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
continue to be addressed in the second half 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; discuss intercene war, ethnic hatred and genocide; create
presentations based on propaganda posters; study the ecological effects of
warfare; and study works of art, literature and theater 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, conversion of former military sites to
conservation purposes, and the ecology of the Cold War and global terrorism.
Based on work begun in the first semester, you will write 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, deliver in-class oral presentations based on
independent and group research, and present your final research paper.
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.
This 3-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
<http://www.class.uidaho.edu/core127177>.
There will be one all-day field trip, on Saturday April 18, 2009, to the
Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Travel costs will be covered by the Core
program.
Readings
Texts required for the spring semester, available at the UI
Bookstore, are:
John Keegan, War and
Our World (Vintage)
Dan Smith, Penguin Atlas of War and Peace (Penguin Books)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,
Half of a Yellow Sun (Knopf)
Michael Frayn,
Copenhagen (Anchor Books)
Richard Rhodes, The
Making of the Atomic Bomb (Simon & Schuster)
Beyond these required books, a copy of each of additional
assigned readings (see schedule) is available on electronic reserve at the UI
Library or on the class website. 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, spring
semester (additional details will be provided in class)
1) Three
short written assignments
(comparing the play
Copenhagen
and Rhodes' The Making of the Atomic Bomb,
responding to Gro Bruntland, and a personal reflection on the course).
2) A 3-5 page
essay on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s
Half of a Yellow Sun.
3) A 7-10 pg
research paper on warfare and the environment based on the research proposal
created in the fall semester, and associated preparatory materials (outline,
draft).
Due dates for each
of these writing assignments are indicated on the course schedule.
Other assignments, spring semester
1) A team
project to create a propaganda poster related to war.
2) A mid-term
examination on assigned readings.
3) An oral
presentation of your research paper.
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 students to participate in the discussions, to provide timely
written evaluations of submitted work, 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:
Short writing
assignments: 25%
(Note that you must turn in all assignments to receive credit for this 25%.)
Essay on Half of a Yellow Sun: 15%
Work on propaganda poster team: 10%
Outline, draft and final research paper and presentation: 25%
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, is posted on the course website.
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
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 2p-3p and by appointment
Gary Williams
Professor of English
Office: Phinney 404
Telephone: (208) 885-4348
Email: jgw@uidaho.edu
Mitchell Odom
(course mentor)
Senior majoring in psychology
Email: modom@vandals.uidaho.edu