Honors 200: The Shaping of the Modern Mind
Turmoil, Tragedy, and Triumph: Europeans in the Twentieth Century
Spring Semester, 2014
Sem 001, MW 9:30-10:45, Honors House, 195
Sem 003, MW 11:00-12:15, Honors House, 195
Dr. Alan Singer
Office: Honors House 138
Phone: 229-4658
Email: asinger@uwm.edu
Office Hours:
Monday- Wednesday: 1:30-3:00
Thursday: 1:00-2:30
and by appointment
On the eve of World War One in 1914, the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, is reported to have
said, “The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.” Grey’s
sense of foreboding was apt. The war lasted well over four years and shattered an entire generation.
Furthermore, the conflict’s aftermath led to economic depression, and thirty years later
an even greater war which, this time, completely blurred the lines between civilians and military
combatants. After World War Two, half of Europe lay repressed under totalitarian regimes until late in
the 20th century. This seminar approaches history mainly by looking at the experiences of average
people. While most courses on twentieth century Europe focus on dictators, ideologies, and military and
political strategy, our discussions will center on how ordinary people’s lives were shaped during this
period –and how they in turn shaped regional, national, and international events. Some of the questions
we will address include: What do we learn by studying the lives of ordinary people? How were the
experiences of men and women comparable? How did European communities cope with at times
overwhelming social, political, and military upheavals? Did the major events of the century bring out
both the best and worst in people? Ultimately this course will shed light on how people behave during
the most trying of times. Along with addressing these questions, this course is also designed to help you
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develop the necessary skills that will help you become a more active reader, listener, speaker, and a
more effective writer.
Required Readings:
Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth (the appropriate excerpts are available in a printed course pack from
Clark Graphics, 2915 North Oakland Ave)
Richard Stites, Revolutionary Dreams: Utopian Vision and Experimental Life in the Russian Revolution
(ISBN-13: 978-0195055375)
Jan T. Gross, Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community of Jedwabne Poland (ISBN-13:
978-0142002407)
Slavenka Drakulic, How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed (ISBN-13: 978-0060975401)
Timothy Garton Ash, The Magic Lantern: The Revolution of ’89 Witnessed in Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin
and Prague (ISBN-13: 978-0679740483)
Required Viewing:
Europa, Europa, dir. Agnieszka Holland, 1990
Course Requirements:
Your final grade will be based on the work you do in three areas. First, there will be three, five page to
seven page essays. In these assignments you will be asked to write on important issues relating to the
readings from the schedule below. In the second type of assignment, you will write three, two to three
page essays that answer specific questions regarding the readings or discussions. The questions will be
designed to help you focus on the material as the semester progresses. The third area of evaluation
regards class participation. Since this course is in a seminar format, it is absolutely essential that there is
positive discussion throughout the semester. To ensure this, you are required to take part.
*A note on “positive discussion”: Ideally, in a seminar, the students do most of the talking. My main job
is to direct discussion in a manner so we stay on topic. Because the course is essentially a semester-long
conversation, sometimes concerning controversial issues, we all have to make sure that we respect each
other. We all come into the seminar room with a variety of life experiences and backgrounds, opinions,
political and religious beliefs, etc. The seminar itself and consequentially, your grades will greatly suffer
if courtesy and sensitivity towards your fellow classmates are not observed.
D2L
We will be using D2L, the online course management program. A couple of days before each class, I will
be posting questions and key terms which you should consider and be familiar with when you come in.
This will greatly help our discussions and your understanding of the reading material. I will also be
occasionally posting announcements about any possible changes in our schedule and any other relevant
news for the class. On occasion, I will also be posting links to relevant supplementary material that is
available online. Let me know if you have any questions about logging into D2L.
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Grade Breakdown:
Paper One: 20%
Paper Two: 20%
Paper Three: 25%
Two to three page assignments: 15%
Participation (attendance, punctuality, positive discussion) 20%
A note on attendance and punctuality:
Because this course is in seminar format, where you are expected to play an active part, you are
required to attend classes and be on time. I will be taking attendance and noting tardiness. If you know
ahead of time that you will be absent or late, be sure to email me and let me know. As you will see on
the schedule below, on two occasions we will be holding required, individual meetings to discuss drafts
and outlines of the longer paper assignments.
Evaluation Scale:
You will receive a percentage grade for all of your assignments. I will be using a basic plus/minus scale:
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 88-89
B 83-87
B- 80-82
C+ 78-79
C 73-77
C- 70-72
D 60-70
Email:
Students must check their UWM email often. Along with D2L, we will use email as a primary means of
communication outside of class.
Policies:
Attendance: Missing class more than two times because of unexcused absences will result in losing 5
points from one’s final grade for each additional absence.
Tardiness: It is essential that you come to class on time. Please let me know ahead of time if you know
you will be late. Excessive tardiness (more than two times) will result in losing 3 points from one’s final
grade for each additional day that you are late.
Late assignments: Unexcused late assignments will lose 5 points for every twenty-four hours they are
late.
Paper writing format: In this course, we will be using Chicago Manual of Style format. I will discuss the
guidelines in class but you can also consult the relevant web sites for examples of how to do endnotes, a
title page, works cited page, etc. Improper formatting will result in the lowering of your paper grade.
Schedule:
The following schedule lists what you should have read for each class discussion and when the five to
seven page writing assignments will be due. Please note that this is a preliminary schedule. I may have
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to move some things back if we need more time to discuss a given topic. I will be sure to give you fair
notice if any dates change. Notice that on a number of days, I have listed “background information”
under “Discuss”. I have done this on days that new topics are being addressed. You should look up these
subjects (World War One, Russian Revolution, etc.) on your own, take some notes, and bring them to
class. Just try to get a general idea of each term. This will greatly help our discussions when we talk
about the assigned readings. When looking up these terms, try to use sources other than Wikipedia. We
will discuss reputable websites in class.
Wed. Jan. 22 Course introduction
Mon. Jan 27 Discussion on reading and writing history
Wed. Jan. 29 World War One
Discuss: background information
Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth excerpt, 94-134
Mon. Feb. 3 World War One
Discuss: Brittain, 135-173
Wed. Feb. 5 World War One
Discuss: Brittain, 173-204
Mon. Feb. 10 The Russian Revolutions
Discuss: background information
Richard Stites, Revolutionary Dreams, 1-36
Wed. Feb. 12 The Russian Revolutions
Discuss: Stites, 37-57
Mon. Feb. 17 The Russian Revolutions
Discuss: Stites, 61-100
Wed. Feb. 19 The Russian Revolutions
Discuss: Stites, 100-123
Mon. Feb. 24 The Russian Revolutions
Discuss: Stites, 124-189
Wed. Feb. 26 The Russian Revolutions
Discuss: Stites, 190-222
Mon. Mar. 3 The Russian Revolutions and introductory discussion of Europa, Europa film
Discuss: Stites, 228-253
Wed. Mar. 5 No class, individual meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week.
Mon. Mar. 10 World War Two – Film: Europa, Europa
Discuss: background information
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Begin reading Neighbors ( we will start our discussion of this book on the Monday after break)
Wed. Mar. 12 World War Two- Film: Europa, Europa
continue reading Neighbors
*First 5-7 page essay due
********************************Spring Break******************************************
Mon. Mar. 24 World War Two
Discuss: Jan Gross, Neighbors, 1-65
Wed. Mar. 26 World War Two
Discuss: Gross, 66-124
Mon. Mar. 31 Living behind the Iron Curtain
Discuss: background information
Slavenka Drakulic, How We Survived Communism and even Laughed, xi-42
Wed. Apr. 2 Living behind the Iron Curtain
Discuss: Drakulic, 43-92
Mon. Apr. 7 No class, individual meetings on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week.
Wed. Apr. 9 Living behind the Iron Curtain
Discuss: Drakulic, 93-122
Mon. Apr. 14 Living behind the Iron Curtain
Discuss: Drakulic, 123-168
*Second 5-7 page essay due
Wed. Apr. 16 Living behind the Iron Curtain
Discuss: 169-197
Mon. Apr. 21 The end of Communism in Europe
Discuss: Timothy Garton Ash, The Magic Lantern, 11-46
Wed. Apr. 23 The end of Communism in Europe
Discuss: Ash, 47-77
Mon. Apr. 28 The end of Communism in Europe
Discuss: Ash, 78-112
Wed. Apr. 30 The end of Communism in Europe
Discuss: Ash, 112-130
Mon. May 5 The end of Communism in Europe
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Discuss: Ash, 130-153
Wed. May 7 The end of Communism in Europe
Final discussion
If your class was at 9:30, your final paper will be due on Wed. May 14, by noon, in my office.
If your class was at 11:00, your final paper will be due on Mon. May 12, by noon, in my office.
Your paper must be in on time. If it is late, I will deduct half of a grade for every half hour it is late.
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