Please read these requirements carefully.  For future purposes, I recommend that you copy them and put them with your other printed material.

Readings

This is a reading-intensive seminar. To save you money, I do not ask you to purchase a lot of books or other materials.

BOOKS

• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto
• Arthur Koestler, Darkness at Noon
• Archie Brown, The Rise and Fall of Communism
• John Scott, Behind the Urals
• Vaclav Havel, Open Letters:  Selected Writings

No Course Reader!  In addition to the books, most of your readings are linked to this Web Syllabus.  I will often provide you with hand-outs.  Our class discussions will only work well if you have these readings physically in front of you.  Therefore, you are required to do two things:  1) Copy and print all of the readings on this site that are marked PRINT (otherwise, you do not need to copy them);  2) Bring each required reading to class on the day we are to discuss it.  I strongly recommend that you print all of the required readings immediately and put them into some kind of orderly binder.

OTHER MEDIA.  I like to see things.  We will watch several films. Other types of media are available on the Course Syllabus.  I encourage you to use visual and audio media in your class presentations.

Grading

It is a special privilege to take a seminar.  You should treat our seminar accordingly.  Seminars are small and they allow for intimate and lively discussions.  They also provide me with the pleasant opportunity to work closely with each of you as individuals.  My aspirations are modest.  I merely want to teach you to speak, read, write, think critically, and persuade.  If I accomplish these tasks, I will be pleased.  These objectives are reflected in the breakdown of my grading standard.

• Participation (30%)
• Sakai Discussions and Short Assignments (10%)
• Two Reflective Essays (15% each)
• Semester Essay (30%)

Paper assignments will be docked 1/3 of a letter grade for each day they are late.  To receive a passing grade in this class, you must visit me during office hours at least one time this semester.  Please do not make me sweat over your inclination to undertake this difficult requirement.

Attendance

Class attendance is MANDATORY.  Unless you are ill, you must consult with me beforehand if you know you will miss a class.  If you are ill, please send me an email so that I do not worry about you.  University-approved absences are fine, but please tell me beforehand if you will be gone.

 

Honor Code

This seminar is based upon communication.  Therefore, I welcome all of the conversations you have with each other, inside or outside class.  You are perfectly welcome to discuss your readings and writing assignments with each other.  In fact, I encourage it. However, every writing assignment you turn in to me must be clearly, unmistakably, and unequivocally your own work!

Office Hours

I enjoy meeting with all of my students, and I hope to see each of you on a regular basis.  You do not need to have specific questions about the class.  I view your education holistically, and I am interested in learning about you personally.  I hold my office hours at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, 211 Brownson Hall.  This building is behind the Main Building.  Go through the black, wrought iron gate at the north end of Brownson and make an immediate right up the stairs.  My office hours are:

Monday, 11:00-12:00 and Tuesday, 1:30-3:30, as well as by appointment.

If you are waiting to see me during your visit, you should take the opportunity to ask about Nanovic sponsored research trips to Europe.