Order and Change
The Modern West
Fall Semester 2009
Frank Luttmer
113 Classic Hall
866-7205historians@hanover.edu
Course Description and Objectives
Order and Change: The Modern West is a historical introduction to the ideas, institutions, and events that shaped modern Western civilization. The course is designed both to develop essential knowledge of the origins and evolution of the modern world and to encourage a basic understanding of historical perspective and context. It also seeks to promote the skills essential to historical inquiry, including the capacity to define historical questions, analyze primary documents carefully, evaluate alternative interpretations critically, develop original arguments, and write essays clearly and effectively.
Required Readings
1. Thomas Greer and Gavin Lewis, A Brief History of the Western World, vol. 2, 9th ed.
2. Diana Hacker, Rules for Writers 6th ed.
3. Robert Strayer, et al, The Making of the Modern World (on reserve)
4. Electronic Texts and Images from the Internet
Grades
Final grades will be based on an evaluation of the following.
1. Two exams (25% each)
The exams will consist of essay questions. In your essays, you will be expected (1) to isolate key themes and concepts and (2) to explain those themes and concepts with clarity and precision.
2. Research paper (25%)
Your paper may be on any topic related to the content of the course. The paper is to be analytical and interpretive, not simply descriptive. It should present a thesis and develop an argument (and include potential counter-arguments). The length of the paper should be 5-6 pages. You are expected to use Interlibrary Loan when essential sources are unavailable through the Duggan Library.
The grade will be based on the quality of the (1) thesis and argument, (2) organization, (3) logic, (4) evidence, (5) alternative interpretations, (6) sources, and (7) writing.
3. Class presentation and preliminary writing(15%)
The six-minute presentation functions as a first draft of the research paper. It should identify the problem addressed in the paper, develop a thesis and argument, and entertain alternative interpretations. The grade will be based on the quality of the (1) thesis and argument, (2) organization, (3) logic, (4) evidence, (5) alternative interpretations, (6) sources, and (7) presentation.
The accompanying preliminary writing should include (1) a draft of the first paragraph of the research paper (including the thesis statement), (2) an outline of the entire research paper (no more than one page), and (3) a bibliography of the research paper consisting of at least five substantive sources (this may vary depending on the topic).
5. Class participation (10%)
The success of this class depends upon the quality of the dialogue in class. Class participation grades will reflect your attendance record, the frequency of your contributions to class discussions, and the quality of your questions, observations, and conclusions. Commentary on the presentations of others is included in the class participation grade.
Schedule
Please note that we will meet regularly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and as needed on Tuesday.
Sep. 9: Greer, 335-344; Vergerius; Pico
Sep. 11: Greer, 309-313; Machiavelli
Sep. 14: Greer, 364-380; Calvin
Sep. 16: Greer, 380-387, 394-400, 408-411, 416-418; Bossuet
Sep. 18: Greer, 445-451; Locke 1
Sep. 21: Locke 2
Sep. 23: Greer, 418-425; Galileo; Newton
Sep. 25: Greer, 425-432; Hume; Smith
Sep. 28: Greer, 299-307, 318-333; Equiano
Sep. 30: Strayer, 138-142; Winthrop; Franklin
Oct. 2: Greer, 451-456; Strayer, 142-143; Declaration; Federalist Papers
Oct. 5: Greer,456-471; Declaration; Robespierre
Oct. 7: Greer, 473-478, 491-501; Metternich; Mazzini; Bismarck
Oct. 9: Strayer, 144-147; South Carolina
Oct. 12: Lincoln; Lincoln
Oct. 14: Greer, 503-516; Sadler Report
Oct. 16: Mid-Term Exam
Oct. 21: Greer, 517-521; Marx and Engels 1
Oct. 23: Marx and Engels 2
Oct. 26: Greer, 521-523; Bernstein; Webb
Oct. 28: Green; Spencer; Hearing
Oct. 30: Strayer, 147-149; Carnegie; Populist; Washington; Du Bois
Nov. 2: Greer, 526-530, 548-556; Strayer, 149-150; Lin Cixu; Naoroji; Kipling
Nov. 4: Greer, 556-567; WWI Poetry
Nov. 6: Greer, 568-572; Lenin
Nov. 9: Greer, 572-576; Stalin; Famine
Nov. 11: Greer, 576-582; Mussolini
Nov. 13: Greer, 582-591; Strayer, 150-152; Roosevelt; Himmler
Nov. 16: Presentations
Nov. 18: Presentations
Nov. 20: Presentations
Nov. 23: Greer, 595-612; Strayer, 152-154; Nehru
Nov. 30: Greer, 612-614; Strayer, 154-156; Martin Luther King Jr.; The Black Panther Party Platform
Dec. 2: Greer, 654-661; The Port Huron Statement; NOW
Dec. 4: Greer, 614-637; Strayer, 156-158; Reagan
Dec. 7: Greer, 676-710; Blair
Dec. 9: Greer, 720-730
Dec. 11: Obama
Apr. 17-21: Final Exam