HIST 203: World History II (1300 to present)

Spring Term, 2006
Prof. Jan Bender Shetler
AD28, MWF 2:00-2:50
Office: Wyse 311, phone 7108, email jans@goshen.edu

I.  COURSE DESCRIPTION
History of the world from European expansion to the present, with an emphasis on understanding the foundations of a global society.  Also introduces the study of history as an academic discipline through the analysis of approaches to historical causation.

II. PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE

1. Revolution: To approach world history from the perspective of the events that radically changed the world in the last 500 years using the theme of “revolution” in a number of different aspects:
1. The imperial revolution and responses to European domination.
2. The great social revolutions in France, Haiti, Mexico, Russia and China.
3. The global impact of the industrial revolution.
4. The revolutionary changes brought about by nationalism and warfare.
2. Intercultural Relations: To approach world history from the perspective of intercultural relations with the goal of cultivating “intercultural openness with the ability to function effectively with people of other world views” (GC Learning Outcome #2). 
1. To understand how global connections created both common and divergent experiences as well as altered the balance of power within and between societies.
2. To study events from a variety of cultural perspectives through primary sources.
3. To work against a Eurocentric model of world history that is more inclusive.
3. Current Relevance: To recognize the historical context of many international events currently unfolding in the newspaper headlines.
1. To find the relevance of history for today’s problems
2. To capture a sense of the intellectual excitement inherent in a liberal arts education.
4. Historical Method and Causation: To practice the historian’s craft by developing the art of reading critically, evaluating historical sources, articulating ideas in a group setting, and expressing arguments clearly in writing.  In particular, to develop the critical skills of analyzing the arguments of secondary sources in terms of:
1. the perspective of historians and their sources
2. ways of understanding historical causation, the “why” question
3. various frameworks for thinking about world history

III. BOOKS TO PURCHASE
* Robert Tignor et al,.  Worlds Together, Worlds Apart:  A History of the Modern World from the Mongol Empire to the Present. (New York:  W.W. Norton and Co., 2002). 
* Andrea, Alfred J. and James Overfield.  The Human Record:  Sources of Global History, Volume II.  (Houghton Mifflin, 2001).
* Harms, Robert. The Diligent:  A Voyage Through the Worlds of the SlaveTrade (Basic Books, 2002)
* Headrick, Daniel R.  The Tools of Empire:  Technology and European Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century (New York:  Oxford University Press, 1981).
* [Outline map of the world (18099a)]

IV. COURSE POLICIES

1. Attendance at all classes is mandatory.  After three unexcused absences your grade will drop one percentage point for each day you are absent.  Please inform me in advance of absences for school functions.  Exams, quizzes and discussion participation on days of unexcused absences cannot be made up.  Discussion participation cannot be made up even for excused absences. 
2. You demonstrate respect for the teacher and fellow students by prompt arrival and attentiveness in class.   If you come into class after I have taken attendance your tardy will count as an absence unless you inform me of your presence after class.  It is up to you to make sure this happens, otherwise it will be an absence. 
3. Plagiarism in written assignments will not be tolerated.
4. Reading assignments must be completed before the class for which they are assigned. Students should come to class questions and reading notes regarding each assignment. Be prepared!  There will be time in each class session for clarification of readings.  Lectures will not necessarily cover the readings, for which you will be held responsible.  Ask questions.
5. Extensions on papers are granted only in unusual circumstances and at least 3 days in advance of the deadline.  If you are sick or for some medical reason could not complete the assignment let me know as soon as possible.  Any late work that has not been cleared with me in advance will be reduced by ten percentage points for each day that it is late.  If you have a scheduled school activity, please turn your assignment in ahead of time.
6. This course requires a fair amount of reading and writing.  You should expect to do at least 2 hours of reading/writing for every hour in class.  I am assuming that you can read about 20-30 pages/hour depending on the reading.  If you find yourself reading much slower than this you will have to learn how to skim. If you don’t keep up with reading each day you will not be able to pass the class.  Make sure you arrange your schedules to make this possible.  See the academic support center for help in learning how to read and comprehend.  Learn how to take notes on your reading.  The class is front-weighted, that is it demands more reading at the beginning of the course than at the end so plan accordingly. 

V. REQUIREMENTS
1. Regular class attendance and active participation in the discussions.  Class attendance and participation are crucial to your success in this course.  You will prepare for discussion groups by writing discussion questions as per the form below.  The groups will be fixed at the beginning of the semester, discussion group leaders will be assigned to each group.  If you are interested in leading one please let me know.  Discussion questions will also be posted on the Blackboard site if you are hesitant to speak out in class.  You will get points for your participation in the discussion groups and in class discussions.
2. Quizzes on assigned reading.   You are required to complete all readings by the date on which they are listed in the syllabus.  We will have short quizzes over the material in the assignments (5 points each).  We will not necessarily cover everything in the text during class time, you are still responsible for that material.  Quizzes will be short and objective.
3. Discussion Questions:  Each time you come for a scheduled small group discussion sections you will prepare the following questions, no more than one page long and bring a typed hard copy of it to class (turn in after the discussion):

1. What questions concerning the readings would you like to discuss in the group?  What did you find especially interesting, new, puzzling?
2. What is the perspective or background of each of these authors?  How does that influence the reliability of the text as an historical source?
3. How do these readings relate to our larger study of the period?  What do they tell us that we didn't learn in the textbook reading?

You will turn in discussion questions 9, worth 5 points each.  You must make reference to specific readings and authors in your response, not just general ideas. 
4. Responses to other books, The Diligent and The Tools of Empire:  These are responses to reading in preparation for class discussion and the paper your will write on these papers.  On the days that these responses are called for you are to post to the assignments box 2 hours before class answers to the following questions for each section of the book:

1. What/who was the story about? or What was the main point of the section?
2. What historical concept/process did the story illustrate? or How does it relate to other things we have learned about world history?

            3. What view of world history do we get from reading this story/analysis?
You get 3 points for these responses.  No points for late responses even if excused.
4. Map exercise. A basic understanding of geography is essential to your success in the course.  I will assign a map exercise at the beginning of the term (25 points); each test will have a geography component. 

1. Purchase a 16” x 11” outline map of the World (#18099a) at the bookstore.  Using the atlases in the reference room of the library, identify the following places clearly and precisely on your map. The completed map (25 pts) is due on January 27 in class.  Material from the map will be included on each test.
2. Locate the following mountain ranges:  Alps, Himalayas, Atlas, Urals, Andes
3. Label the following rivers: Volga, Nile, Niger, Congo, Zambezi, Yangtze, Yellow, Mekong, Rhine, Amazon, Ganges, Indus
4. Label these bodies of water: Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, South China Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Caribbean Sea
5. Outline and label the following countries:  Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Spain, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Algeria, Angola, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand

5. Current Events Presentation

Each of you will be required to do a short (5 minutes) current events presentation for the class related to the topic or place that we are studying at the time, five minutes. (10 points each)  This means that you would come to class prepared to say something about the event itself and give a bit of historical context to make it clear why it is important and how it is related to our study. 

For help on finding current events for your topic see Omnivore site http://way.net/omnivore/

6. Extra-Credit Option

Some of you may have particular experience (or simply a deep interest) in a part of the world or time period we will be studying.  If you would like to propose some sort of class presentation based on that experience/interest, I would be glad to consider your proposal and to work it into the syllabus if possible, 15 minutes maximum.  This is especially applicable to international students.

7. Papers. The books by Harms, The Diligent and Headrick, The Tools of Empire will be the basis for two short 4-6 page papers (50 points each).  Descriptions will be passed out closer to the time that the paper is due.  The paper must be unified around a thesis statement that appears at the end of the first introductory paragraph stating your overall argument about the book.  Your argument must be supported by examples and evidence from the book, not just your generalizations and feelings about it.  Citation may be either MLA or footnotes (Turabian).  You should try to include and answer counter-arguments to your thesis.  For grading criteria rubric see the Blackboard website.  Please see me if you do not know how to write a thesis paper.  The same criteria will be used to evaluate your essays on the tests.
5. There will be three exams during the course, over each section including a final exam.  Tests will cover both reading and lectures (first two exams 70 points each, final exam 100 points, including a comprehensive essay).

VI. GRADING on the various assignments will be as follows:

Current Events Presentation                 --10

Map Exercise                                      --20

Quizzes (on text reading, 6x5)              --30

Discussion/Responses (9x5 + 5x3)       --60

Participation (discussion/class)             --40

Papers  (50 x 2)                                    100
Tests (2x70, 1x100)                              240
                                    TOTAL            500 pts.

V. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE