History 492: Special Topics in History, Globalization and the Inland Northwest
Lewis-Clark State College, Fall 2004

Prof. Eric Martin Phone: (208) 792-2281 Website: www.lcsc.edu/elmartin
310 Spalding Hall Office Hours: T/Th 12:15-1:15, W 3:15-4:15 & by appt.. Email: emartin@lcwarriormail.com

Course Description
This research oriented course will revolve around two basic questions. First, what is the globalization process? Second, how does the globalization process influence the communities we live and work in? It is an underlying assumption of this course that developing answers to these two questions is critical for understanding how the debates over globalization are relevant to the communities of the Inland Northwest. A primary objective for this course is to develop an interdisciplinary research agenda for evaluating this regions experience with the globalization process.

Objectives/Goals
It is my intention that you leave this course with an intellectual tool that you can utilize (and customize) to better understand the dynamics of the world around you. By the end of this course you will strengthen/develop your ability to:

Required Readings

Grading and Evaluation

 

Course Requirements

I. Class Participation (1/3 of overall grade)

A. General Class Discussion
This course is heavily based on discussion and depends upon your active participation. Practically all of our discussions over the assigned readings this semester will be student led. The oral presentation of our ideas is an extremely important skill to develop, so come to class prepared to discuss the material. The better prepared you are the better our discussions will be. My main role in this course will be that of a facilitator. Although I will lecture at points, the responsibility for the direction and value of our class discussions will be shared equally among all members of the class.

For any individual reading be sure that you are able to: 1) identify/summarize the author's argument/main point(s); 2) identify & critique the evidence used to support this argument; 3) decide whether or not you were convinced; 4) explain your position; 5) support your position with additional source material; 6) connect the reading to other readings we have done (this may be difficult at first); 7) identify issues the reading brought up that you would like to know more about.

If after reading an individual selection you find yourself unable to do any of the above, that is o.k. In those cases (and there may be many of them) be sure you come to class with some questions about the reading. You will be expected to have written notes on each reading from which you can refer to during our discussions and I will ask to see them from time to time.

B. Discussion Leader for Selections from Movement of Movements
You will lead class discussions over the main issues in specific selections from Movement of Movements. In addition to the expectations for general class discussion you should be able to:

1. Provide the group with some additional information about the author and/or the organizations discussed in the article.
2. Connect the issues in the article to issues in the Inland Northwest.
3. Present the class with a few questions to provoke intelligent discussion.

C. Co-organize a 30 min. a Group Presentation/Class Activity for one chapter from The No-nonsense Guide to Fair Trade
You will CO-organize 30 min. of a class focused on one chapter from The No-nonsense Guide to Fair Trade. Your groups objective is to discuss the main issues presented in the chapter & some concrete ways that the Inland Northwest is connected to these issues. More details on this assignment will be forthcoming.

D. E-Mail Discussion via Warrior Web
This course has an email communication/discussion list which I will use to pass along course related materials/announcements. You may also use the list to conduct pre/post class discussions amongst yourselves. Thoughtful postings will add to your class participation grade, but are purely optional.

 

II. Writing Assignments (1/3 of overall grade)
You will maintain a writing portfolio for this course which will contain the following:

A. Informal thoughts on the readings:

B. Post/Pre Class Reflections ("What I learned" & "What I would like to know more about." )

C. Informal writing as assigned in class.

D. Formal Writing as assigned in class.

You should keep your portfolio on a Zip Disk. I will ask to see it (in printed form) two or three times during the semester so that I can get a better idea of how you are processing the material. More details with be forthcoming.

III. Independent Research Project (1/3 of overall grade)

Working as individuals or in small groups, you will select one aspect of the globalization process in the region and design a method to study and present your issue. The original intent of this course was that students would simultaneously enroll in "COMM 304: Video and the Public Interest" and develop original documentary videos on some aspect of globalization in the Inland Northwest. HIST 492 would teach content & research method, COMM 304 would teach film technique with the resulting documentaries functioning as your research projects for both courses. If you are not enrolled in COMM 304 and this sounds good to you please see me ASAP.

For those of you who are not interested/able to enroll in COMM 304 there are at least two options:

Option #1: You may still be able to work as a researcher with someone creating a documentary.
Option #2: Design an independent research project (paper, website, radio show, ?).

A final decision on this aspect of the course must be made by September 30 so you can begin collecting data/sources. On this date you will submit a formal research proposal. Your project is due the last day of class.

Attendance Policy: Excessive absences (more than two) will have a detrimental impact on your grade. It is your responsibility to make arrangements if an emergency prevents you from turning in an assignment on time or requires you to be away from class for an extended period. Get any missed notes from a classmate. No assignment will be accepted late without a previous arrangement or a paperwork trail as indicated in the LCSC handbook. Additionally, be in class on time.

Academic Honesty: You are on your honor at all times and my presumption is that each of you is honest. However, the College does not tolerate academic dishonesty of any sort. All written work that you hand in -- essays and examinations -- must be exclusively your work. Contact me if you are not clear on this point.

Schedule

Due to the nature of this course, it is all but certain that this schedule will need to be revised from time to time. Any changes will first be announced in class and then posted on the webpage.

Week One 8/23-8/26 Intro to Class & Each Other; Social Science Research Methodology; Perceptions of Globalization
Writing Assignment (due next week): provide a one paragraph description of the globalization process followed by at least three concrete examples of how the process is experienced in the Inland Northwest. Explain each of your regional examples and list potential sources/data you could use to document this regions experience with the globalization process.

 

Week Two 8/30-9/2
- Documentary: "Life and Debt in Jamaica"
- Post film discussion: What are the main points of the film? In what ways are the issues brought up in "Life and Debt" related to the Inland Northwest?
Writing Assignment (due next week): How does "Life and Debt" support/contradict Stiglitz' description of the globalization process in Ch. 1-3 of Globalization and Its Discontents? How do these two sources compare to the description of the globalization process offered in Part I of Movement of Movements? Based on last week's film and this week's readings what appear to be some of the most important issues connected to the globalization process? In what ways are the issues brought up so far related to the Inland Northwest? Do any areas of potential research stand out to you?

 

Week Three 9-6/9-9 (9/6 - Labor Day)
Readings:
- Globalization and Its Discontents: Ch. 1, 2 & 3. (88 p.)
- A Movement of Movements: Southern Voices (131 p.) [Paying Special Attention to Issues of Labor]

Writing Assignment (due next week): Develop a one page, single-spaced essay describing what type of research project you would like to do, the sources you would like to use, and the strengths/weaknesses of your project you can already see.

 

Week Four 9/13-9/16
Readings:
- Globalization and Its Discontents: Ch. 4 (44 p.)
- A Movement of Movements: Northern Voices (78 p.)

Writing Assignment (due next week): TBA

 

Week Five 9/20-9/23
Readings:
- Globalization and Its Discontents: Ch. 5 & 6 (78p.)
- A Movement of Movements: Analytics (54 p.)

Writing Assignment (due next week): Formal Research Project Proposal

Week Six 9/27-9/30 Formal Research Project Proposal Due
Readings:
- Globalization and Its Discontents: Ch. 7, 8, 9 & Afterword (78 p.)
- No-Nonsense Guide to Fair Trade: Introduction, Ch. 1 & Conclusion (48 p.)

 

Week Seven 10/4-10/7
Readings:
- No-nonsense Guide to Fair Trade: Ch. 2 (20 p.)

Week Eight 10/11-10/14 (16-17 @ WSU Portland) Guest Speakers: Kelly Kingsland& Russell Poe from Affinity Farm on Globalization and Local Organic Agriculture.
Readings:
No-nonsense Guide to Fair Trade: Ch. 3 & Ch. 6 (28 p.)

Week Nine 10/18-10/21 No Class Today
Readings:

Week Ten 10/25-10/28 Field Trip Up Highway 12
Readings:
- No-nonsense Guide to Fair Trade: Ch. 4 (24 p.)
- No-nonsense Guide to Fair Trade: Ch. 5 (12 p.)

Week Eleven 11/1-11/4 TBA/Individual Consultations

Week Twelve 11/8-11/11 Individual Consultations

8:20 Kent
9:00 Matt
10:00 Colleen
10:40 Andy/Will
2:40 Mike ODell
3:00 Ashley
4:20 Thea

Week Thirteen 11/15-11/18 Research in Progress Presentations
1. Matt
2. Colleen
3. Mike
4. Kent
5. David?

11/22-11/25 Thanksgiving Break

Week Fourteen 11/29-12/2 Research Presentations
1. Ashley
2. Thea
3. Andy/Will - Extra Time?
4.
5.

Week Fifteen 12/6-12/9 Research Projects Due; Writing Portfolio Due