Many of the assigned readings for this course are provided online.

Some of the readings will be relatively short essays, articles, or book chapters; some are complete books. Obviously you will read these using different reading strategies. I will provide for each of the assigned readings a study guide which you should consult prior to reading the item. Those readings which I make available on the WEB should be read IN ONE SITTING -- they are about one particular issue, or are providing a well-presented point of view on one issue. They cannot be well understood if read in small "chunks". At the end of each reading, I provide a FORM which asks you to respond to the reading -- often in the form of a question or questions. You should make your response after finishing the reading, and submit it to me by clicking on the SUBMIT button.  Although I have assigned only one form submission/week, being able to answer the questions for the others for yourself will measure your understanding of the reading.

I have added a list of additional books and articles on the various topics that I will be discussing this semester on the following link: ADDITIONAL READINGS on the off-chance that any of the topics are particularly interesting to you--you might want to consult some of these for your essays and/or class reports. They are organized by week.

Each week, responses are due on the FORMS provided for each reading by Sunday evenings concerning the assigned readings for the immediately upcoming week. You should pick one of the questions I provide at the beginning of each form. For the first several weeks, the forms will be due Sunday evening at the end of the week.  Thereafter, by Sunday evening prior to the week.  For example, by Sunday evening, January 16,  you should send FORM entries concerning the reading assignments for Week 1. I will spend some time on Thursdays to discussion in class the questions asked on the forms.  Thus, we should be able, in class, to discuss the readings together. Obviously this will not work unless each of you do the expected reading for each week, on time, and submit your responses, also on time.

Due April 12, in class.  Written responses to a set of questions prepared concerning art objects in MSU's Kresge Art Museum collection, from the Middle East during this time period.