| GEP 397 "A Tale of Three Superpowers" | Office: CRAIG 390B |
| Summer Semester 2005 | Office Hours: 3:30-4:00 MTW |
| 4:00-5:15 pm MTWTh, CRAG 312 | Phone: 836-6601 (messages 836-5122) |
| Instructor: Dr. Joseph Hughes | E-mail: jjh117f@smsu.edu; WWW: http://gracie.smsu.edu |
Course Description and Objectives
This section of GEP 397 ("A Tale of Three Superpowers") compares the three greatest superpowers of all time: the Roman Empire, the Russian Empire/Soviet Union, and the United States. The course is designed to provide insight into the rise and decline of superpowers and to help the student comprehend America's historic role in foreign affairs. As a result of this class you will:
- Become more aware of the relationships between individuals and world developments
- Become more aware of the concept of citizenship in Roman, Russian, and American culture
- Better understand the connections between American foreign policy and your life as a citizen
- Become more accomplished in formulating and expressing your viewpoints on public policy
Course Texts
Douglas Brinkley, The New York Public Library American History Desk Reference (Revised & Expanded Second Edition)
Course Policy
Since discussion is essential to the success of the course, consistent class participation is mandatory. This category includes observations, questions, complaints, tangents, polite arguments, and any other verbal communication that contributes to class discussion. Absences from class will necessarily take away from the class participation score. Letter grades will be assigned as follows: 90-100%= A; 80-89%= B; 70-79%= C; 60-69%= D; 59%-below= F.
Course Grading
Essay One 10% Essay Four (Russia) 20% Essay Two (USA) 10% EefyWiki Article 20% Essay Three (Rome) 20% Final Essay 20%
Nondiscrimination Policy:
SMSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity Officer, Office of Human Resources, Siceluff 296, 417) 836-4252. Concerns about discrimination can also be brought directly to your instructor's attention, and/or to the attention of your instructor's Department Head.
Disability Accomodation Policy:
To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, Disability Services), Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY). Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. (A fee is charged for testing.) For information about testing, contact the Learning Diagnostic Clinic at (417) 836-4787.
Academic Dishonesty Policy:
All members of the University community share the responsibility and authority to challenge and make known acts of apparent academic dishonesty. Any student detected participating in any form of academic dishonesty in this course will be subject to sanctions as described in the Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library, and in abbreviated form in the SMSU Undergraduate Catalog). It is your responsibility to read and fully understand SMSU's Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures.
Syllabus
Jun 13 01: Introduction 14 02: More Fun in the New World, 1500 AD 15 03: E Pluribus Unum 16 04: O'er The Ramparts We Watched Jun 20 05: Our Manifest Destiny 21 06: The Frontier Closes Down 22 07: Rome Wasn't Built in a Day 23 08: As The Romans Did Jun 27 09: Imperium and Imperium 28 10: Fall of the Roman Republic 29 11: The Principate 30 12: Glory Days Jul 04 -- Happy Birthday, America! --- 05 13: Crisis? What Crisis? 06 14: Tyranny and Mutation - the Dominate 07 15: The Walls Came Down - 476 AD Jul 11 16: Istanbul or Constantinople - the Byzantines 12 17: Why Russia? 13 18: Russians, Vikings, and Mongols 14 19: Times of Trouble Jul 18 20: East Vs. West 19 21: The Gendarme of Europe 20 22: Decline of the Russian Empire 21 23: The Russian Revolution Jul 25 24: Inventing the Soviet Union 26 25: The Age of Dictators 27 26: Decline of the Soviet Union 28 27: Fall of the Evil Empire - 1991 AD Aug 01 28: America as a Superpower 02 29: Evil Empires 03 30: More Fun In The New World, 2005 04