Grading and Attendance Policies
Course Description
The junior year sequence constitutes an historical and empirical examination of human experience in response to the literary and theoretical texts studied in the first two years. Drawing on a variety of methodologies from both the humanities and the social sciences, the course strives to reconstruct the social context for understanding significant periods in human history. The second semester concentrates on the problems of modernity, such as the rise of the modern state, nationalism, revolution, and globalization. This course examines the ways in which significant moments have become an essential part of our historical consciousness, enshrined in myth, religion, tradition, culture, and institutions. Through careful analysis of current scholarship and original sources, students will be invited to consider the complex relationship between history, cultural traditions, and the social and political institutions derived from them
Required Readings
The following books are available at the Oglethorpe University book store:
Natalie Zemon Davis, The Return of Martin Guerre
Gordon Wood, Radicalism of the American Revolution
Gerald Brenan, The Spanish Labyrinth
Modris Eksteins, Rites of Spring
Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
Michael Oren, Six Days of War
I addition, we will be reading selections from primary and secondary works, assembled in a course pack.
Grading and Attendance Policies
Grades will be assessed according to student performance on three short papers (30% ea.) and class participation (10%). Please note that all assignments are subject to the terms of the Oglethorpe Honor Code. Assignments will not be considered complete unless you have signed the pledge.
Papers: The papers will be on assigned topics and are intended to help students develop particular skills, in particular framing an historiographical argument based on detailed analysis of works by important scholars. The papers will cover the readings on modern history and should be 4-7 pages in length. All papers should be typed, double-spaced, and free from spelling and typographical errors. Sources should be cited using footnotes or endnotes (not APA style, in other words) according to standard practice. Consult the style sheet on the web for more detailed information on composition standards and grading. Papers must be turned in to me on the due date printed below in the syllabus in printed form. Late papers will not be accepted.
Class Participation: Regarding general class participation, you should ask yourself the following question: What does it mean to participate? First of all, in order to participate in a class you must be present. Second, you must be awake. Third, you must be willing to take an active role in discussion – posing questions, answering questions, debating with your classmates, etc. Fourth, in order to take an active role in a discussion in a meaningful way, you must have read and thought about the texts, otherwise all you will be able to offer are uniformed opinions. Participation, then, requires that you not only be present in class, but that you are fully engaged with the readings and the issues at hand. Keep in mind that as the semester progresses, a certain dialogue emerges between the members of the class. The dialogue tends to evolve throughout the semester according to the specific concerns of the various individuals in the class. If you are frequently absent, you miss out on that evolving dialogue and consequently, if you return to class after a long absence, you might well feel lost. In order to avoid that feeling, do the readings and come to class. It’s that simple.
While I do not plan on taking daily attendance, it will be necessary to attend class in order to take part in discussion. Moreover, I do not give make-up exams for in-class assignments. If you have a valid reason for missing class, I will waive grades for missed in-class work. Keep in mind that medical excuses without doctor’s notes, personal troubles, car trouble, family crises, boyfriend/girlfriend troubles, sick friends, broken alarm clocks, vacations, hangovers, etc., will not be considered valid excuses unless so treated by the university.
Incompletes will only be given for medical reasons or in the case of serious family emergency. Any student who seeks to withdraw from the course after the midterm and who has a failing grade will receive a WF. Any student who misses more than ten classes without a valid excuse will receive an F in the course.
Schedule of Topics and Readings
NB: Items in course park are labeled (C).
Jan. 15: Introduction
The Return of Martin Guerre
Jan. 20: Readings: Introduction, Chapter 1; David Sabean, "The sacred bond of community" (C)
Jan. 22: Readings: Chapters 2-6
Jan. 27: Readings: Chapters 7-12; Robert Finlay, "The Refashioning of Martin Guerre," and Natalie Zemon Davis, "On the Lame" (C)
The American Revolution
Jan. 20: Readings: Wood, Chapters 1-2; Bernard Bailyn, "Worlds in Motion" (C)
Feb. 3: Readings: Wood, Chapters 3-5
Feb. 5: Readings: Wood, Chapters 6-9; Mary Beth Norton, ‘We Commenced Perfect Statesmen" (C)
Feb. 10: Readings: Wood, Chapters 10, 13-15
Feb. 12: Readings: Wood, Chapters 18-19; Horst Dippold, "The Principles of the American Revolution" (C)
Spanish Labyrinth
Feb: 17: Readings: Brenan, Chapters 1-3
Feb. 19: Readings: Brenan, Chapters 4-5
Feb. 24: Readings: Brenan, Chapters 7-10
Feb. 29: Readings: Brenan, Chapters 11-12
Mar. 2: Readings: Brenan, Chapters 13-14
The Rites of Spring
Mar. 4 Readings: Ecksteins, chapter 1-2; Bela Bartók, "Folk Song Research and Nationalism," and "Racial Purity in Music" (C)
Mar. 9: Readings: Ecksteins, chapters 3-4
Mar. 11 Readings: Ecksteins, chapters 5-7; Mary Louise Roberts, "This Civilization No Longer Has Sexes," and "This Being without Breasts, without Hips" (C)
Mar. 16-18: Spring Break — No Class
Mar. 23: Readings: Ecksteins, chapters 8-10
Totalitarianism
Mar. 25: Readings: Arendt, chapters 1-2, 4
Mar. 30: Readings: Arendt, chapters 10-11
Apr. 1: Readings: Arendt, chapter 12
Apr. 6: Readings: Arendt, chapter 13; Raul Hilberg, "Reflections" (C)
The Six Days’ War
Apr. 8: Readings: Oren, pp. 1-60; Joshua Muravchik, "Listening to Arabs" (C); Robert Satloff, "What Do Arab Reformers Want?" (C)
Apr. 13: Readings: Oren, pp. 61-139
Apr. 15: Readings: Oren, pp. 139-210
Apr. 20: Readings: Oren, pp. 211-277
Apr. 22: Readings: Oren, pp. 278-327; Samuel Huntington, "The Clash of Civilization?" (C): Edward Said, "The Clash of Ignorance" (C)
Apr. 27: Concluding Thoughts
Printer-friendly versions of the paper topics will be listed here two weeks before the due date. Please note that all papers are due by 6:00 PM. No late papers will be accepted.
First Paper – Friday, Feb. 27
Second Paper – Friday, April 9
Final Paper – Monday, May 3