Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1

Labor Day
2
Class Outline, Class Structure,
Class Expectations, General
Themes of the 20
th
Century


3
Democracy

Discussion: Pros and Cons of
Democracy

4
Socialism

Discussion: Is Socialism Fair?
5
Fascism

Discussion: Why Do People
Want to be Ruled?
8
Late 19
th
Century Imperialism
and the Balance of Power


Discussion: Does Might Make
Right?
9
World War One and the Birth
of Extremism


Discussion: Is Heroism Dead?
10
The Interwar Years:
Democracy Under Siege


Discussion: Human Nature /
Human Rights
11
World War Two: The Final
Showdown


Discussion: The Good War?
12
The Cold War: And Then
There Were Two


Discussion: Is Nuclear
Proliferation Bad?
15
Latin America in the 20
th

Century: Capitalism and
Communism
Project Presentations:

16
The Middle East in the 20
th

Century: Oil Before Ideology

Project Presentations:
Eleanore Staffanson
Hannah Eddy
Leo Shonka
Andrew Hysel
17
Unchained: Pan-Africanism
and African Independence in
the 20
th
Century

Project Presentations:
Ray Danielson
Cedar Kellum
Eva Rising


18
Asian Tigers: China, India,
Japan, and Korea after WWII

Project Presentations:
Althea Stinson
Charlie Townsley
Izzi Xiques
Seamus Riordan

19
The End of Ideology: The Fall
of the Soviet Union and the
Coronation of Capitalism

Project Presentations:
Justys Grenier
Jack Corbin
Jaali Parrish

This class will focus on the events that have shaped our contemporary world and our view of that world. Students and the instructor will
collaboratively weave together a narrative of the major events and figures of the last century. This will be done through lectures, student
presentations, visual constructions, readings, and discussions. The quality of this class depends in large part on the quality of the students work.

Evaluations:

National Biography Paper and Presentation 50% of total grade
o Visual Presentation 25% of project total (Due at time of presentation)
This should include maps of territorial changes, pictures of prominent personages, flags and other symbols,
photographs of important events, and any other notable media relevant to your nations 20
th
-century
biography
o 2000-Word Paper 50% of project total (Due the last day of class)
Papers should do the following:
Analyze your countrys current political economy in terms of fascist, socialist, and
democratic/capitalist trends
Describe how the following events influenced events in your country:
o Late 19
th
century Imperialism
o World War One
o The Rise of Fascism and Communism in the Interwar Years
o World War Two
o Decolonization
o The Cold War
o The Fall of the Soviet Union
While giving a rough outline of events in your country between 1884 and 2014
o Oral Presentation 25% of project total
Presentations should neatly summarize your findings, present your visual material and conclude with some
challenges and opportunities facing your country in the future.
Participation in Discussion 25%
o This class needs you! In order to really get into these ideas we need intelligent expression, thoughtful listening, and
the courage to try on some uncomfortable things.
Daily Quizzes (Comprehension of the Previous Days Lecture, Discussions, and Presentations) 25%
o Short daily quizzes will be administered to ensure that students are keeping up with the material presented in all
aspects of the class.
70% of the available points are required to pass this class.



List of Possible Project Nations to Choose From:
1. Poland
2. Vietnam
3. Angola
4. Nicaragua
5. Greece
6. Turkey
7. Iran
8. Iraq
9. South Africa
10. Israel
11. Syria
12. Japan
13. South Korea
14. Yugoslavia
15. Egypt
16. Saudi Arabia
17. Venezuela
18. Colombia
19. Afghanistan
20. Ethiopia
21. Rwanda
22. Mexico