First-Year Writing Seminar - Non-Western History (103-8-20)

Topic

Contemporary Latin America in Historical Perspecti

Instructors

Lina M Britto
Harris Hall 302

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-319: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

At a moment of confluence of multiple crisis, a closer study of the most pressing problems in the Americas, and the movements of resistance and solidarity planting seeds of change, can teach us powerful lessons about the history and the future of democracy.
This course focuses on contemporary crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean in long-term historical context, and the different methodological approaches to researching and writing the history of the present.
As a First-Year Seminar, the course is run as a workshop that is writing- and discussion-oriented. Initially, we focus on the "historian's craft," and consider the sources, methods, and problems of research for Latin American and Caribbean history. Then we move into individual cases in order to consider how current affairs relate to past histories.
We examine three broadly defined crisis: undocumented migration, illegal drug markets, and environmental struggles. Each student will define their specific topic of research and writing, and will do so in conversation with the instructor and their classmates.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course students should be able to summarize and evaluate arguments made by others; formulate persuasive arguments of their own, orally and in writing, based on the careful analysis of evidence; cite sources appropriately; and write competently enough to satisfy the Weinberg College writing requirement. They will also be more knowledgeable of and sensitive to some of the most challenging current realities in the hemisphere.

Evaluation Method

Oral presentations, response papers, Canvas discussion forum, final research project.

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar