Course title

Advanced World in Conflict

Pre-requisite

Previous Academic Performance ; Instructor Evaluation of Writing

Course description

This is a multidisciplinary course introducing students to some of the major conflicts of the modern world. We will examine the historical causes and the literature growing out of such conflicts as well as how these conflicts are particularly manifested through the humanities; with a particular emphasis on college level reading and writing. Among the topics discussed will be conflicts based on national interests (e.g. WWI); differing ideologies (e.g. communism versus democracy); ethnic conflicts (e.g. Darfur); geopolitical issues (disintegration of the Soviet bloc); religious and cultural divisions (particularly terrorism rooted in the Middle East); resource allocation (e.g. oil and water scarcity); and competing economic interests (e.g. colonialism).†

Required Materials: Notebook-writing intensive course; different color highlighters

Homework: This class will require extensive note taking; students should review their notes daily. Studies prove that those who review their notes the same day they write them are 80% more likely to retain the information. This class requires students to research current issues; so students will need access to a computer. Those students who do not have a home computer must make arrangements to use the school?s computer lab.

Current Events: Every two weeks; students must submit 1 local article; 2 national articles; and 2 global articles with paragraph summaries (7-10 sentences). Those articles can be from a newspaper or online periodical. We will discuss those articles in class. I recommend those with smartphones download a news app like CNN; BBC; NYTIMES; etc.

UNITS

UNIT I: Imperialism

Reading: Rudyard Kipling ?The Jungle Book?

Essay: Analyze three characters from ?The Jungle Book? for elements of imperialistic attitudes. Paper requirements (APA Format; 3-5 pages)

UNIT II: Mexican Revolution

Reading: Excerpts from John Tutino ?From Insurrection to Revolution in Mexico?

Essay: Rhetorical Analysis of Francisco Madero?s Plan De San Luis Potosi. Paper requirements (APA format; 3-5 pages)

UNIT III: WWI

Reading: Erich Maria Remarque ?All Quiet on the Western Front?

Writing Assignment: Research life as an assigned job in the war effort. Write a letter home to your family about your experiences.

UNIT IV: The Interwar Period

Reading: Adolf Hitler ?The Second Book?

Essay: Rhetorical Analysis of Hitler?s second book. Choose one theme from the book to analyze. Paper requirements (APA format; 5-7 pages)

UNIT V: WWII

Reading: John Sacco ?Where the Birds Never Sing?

Video Presentation: 10 minutes ?history channel style? informative multimedia presentation

UNIT VI: The Cold War

UNIT VII: Vietnam

Reading: Tim O?Brien ?The Things They Carried?

Document Packet: Complete assigned reading question for the unit reading.

UNIT VIII: Middle East

Reading: David Oliver Relin & Greg Mortenson ?Three Cups of Tea?

Class Teach: Prepare a 45-minute lesson to teach to 6th grade students about any of the conflicts covered in the course.

School country

United States

School state

Arizona

School / district Address

4739 Ragus Road

School zip code

85539

Requested competency code

English

Date submitted

Approved

Yes

Approved competency code

  • ENGL
  • 4 years of English
  • SSCI
  • 1 year of other Social Science

Approved date

Online / Virtual

No