Course Announcements
Third Map Quiz (Scheduled for Wednesday 28 November 2018 at 12:55pm)
Our third map quiz is scheduled for the first ten minutes of lecture on Wednesday November 28th of Week 13. For that map quiz, you are responsible for identifying on a map all the present countries that make up Asia, meaning the Eurasian continent minus the countries that were part of the Europe map quiz. You are also responsible for being able to list the capital of at least 20 of those countries. (Note: you do not need to know where on the map the capital is, you just need to know what it is). You can find all this information via any casual Internet search.
Sample Map:
- For a sample blank map of Asia that will be used on the quiz, click here.
Sample Map:
Remaining Opportunities for Extra Credit (See Details Below)
During the fall term, there will be a number of campus events that are of relevance to our course. While attendance at these events is completely optional, those students wishing to earn extra credit in the course can submit a one-page summary of the event to the course professor via email ([email protected]) by no later than 12:55pm on the Monday following the event.
The one-page summary must contain both the identifying information of the student (Full Name, Course, Section, Submission Date) as well as the event (Event Title, Presenter's Name, Date of Event, Location of Event). The summary must be comprised of three paragraphs written on 1-inch margins and in single-space (not double-space). Please note your total word count should be no less than 500 words.
- The first paragraph should describe the structure of the event (Who introduced the speaker(s)? How long did the speaker(s) present for? Did they use any audio-visual equipment? Approximately how many people were in attendance? Was there a Q&A period and how engaged was the audience?).
- The second paragraph should summarize the argument made by the presenter(s) (What was the speaker discussing in terms of topic, geographic location, and time period? What was the presenter's main argument? What evidence did the speaker use to support their argument?).
- The third paragraph should provide your appraisal of the event (Did you find the event interesting? Why or why not? What is something new you learned? Did you find the presentation convincing? Why or why not? And do now think differently about something in particular because of the presentation? Why or why not?).
Eligible Events:
Mon. 19 November @ 3:00pm [Walter Hall Rotunda]:
Ana Lucia Araujo on "Slavery and Its Legacies: Comparative Approaches in Memory and Reparations"
Tue. 27 November @ 4:30pm [Schoonover 145]:
Noura Erakat on "Contemporary Renewals of Black-Palestinian Solidarity"
Thur. 29 November @ 4:00pm [Scripps 111]:
Panel on "Resisting Occupation in Kashmir"
Thur. 29 November @ 7:30pm Time [Baker Ballroom]:
Amitav Achara on "Is Peace and Cooperation Possible after the Liberal World Order"
Second Map Quiz (Scheduled for Monday 5 November 2018 at 12:55pm)
Our second map quiz is scheduled for the first ten minutes of lecture on Monday November 5th of Week 11. For that map quiz, you are responsible for identifying on a map all the present countries that make up the continent of Africa. You are also responsible for being able to list the capital of at least 25 of those countries. (Note: you do not need to know where on the map the capital is, you just need to know what it is). You can find all this information via any casual Internet search.
Sample Maps:
- For a sample blank map of Africa that will be used on the quiz, click here.
Sample Maps:
Second Midterm Exam (Scheduled for Monday Oct. 29th at 12:55pm in Class)
In addition to the study guide that was emailed out, please note the following:
- Each student should bring with them an examination booklet and writing utensil (as previously discussed).
- Arrive to class and take a seat as soon as possible so as to ensure you have as much time as the exam allows.
- Make sure your phone is on silent and placed in your bag before the exam is distributed.
- This is a closed-book/notes exam. Students will be asked to put away everything other than the exam booklet and writing utensil.
- This is a closed-book/notes exam. Students must refrain from communicating with one another or consulting one another's exams.
- This exam will be graded on a modified curve that will take into account the overall performance of the class.
- Remember, you have all the possible exam questions and will have had them for up to ten days before the exam. There will be no surprises on this exam, as long as you adequately prepare for each and every short essay question and indemnification term, you will be able to answer the midterm exam prompt successfully.
First Map Quiz (Schedule for Monday 8 October 2018 at 12:55pm)
Our first map quiz is scheduled for the first ten minutes of lecture on Monday October 8th of Week 7. For that map quiz, you are responsible for identifying on a map all the present countries that make up the geographic regions of the Americas and Europe. You are also responsible for being able to list the capital of at least 10 countries in the Americas and 10 countries in Europe. (Note: you do not need to know where on the map the capital is, you just need to know what it is). You can find all this information via any casual Internet search.
Sample Maps (Note: These maps show countries only. But you should know what the capital city is for each country):
- For a sample blank map of the Americas that will be used on the quiz, click here.
- For a sample blank map of Europe that will be used on the quiz, click here.
Sample Maps (Note: These maps show countries only. But you should know what the capital city is for each country):
If you'd like a few reasons for why a map quiz is beneficial for you in ways beyond this course, check this out:
Important Announcement Regarding the Course (Sent 24 September 2018)
Congratulations on completing the first midterm, and with it closing the door on the first of the three major segments of the course. I know many of you worked hard in adjusting to the expectations of the course and in preparing for the midterm. Moving forward, please keep the following in mind:
I've mentioned to you several times that my goal in this class is to challenge you intellectually and academically, but to do so within a supportive framework. Several of you have come to office hours and taken advantage of my offer to discuss your study habits and routines, and to even look over your lecture and reading notes. Many of you have not, and that is ok. Bottom line, I want you to know that as long as you put in the effort of completing your readings effectively, attending lectures and taking notes, participating in your discussion sections, and preparing in advance for map quizes and midterm exams, most everythig will work itself out as long as you give this course (like any other college course) it's due time. I don't have much control over what happens outside the course. But I do have control of what happens in this course. My only limitation is that I have to be fair among all the enrolled students. And to that end, I hope the above plans encourage you to keep up the work and continue to develop yourselves.
As always, I am more than happy to discuss any and everything related to the course with you via email, office hours, and even during lecture should you raise the issue.
- Think of this week as a restart button. As we have completed the first segment of the course, we are starting the second. The next midterm exam will only cover what we cover in readings and lectures this from this week until the next midterm. So you are currently not behind on your readings or your lecture for this second segment. If anything, you are ahead.
- Despite the syllabus indicating that the final exam will be cumulative, I want you to know that material from the first segment (i.e., Weeks 1-4) will not be part of the final exam. So in that sense, however you felt about the material (e.g., ahead, behind, interesting, boring), you will not need to worry about it any more.
- We hope to return the midterm exam to everyone within two weeks of today. Please note that we need to grade every exam first in order to create a curve that takes into account everyone's performance.
- I know several of you were concerned with your content test score. The entire excercise was designed to keep you as on top of your readings and lectures as possible during the first two weeks, but to also offer you a chance to guage how you are studying and caliberate it sooner rather than later to the what the course demands of you. I am therefore willing to offer the following to those of you that are unhappy with your content test grade: You can submitt an assignment that would erase your content test score and transfer that percentage of your course grade to be added to your discussion section grade. To take up this option, you will need to email me directly cc'ing your TA, indicate what you earned on your content score and your interest in this offer, and request the assignment. Just so you know, the assignment will be to answer (as a take-home open readings/notes exam) two short essay questions and five identification terms from the first midterm study guide that did not appear on today's midterm exam. I will chose which combination of questions you are assigned, and you will need to submitt the completed aswers to me as a Word document attachment within two weeks of today. Note, you are only able to successfully complete this assignment by earning an 85% or better on the assignment I will send you. The advantage though, is that you've supposedly already prepared the answers and will just need to be sure of them. And again, doing so would eliminate your content test score and take that 10% of your course grade and add to your discussion section component.
- Please note that we will not have a lecture meeting on Wednesday Sep. 26 of this week, and so you will not be expected to come to class on Wednesday at 12:55pm.
- Please note that you are expected to show up to section this week, and be prepared to discuss the assigned readings for this week.
I've mentioned to you several times that my goal in this class is to challenge you intellectually and academically, but to do so within a supportive framework. Several of you have come to office hours and taken advantage of my offer to discuss your study habits and routines, and to even look over your lecture and reading notes. Many of you have not, and that is ok. Bottom line, I want you to know that as long as you put in the effort of completing your readings effectively, attending lectures and taking notes, participating in your discussion sections, and preparing in advance for map quizes and midterm exams, most everythig will work itself out as long as you give this course (like any other college course) it's due time. I don't have much control over what happens outside the course. But I do have control of what happens in this course. My only limitation is that I have to be fair among all the enrolled students. And to that end, I hope the above plans encourage you to keep up the work and continue to develop yourselves.
As always, I am more than happy to discuss any and everything related to the course with you via email, office hours, and even during lecture should you raise the issue.
First Midterm Exam (Scheduled for Monday Sep. 24th at 12:55pm in Class)
In addition to the study guide that was emailed out, please note the following:
- Each student should bring with them an examination booklet and writing utensil (as previously discussed).
- Arrive to class and take a seat as soon as possible so as to ensure you have as much time as the exam allows.
- Make sure your phone is on silent and placed in your bag before the exam is distributed.
- This is a closed-book/notes exam. Students will be asked to put away everything other than the exam booklet and writing utensil.
- This is a closed-book/notes exam. Students must refrain from communicating with one another or consulting one another's exams.
- This exam will be graded on a modified curve that will take into account the overall performance of the class.
- Remember, you have all the possible exam questions and will have had them for up to ten days before the exam. There will be no surprises on this exam, as long as you adequately prepare for each and every short essay question and indemnification term, you will be able to answer the midterm exam prompt successfully.
Oppertunity for Extra Credit (See Details Below)
During the fall term, there will be a number of campus events that are of relevance to our course. While attendance at these events is completely optional, those students wishing to earn extra credit in the course can submit a one-page summary of the event to the course professor via email ([email protected]) by no later than 12:55pm on the Monday following the event.
The one-page summary must contain both the identifying information of the student (Full Name, Course, Section, Submission Date) as well as the event (Event Title, Presenter's Name, Date of Event, Location of Event). The summary must be comprised of three paragraphs written on 1-inch margins and in single-space (not double-space). Please note your total word count should be no less than 500 words.
- The first paragraph should describe the structure of the event (Who introduced the speaker(s)? How long did the speaker(s) present for? Did they use any audio-visual equipment? Approximately how many people were in attendance? Was there a Q&A period and how engaged was the audience?).
- The second paragraph should summarize the argument made by the presenter(s) (What was the speaker discussing in terms of topic, geographic location, and time period? What was the presenter's main argument? What evidence did the speaker use to support their argument?).
- The third paragraph should provide your appraisal of the event (Did you find the event interesting? Why or why not? What is something new you learned? Did you find the presentation convincing? Why or why not? And do now think differently about something in particular because of the presentation? Why or why not?).
Eligible Events:
Thur. 13 September @ 4:30pm [Baker Center, Rm. 242]: Bradley Simpson on "Self-Determination in the Age of World War II"
Thur. 20 September @ 7:00pm [Athena Cinema]: Tamer El Said on In the Last Days of the City
Wed. 10 October @ 4:00pm [Scripps 111]: Ryan Thoreson on LGBT Human Rights in a Populist Era
Thur. 11 October @ 4:30pm [Bentley 124]: Panel on "History of World Peace since 1750"
Tue. 23 October @ 5:00pm [Athena Cinema]: Short-Films Screening on Syrian Identity and Homeland
Thur. 25 October @ 4:30pm [Scripps 111]: Leila Harris on "The Human Rights to Water"
Wed. 31 October @ 7:30pm [Walter Hall Rotunda]: Dagmar Herzog on "Post-Holocaust Trauma and the Creation of PTSD"
Mon. 19 November @ 3:00pm [Walter Hall Rotunda]: Ana Lucia Araujo on "Slavery and Its Legacies: Comparative Approaches in Memory and Reparations"
Tue. 27 November @ 4:30pm [Schoonover 145]: Noura Erakat on "Contemporary Renewals of Black-Palestinian Solidarity"
Thur. 29 November @ 4:00pm [Scripps 111]: Panel on "Resisting Occupation in Kashmir"
Thur. 29 November @ 7:30pm Time [Baker Ballroom]: Amitav Achara on "Is Peace and Cooperation Possible after the Liberal World Order"
Content Test: Monday 10 September 2018
Recall that we will have an in-class content test on Monday September 10 worth 10% of the overall course grade. This test will be based on all lectures and readings of WK1 and WK2. It will take the form of 10 short-answer questions of 2-3 lines each. It is your responsibility to raise specific questions about the lecture and readings during class, discussion section, and/or office hours.
First Class Meeting: Monday 27 August 2018
- Our first meeting for the Fall 2018 installment of HIST 1330 will be on Monday, 28 August,at 12:55pm in Bentley Hall 233.
- Make sure you arrive on time, having reviewed the syllabus, prepared any questions, and ready to take notes from lecture.