COURSE SYLLABUS
For
HS310
HS310
Instructor: Dr. Daniel
T. Dorrity
Office: Library 326
Office Telephone:
635-2117
Office hours: MTWR 0900-1000am
Email: ddorrity@lssu.edu
Web Site: www.lssu.edu/faculty/ddorrity.htm
Course
Description
A
study of Russian history from Peter the Great to the present.
Required Text
Students are required to read (study) assigned chapters from the
following textbook: David Mackenzie and Michael W. Curran, A History of
Course Objectives
The objectives of the course are to discuss
the development of Russian history from the reign of Peter the Great to the
present. The main emphasis of the course will be on political, social, and
cultural events.
Students will gain a knowledge and
understanding of:
The major themes of Russian history
in the period from the reign of Peter the Great to the present
They will also gain a deeper
understanding of the processes of history
A greater ability to perceive the
progress of history and to think critically about the major issues from age to
age and the means and methods used to solve them
A perception of the complex nature
of history and the multiplicity of disciplines that comprise it and contribute
to an understanding of it
A comprehension of the importance
of a historical perspective in understanding current issues and problems
And a keener perception of the
nuances of historical explanation and a greater precision in the expression of
that understanding
Among the specific substantive issues
addressed are:
The concept and practice of autocracy
Westernization or slavophilism: the nature
of Russian culture
Efforts at democratization, 1861-1917
The nature of human and civil rights for the
russian peasantry
The problems of serfdom and the struggle to
abolish it
The growth of industry and capitalism, and
its social impact in imperial
The power and influence of the Orthodox
Church
The ideology of Russian expansionism:
imperial and soviet
The gains and losses of
Industrialization under Stalin: achievement
or disaster?
The nature of communist organization in
industry and agriculture
The post-communist era
Class Schedule
The class will meet on MTWR from 1100-1150am.
Course
Requirements
Exams
There will be four exams
for the course. These exams will be made up of multiple choice and written
questions, and will be based on the textbook, and other assigned readings, on
lectures and class discussions, and on videos shown in class or assigned for
viewing outside of class.
Grading
The grade for the course
will be computed on the basis of your performance on the various exams, the
quality of your contributions in class, on class attendance, and on extra
credit assignments, in cases where those are allowed. Each of the four exams
will carry the same weight.
|
A+ |
97 |
B+ |
87 |
C+ |
77 |
D+ |
67 |
|
A |
93 |
B |
83 |
C |
73 |
D |
63 |
|
A- |
90 |
B- |
80 |
C- |
70 |
D- |
60 |
Extra Credit
Students may be
permitted to do special assignments for extra credit. The instructor's decision
to permit a student to do these will be based on the student's attendance,
constructive contributions in class, and the Instructor's perception of the
student's work ethic. Students deficient
in any of these areas will not be permitted to submit work for extra credit.
Attendance Policy
To be discussed and
announced in class.
Class
Participation
Students are strongly
encouraged to participate in class discussions. Your contribution is important
for various reasons. First it can indicate to the Instructor where he may need
to provide further clarification or more information. Second it helps the
student by gaining further explanation, while at the same time it will help
fellow students who may be experiencing the same problem. Third it helps students develop the ability
and confidence to express themselves in a group
setting, and it will also help them gradually to express themselves with
greater clarity, as well as encouraging classmates to do likewise. And fourth
it will help engage the class in a group discussion of the issue or problem
that is of special benefit because of the various sides of the issue that can
emerge and the variety of explanations possible. Finally it makes the student
an active participant in the classroom who provokes and stimulates discussion
and the search for explanations and understanding rather than a passive
recipient of knowledge.
Honor Code and
Plagiarism
Ethics is an important
aspect of the human being. It is indispensable to the effective functioning of
all societies and to reliable and successful relations between all human
beings. Consequently you are expected that all work submitted to the Instructor
as a part of this course be your own, unless otherwise
denoted in footnotes or by some other appropriate means. The University imposes
very severe penalties for plagiarism, so you should be sure to avoid this at
all costs. If you have some doubts about all the different forms and aspects of
plagiarism, you should log on to the
Research Paper
All written work
submitted for this course must follow the bibliographic, footnoting, and
quotation style presented by Kate L. Turabian. Copies of her books on style are
in the library and excerpts and examples are on the
Correct Form for
the Term Paper
Follow the Turabian
style and suggestions available on
Bibliography
Bibliographies must
follow the style set out by Turabian and available on Duke University’s
and Long Island University’s web sites which are linked from my web site.
Be sure to follow her warning not to cite or list encyclopedias or textbooks in
your writings. Also note her comments on the proper title for your
bibliography. Once again, be sure in all historical research papers to
concentrate on primary sources, using secondary sources mostly as a guide to
primary ones and also to familiarize yourself with the major perspectives and
interpretations of your topic.
Textbook
Week 1: Chapters 15, 16, 17
Week 2: Chapters 18,19
Week 3: Chapters 20,21,22
Week 4: Chapters 23,24
Week 5: Chapters 25,26,27
Week 6: Chapters 28,29
Week 7: Chapters 30,31,32
Week 8: Chapters 33,34
Week 9: Chapters 35,36
Week 10: Chapters 37,38
Week 11: Chapters 39,40
Week 12: Chapters 41,42,
43
Week 13: Chapters 44, 45
Week 14: Review