Requirements
Jul 2nd, 2016 by amcadams
Our Web Syllabus is the sole source of information for this course. Your paper syllabus will soon be out of date. You should consult this site at least twice a week. I will change assignments and add mandatory readings and links throughout the semester. You are responsible for knowing about any of these changes in requirements.
Paper Sources
• Roger Scruton, The West and the Rest
• John Kingdon, America the Unusual
• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto
• Václav Havel, Open Letters: Selected Writings,1965-1990
• Carolina Maria de Jesus, Child of the Dark
As the proud father of two Notre Dame graduates, I am especially mindful of the high cost of assigned readings for Notre Dame students. Therefore, I am not using a course reader. Aside from the books, all of our assigned readings are available on this syllabus. You should print all of the assignments marked PRINT. This is especially important for your Friday discussion sections. I recommend that you create a binder in which you assemble all of these readings.
To supplement these assignments, I recommend that you get into the habit of reading any decent online newspaper or news magazine on a regular basis. Many are free. Among the news sources I read on a daily basis are the New York Times, CNN, and the Guardian. To make your search easy, there are some excellent news links and articles on Blogsideinn. I also highly recommend this survey of the world press: Watching America If you think our enemies are nasty, look at what our friends say about us!
Virtual Sources
You, your classmates, and your TAs will engage in regular discussions and debates over a communications medium known as Sakai. You will find this link on the right column of all of the primary pages of this syllabus. Participation in these virtual discussions is required. This format will help you prepare for your Friday sections by testing your ideas and arguing with your classmates. This course is all about conflict. A little conflict in the defense of one’s views is a good thing!
Other sources are available on this syllabus. These include: Web links and links to online electronic sources in the Hesburgh Library. If your assignment says PRINT, you must print it immediately for use at your discussion section.
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Visual Sources
There are several required films in the course. The first and the third films will oblige you to attend evening showings on one of two alternative nights (i.e., you won’t have to attend both nights; you just choose the evening that works best for you).
Film #1: “The War at Home” 7:00 pm, Monday, September 19 OR 7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 20. Location: Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering, 356a (both showings)
Film #2: TBA. In-class on TBA
Film #3: “Mr. Johnson” 7:00 pm, Monday, November 7 OR 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 8 Location: TBA
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Human Resources
Both your teaching assistants and I are here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to visit us during our office hours. You may ask us questions about the course, but you should also free to talk with us about any subject you like, including the U.S. Presidential election and the meaning of life. Each of you is required to visit your TA at least once during the semester.
Your TAs’ addresses are here: Joy You ( zyou@nd.edu ) or Alejandro Castrillon ( alejandro.castrillon.1@nd.edu ).
My office hours are Tu 1:30-2:30; and W 2:00-4:00 at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, 210 Brownson Hall (behind the Main Building)
I want to meet you. Visit me!
Earning your Grades
You will earn your grades in this course by completing different types of assignments. We will have two take-home essays during the semester and one in-class final examination. Make sure you make the deadlines! The take-home essays will be docked 1/3 of a grade for every day they are late.
Your participation in discussion sections is a major part of your grade. By “participation,” I mean the quality of your comments during the section, your weekly written assignments, and your virtual discussions over Concourse: You will earn a lower grade by failing to attend class or discussion sections. We are watching!
First Reflective Essay 15 percent
Second Reflective Essay 15 percent
Participation 30 percent
Final Examination 40 percent
Please do not use electronic devices of any kind, including laptops, video cameras, cell phones, and personal digital devices, in my classroom!