First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-30)

Topic

Deaths and Afterlives of Lumumba

Instructors

Sean Hanretta
Harris Hall 310

Meeting Info

Shepard Hall Classroom B05: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

June 30th, 1960, Patrice Lumumba became Prime Minister of the independent Republic of the Congo. 201 days later, he was assassinated by Belgian soldiers with the support of the US and mining interests. Ever since, Lumumba has been a martyr and hero for many who work for the liberation and advancement of African peoples. Course uses the life, death, and legacy of Lumumba as a window into the last 100 years of African history. We examine our own strategies and goals for written expression alongside analyzing the texts and speeches produced by those at the center of some of the key turning points of world history. Addresses colonialism, the Cold War, civil and regional wars, conflict/strategic minerals, and the repatriation of art and artifacts.

Learning Objectives

Distinguishing true and false information. Constructing evidence-based historical arguments. Assessing the significance of historical arguments. Producing and analyzing written texts. Learning how to manage the way people receive and respond to your writing. Learning what role AI can and should play in your writing. Mastering a core set of facts that provide the scaffolding for organizing new information. Connecting the implications of history to pressing current issues

Evaluation Method

Short (mostly in-class) writing assignments. Peer review activities. Analyses of historical texts. In-class group presentation. Final portfolio.

Class Notes

History Major Concentration(s): Africa/Middle East
History Minor Concentration(s): Africa

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.