Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 377"
COURSE NAME: "History of World War I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2012

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Wilcox Vanda
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 11:30-12:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: One previous history course. Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS: MW by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The First World War is one of the most dramatic events of the 20th century, and one which shaped both European and global history. This seminar course aims to introduce students to the subject and give them a chance to explore the conflict in an international comparative context. Students will explore political, military, cultural, social and economic issues relating to the outbreak, progress and conclusion of the war, in order to enhance their understanding of the twentieth century and many of its key problems.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course is primarily comparative in approach and seeks to study the war from multiple facets and approaches. As well as the conventional focus on the Western Front the course will include emphasis on Italy, Austria-Hungary and Russia, while beyond Europe we will consider the war in Africa, the Middle East and the Atlantic.

The course will focus on a number of key debates which have arisen in recent scholarship, in order to explain and understand the war: was war inevitable in 1914? Why did trench warfare develop, and why did the war last so long? Why did Germany lose the? Was the entry of the USA decisive and if so how? And how far is it fair to say that World War II grew out of World War I, and of the peace treaties signed at the end of it? We will focus on these areas of historical debate in class discussion and in assignments.

This course covers the causes and origins of the war, and its ongoing political dimensions along with military matters, including the impact and development of new technologies and the nature of tactical change over the four years of conflict. Beyond the battlefield, we will also study the societies which went to war in 1914 and the economic dimensions of the conflict as well as its cultural aspects. Finally, we will consider the legacies of the war, in political terms as well as socially and culturally.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course students will have a thorough knowledge of the topic and will have direct experience of considering and engaging with contrasting interpretations of historical events. They will have learned how to engage with historical debates in secondary literature as well as gained experience in critically examining some primary materials. Students will also have learned valuable skills in developing useful historical comparisons as well as an introduction to different kinds of historical approach including cultural, economic and social history. Through class discussion and oral presentations students will improve their skills in orally explaining an argument, while through their term paper they will further develop transferable skills in research, interpretation, analysis and writing.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
The Oxford illustrated history of the First World War	Hew Strachan	OUP	978-0192893253
Fighting the Great War: A Global History	MIchael Neiberg	Harvard University Press	978-0674022515	D521.N44
The World War I Reader	M. Neiberg	NYU Press	978-0814758335		Electronic version also available.

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
State, Society and Mobilization during the First World War	J. Horne	Cambridge University Press	9780521561129	D523.S685	electronic version avaialble
The First World War: A New Illustrated History	H. Strachan	OUP	9781847396785	D521 .S86

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Class Participation & Reading Response	This grade will be based on your active participation in class debates. You will be expected to ask questions, to respond to ideas from classmates and the professor and to engage critically in discussion. Attendance does NOT contribute to this grade. It is vital that you display clearly that you have read the assigned readings, including two short (600 word) reading responses of your choice during the semester.	20%
Presentation	All students will prepare a 15 minute class presentation on a topic to be assigned by the professor, in accordance with instructions issued to each student individually. These presentations are spread through the semester and are a vital part of the course.	15%
Mid-Term	An in-class written mid-term exam, based on an assigned primary source reading.	15%
Research Paper	Students will write a 3500 word research paper on a topic of their own choice, to be agreed with the professor.<br /> <br /> Due date: 20 April 2012	30%
Final Exam	A written final exam will be scheduled during finals week.	20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A: Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.

B: This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.

There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

C: This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D: This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.

Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Effective class participation is central to this class, so attendance is mandatory.

More than 3 unauthorised absences will cause your final overall grade to be reduced (ie. A- to B+, B+ to B etc). An excused absence requires a doctor's note or official confirmation from the university that you have had an illness, family emergency or legal obligation which prevents you from attending class.

Travel plans, or mistakes in travel plans, are not an acceptable reason for missing class.

Students must sign in on the class attendance sheet at the start of each class. Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the start of class will be recorded as absent. Please be punctual. Attendance records are based on the sign-in sheet so it is your responsibility to make sure you sign it every class.

It is not possible to arrange make-ups for mid-term or final exams. See catalogue for further details.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Europe in 1914: the background to war
Causes and origins of the war: the Alliance system examined.
Causes and origins of the war II: Great Power rivalry, Empire and the arms race.
The July crisis, 1914: Austria Hungary and the Balkans
German plans for war: the Schlieffen plan, the violation of Belgian neutrality and the outbreak of European war.
August - September, 1914: the British Expeditionary Force, the battles of the Marne and Tannenberg, and the beginning of strategic immobility.
Social mobilisation: how European societies responded to the challenge of war
Introduction to digital projects
War economies: how effectively did countries mobilise their agriculture and industry to support the war effort?
Battle: tactics, technology and leadership
1916: Verdun & the Somme
Why men fight: coercion and consent in explaining morale and motivation
The war at sea and in the air: new technologies and new forms of warfare
Mid-term exam
1917: the American entry into the war and the Russian revolution
1917: the Battles of Caporetto and Passchendaele
Women workers and "unmanly men": gender roles and the war
Presentation of Digital projects
Civil-Military Relations
The war in the Middle East: Britain, the Anzacs and the Ottoman Empire
The war in Africa: imperial and colonial war
Depicting the war experience: artistic efforts to visually represent the war
November 1918 and German defeat: a battlefield defeat, or a stab in the back?
The Paris Peace Conference, the Versailles Treaty and its consequences
Political legacies: revolution, resentment and revanchism
Violent legacies: Demobilisation and post-war political violence in Italy, Germany, Poland and Ireland.
Cultural legacies: memory, mourning and myth
Conclusions and summary.