SunwallApplication:GeorgeMosseTeachingFellowship
coverletterandsyllabus
March1,2014
LaneSunwall
PHONE:(701)340-0902
EMAIL:[email protected]
DearSelectionCommittee,
IamwritingtoexpressmyinterestintheGeorgeMosseTeachingFellowshipforthe2014-15academicyear.I
amcurrentlyworkingunderthedirectionofDr.DanielUssishkinandDr.JamesDonnelly.Mydissertationwill
arguethattheBritishmissionmovementsurvivedintothepost-Wareraasaresultofmissionagenciessuccess
inadaptingtoculturalnormsandmarketingtheirworkinwaystheBritishpopulationfoundrelevant.Iintend
todefendmydissertationinthesummerof2015.
ThecourseIamproposingexaminesEuropeanimperialismforthepast150yearsandwillexplorehow
Europeanstatesdevelopedintoimperialpowers,destabilizethenotionthatEuropeanempireswereonly
foundoutsideofEurope,andchallengestudentstoreevaluatetheirbasicunderstandingofimperialism.
Empireswerenotjustaboutpoliticalandmilitarycontrol,butinvolvedsocial,religious,andeconomic
influence.Influencethatoutlivedbyfartheformalizedimperialstate.Tomyknowledgeacoursefocusingon
latenineteenth-andtwentieth-centuryEuropeanimperialismhasnotbeenrecentlyofferedandIbelievethis
coursewilloffertoUWstudentsauniqueopportunitytoexploreEuropeinaworld-perspectiveand
comprehendthediversemanifestationsofimperialism.Lecturesforthiscoursewillbeblended,andso
portionsofeachweekslectureswillberecorded(usingAdobeCaptivate)[email protected]
affordstudentsgreaterflexibilityinhowtheyinteractwithlecturematerial,andprovidestudentsthe
opportunitytouseface-to-faceclasstimetoactivelyengagecoursetopicsviadiscussion,shortreadings,and
groupactivities.ThiscoursewillcontinueintheHistoryDepartment’smissionofprovidingstudentswithan
outstanding,twenty-firstcenturyeducationthatwillpreparethemtothinkcriticallyoftheworldinwhichthey
live,andequipthemwiththecommunicationandresearchskillsnecessarytosucceedintoday’sjob
environment.
InmycurrentpostasaLearningTechnologyTeachingAssistant(LTTA)forLearningSupportServices(LSS)I
continuetoteachanddevelopmypedagogicalskills.Thispositionprovidesmeopportunitytoattend
conferencesandretreatsonteachingmethods,experimentwithabroadrangeofpedagogicalmethods,create
workshopswhereIpresentmyresearchtocampusfacultyanduniversityadministration,andconsultwith
universityinstructorsinimprovingtheirowncourses.
Belowisashortenedversionofmyproposedsyllabus.Shouldyouneedanyadditionalmaterialsor
informationpleasedonothesitatetocontactme.Thankyouforyourtimeandconsideration.
LaneSunwall
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SunwallApplication:GeorgeMosseTeachingFellowship
coverletterandsyllabus
EuropeanImperialism:
ExpansionandContraction?–1970-present
History200:Spring2015
Lecturer:LaneSunwall
Office:MosseHumanities
OfficeHours:Wed.1:00-3:00porbyappointment
OfficePhone: EmailAddress:[email protected]
Mailbox:Box:MosseHumanitiesBldg
CourseDescriptionandIntroduction
WelcometoHistory200!Thiscoursewillintroduceyoutonineteenth-andtwentieth-centuryEuropean
imperialism,provideyouaframeworktobetterdescribeofhowEuropeanempireshelpedshapemodernworld
history,anddiscussthecontinuinginfluenceEuropean“empires”haveontheworldonwhichwelivetoday.
WhenwethinkoftheEuropeanempiresweoftenconjureimagesofpithhelmets,theFrenchLegionnaires,or
gunboatdiplomacy.Formanyofus,imperialismissomethinginthepast,somethingended.Ourknowledgeis
spottyatbest.Inthisclasswewillworktogethertofillinourknowledgegapsanddiscoverhowthesmalldisunited
nationsofEuropecametodominatemuchoftheworld’slandmass.YetthegeographicallargessofEurope’s
empiresisbutonepieceofamuchlargerpuzzle.Toprovideyouwithabettermeansofinterpretingimperialism,
thiscoursewillpushyoutodiscoverthemultipleorigins,andheterogeneousnatureofimperialsystems.More
importantly,wewillchallengetheverydefinitionofempireandexploretheimperialsystem’smethodofpolitical,
economic,military,social,andreligiouscontrol.Furthermore,thiscoursewillendeavortocontextualizeEuropean
imperialismwithintheframeworkofworldempiresandintheprocessdestabilizethemythofEuropeanimperialism
assomethingentirelyuniqueinhumanhistory.Inaddition,wewillexplorethefinalcollapseofEurope’sempiresin
thetwentiethcentury,notastheinevitableoutcomeofhistoricalforces,butaresultofmultiplecontingentfactors
thatfinallydissolvedEurope’spoliticalcontroloverfar-flungempires.Finally,wewillthenexaminetheimplications
ofcolonialdissolutionforEuropeitself.Giventhedeclineoftheirpoliticalandmilitarycontrolovertheirformer
colonies,Europeanimperialismisnowcommonlyseenasabygonerelicofanowdefunctage.Thiscoursewill
questionthisassumption,andreexaminetraditionalnarrativestounderstandhowimperialism,viasocial,
economic,political,andevenmilitaryinfluenceand/orpressure,continuestoinfluenceworldaffairstothisday.
History200willbecomposedofonlineandin-classlecture,discussion,andreadings.Thereadingsaredesignedto
supplementandcomplimentlecturesandfacilitatediscussion;theyarenotasubstituteforattendanceor
participation,norarelectureanddiscussionsectionssubstitutesforreading.Finally,efficientcommunicationis
importanttoallprofessionalwalksoflifeandHistory200isdesignedtoassiststudentsinimprovingoraland
writtencommunicationthroughpapers,onlinediscussion,andface-to-facediscussionsections.
CourseObjectives
Historyissomuchmorethanthememorizationoffacts,ordiscussionofthestaledetailsofpowerfulmenlongsincedead.Thestudyofhistory,whendonethoughtfully,opensustothelivesandstoriesofthosevarietyof
peoplewhosetthestagefortheworldinwhichwenowlive,itforcesustore-examineourownprejudicesand
values,andfinally,itenablesustojudgebetterbetweencompetingclaimsoftruth.
Bytheendofthesemesteryouwillbeableto:
1. DescribethebasicstructureandhistoryofmodernEuropeanImperialism,appraisetheimpactEuropean
empireshaduponglobalhistory,andinterprettheinfluenceEurope’scolonialpastcontinuestowieldin
theworldtoday.
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SunwallApplication:GeorgeMosseTeachingFellowship
coverletterandsyllabus
2. Discussthevariouspolitical,cultural,religious,andeconomicmanifestationsofimperialpower,and
challengeinterpretationsofEuropeanimperialismthatarenarrowlyfocusedonpoliticalpower,military
violence,andgeographiccontrol.
3. Identifytheday-to-dayimpactempirehaduponimperialsubjects,illustratethewaysinwhichpeoplefrom
allwalksoflifenegotiatedtheconfinesandcontradictionsofempirefortheirownends,anddemonstrate
thatempirenotonlyruledthroughhegemoniccontrol,butvianegotiated,ifunequal,relationshipsthat
requiredalevelofcooperationfromallpartiesinvolved.
4. Explainyourownthoughts,ideas,andbeliefstoagroupofpeersinstrong,concise,andthoughtfulmanner
utilizingeitherwrittentext,oralargumentation,audio-visualsoracombinationofallthree.
5. Composearesearchpaperthateffectivelylaysoutalogicalargument,iswellstructured,supportedby
carefullysiftedevidence,andisgrammaticallypolished.
6. Effectivelyyoketheexpertiseandperspectivesofagroupofpeerstoaidyouintheformationofyourown
ideasandinfulfillingthelearningobjectivesofthiscourse.
ContactPolicies
Pleasedonothesitatetocontactmewhenevertheneedshouldarise.Ifyoufindthatyouarehavinganydifficulty
withtheclass,itisbestifwetalksoonerratherthanlaterinordertogetyoubackontherighttrack.
Forcontactpurposes,emailisthebestmethodtoreachme.Icheckmyinboxeachweekday,withtheexceptionof
universityholidays,andwillreturnyouremailwithin48hours.
RequiredReadings
TherequiredweeklyreadingswillmakeuseofbothsecondaryliteratureconcerningEuropeanempires.Thegoalof
thecourse’sreadingsistoprovideyouwithabasicunderstandingoftheempiresinquestion,theirhistorical
construct,thevarioushistoriographicalinterpretationsofthem,andtheirimpactuponcontemporarypeople.
Readingthesetextswillprovideyouwiththebasicinformationneededtodevelopyourowninterpretationof
imperialism,theknowledgetodiscussimperialisminanintelligentmanner,andthetoolsnecessarytojustifyyour
argumentsconcerningimperialism.
AlloftheonlinereadingsareinPDFform,[email protected]
procureyourself.Theyareavailableatthelibrary,atyourfavoriteonlineretailor,orattheUniversityBookstore.
RequiredReadings-anyeditionwillsuffice
1. JaneBurbank,FrederickCooper,EmpiresinWorldHistory:PowerandthePoliticsofDifference.Princeton,
NJ:PrincetonUniversityPress,2010.
2. MarkMazower.DarkContinent:Europe'sTwentiethCentury.NewYork:VintageBooks,2000.
3. GeorgeOrwell,BurmeseDays.
4. AimeCesaire,DiscourseonColonialism
5. MoloudFeraoun,ThePoorMan’sSon
ScaffoldedEssays
Amongstthemostsought-aftertalentsemployeesseekfromcollegegraduatesaretheabilitytomakeclearand
concisearguments,andtheabilitytoexpressthoseargumentseffectivelybothorallyandinawrittenform.The
keystobothareediting,peer-evaluation,andrevision.Nooneproducesapolished,well-arguedpaperinthefirst
draft.Onlybyreflectingonwhatwehavewritten,receivingfeedbackfromothers,andeditingforclarityand
argumentationcanweproduceessaysthatarebothelegantandpersuasive.Thereforethiscourse’swritten
assignmentswillbestructuredsoastoreinforcetheimportanceofeditingandrevision.
Overthecourseofthesemesteryouwillbeassignedthreetwo-pagepapersandoneeight-pagepaperonatopic
youselectwithguidancefromme.
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SunwallApplication:GeorgeMosseTeachingFellowship
coverletterandsyllabus
Eachtwo-pagepaperwillbuildupontheother,exploringconceptualandhistoriographicalthemesofthetopicyou
selected,andwillaffordyoutheabilitytoconductmultiplerevisions.
Theeight-pagepaperwillintegrateintoitselfthethreetwo-pagepapersandwillalsoberevisedviapeerreview.
Thispaperwillrequireyoutofurtherdevelophistoriographicalpositionsmadeinearlierpapersandtosupport
themwithprimaryandsecondaryevidence.
Inadditiontodevelopingyourabilitytoweighhistoricalevidenceandtocreatealogicalargumentfromit,these
assignmentsaredesignedtoimpressuponyoutheimportanceofrevision,andimproveyourabilitiesasawriter.
PosterSession
Whilemanyhistoricaltreatiseslie‘amoldering’onlibraryshelvestheworldover,thatisnottheirpurpose.History
ismeanttobesharedandretold,engagingthehearer,challengingtheirbiases,andsparkingtheircuriosity.
Therefore,foryourfinalassignmentyouwillbeaskedtoworkwithanotherclassmatewhohasselectedthesame
(orasimilar)topicasyourselftocreatea“poster”presentation(basedonyourfinaleight-pagepaper)whichyou
andyourpartnerwillpresentatapublicsymposiumtobeheldattheendofthesemester.Thiscapstoneproject
willallowyoutoidentifyhowthemediuminwhichahistoricalargumentispresented(apaper,book,magazine,TV
show)impactsthemessageandargumentconveyed.Furthermore,thisprojectwillenableyoutobetterreflecton
howhistoryispresentedandconsumedinpopularculture.Finally,thisprojectwillimproveyourcommunication
skills,helpyouworkbetterwithagroup,trainyoutoconductandpresentoriginalresearch,anddemonstrateto
youhowtheskillsonedevelopsasahistoriancanbeusedoutsidethestudyofhistory.
Youwillbegrantedwidelatitudeintheshapeyourpostertakesandintheargumentsyouandyourpartnermake.
“Poster”presentationsshouldincorporatevisual,oral,andwrittenelements,butbeyondthat,theformyour
presentationtakesisalmostentirelyuptoyou!Youmaychoosetocreateatraditionalposter(gluedtofoamboard
orhangingfromastand),youandyourpartnermaydecidetocreateaninteractivevideopresentation(usingPower
Point,Prezi,orKeynote)anddisplayitwithaprojector,oryoumaycreateapresentationthatincorporatesboth
traditionalposterboard,presentationmedia(viaiPads–whichcanbeprovided),handouts,oraudio.Instructions
andexampleswillbeprovidedinclasstogetyoustarted.
InpreparationforthisassignmentwewillreceivetrainingontheuseofmediacreationtoolsfromDoITStudent
TrainingServices.DoITSTSprovidesahostoftrainingprograms(AdobeCreativeSuite,MicrosoftOfficeSuite,
Handbrake,Audacity,etc.)Thetypesofsoftwarewereceivetrainingonwillbedecidedbyaclassvotelaterinthe
semesterafteryouhavebegunyourproject.Thereareanumberofotherresourcesavailabletoyouaswell:
WritingCenter,andDigitalMediaCenter(DMC).
WewillworkcloselywiththeWritingCenterandtheDigitalMediaCenter(DMC)inthisassignment.Ifyouchoose,
youmaysubmityourpresentationtotheDMC’sannualstudentdigitalmediacompetition.
Additionalinstructionswillbemadeavailablebythefourthweekofthesemester.
ADDENDUMONPOSTERCOST:Forthisprojectyoumaydecidetoprintaposter(postersizesaretraditionally3’x
4’).Thepricesforsuchlarge-scaleprintingcanbecost-prohibitive.Therearehoweveranumberofprinting
servicesavailableoncampusthatwillprintyourposteratacompetitiveprice.Ihavescoutedoutanumberof
thesecampusprintingservices.TheGeographyPrintLabis–byfar–theleastexpensive@$34.50(forone3’x4’
poster).
DiscussionBoard
Historyisnotsomethingdonebyone’sself.Weallcanearnfromtheuniqueperspectivesandinterpretationswe
bringtoclass.Therefore,therewillbeadiscussionboardwhereIwillpostaseriesofquestionsabouttheweek’s
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SunwallApplication:GeorgeMosseTeachingFellowship
coverletterandsyllabus
readings.Iaskthatyoumakeone(meaningfulandunique)postperweekforeachdiscussionquestion.Iwill
provideyouwithexamplesof“meaningfulandunique”postsatthebeginningofthesemester.
OralPresentations
You,alongwithtwoclassmates,willmakeonePechaKuchaoralpresentations(short4minutepresentations
composedof20slides).Thepresentationwillbegiventhesecondweekofclassdiscussingyourinitial
understandingofEuropeanImperialism.Moreinstructionsandademonstrationwillbegiveninclass.
MapQuiz
Whilethestudyofhistoryismuchmorethanrotememorizationaworkingknowledgeofthepastrequiresa
foundationalunderstandingofplacesandlocations.Inweektwoyouwillbegivenashortmapquizcovering
*basic*localsimportanttoBritishimperialhistory.Thegradewillbeincorporatedintoyourparticipationgrade.
Tests
Therewillbetwotestsgiveninthiscourse:amidterm(15%ofyourgrade)andacomprehensivefinalexam(25%of
yourgrade).Theseexamsarenotdesignedtotrickyou,butensureyouarereachingthecourseslearningobjects
andenablemetobetterhelpyouachievethoseobjectives.
GradingBreakdown
Oralpresentations(2x2.5%each)
5%
TwoPagePapers(3x3%each)
9%
Paperrevisions
15%
EightPagePaper
15%
Midterm
15%
FinalExam
25%
ClassAttendanceandParticipation
16%
ClassStructure,Organization,andExpectations
“Blended”ClassStructure
I’veorganizedclassstructuretoaccomplishthefollowinggoals:maximizetheusefulnessofourfacetofacetime,
providegreateropportunityforstudentstolearnasacommunity,andbetterenablestudentstolearnattheirown
pace.
Thereforethiswillbeablendedcourse.Thismeansthatagoodportionoftheweek’slectureswillbeonlineforyou
towatchonyourown,andthatclassparticipationwillalsoinvolveanonlinecomponent(discussionboardsand
posts).Face-to-facetimeintheclassroomwillfeatureanabbreviatedlecture(whichwillworkintangentwiththe
onlinelecture),smallgroupactivities,andtimetoreflectanddiscussthematerialcoveredinthatweek’sreadings.
Iexpectyoutocometoallin-classsessionshavingpreparedallonlinematerial.
Twitter
TobetterfacilitateparticipationandinteractiontherewillbeaclassTwitteraccountsetupforyoutouseshould
youhavequestionsorideasyouwouldliketosharewiththeclass,butoutsidetheconfinesofthediscussion
forums.InadditionIwillregularlyposttotheaccountthroughoutthesemesterwithclassnewsandupdates.
Toparticipateorreceiveclassupdates,pleasefollow#UWHist200.Ifyouwishparticipatebutdonotwishtouse
yourownpersonalTwitteraccountyoumayusethecourse’sTwitteraccounttomakeposts,Login:UWHistory,
Password:IlikeHistory
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SunwallApplication:GeorgeMosseTeachingFellowship
coverletterandsyllabus
Attendance:
Thetestsforthiscoursewillbebasedonthecourse-textsandboththeonlineandin-classlectures.Furthermore,
onlineandin-classparticipationwillbegraded.Ifyoucan’tcompleteanonlinemoduleorcan’tattendaface-tofacesessionyoumustcometalkwithmeoryourgradewillbenegativelyaffected.
Weeks1-2:Introduction:WhatisImperialismandwhatareempires?Whoaretheactorsandwhydidtheyembrace
imperialism?
Week1:SettingtheStage(January21,23)
CourseIntroduction;geography,historiography,
andchallengingthehistorianasunquestioned
arbiteroftruth
Readings
BurbankandCooper–Chapter1
“History,Culture,andText”LynnHunt
(Learn@UW)
Weeks3-5:NewImperialism
Week3:(February2,4,6)
1870’s–ANewImperialism?;OpeningofAfrica;
Raceandgenderasimperialmotifs
Readings
BurbankandCooper–Chapter10
SelectionsfromJenniferPitts,ATurnto
Empire(Learn@UW)
Friday,February6–MapQuiz(gradewillbe
incorporatedintoparticipationgrade)
Week4:(February9,11,13)
Roundingoutthe19thcentury;EuropeanImperial
Culture;Sellingtheempire
Readings
Weeks6-9:ClashofEmpires
Week6:(February23,25,27)
1910s:ClashofEmpires–understanding
WWIasanimperialwar,anditsaftermathin
imperialterms(Britain,France,Russia,
Germany,Austria);colonialsoldiers;therole
ofcolonialcultureandeconomiesinthewar
Readings:
BurbankandCooper–Chapter12
Friday,February27–2ndtwo-pagepaper
due
Week2:(January26,28,30)
Settingthestage,introducingtheactors,andjust
whatisanempire?
Readings
BurbankandCooper–Selectionsfrom
Chapter6,Chapter9
Friday,January30–PechaKuchapresentations
BurbankandCooper–Chapter11
ColonialPoetry(Learn@UW)
Week5:(February16,18,20)
1900s:ACivilizingMission,Colonialscience,
Towardsacollision,Decline
Readings
SelectionsfromTilley,AfricaasaLiving
Laboratory(Learn@UW)
SelectionsfromMitchell,ColonizingEgypt
(Learn@UW)
Lettersfrompriestsandmissionaries
(Learn@UW)
Friday,February20–1sttwo-pagepaperdue
Week7:(March2,4,6)
1920s:Totheirgreatestextent,theheightof
empire–Britain,France;Totaldestruction:
Germany,Russia,Austria,theOttomans;
questioningmission,civilization,andempire
Readings
SelectionsfromMazower,Dark
Continent
GeorgeOrwell,BurmeseDays
Friday,March6–3rdtwo-pagepaperdue
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SunwallApplication:GeorgeMosseTeachingFellowship
Week8:(March9,11,13)
1930s:RebirthofGermany’sImperialVision;
theReturnofRussia;creatingacolonial
middleclass
Readings
SelectionsfromMazower,Dark
Continent:Europe’sTwentiethCentury
SelectionsfromHull,Absolute
Destruction(Learn@UW)
Weeks10-12:RethinkingEmpire,RethinkingCollapse
Week10:(March23,25,27)
1940s-1950s:InterpretationsofEmpire,
UnravelingofImperialism–holdingonand
lettinggo;integratingthecolonyintoEurope
Readings
BurbankandCooper–Chapter13
AimeCesaire–DiscourseonColonialism
Monday,March23–1stdraftofeight-page
assignmentdue
Wednesday,March25–1stdraftrevisions
duebacktopartner
SPRINGBREAK(March28–April5)–NoClass
Week11:(April6,8,10)
1960s:GeneralCollapse,ImperialWelfare,
Rethinking“empire”;opposingoppression
Weeks13-15:Amuchneededre-evaluation
Week13:(April20,22,24)
1970-80s:Settlerminorities,“IslasMalvinas,”
ShatteredRemnantsofEmpire;economicand
culturalinfluence
Readings
Samson:SettlerMinorities,256-70
(Learn@UW)
SelectionfromBelichReplenishing
theEarth(Learn@UW)
MOVIE:[AvailableonLearn@UW]–The16th
Man,ESPN:30for30
Friday,April24–Finaldraftofpaperdue
coverletterandsyllabus
Week9:(March16,18,20)
1940s:LastmarchoftheEmpire,Weakness?,
Pickingthespoils;EmpirecomestoEurope
Readings
SelectionsfromSnyder,Bloodlands
(Learn@UW)
Friday,March20–In-classmidtermexam
Readings
MoloudFeraoun–ThePoorMan’sSon
Wednesday,April8–2nddraftofeight-page
assignmentduetopeerreviewer
Week12:(April13,15,17)
1970:EndofEmpire?Wellwho’sgoingto
ruleinthecolonies?;Questioning
decolonization;RussiaandAfghanistan
Reading
SelectionsfromNiallFergusson,Empire
MOVIE:[AvailableonLearn@UW]-TheLast
KingofScotland
Wednesday,April15–2nddraftrevisions
duebacktopartner
Week14:(April27,29,May1)
1991andbeyond–Arrivingat‘theendof
history’:BreakupoftheSovietUnion,the
UnitingofEurope;Europeaninfluencetoday
Readings
BurbankandCooper:Chapter14
Selection from Laurent Dubois,
SoccerEmpire(Learn@UW)
Week15:(May4,6,8)
May4–Symposiumpreparation,Final
Posterdue
May6–PosterSymposium
May8–CourseWrap-up
May9-16
Reviewsession:TBA
FinalExam:TBA
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