Course Description
This class will study the causes, the course, and the implications
of World War II, this greatest of twentieth century conflicts.
It will handle most of the geographic areas involved, the major diplomatic,
political and military events, and some of the key figures of the war.
It covers the time period of 1918 to the present, with an emphasis of course
on the years 1939-1945. The purpose of the course is acquaint students with
the political, social, economic and cultural history of the Second World
War and that conflict's impact upon our own era. |
Class Format and Procedure
1) HI 387 consists primarily of lectures, supplemented by
readings and/or viewing of videotapes. For the most part, one of the
three professors will deliver lectures, Each Professor will be responsible
for directing and evaluating student work in the course for one section
of students. Guest lecturers will be used as the occasion and availability
warrant.
2) The class schedule will consist of two eighty-minute sessions
each week. Parts of each session is allotted to lectures by the instructors,
film presentations, and occasional questions and discussion.
3) Lectures both supplement and complement reading assignments, as
well as introduce problems to be brought up in the discussions. Discussion
periods will investigate problems and look into interpretations of subjects
in the readings and/or lectures.
4) Some brief outlines of lectures, maps and other supplementary
materials will be distributed to students on the web.
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Student Requirements
- 1) Attendance: Students are expected to regularly attend lectures
and participate actively in classroom discussions. Attendence will be taken
regularly. Since there is no penalty for absences, there will be no excused
absences.
- 2) Reading assignments: Readings from the text and supplementary
sources are given on a weekly basis. Two-to-three-page reaction papers
will be assigned from the readings four times during the semester.
- 3) Essays: Four two-to-three page essays will be assigned during
the session. These essays will be based upon questions given on selected
readings. Students are expected to express their reaction and answer each
question in a two-to-three page, typed,and double spaced paper. The one
lowest of four essay scores will be dropped. Each essay will be worth 50
points for a total of 150 points toward the course grade. Each essay will
be due in class on the day stated in the syllabus. Since the lowest of
three essays will be dropped, no essays will be accepted after this deadline,
nor makeup essays accepted.
- 4) Examinations: Exams will be presented on the fifth, tenth,
and finals week. Each examination will include an objective section consisting
of multiple choice, true/false, matching, and map items. Each examination
will count 50 points toward the course grade. In total the three examinations
will count 50 points toward the course grade.
- 5) Makeups: Makeup examinations will be given on one afternoon
near the end of the session. Makeup examinations will be given only to
students who have legitimate excuses (e.g. medical emergency, court appearance,
etc.) and can produce a written explanation from an authoritative third
party (doctor, court clerk, etc.). No makeups for essays.
- 7) Evaluation of student performance will be made upon: a) the
three examinations [50%]; and b) the reaction papers [50%].
- 8) Grade scale: 270-300=A; 240-269=B; 210-239=C; 180-209=D;
0-179=F.
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