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The Modern Middle East Level IV (Honors) Module B, 2008-2009 Syllabus Teacher: Steve Roushakes Email: steve@newschoolva.com Introduction This course is a cultural-historical survey of the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the present. Topics and periods studied include: pre-Islamic Arabia and the birth of Islam (6th – 7th century); arts and sciences of the Islamic empires (7th – 13th century); the Ottoman empire, its system of government and ultimate collapse (15th – 20th century); European imperialism in the Middle East (19th – 20th century); Arab nationalism (19th – 20th century); the establishment of Israel and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (20th – 21st century); and contemporary Arab literature (20th – 21st century). Focus Skills The focus skill of this course is managing time and resources. The assignments of the course and the late policy for each assignment, spelled out below, are designed to sharpen this skill. A second focus skill of the course is contextualizing information. Assignments Participation Participation in class discussions is a central requirement of the course. Indeed participation constitutes 20% of your final grade. Class discussions are based on course readings and thus it is critical that each of us comes to class prepared—i.e., having read and thought critically about that day’s homework reading. We have one main text for the class, A. Hourani’s A History of the Arab Peoples. We will also read from a number of primary sources. Participation is more than contributing during discussions. Participation also means not disrupting others’ opportunities to learn. Each of us is expected to speak in-turn, not talk over others, not get up and leave while someone is speaking, and listen to and respect one another’s opinions. This means being on-time to class, because if you are late, you will disrupt us and hurt the quality of our course. I absolutely insist that we arrive to class on time. You will lose half a letter grade from your weekly participation grade each time you are late during a given week. In conclusion: (1) Participation equals 20% of your final grade; (2) you will receive a weekly participation grade that is based on preparedness for class and not infringing upon other’s opportunities to learn; and (3) you will lose half a letter grade from your weekly participation grade each time you are late during a given week. Analyses (Portfolio Item) You are required to write an analysis roughly every ten days; this amounts to three analyses per quarter. Your analyses will be based on study questions, which we will determine as a class, and should be at least two pages, typed, double-spaced. Correct MLA format is expected. Note that you may not turn in an analysis late, and that you must turn in a paper-copy of your work. However, you will be allowed to make up one missed analysis each quarter with no penalty. In conclusion: (1) Written analyses constitute 30% of your final grade; (2) written analyses should be roughly two pages, typed, double-spaced; (3) you may not turn in a written analysis late. Note: The exception to this rule is if you were absent on your due date, in which case you must turn in your written analysis the next day you are in class; (4) you may make up one missed with no penalty each quarter. Exam (Portfolio Item) There will be an exam each quarter. The format of the exams will be short answer and essay. The exams will test your knowledge and ability to synthesize core knowledge of the class. In conclusion: (1) The exams constitute 20% of your final grade. Research Paper Benchmarks Throughout the second half of the course we will have a number of benchmark assignments connected with your final research papers. These benchmarks represent the progressive steps of an extended project, in this case a research paper. Each benchmark is worth 5% of your final grade. They are: • Proposal with bibliography • Outline (two drafts) These steps are progressive. Thus, the more effort—true, honest effort—you put into these benchmark assignment, the better prepared you will be for, and higher you may expect to score on, your final paper. We will discuss and look at examples of each benchmark during the second half of the course. In conclusion: (1) You are responsible for a paper proposal with bibliography and two drafts of an outline, each worth 5% of your final grade. Thus the sum total of benchmark assignments is 15% of your final grade; (2) you may turn in benchmark assignments late. However, an assignment may be turned in only within two days past the original due date. In addition, for each day the assignment is late, ten points will be taken from its grade. Research Paper (Portfolio) The final paper is your chance to research and analyze an aspect of the course that you have found particularly interesting. Your paper must present a thesis, or central argument, and must have evidence to support that thesis. This is why we write proposals and outlines: they allow us to map out our argument and evidence—for both ourselves and others—and pinpoint weak or strong points in our argument. In conclusion: The final paper constitutes 15% of your final grade. Point Breakdown The following gives the breakdown of points into percentages for this course: Participation and Discussion…………..20% Weekly Presentations/Analyses….……30% Exams …………………………20% Final Paper Benchmarks………………15% Final Paper..….………………………..15% Class Culture I consider us colleagues in the common cause of learning. I therefore believe we have an obligation, as a class, not to tolerate any behavior that undermines our shared learning experience. Each of us has chosen to be here, and we want to maximize our class potential. (If you have not chosen to be here, please reconsider now your commitment to our class.) Certain behavior clearly undermines the quality of a class (e.g., arriving late, monopolizing a discussions, etc.). Other behavior, while not disruptive for some, may be for others (e.g., eating, putting feet on the desk, swearing, etc.). We need to be sensitive to these grayer areas, to one another’s peeves, and we should change our behavior accordingly if anyone in the class asks us to do so.