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WORLDWATCH

(HD 364 Sect. 01)
T/F, 12:30-1:45
Dr. Al Weeks, Instructor


Course Description

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The aim of this 15-week course, which meets twice a week, is to develop understanding of world affairs and spark dialog around three major focal points. As follows: 1) overview of world's current troublespots in the post-cold war world ; 2) in-depth study of crucial events and issues in current U.S. foreign policy concerning: Europe, the United Nations, Russia; N. Korea; Iran; Iraq; China; Japan; Nuclear Proliferation; World Trade; Human Rights worldide; the Environment, et al., while referencing intervening breaking events; 3) controversy over global security and U.S. defense policy. Sources for the discussion within the seminar-class, often by teams, are essays and factual presentations as contained in the two texts purchased at the Campus Bookstore. In developing the dialog from readings (e.g., in Taking Sides). Working individually and by teams, students will acquire ability to frame arguments and counter-arguments, the purpose of which is to reach, after thoroughgoing examination of the variety of factors in each case, a possible class-wide consensus on the issues. At same time, students learn to appreciate certain possibly unresolvable differences in outlook existing within our class as well as between policy-makers and nation-states. Maps, slides, video documentaries, and news reports round out the course. Notes should be taken on these as directed by the instructor. They are integral parts of the course. Additionally, students become involved in discussion of issues by teams using the Internet via classroom computers involving visiting country websites; reading of periodicals; when possible, dialoguing on-line with persons abroad on issues discussed in class.. Reading of the monthly or weekly magazines (RSAD library) including World Press Review, Beijing Review, and other periodicals also round out the course.

Attendance

Attendance at the bi-weekly sessions (30 classes) is absolutely required in this course so that no student misses the continuity and "flow" of the arguments on each topic and set of assigned readings whether by individual or group, period to period. A total of three legitimate absences is the maximum permissible for the Term without a grade penalty. Absence from pre-announced tests or special oral reports results in an automatic F on the test and a minus-notation for missing assigned oral reports.

Readings

Texts purchased in the bookstore are:

Rourke, TAKING SIDES CLASHING VIEW (TS) 2nd Edition, 2004.

WORLD ALMANAC 2004

Additionally, instructor will hand out special xeroxed updated readings as world events dictate. These short readings are an integral part of the course and must be thoroughly assimilated class by class. Material studied in these hand-outs will be included on quizes and tests.

An extremely important accessory for input on world affairs is weekly-newsmagazine reading (foreign news)--preferably US News & World Report but Time and/or Newsweek will do. Students are expected to read daily press coverage of major international events touched in the course--either at home or in campus library. Students should audit TV network news broadcasts (6:30-7:00 p.m.) as often as possible and view such helpful panel discussions as the Lehrer Report on Channel 3, 7 p.m. Time should be set aside during each week for this important addendum to the class if the student wishes to do better-than-average or better-than-below-average work in the course.

Resources

The Academic Resource Center, located next door to the Writing Studio, provides sessions in time-management, note-taking, handling tensions, how to write answers to essay questions, research on the ¨\¨YeNet, MLA documentation and about plagiarism, study, reading, memory, and test-taking. The instructor may refer individual students to the Academic Resource Center to strengthen particular skills or for help in preparing written work for readings in this course. When referred, students must have their HD assignments reviewed by a peer writing consultant and make the necessary corrections before submitting them to me, the instructor.

Grades

Each student's course final grade is determined on the basis of the quality of preparation of dialog (by individuals and/or groups) of the assigned topics. Grades are also determined by three or more tests (including the Final Examination) given during the Term, and by a short paper submitted at the end of the course. In some cases, with instructor's prior approval, an oral report is accepted in lieu of a written paper. Sometimes a paired effort is acceptable. The final essay of 6-10 pages in length will cover one of the topics or sub-topics chosen by the student as explored in seminar dialog, lectures, video, etc. IMPORTANT: All topics must relate directly to the course.
Percentage distribution in the determination of the final grade is as follows:

Preparation/quality of dialog.........25%

Term Essay.................................25%

All-round participation and
improvement in conducting topic discussions, attendance,
and tests...................................50%


CALENDAR OF WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS
(Schedules of page numbers and topics
will be handed out in class each week)


http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/nkorea/

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/mideast/

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/struggle.iraq/

http://home.wanadoo.nl/annekebroenink/maukie2.swf

http://www.mccollam.com/fun/geoquiz/


















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