UC Santa Barbara > History Department > Prof. Marcuse > Courses > Hist 2c > 2008 syllabus

UCSB Hist 2C, Fall 2009
World History 1700-present
Buchanan 1910, T-Th 8-9:15
marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/classes/2c

Prof. Marcuse (homepage)
HSSB 4222, no phone
marcuse@history.ucsb.edu
Office hours: Tue. & Thu. 9:30-10:30am

World History, 1700-Present
Course Syllabus
(4 page pdf for printing--final exam date corrected on 9/30/09)


Introduction
and Goals
Required Books
Course Requirements
Writing Assignments Grading
Discussion Sections, TAs
Communication
& Websites
Lectures & Assignments

Introduction and Goals

I don't think of history merely as a lot of information that "everyone should know." For me, it is a wealth of experiences, some of which are interesting and entertaining (like good books or movies), and many of which help me to understand and evaluate what is going on in the world, and why. In this course we will study some historical experiences that should be helpful in making sense of the present. Some of those experiences are the lives of exceptional people, some of ordinary people. Some are great history-shaping events such as mass movements, revolutions, and wars. And some are ideas that have helped people to see the world around them in new ways, and have led to monumental changes in the way they--and we--live.

While we study these experiences, we will also learn and practice some historical skills, such as how to find and draw meaning from primary sources, how to think beyond the obvious level of a source to its deeper meanings, how research can turn raw information into useful knowledge, and how to express our thoughts clearly in discussion and in writing.

Required Books (available at the UCen and IV Bookstores; Reader at GrafikArt) (back to top)

  1. Edward Judge & John Langdon, Connections, A World History (Pearson, 2009), vol. II. ($64)
    This textbook strikes a good balance between conciseness, coverage, and readability.
    Website: http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_judge_connections_1mylab/. The Class ID is cm293386.
  2. Reader of additional essays and sources, available at the GrafikArt on Pardall Rd. in IV, $10.43.
  3. Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African (1789), (Bedford 2006 ed., edited and introduced by Robert Allison).
    This autobiography of a former slave played an important role in the antislavery movement.
    Reserve room call no: HT869.E6 A3 1995
  4. Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History (Boston: Bedford, 2009 [earlier ok]).
    This is an excellent how-to guide about writing history papers and preparing for exams.
    Reserve room call no: D13 .R295 2007
  5. iClicker: Classroom response unit, for answering questions and polls in class.

Course Requirements (back to top)

  1. Effort. Take ownership of the course! It is yours--think of the professor as a guide who will help you to explore some aspects of the vast terrain of modern world history. Ultimately what you get out of this course is what you put in.
  2. Lectures. Attendance is required. Lectures include materials not available elsewhere. Neither I nor the TAs have time to fill in absent students. Please come on time. Arriving late or leaving early is rude and distracts the professor and disturbs other students.
  3. Discussion Sections (20%, see below). Attendance is mandatory and TAs will call roll.
    Preparation for section is crucial! Much of your section grade depends on your participation.
  4. Readings. Four books are required: the textbook, a reader of articles and sources, an autobiography, and a guide to studying and writing history.
  5. Two Papers : This course fulfills the General Education writing requirement, so ...
    If you do not submit and pass both writing assignments, you will fail this course.
    • Late policy: grades will be reduced 5% per day, beginning at the start of lecture.
    • Plagiarism: will not be tolerated. Details on the course website and your section syllabus.
      You MUST upload your paper to the GauchoSpace website by the set due date to be checked against other papers and internet sources by pairwise.
    • Formalities:
      *All work must be typewritten and carefully spell-checked and proofread.
      *Number your pages (in a word processor: Insert->Page Numbers, or by hand!).
      *At the top of each assignment you should write:
      i) your name,
      ii) your TA's name and the section time,
      iii) the date, and
      iv) the word count (select the whole body text, then go to Tools->Word count).
    • 5a. Equiano essay (15%; 600-800 words, 2-3 pages), due Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8am.
      Vassa/Equiano wrote his autobiography to expose the evils of slavery and prove that Africans are equal to Europeans in all respects. What arguments does he make in order to do this? Often he anticipates criticism and counterarguments. What are some of the justifications of slavery that he refutes? What is his evidence? Pick several arguments and assess them: do they convince you?
      If so, why, and if not, why not?
    • 5b. Family History essay. (20%, 1200-1400 words, ca. 5 pages)
      • The core of this paper is an interview with a relative (grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle) or family friend. It should focus on two aspects: a migration experience (from another country, state, city or within a city), and a world-historical event that that person lived through.
      • a prospectus about the person you will interview, including the significant event and some research about the migration and that event, is due Tues., Nov. 10, 8am.
      • A detailed handout about this assignment will be distributed separately.
      • the final oral history research paper is due Tuesday Dec. 1, 8am in lecture.
  6. Examinations. There will be a midterm and a final.
    a) In-class midterm (15%), Thu., Oct. 29. Three IDs chosen from 6, one essay question.
    b) A two-hour final examination (20%), Tue., Dec. 8, 7:30pm. Three IDs chosen from 9, one post-midterm and one comprehensive essay question. A study guide will be available.

Grading (back to top)
Section 20%
iClicker participation 5%
Equiano paper 15%
Midterm 15%
Family History Essay 25%
Final Exam 20%

The TAs do most of the grading according to standards set by the professor. If you feel your work was graded inappropriately, you must discuss this first with your TA. If you are still unsatisfied, you may write an explanation, have it initialed by your TA, and submit it to me, with all of your work for the course. I may lower a grade as well as raise it.

Discussion Sections (back to top)

  • ENROLLMENT
    You must officially enroll in the section you are attending, no exceptions. Enrollment after the first day of classes is only possible with a code from the TA in charge. Students who have not attended the first meeting of the section in which they are enrolled will be dropped automatically if other students are waiting to enroll. Contact your TA immediately if you cannot attend the first section. (back to top)

TA

Office

Office Hours

e-mail

sections

Eric Fenrich

HSSB 3217

W 4-5
Th 9:30-10:30

efenrich
@umail

Wed, 12-1:         Arts 1251
Wed. 2-3:           Ellsn 2816
Wed. 5-6:           Girv 2110

Judy Kingkaysone

HSSB 3228

T 9:30-10:30
F 9-10

jkingkaysone
@umail

Fri. 8-9:              Girv 2120
Fri. 11-12:          Girv 2110
Fri. 12-1:            Girv 2110

Sunny Lim

HSSB 3228

W 10-12

slim01
@umail

Tue.  7-8pm:       Girv 2135
Wed  8-9am:      HSSB 2251
Wed. 3-4:           Girv 2129

Damian Nemirovsky

HSSB 3235

W 4-5 & by appt.

damian01
@umail

Wed. 1-2:           Ellsn 2816
Wed. 6-7:           Girv 2110
Wed. 7-8
pm:       HSSB 2202

Dustin Walker

HSSB 3218

Thu 10-11
Fri 9:30-10:30

Thu. 12-1:          HSSB 2202
Thu. 1-2:            HSSB 2202
Thu. 4-5:            Girv 2135

Communication (back to top)

I am very interested in feedback from you. Questions or comments during lecture are very helpful. After lecture you are welcome to come up and talk, or walk back towards the HSSB with me. I'm available during my office hours, and you can contact me by e-mail (marcuse@history.ucsb.edu).
I will also be attending sections throughout the quarter to find out how things are going and observe how you are doing in the course. Please feel free to ask questions of me then as well.

Course Websites (back to top)

Reading Assignments (back to top)

The assigned textbook chapters correlate with the lectures each week. You will get much more out of the lectures if you read the assigned chapters before the lectures. At 15 pages/hour the textbook reading will take about 2-4 hours each week--I ask that you spend that much time on it!
The Equiano book and reader selections must be read BEFORE YOUR SECTION MEETING that week.

Optional Extra Credit Film Series

Some of the films from which I show clips in lecture will be screened at the MultiCultural Center. You can receive up to 3 points extra credit on your final grade by attending those screenings. More information will be available during the quarter.

iClickers
I haven't used these before, but I hope they will help to make lectures more interesting and interactive.


Weekly Schedule of Lectures and Assignments
(back to top)
  • Sept. 24: UC Day of Action: no class
  1. Sept. 29+Oct. 1: 18th & 19th Century Revolutions: Ideology, Economics, Culture
    Reading: Connections Chap. 26 (633-655), 27 (663-676)
    Section: What is history? Reader: Nietzsche (1874) and Rampolla chap. 1.
  2. Oct. 6+8: Africa, Slavery, the Atlantic System, and Anti-Slavery
    Reading: Connections Chap. 23; Equiano, Interesting Narrative
    Section: Equiano's autobiography (read it!): A life story told for a reason
  3. Oct. 13+15: Nation- vs. Empire-Building: Latin America and Africa
    Reading: Connections Chap. 28 (710-725) & 30 (764-780); finish Equiano
    Section: Latin American Leaders; preparing for first paper (sources & Rampolla)
  4. Oct. 20+22: China and Japan Confront Western Penetration      Tue: Equiano paper due
    Reading: Connections Chap. 29 (save 736-740 until next week)
    Section: Reader: China & Japan sources
  5. Oct. 27+29: The Asian Subcontinent: India; midterm                   Thu: Midterm exam
    Reading: Connections Chap. 22 (538-548) & 29 (736-740)
    Section: Reader: India sources; review for midterm
  6. Nov. 3+5: Global Convulsions Open the 20th Century
    Reading: Connections Chap. 31 & 32
    Section: Reader: Calls to Action; discussion of Family History assignment
  7. Nov. 10+12: The Next 20th Century Convulsion: A New Equilibrium?
    Reading: Connections Chap. 33 & 34 Tue: Family History Prospectus due
    Section: Reader: Ideologies before and after World War II
  8. Nov. 17+19: New Models of State Organization: Asia and Latin America in the 20th C.
    Reading: Connections Chap. 35 & 36
    Section: Reader: Sources on state creation & development; return prospectuses
  9. Nov. 24+Thanksgiving: 20th Century Issues: The Middle East
    Reading: Connections Chap. 30 (759-764) & 37 (984-992)
    Section: no sections this week; work on Family History paper
  10. Dec. 1+3: 21st Century Issues: Economic Development, Environmental Degradation
    Reading: Connections Chap. 37                        Tue: Family History paper due
    Section: Reader: Speeches and newspaper articles

Dec. 8 (Tuesday), 7:30-9:30/[10:30]pm: Final exam (give your TA a bluebook in advance)
CORRECTION 9/30/09: Dec. 11, 8-11am [I confused the 8-9:15PM with the AM time--schedule]

(back to top)
Plagiarism-presenting someone else's work as your own, or deliberately failing to credit or attribute the work of others on whom you draw (including materials found on the web)-is a serious academic offense, punishable by dismissal from the university. It hurts the one who commits it most of all, by cheating them out of an education. I will report offenses to the appropriate university authorities for disciplinary action. details

page created by H. Marcuse on Sept. 27, 2009; updated 9/30/09, 10/19/09
back to top, to Marcuse's Hist 2c homepage, Marcuse's UCSB homepage