HIS 512 Instructions for Assignments Spring 2009

What's New? 04/01: Updated details on case study, oral report and final exam to reflect change in semester schedule.

INSTRUCTIONS THAT APPLY TO ALL ASSIGNMENTS

All assignments are due by the beginning of class on the day indicated on the syllabus.

Print out all assignments on plain white paper with one-inch margins, double-spaced, single-sided, using a 14-point font (Arial preferred). Do not provide a separate title page or place your paper in a binder or cover. Instead, write "HIS 512," your name, and the date at the top of the first page, number your pages, and staple them together in the upper left corner.

Make sure that you provide reference notes (end notes are preferable) for everything you cite in your work. The formatting of your paper and reference notes should follow the Chicago Manual of Style (Turabian).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAP TEST (10%)

View the list of place names from modern African history. The map test will be administered in class and take one half hour. To complete it successfully, you must be able to locate places on a map and/or describe their location in writing. For example, you might have to draw the Nile River on a map, showing the correct locations for the source, mouth and general course of the river. Alternately, you might be asked if it lies to the east of the Red Sea, or asked to give a more complete description of its location, such as "The Nile is located in northeastern Africa with sources in the Ethiopian and Ugandan highlands. It flows north through the Sudan to Egypt and enters the eastern Mediterranean Sea."

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FIRST PAPER (20%)

Write a paper that synthesizes the concepts covered in the first six weeks of the course. Recommended length: eight to ten doubled-spaced pages, plus reference notes and bibliography on additional pages as needed. Your paper is due to me at the beginning of class on February 26 (the class before spring break).

Your paper should answer the question "What are the consequences for independent Africa of colonial-era efforts at economic development?" Make sure to footnote everything (and if you need help, see Step 8: Cite your sources") and correct all spelling, grammar and punctuation errors before submitting your work.

Your grade will be determined by your paper's completeness (20%), clarity of your explanation of concepts (20%), use of outside readings not discussed in class (20%), quality and completeness of your reference notes (20%) and accuracy in spelling, grammar and punctuation (20%). Late papers will receive a grade of zero.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOOK REVIEW (20%)

After spring break, this course will focus on what many people are calling the "Third World War" in the eastern part of the Congo its neighbors. This will provide the basis for several assignmens including a book review, written case study and oral report to the class.

Begin by selecting a scholarly book (recognizable by the inclusion of reference notes and bibliography) published since 1990 that covers post-independence events in one of the following countries or regions: Congo (Kinchasa), Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan. Clear it with me first, and then read it.

Determine the author's topic, sources, theoretical question and argument. Even if the topic does not deal specifically with the conflict in the eastern Congo, look for anything that might be relevant to the subject such as economic relationships, political ties or ethnic relations. [Note: To complete this step, it may be necessary to consult other works.]

Write a five-page double-spaced review of the book (roughly 1000 words) that includes clear descriptions of the items mentioned in the previous step. Your book review is due at the beginning of class on March 12 (the first class after spring break).

Your grade will be determined by the completeness and clarity of your presentation of the book's content (25%), the clarity and accuracy of your presentation of the author's argument (25%), your analysis of the range and quality of the author's sources (25%), and your accuracy in spelling, grammar and punctuation (25%). Late book reviews will receive a grade of zero.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CASE STUDY (20%)

The last assignment requires you to write a paper that discusses the implications of the eastern Congo war for the country you read about for tour book review. You should consider economics, domestic politics, foreign relations, security issues, plus anything else that strikes you as relevant. Per our discussion at the beginning of class on Thursday, March 26, your case study is due by email before midnight on Friday, April 24. Save it in RTF format (Word 6.0 or earlier, and Wordperfect 6.1 or earlier, are also acceptable) and email it to jjones@wcupa.edu. (If you prefer, you can also drop off a hard copy at Dr. Jones' office by 7pm on Thursday, April 23.)

Your grade will be determined by the completeness and clarity of your written paper (25%); accuracy in spelling, grammar and punctuation on your written paper (25%); the range and quality of your sources (25%); and the clarity, organization and length of your class presentation (25%). Late papers will receive a grade of zero.

You will also be asked to provide a brief (5 minute) oral presentation on your paper to the rest of the class on April 30. You will not have enough time to read your paper, so you will need to develop an outline that will allow you to summarize it. Be prepared to answer questions from your classmates and the professor.

FINAL EXAMINATION (10%)

You will be expected to take a short final examination at the last class. It will cover the reading assignments on the Congo and Rwanda plus the Maathai film on Kenya's Greenbelt movement.

CLASS PARTICIPATION (20%)

For each class, you will receive the equivalent of a D for showing up, a C for making one or two relevant comments, a B for participating more often and an A for participating in ways that encourage other class members to participate. For each class that you miss without an acceptable excuse, you will receive an F.