Note: This is a sample syllabus, indicating the most
recent version of the way I have chosen to organize the course. There are, of
course, multiple ways this could be done, as Malcolm Purinton's essay suggests.
Please note this is an abbreviated version of the syllabus, without grade
structure or other technical requirements.
Objectives:
This course explores key
moments in the history of the world since World War II. Its goal is to help
students understand how historical events in the post-1945 period shaped the
contemporary world in foundational ways. To do this, we explore a wide variety
of social, economic, political, and cultural events and issues. We also will
attempt to maintain a sense of balance in our attention to particular regions,
with particular emphasis in this class on novels and contemporary writing about
immigration in post-war Britain, India, Iran, South Africa, and China. Although
we will discuss many events and issues, the three inter-related themes of Cold
War, decolonization, and globalization haunt this period, and feature largely
whether we are exploring societies, culture, politics, or economics.
Learning Goals:
By the end of the semester,
students in this class will be able to:
- Understand the importance of global
historical events for the political, social, economic, and cultural state of
the world today
- Understand the truly global
nature of the Cold War, decolonization, and globalization
- Recognize and critically evaluate
alternative viewpoints on past events
- Evaluate the advantages and
disadvantages of using contemporary writing to explore past events
- Construct a scholarly argument
and defend it using evidence, both in written and oral form
- Express themselves clearly,
articulately, and correctly in written and oral work
- Efficiently negotiate the demands
of college-level reading and writing
Required Readings:
Bapsi Sidhwa, Cracking India (Reprint, 2006)
Buchi
Emecheta, Second Class Citizen (Paperback edition, 1983)
Rae
Yang, Spider Eaters: A Memoir (Reprint, 2013)
Marjane
Satrapi, Persepolis (Paperback edition, 2004)
Mark
Mathabane, Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography—The True Story of a Black
Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa (1998)
Michael H. Hunt, The World Transformed: 1945 to the Present (2004)
Calendar:
All readings must be done
prior to the class on the day they are assigned
WEEK ONE
Monday, January 6:
Topic: Introduction: Why world history, and why since
1945?
Assignment: In-class map quiz
Wednesday, January 8:
Topic: Background to1945
Readings: Michael Hunt, "Introduction: The 1945 Watershed,"
in The World Transformed
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 9:
Topic: Introductions in sections; discussion of quizzes
and readings
WEEK TWO:
Monday, January 13:
Topic: Cold War: The Backstory
Wednesday, January 15:
Topic: Cold War: The Backstory
Readings: Chapter 1, "The Cold War: Toward Soviet-American
Confrontation," in Hunt, The World Transformed
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 16:
Topic: Discussion of reading and quizzes
WEEK THREE:
Monday, January 20:
No class
Wednesday, January 22:
Topic: The Early Cold War and Decolonization
Readings: Chapter 2, "The International Economy: Out of the
Ruins," in Hunt, The World Transformed; Begin Bapsi Sidhwa, Cracking
India
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 23:
Assignment: Decolonization primary sources
WEEK FOUR:
Monday, January 27:
Topic: South Asia in Global Context
Readings: Continue reading Bapsi Sidhwa, Cracking India
Wednesday, January 29:
Topic: South Asia in Global Context
Readings: Chapter 3, "The Third World: First Tremors in
Asia," in Hunt, The World Transformed; Continue reading Bapsi Sidhwa, Cracking
India
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 30:
Topic: Book exam on Bapsi Sidhwa, Cracking India
WEEK FIVE:
Monday, February 3:
Topic: IMF, WTO
Readings: Begin reading Buchi Emecheta, Second Class
Citizen
Wednesday, February 5:
Topic: The Empire Strikes Back
Readings: Continue reading Buchi Emecheta, Second Class
Citizen
Thursday, February 6:
Assignment: Literature as sources in history; design mid-term exams
WEEK SIX:
Monday, February 10:
Topic: Latin America in global context
Wednesday, February 12:
Topic: Latin America in global context
Thursday, February 13:
Assignment: Book exam on Buchi Emecheta, Second Class
Citizen
WEEK SEVEN:
Monday, February 17:
No class
Wednesday, February 19:
Topic: The global 1960s
Assignment: Begin reading Rae Yang, Spider Eaters; Chapter
4, "The Cold War: A Tenuous Accommodation," in Hunt, The World Transformed
Thursday, February 20:
Mid-term exams due in class;
Operation Condor primary sources
WEEK EIGHT:
Monday, February 24:
Topic: East Asia in global context
Assignment: Continue reading Rae Yang, Spider Eaters
Wednesday, February 26:
Topic: East Asia in global context
Readings: Continue reading Rae Yang, Spider Eaters; Chapter
5, "Abundance and Discontent in the Developed World," in Hunt, The World
Transformed
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 27:
Assignment: Book exam on Rae Yang, Spider Eaters
WEEK NINE:
Monday, March 10:
Topic: Middle East
Readings: Begin reading Satrapi, Persepolis
Wednesday, March 12:
Topic: Middle East
Readings: Continue reading Satrapi, Persepolis; Chapter
6, "Third World Hopes at High Tide," in Hunt The World Transformed
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 13:
Assignment: Book exam on Satrapi, Persepolis
WEEK TEN:
Monday, March 17:
Topic: Southeast Asia
Readings: Begin reading Mathabane, Kaffir Boy
Wednesday, March 19:
Topic: Southeast Asia
Readings: Chapter 7, "The Cold War Comes to a Close," in Hunt, The
World Transformed; Continue reading Mathabane, Kaffir Boy
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 20:
Assignment: Discussion of South Africa
WEEK ELEVEN:
Monday, March 24:
Topic: South Africa
Readings: Continue reading Mathabane, Kaffir Boy
Wednesday, March 26:
Topic: South Africa
Readings: Chapter 9, "Divergent Paths in the Third World," in
Hunt, The World Transformed; Continue reading Mathabane, Kaffir
Boy
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 27:
Assignment: Book exam on Mathabane, Kaffir Boy Debate
prep?
WEEK TWELVE:
Monday, March 31:
Topic: Global Poverty, Global Environment Book Exam
Wednesday, April 2:
Topic: The World After 2001—Dave to lecture
Readings: Chapter 8, "Global Markets: One System, Three
Centers," and "Conclusion: Globalization Ascendant," in Michael Hunt, The
World Transformed
Assignment: Reading quiz on Blackboard by 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 3:
Topic: Debate prep
WEEK THIRTEEN:
Monday, April 7:
Topic: Debate
Wednesday, April 9:
Topic: Debate
Thursday, April 10:
Topic: Debate discussion
WEEK FOURTEEN:
Monday, April 14:
Topic: Wrap up, Conclusions, the Future Global Environment,
Global Poverty
Final papers due no later
than 5:00 p.m. on April 22. |
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