Why do humans resort to war? How has war molded who we are and where we live? How has it changed the earth? What is the future of war? These questions are at the root of the Core Discovery course "War and Our World."
The course offers you a chance to consider the impact of the preparation, conduct, and aftermath of war on people, societies, and environments. It is not a course on the history of particular wars, but rather an exploration of issues arising from the fact that human beings have fought one another for over five thousand years.
In this course, we will examine the origins, causes, and kinds of wars; explore short- and long-term consequences of wars; discuss ways in which materials from the arts, humanities, and sciences have arisen from war, influenced war, and can be used to understand war in our world; examine how cultures create and maintain attitudes, policies, and technologies of war and warriors; and explore the students' personal responsibilities and power as citizens to influence decisions related to war.
You should be aware that some of the materials can be graphic and disturbing, and that many of the ideas discussed in class will be controversial with diverse points of view and opinions.
Learning Goals
The course has five major learning goals:
1. Learn and integrate. Drawing on materials from the arts, humanities, biophysical and social sciences to help develop an understanding of war in our world, we will examine historical records and learn to take oral histories; create a display for Veteran's Day based on historical artifacts; study the ecological effects of warfare; and study ancient and modern works of art to which war has given rise.
2. Think and create. We will examine historical and contemporary examples of how war has altered the environment--specifically, resource conflicts over oil and "blood" diamonds, conversion of former military sites to conservation purposes, and the ecology of global terrorism. Over the two semesters, you will develop a research paper that examines an important issue concerning war in our world and will engage in other written and creative assignments that emerge from exposure to landmark works of art, literature, drama, film, and music.
3. Communicate. You will complete multiple writing assignments, collaborate to assemble a public exhibit, and deliver in-class oral presentations based on independent and group research.
4. Clarify purpose and perspective. The course's focus on war in our world will engage us in developing informed perspectives and a sense of responsibility and power as citizens to influence decisions related to war.
5. Practice citizenship. By examining historical, cross-cultural, and multi-disciplinary materials, you will develop an understanding of your social responsibility to provide leadership regarding warfare. The course's global and ecological focuses will encourage "respect for diversity in an interdependent world," and we will also study how war has affected life on the UI campus and in the Pacific Northwest.
Organization and Schedule
This 4-credit class meets twice each week, on Mondays and Wednesdays and occasionally in the evening for special speakers or events. You should be in class promptly and prepared for the presentations, discussions, and/or class assignments. Attendance at all class meetings is crucial to your success in the course.
The attached "Course Schedule and Reading Assignments" provides details on each day's general theme, specific topic, instructor(s), activity or assignment, and required readings. It is the 'road map" for the course--you should refer to it often and follow it closely in your preparations. You are expected to have read all the reading assignments before the class in which they will be discussed and to bring your texts with you to class. The class involves both lecture and discussion, and discussion predominates in most sessions. You should be willing to listen with respect to the comments and opinions of others and to share your own informed perceptions.
The course has a website which provides access to important information about the course, the syllabus, and online readings. The URL is www.class.uidaho.edu/core127177
There will be two all-day field trips, one each semester. The first is Saturday, October 10, 2008, to several sites of the Nez Perce War. The second is Saturday April 18, 2009, to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Travel costs will be covered by the Core program.
Readings
Texts required for the fall semester, available at the UI Bookstore, are:
John Keegan, War and Our World (Vintage)
Dan Smith, Penguin Atlas of War and Peace (Penguin Books)
Cormac McCarthy, The Road (Vintage)
Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents (Norton)
Beyond these required books, a copy of each of additional assigned readings (see schedule) is available on electronic reserve at the UI Library. You will need a recent version of Adobe Acrobat to download the reading selections on eReserve. Instructions to access the reading assignments on eReserve will be distributed in class.
Writing Assignments, fall semester (additional details will be provided in class)
1) Four short written assignments (interpreting national anthems, responding to a guest speaker or film, a comparative analysis of regional conflicts, and recording the Nez Perce War field trip).
2) A 3-5 page essay on Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, topics to be assigned.
3) A 3-5 pg proposal for research on warfare and the environment (in preparation for developing a research paper in the second semester).
Due dates for each of these writing assignments are indicated on the class syllabus.
Other assignments, fall semester
1) Participate in a team to conduct oral history interviews with Moscow-area veterans and their families and to prepare a Veteran’s Day exhibit for the UI Library.
2) A mid-term examination on assigned readings.
Expectations and Grading
There are defined expectations for both students and instructors. Our expectation is that you will be well-prepared to discuss and apply the readings and lecture materials and will have copies of the readings with you during class. Assignments must be completed and turned in on time; late assignments will be reduced in grade.
You can expect us to prepare presentations on each topic, to encourage all of you to participate in the discussions, to provide timely written evaluations of submitted work for each of you, and to be available to meet with you as requested and by appointment.
Final grades for fall semester will be assigned according to the following percentages:
Four short writing assignments: 30% (Note that you must turn in all four of these assignments to receive credit for this 30%.)
Essay on The Road: 15%
Work on oral history team: 15%
Research proposal: 15%
Mid-term examination: 15%
Attendance and participation: 10% (This is a course in which active, vocal participation is very important.)
Students are expected to prepare and turn in assignments that are their own original work. Plagiarism is not permitted, and the University has specific policies and penalties that apply to plagiarism. A copy of the English Department policy and guidelines, along with a set of frequently asked questions helpful in understanding plagiarism, will be posted on the course website.
Contact Information/Office
Hours
Katherine G. Aiken
Professor of History, Dean,
College of
Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
Office:
Administration Building 112
Telephone:
(208) 885-6426
Email:
kaiken@uidaho.edu
Office hour: 9-10 Tuesdays and by appointment
Gary
E. Machlis
Professor of Conservation, College of Natural Resources
Office: Room 16, College of Natural Resources
Telephone: 208.885.7129
Email: gmachlis@uidaho.edu
Office hours: Mondays 2-3 and by appointment
Gary
Williams
Professor of
English
Office:
Phinney 404
Telephone: (208) 885-4348
Email: jgw@uidaho.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays 2-4 and by appointment
Mitchell Odom
(course mentor)
Senior majoring in psychology
Email: modom@vandals.uidaho.edu
Office hours:
Friday 4-5; location to be decided