LABS/URBS 265: Special Topics in Labor StudiesLabor and Globalization Queens College Spring 2010 Tuesday: 6.30 to 8.

30 pm Instructor: Jamie K. McCallum jamie@riseup.net 646.262.6158 Office hours by appointment Labor and Globalization Course Description This course is a study of the social, political and economic effects of the expansion of global capitalism, with an emphasis on the impact on workers and the nation state. The course will examine the phenomenon of globalization from a variety of angles and paradigmsas a central aspect of the longue dure, as a recent development of an old process, as a new frontier in social studies, as a force for the betterment and/or detriment of the world. Well touch on politicaleconomic history, social and cultural implications, as well as international activist responses that have confronted globalization in myriad ways. In the second half of the course we will pay particular attention to the ways in which workers cooperate across borders to challenge multinational corporations. Grades The course will emphasize writing as the primary mechanism to determine grades and outcomes. That being the case, attendance and class participation are also crucial to succeeding, and will count for 25% of your final grade. Your shorter writing assignments will count for 25% of the final grade as well. The rest will be comprised of your papers and/or projects. My overall philosophy on grading emphasizes struggle, not mastery. Hard work pays off, and is worth a lot in this class. Class Participation You should come to class on time, with the required reading material in hand, and, having read the material, be prepared to discuss it in detail. Everyone should feel welcome to participate in the discussion, while at the same time, everyone should be willing to allow the group to question and test all points of view. For these reasons, class participation and attendance will be valued highly. Writing Often you will be required to hand in a short writing assignment pertaining to readings and class discussions. You may be asked to lead class discussions on the readings on some days. The short writing assignments and class presentations will be graded, and, taken together, will constitute 25% of your overall grade in the course. The Writing Center at Queens College is a useful service: (http://qcpages.qc.edu/qcwsw/) at Kiely Hall 229, phone (718) 997-5676. All writing assignments must be typed in black ink Times New Roman 12 point font double-spaced. All work must be your own, plagiarism will not tolerated.

LABS/URBS 265: Special Topics in Labor StudiesLabor and Globalization Queens College Spring 2007 Tuesday: 6.30 to 9.20 pm Instructor: Jamie K. McCallum jamie@riseup.net 646.262.6158 Office hours by appointment Labor and Globalization
Note: The course schedule that follows may be revised as the course progresses Required Texts: Understanding Globalization, by Robert K Schaeffer, 4th edition
Place, Space and the New Labour Internationalisms, eds Peter Waterman and Jane Wills

Week 12/2 Week 22/9

Introduction of Course Marx, Karl: The Communist Manifesto

Week 42/16 Chapter 1, Scaeffer Week 52/23 Chapter 4, Schaeffer/In Class Viewing of Life and Debt Week 63/2 Week 73/9 Chapter 6 & 7, Schaeffer In Class Viewing of Fourth World War

Week 83/16 Chapter 8 & 12 Schaeffer Week 93/23 Waterman / Herod RESPONSE PAPER DUE Week 103/30 SPRING RECESS

Week 114/6 NO CLASS Week 124/13 Mid terms due. In Class Viewing of The Take Week 134/20 Stevis and Boswell / Tatersall Week 144/27 Lambert and Webster / Barchiesi RESPONSE PAPER DUE Week 155/4 Skuthanakar Week 165/11 Snell Chapter 10 Week 175/18 Finals Due: Classes Follow Friday schedule

Guidelines for writing papers: This worksheet will help to guide you as you write your papers. It is an outline of some key methods to employ and common pitfalls to avoid when writing papers. Specifically, it refers to writing for academic audiences, not necessarily journalism, fiction, or other types of writing. Use it to your advantage. 1. Answer the questionAnton Chekov said If there is a gun in the beginning of the story, it must go off by the end. In other words, finish what you started, and answer the question you started out to answer. If you are writing about unemployment, dont waste time talking about child abuse, for example. It is important to examine all aspects of the question before you go about deciding how to attack it. Outline first, write laterIts common knowledge, though rarely practiced, that its better to have an outline before you start writing your paper. Before you write your first sentence, its a good idea to know how you will end it. Come up with your main points you want to make, summarize them, organize them, and then write. Dont be messySpell check was invented for a reason. Make sure your sentences are complete and your punctuation is there. I highly recommend utilizing the writing help centers available on campus to proofread your papers. Others always catch mistakes you make easier than you do. Cite your sourcesIf you summarize, paraphrase, or directly quote a source, you must say so. The best way, in my opinion, to cite your sources is to use footnotes. Figure out how to use Word to do it. Include the authors name, the book title, the page, the year, the publisher, etc. Material used that is not an original idea that is not cited correctly is plagiarism. Consult the writing center for more details. Failing to correctly cite sources in a research paper may be plagiarism which violates CUNY policy, and will land you a failing grade. Structure your paperBegin your paper with a topic sentence/paragraph. Tell the reader what you are going to write about upfront. In the body of your paper, explain your concepts in detail. Then, wrap it up. Use a concluding paragraph that closes your argument. Often a convincing ending can make up for a little sporadic confusion in the middle. Its important to finish strong. The Ws and the H (Who, what, when, where, why, and how)You must answer these critical questions to have a finished paper. If you are writing about child labor, for example, you must answer the above questions, in a way that makes sense to your particular paper. Who does it effect? What is it (define it)? When did it begin? Where did it begin, or where in society do we see it most prevalent? Why is it happening or why do we care about it? And finally, how does it operate and impact the lives of everyday folk? Explain your conceptsSometimes its best to pretend you are writing for a two year old. Use the above questions to explain your ideas. For example, if you are writing about debt in the third world as it relates to disenfranchisement of workers, it might be crucial to your paper, and for the readers understanding, to know how you classify the third world, or what debt you are talking about, or what debt even is and how it operates.

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8. Take a standIt is okay to take a position on a particular topic or reading in this class. Though it may not make sense for random opinionated commentary throughout your piece, if you wildly disagree or agree with something you are writing about, it might be a good idea to say so in a way that is thoughtful, analytical, and sociological. Undoubtedly, some of the material in this class will impact you personally. And while I hope we retain a high degree of objectivity in our writing and discussion, totally discounting ones personal experience makes little sense either.