development of medieval and imperial Russia.
- Recognize and describe the significance of some of the cultural achievements in medieval and imperial Russia.
- Analyze complex Russian historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of those materials.
Course prerequisites
Although there are no formal prerequisites for this course, please consider
- It is expected that students possess college-level reading, writing and technology skills.
- I would recommend that you allot at least three hours a week of study time for this course.
Course drop, withdrawal and incomplete policies
- See the information in the Canvas course syllabus.
- Check your specific Critical Course Deadlines. These dates can be found on the NOVA Online home page, and they are also indicated on your course schedule. Please make a note of these important dates.
- You must withdraw before the Last Refund Date to receive a full tuition refund. This is also the last day to change your grade status to audit.
- In unit 1, you must submit your introduction paragraph by your First Assignment Due Date to avoid being administratively deleted from the course without a refund.
- Your Last Withdrawal Date is the last date on which you can withdraw yourself from the course without grade penalty.
- You must complete all course assignments by your official course End Date.
- For an Incomplete grade in the course, you must earn 500 points, pass the midterm exam and explain the extenuating circumstances for the incomplete request.
- Take appropriate action now if you will not be able to take your exams at a NVCC campus testing center. You will need to set up proctored examinations. You may also use ProctorU to take your exams on your home computer. See the information about exams on your Canvas syllabus.
- Please note that your enrollment in this course is subject to NOVA Online policies and procedures. You may wish to review these now.
- Students are responsible for knowing and following college policies in the Student Handbook.
Course grading
Course grades are based on the following point scale:
- 1,000-900: A
- 899-800: B
- 799-700: C
- 699-600: D
- 599-000: F
Make sure that you check the very IMPORTANT Explanation of Assignments and Grading, which has information about grading in the course. There are Special Course Grading Requirements that you must meet to successfully pass the course.
Links to course assignment schedules
a typical seven-week schedule
a typical eight-week schedule
Each week of your schedule will list the course units and assignments that you are required to complete that week. Each course unit will list what you are required to read and submit for that unit. Each unit will also usually have some extra material that you may look at and some possible extra credit work that you can complete. Please make sure that you check out all the linked information for each course unit.
Please make sure that you double-check your official course registration to verify the specific section of the course that you signed up for.
You are expected to make regular and steady course progress by completing your assignments and exams on time. Please check your Canvas gradebook for your grades and feedback. You can always finish faster than your course schedule. Once you begin this course, it is your responsibility to withdraw. If you do not withdraw and if you do not finish your course assignments, then you will receive an "F."
Be sure to check out the list of available course aids.
Submitting assignments
You must submit all of your assignments and extra credit through Canvas. See the Submitting Assignments in Your NOVA Online History Course instructions. (No more than one item per calendar day will be accepted.) Feedback on your work will be posted to the Canvas gradebook, usually within 24-48 hours. You should follow the same directions if you are resubmitting an assignment.
When you have any questions about the course or your assignments or when you want to send a draft of an assignment for informal feedback, please contact your instructor by email using your student email account.
Using Canvas
Canvas is used to support the course.
Contacting your instructor
Find your instructor's name and contact information at the top of this page and also when you log into your course on Canvas.
Plagiarism, cheating and student conduct
NOVA does not tolerate academic dishonesty. See the information on the Canvas course syllabus (also known as the college's Academic Integrity Policy).
Please make sure that you read the course policy on plagiarism and cheating. You are expected to abide by the student conduct provisions of the college's student handbook, and it is expected that you will be courteous in all conversations and assignments in this course.
Writing in the course
Proper grammar, spelling and style are an inherent part of each assignment in this course, and please check Charlie's History Writing Center for more information about specific writing style expectations. (You can also watch the short YouTube video about the center.)