HIS 135, History of the Contemporary World
Fall 2009
Tentative Weekly Schedule
 
Week 1 24 August, Monday, Introduction to the course
What we will do in class:
  • Introduction to the course

 

27 August, Thursday, Recap of Introduction
What to do before class:
  • Review this syllabus, your textbook and the NOVA Online version of HIS 135; bring questions about the course with you to class
  • Send me an email to confirm your ability to use email before the start of class
  • Bring with you to class two questions either about the course or about history
What we will do in class:
  • a quick and easy quiz on the course (five reasons why the course will not be difficult and will be interesting)
  • What is History? quote assignments
  • Watch the medieval help desk

 

Week 2

31 August, Monday, Design Your Course
What to do before class:

  • Prepare for your What is history? presentation
  • Purchase and start reading the textbook
  • Email your current events selection to me before the start of class and come to class prepared to explain your current events selection
  • Design your personal course syllabus. Select the assignments ( besides the required ones), that you intend to complete in the course. Make sure that you check this weekly schedule to see when assignments are due. Email that list to me before the start of class.
What we will do in class:
  • What is history? assignment presentations
  • Explain your current events selection
  • Explain your personal course syllabus

 

3 September, Thursday, The Atomic Bomb
What to do before class
  • Read chapter 10 in the textbook
  • The Wikipedia entry for the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is surprisingly good.  Please read it.
  • Check the student-created website on Hiroshima
  • It is an old debate, whether the US should or should not have used the atomic bomb against Japan, but we will discuss it.  Please come to class prepared to offer your thoughts.  You may do additional research on the topic.
  • Bring with you to class two Cold War events
What we will do in class
  • Discuss the use of the atomic bomb and the end of World War II
What you can do after class
  • Consider posting to the discussion board in Canvas (See the access instructions on the course information page.)

 

Week 3 7 September, Monday, The College is closed for the holiday.

 

10 September, Thursday:
Class:  Cold War Discussion
Assignment
  • Continue reading the textbook, the Midterm exam will cover chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18
  • Double check selections for WIki, Pop culture,. module essay, movie etc
  • Please note that September 10th is the last day for schedule adjustment with tuition refund.

 

Week 4 14 September, Monday, Midterm Exam Review
  • Read the textbook chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.
  • Review for the midterm exam.  Come to class and ask any question about the exam.

 

17 September, Thursday, Midterm Exam
  • The dreaded midterm exam.  You will not need to follow the NOVA Online procedures for taking the exam, you will do the map and chronology in class.  Email the essay to me before the start of class.

 

Week 5 21 September, Monday, The Long and Winding Cold War
What to do before class:
  • Review the textbook chapters 11 and 12 (You already read them for the midterm exam!)
  • Review the working draft of a Cold War Chronology. I am looking for a volunteer to work on cleaning up this chronology and making it both more accurate and also more inclusive.(extra credit opportunity for someone who wants to work on this)
  • Read my remarks on Russia and the Cold War and Gorbachev in my HIS 242 course.
  • There are many student-created websites that deal with Cold War subjects that are part of the HIS 135 course. See the Chronology.
What we will do in class:

 

24 September, Thursday, Short Paragraph One DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write the required Short Paragraph One and email to me before the start of class. Please also bring a copy of your paragraph to class.
  • Review some examples of this assignment (*.doc or *.pdf)
What we will do in class:
  • We will present and discuss your short paragraph assignments

 

Week 6

28 September, Monday, In-class movieDr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964, directed by Stanley Kubrick)

  • Volunteer to lead the discussion of Dr. Strangelove for Thursday (an extra credit opportunity)

 

1 October, Thursday, Conclusion and discussion of Dr. Strangelove
  • Come to class prepared to discuss the portrayal of the Cold War in Dr. Strangelove
  • Students opting for the Personal World History assignment should be prepared to talk about their work.

 

Week 7 5 October, Monday, Wiki Analysis Papers DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write the Wiki Analysis paper (if you are doing it) and email to me before the start of class (Zach, Alexa, Jose, Shannon)
What we will do in class:
  • We will present and discuss your Wiki Analysis paper assignments

 

8 October, Monday, Module Essay Papers DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write a Module Essay paper (if you are doing it) and email to me before the start of class (Alexa, Shannon, Jose, Erin, Chris)
What we will do in class:
  • We will present and discuss your Module Essay paper assignments

 

Week 8 12 October, Monday:  The College is closed for the holiday.

 

15 October, Thursday, Movie Papers DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write the Movie Review paper (if you are doing it) and email to me before the start of class (Zach, Alexa, Jacob, Jose, Zafar)
What we will do in class:

 

Week 9 19 October, Monday, Decolonization and Democracy
What to do before class: What we will do in class:
  • Reconstructing history exercise
  • Discuss decolonization and democracy
  • Watch a news video about the death of Gandhi

 

22 October, Thursday,Short Paragraph Two DUE
What to do before class: What we will do in class:
  • We will present and discuss your short paragraph two assignments

 

Week 10 26 October, Monday, In-class movie, Rwanda, Frontline: Triumph of Evil
  • Volunteer to lead the discussion of the Frontline documentary on Rwanda for Thursday (an extra credit opportunity)
  • Read my notes on Human Rights

 

29 October, Thursday, Discussion of Rwanda
  • Come to class prepared to discuss the Frontline documentary on Rwanda
  • Presentations as assigned in class on Monday
  • Please note that 2 November is the last day to withdraw without grade penalty

 

Week 11 2 November, Monday, Pop Culture Papers DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write the Pop Culture paper (if you are doing it) and email to me before the start of class (Zach, Alexa, Shannon, Jacob, Jose, Zafar, Erin, Chris, Jason)
What we will do in class:
  • We will present and discuss your Pop Culture papers
  • Students doing the Personal World History should be prepared to talk about their further progress!

 

5 November, Monday, Module Essay Papers DUE
What to do before class: What we will do in class:
  • A Day in the life of Life magazine.
  • We will present and discuss your Module Essay papers

 

Week 12 9 November, Monday, Family Papers DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write the My Family and History paper (if you are doing it) and email to me before the start of class (Zach, Shannon, Jacob)
  • Students working on their Personal World History should have a substantial draft of their work finished at this time.
What we will do in class:
  • We will present and discuss your Family and History papers
  • Select a movie to watch next week.

 

12 November, Monday, Research Papers DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write the Research paper (if you are doing it) and email to me before the start of class (Alexa, Jose, Zafar)
What we will do in class:
  • We will present and discuss your Research papers

 

Week 13 16 November, Monday, Student Movie Choice
  • Watch the chosen movie in class
  • Students doing the Personal World History should have reviewed the work of other students and be prepared to offer some constructive comments

 

19 November, Thursday, Student Movie Choice
  • Watch the chosen movie in class (continued)

 

Week 14 23 November, Monday, Study Day
  • I am available for individual consultation today
  • Write a Module Essay paper (Erin, Chris) and email to me before the start of class

 

26 November, Thursday  The College is closed for the holiday.

 

Week 15 30 November, Monday, Current Events Paper DUE
What to do before class:
  • Write the required Current Events Paper and email to me before the start of class (Jacob Brazil; Cesar Spain; Alexa Italy; Chris Iraq; Erin Great Britain; Jose Greece; Zafar Pakistan; Zach Vietnam; Andrea Colombia; Christiania Mexico; Jason Nigeria; Shannon Angola)
  • The Personal World History papers are also due (Cesar, Jacob, Zafar, Jason)
What we will do in class:
  • Present/discuss your Current Events papers

 

3 December, Thursday, Extra Credit Class Presentations
What we will do in class:

 

Week 16 7 December, Monday, Study Day
  • I am available for individual consultation today

 

10 December, Thursday, Final Exam
  • Review the textbook chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 (You have already read them for the midterm exam!)
  • Read my remarks on Globalization and Human Rights
  • Prepare for the final exam.  You will not need to follow the NOVA Online procedures for taking the exam, which you will take in class.  Email the essay to me before the start of class.
  • Please print out and complete a course evaluation. (Bring it with you to the final exam.) 

 

 
 

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For information contact cevans@nvcc.edu