History 307. World War II

This syllabus is currently being updated for Spring Quarter 2008
Most recent revision: May 29, 2008

Prof. Mark Grimsley
Spring Quarter 2008
330 Dulles Hall
Email: professor.grimsley@gmail.com (Please always include History 307 in the subject line)
Phone: 614-292-1855 (I'm rarely in; email is the preferred mode of contact)

Office Hours: W, 1:30-3:18; and by appointment

TA/Grader

Ms. Robyn Rodriguez
Email rodriguez.266@osu.edu (Please always include History 307 in the subject line)
Phone: 614-292-2955
Office: 09 Dulles Hall
Office Hours: TR, 11:30-12:30; and by appointment

Note: Please do not use email to to request information obtainable on the syllabus or Carmen, nor as a substitute for coming to the regularly scheduled office hours. In other words, email is to be used sparingly.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

By completing the requirements for this course, students will:

1. Acquire a perspective on attempts to understand the human experience and the factors that shape human activity, particularly in time of war.

2. Develop critical thinking through the study of diverse interpretations of historical events, and gain the ability to evaluate the worth of historical analogies when applied to contemporary affairs.

3. Apply critical thinking through historical analysis of secondary sources; that is to say, sources that interpret historical events based on study of primary (e.g., eyewitness) accounts and to illuminate larger patterns in the human past..

4. Sharpen communications skills in exams, papers, discussions.

5. Develop and demonstrate an understanding of the qualities of the warrior ethos (self-discipline, determination, responsibility, honor, loyalty to comrades, etc.) as they apply in civilian life.

For history majors, this course fullfills the requirement for a post-1750 course in either Group A or Group B.

Enrollment Policy

All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter. No requests to add the course will be approved by the Chair of the Department after that time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student.

Make-up Examination Policy

Although given the take home nature of course assgnments, this policy will seldom need to be applied, it is posted nonetheless and will be enforced.

You and you alone are responsible for knowing when quizzes and examinations are being given, and to complete the assignment within the allotted time frame.

If for any family or medical reason you find it absolutely necessary to miss a quiz or examination, you must contact me in advance if you wish to take a make-up quiz or examination. Upon return to class, you must promptly provide sufficient documentation of the reason for your inability to take the quiz or examination: doctor's note, hospital papers, obituary notices in the case of a loved one, etc. If you do not produce this documentation, you will not be permitted to take a make-up examination. Make-up quizzes and examinations are not take home, but are administered by the history department at certain scheduled times during the quarter. If you are permitted to take a make-up examination, it will be at one of those times. False excuses regarding an inability to take an examination, and/or false documentation, will be treated as academic misconduct and prosecuted accordingly.

Please consider the implications of this policy carefully, as it will be strictly enforced -- I have in the past filed a misconduct complaint with the Committee on Academic Misconduct when reasonable suspicion existed that a student had violated the policy.

Academic Misconduct

It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term academic misconduct includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct, which all OSU students are expected to read and understand. Ignorance of the code's provisions is not a defense in the event a complaint is filed and investigated.

Here is a direct link for discussion of plagiarism.

Here is the direct link to the OSU Writing Center.

Disability Services

Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs and promptly submit the required forms. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone 292-3307, TDD 292-0901.

Course Requirements

Four Quizzes - 5 percent each; 20 percent of course grade*
Fifth Quiz - 10 percent*
First Midterm Essay Examination (Take Home) - 20 percent
Second Midterm Essay Examination (Take Home) - 25 percent
Final Essay Examination (Take Home) - 25 percent

* Quizzes will be administered via Carmen. A limited time "window" will be available, during which students must complete the quiz. Each quiz will cover material up to and including the day of the lecture; e.g., Quiz 1 will include a question or questions dealing with the Fall of France. In general, quizzes will deal with material covered in lecture or readings since the previous quiz, but two or three questions may address material covered earlier in the course.

Grade Grievance Policy - Please familiarize yourself with this policy.

Tardiness

Attendance is not mandatory. However, tardiness must be controlled in order to avoid distracting the instructor and students. If you are only a minute late, feel free to quietly enter class via the rear entrance. If you are more than a minute late, please wait until twenty minutes til the hour, at which time all students who are late will be admitted. If you are late beyond that, please wait until the next bell (at eighteen minutes after the hour). I appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Textbooks

Michael J. Lyons, World War II:  A Short History, 4th edition
John W. Dower, War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War

Textbooks are available at SBX.

Lecture Schedule
Please note: the schedule will be periodically updated during the quarter, so check it regularly.