UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

Hist 4486 0001 Modern Britain: War and Empire in the Twentieth Century. Fall Semester 2016

Instructor: Jeffrey Cox. http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/people/jeffrey-l-cox

Class: 11-12:15 TTh 71SH

Office: 109 Schaeffer Hall. Phone: 335-2298

Office Hours: Tuesday 3-4:30; Wednesday 1-2:30

E-mail: jeffrey-cox@uiowa.edu

Course Home Page: http://myweb.uiowa.edu/jlcox/

History Dept: 280 SH, 335-2299

Dept. Chair: Elizabeth Heineman

Objectives. the major purposes of the course are: (1) to give you a general overview of the history of Great Britain from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century; (2) to improve your ability to learn about history by reading primary sources, i.e. documents from the past, in this case two twentieth century novels and a work of journalism; (3) improve your writing skills, especially persuasive writing. Like most courses in the history department, this is a course in rhetoric. Although facts are important, your grade will be based primarily on your ability to use those facts to construct a well-written argument in your papers, and on your exams. A well-written paper is constructed of complete sentences arranged into coherent paragraphs, with sentences set apart by the correct use of the period, the semi-colon, and the comma (which usuallly requires a strong conjunctioin as well).

Accommodations: I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability which may require some modification of seating, testing or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please see me after class or during my office hours. A student seeking academic accommodations should consult Student Disability Services.

Other sources of help and information: The best source of academic assistance in this course is the History Department Teaching and Writing Center in 303 Schaeffer Hall. Call 335-2584 or stop by to make an ap-pointment for a consultation on improving your writing.

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Policies

http://clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/teaching-policies-resources-syllabus-insert

Please consult this for College policies governing this course on issues of Accommodation for Disabilities, Electronic Communication, Academic Honesty, Final Examination Policies, Making a Suggestion or a Complaint, Understanding Sexual Harassment, and Reacting to Severe Weather. Complaints: Academic complaints that cannot be resolved with the in-structor should be directed to the chair of the History Department. CLAS Academic Policies Handbook. For problems or complaints of any kind, in-cluding sexual harassment, the Office of the Ombudsperson provides confidential advice to students; call 335-3608 or e-mail "ombudsper-son@uiowa.edu".

Class attendance is expected of all students. Please notify me in advance when you must miss class. Three unexcused absences will result in the loss of a letter grade on the final grade.

Required reading. These books are available at Prairie Lights.

Clarke, P. F. Hope and Glory Britain 1900-2000 (2d Ed.). Penguin History of Britain. 2004. 978 014 1011752 pb. Textbook

Forster, E. M. A Passage to India. 1924. New York & San Diego: Harcourt Brace (Harvest Book), 1984. 9780156711425

Orwell, George. The Road to Wigan Pier. 1937. Mariner Books, 1972. 9780156767507

Levy, Andrea. Small Island. New York: Picador, 2005. 9780312429522

Papers and exams: See Online Schedule of Class Meetings for Due Dates. Please note: you must complete each assignment in order to re-ceive a grade in the course.

Exams: 50% (1) Midterm examination 20%; Final examination, comprehensive, 30%.

Papers 50% (1) Paper (2-3 pages) on A Passage to India 15%; (2) Paper (2-3 pages) on The Road to Wigan Pier 15%; (3) Paper (3-5 pages) on Small Island 20%. See schedule of lectures for due dates. The papers should be written in complete sentences using correct punctuation. Please consult the elementary rules of usage found in The Elements of Style [http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html]

Do not copy your paper from Wikipedia, or turn in someone else's paper as your work. Do not paraphrase Wikipedia, or anyone else's paper. I cannot evaluate your academic work if it is not your work.