Assignments

HI 453 Online * Sp 2008

  • Welcome to our learning community! Assignments are generally due each Monday and Thursday evening by midnight by midnight. First and foremost-- read your How to Page. It explains the specific requirements and procedures for your various activities. Then return to this page for specific dates and activities. Consult this page online-- assignments may change, owing to disappeared web pages, hurricanes, ice storms, or who knows what.
  • Remember, you can access quizzes up to one week before the final due date, but not after the due date. All quizzes are open book, but you only have one two-hour opportunity to access the quiz, so make the best of it. I suggest reading the material beforehand; then taking the quiz. You may not return to a question-- and remember to save and submit your answer to each question.

      • Wed 9 Jan-- Spring 08 semester classes begin

      Thur 10 Jan Our Class begins today: No written assignment today, but you have a quiz over the course materials that you must take by midnight next Monday. Spend an hour or two exploring the course pages. Be certain to read carefully the grading page, especially the limitation on missed assignments. See the "how to" page for detailed instructions on formatting and submitting various assignments. Explore Vista (click the discussions link) and make certain that you know how to access and navigate the discussion area. Vista also provides online tutorials from the Vista home page.You will usually have assignments due BY midnight each Monday and Thursday. The due date is when you must finish and submit an assignment--not when you begin it! If an assignment requires you to respond by the "next due date" that means the Thursday following a Monday or the Monday following a Thursday (regardless of the nature of the assignment due that day). You may submit your assignments before that deadline. If you have problems, contact the course TA or me and/or come see me for a live tutorial. Finally, make certain to check your official NCSU Unity email address or have messages forwarded to an account that you do check often. [See the how to page for instructions on updating your email address.] If you have any uncertainty about any aspect of the course, ASK!! Failure to turn in the first two assignments gets you dropped automatically from the course (History Dept. policy).

    1. Mon 14 Jan: Complete Vista quiz 01 over course materials by midnight

    2. Th 17 Jan by MIDNIGHT WebCT Vista Discussion 01: Online Introduction Post a brief (250-350 word) self-introduction under the appropriate topic and date of our WebCT Vista Discussion area (Click on Discussions on the lefthand menu). Note that future discussions should be 400-600 words long. Write a brief intellectual/personal biography -- what interests you inside and outside the classroom? Do you have any travel experience or special interest in Latin America or international relations, tell us about that. Finally, tell us your favorite thing in the whole world and your least favorite thing. Have fun--don't be shy (nobody can see you!) If you have an online presence, you're welcome to include the URL. However, never add attachments to any WebCT Vista posting.

      Mon 21 Jan: M. K. King, Jr. Holiday--no assignment

      How We'll Approach History/ How to Think Historically

      Before we jump into the "meat" of the course-- the historical past-- we're going to think about "metacognition," which means you thinking about your own learning. This first section of the course lays out our approach to history and some assumptions about the discipline of history. Think of it as exploring the method to our madness. This is not your usual "read and regurgitate" course. Please ponder the pedagogical and cognitive issues seriously. If something doesn't make sense, ask! This will help you perform better in a course in which we're all teachers and all learners.

    3. Th 24 Jan Complete Vista quiz 02 over IGL/ Inquiry-Guided Learning and Constructivism Read Our Approach to History. Then take open-note quiz on WebCT Vista. Think about the benefits you are supposed to gain from this approach of history. How does the approach differ from previous courses?

      Isolation to the Monroe Doctrine to Manifest Destiny, 1776-1845

      Portrait of James Monroe
    4. Mon 28 Jan Discussion 02: US and Latin American Independence Read the Introductory Lecture on the Independence Era, Holden & Zolov doc 3, LaRosa and Mora, ch 5, and examine the following documents: Monroe Doctrine, issued Dec. 2, 1823 Last name A-G: You are a Latin American journalist, who heard Monroe's speech. Write an article that points out both the potentially positive and negative aspects of Monroe's speech from a Latin American perspective. Last name H-M: You are a reporter for a US newspaper. Summarize how Monroe's doctrine should benefit the US. Last name N-Z: By the next due date [Thursday], read the discussions posted by your colleagues. Indicate by name who wrote the three most convincing articles. Quote from them and explain what makes their arguments convincing.

    5. Th 31 Jan: Take quiz 03 over LaRosa & Mora, preface & ch 1-4

      February

    6. Mon 4 Feb Discussion 03 The Amistad Affair, 1839: Inter-American conflict over slavery Read Holden & Zolov, doc 6 and use at least 3 items under "The Amistad Affair" on your Primary Sources Page (use link on lefthand menu). H-M: Explain the political motivations and arguments behind President Van Buren's desire to return the Amistad Africans to Cuba. N-Z: Explain the legal and constitutional arguments that support freeing and returning the Amistad Africans to Africa. A-G: By the next due date (next Thursday), read statements by your classmates. Identify the two best arguments on each side of the issue. Explain why you find them more convincing. (Name names and quote their discussions.) A painting of the ship named "Amistad" (friendship) appears below. Amistad ship

    7. Th 7 Feb Take quiz 04 over LaRosa & Mora, ch 5-12

    8. Mon 11 Feb Discussion 04 Debating the Mexican-American War, 1846-48 Read Holden & Zolov, docs 7-8, 11, Introductory Lecture "From Isolation to Expansion", and at least three sources under "War between Mexico and the US" on your Primary Sources page. If you need to review the facts of the war, check this chronology of events. Read Polk's request for a declaration of war and the following Senate and Congressional debates. You are members of the US Senate voting on whether to declare war on Mexico. Last Name N-Z: You support President Polk (shown at left). Your speech should summarize the arguments in favor of declaring war on Mexico. In a final brief paragraph, do you see any relevance for the issues raised in the documents to US foreign policy today? A-G: You oppose the war. Develop a speech against declaring war on Mexico. Both sides, consider legal, political, partisan, economic, and moral arguments. In a final brief paragraph, do you see any relevance for the issues raised in the documents to US foreign policy today? H-M: You are an undecided senator. Read the comments by your colleagues. By next due date (Thursday), indicate which two arguments on each side of the issue you find most convincing and why.

    9. Th 14 Feb Discussion 05 Uneasy Neighbors, 1823-1910 Read Holden & Zolov docs 4-5, 10, 15, 21, 23, 28, 31, 35 -- Latin American views of the US-- and Holden & Zolov docs 2, 7-9, 13-14, 16-20-- US views of Latin America. Read this brief discussion of ethnocentrism. People of each culture tend to project their values onto other cultures. H-M: Identify the positive characteristics that Latin Americans attributed to North Americans and that people in the US attributed to Latin Americans. In a final brief paragraph, do you see any relevance for the issues raised in the documents to US foreign policy today? N-Z: Identify the negative characteristics that Latin Americans attributed to North Americans and that people in the US attributed to Latin Americans. In a final brief paragraph, do you see any relevance for the issues raised in the documents to US foreign policy today? Both groups, try to organize and group the characteristics into larger categories. A-G: By next due date, identify the three best arguments on each side and illustrate what makes them superior.

      Intervention and Investment, 1898-1933

      James K. Polk
    10. Mon 18 Feb Discussion 06: Debating Imperialism in Cuba and the Philippines Read Holden & Zolov, docs. 18-29, Mora, ch 9, 10 and Introductory Lecture on "The Big Stick and Interventionism" Read the debates about going to war with Spain. You're a US Senator. A-G: You're a hawk or jingo (pro-war). Develop a fiery speech in favor of declaring war on Spain in 1898. H-M: You oppose the war (dove or anti-imperialist). Speak against declaring war on Spain. Both groups, consider legal, political, partisan, economic, and moral arguments. And both groups, in a final brief paragraph, do you see any relevance for the issues raised in the documents to US foreign policy today? N-Z: Reply by next due date. You're an undecided senator. Identify the three arguments on each side arguments that you find most convincing and explain why. President McKinley is shown at the right.

      William McKinley
    11. Th 21 Feb Complete quiz 05 over Holden & Zolov documents 1-59

    12. Mon 25 Feb Discussion 07: Revolution on the Border Read at least 4 documents under "US Intervention and Interests in Mexico" on your Primary Sources page and LaRosa & Mora, ch 11. N-Z: You are a US State Department representative. Identify key US concerns and interests in Mexico during the early 20th-century. Also explain why the US supported the Diaz dictatorship for so long. A-G: You are a Mexican nationalist opposed to major US influence. Explain why you oppose the US presence and what needs to be changed. H-M: By next due date (Thursday), evaluate the arguments and identify the two best arguments on each side of the issue.

    13. Th 28 Feb Discussion 08: Debating Interventionism/Imperialism and Anti-Interventionism/Anti-Imperialism The US has a long history of interventions in Latin America. Read Holden & Zolov, Preface and docs 28-59. Summarize the main arguments made on behalf of US intervention in Latin America. Next summarize criticisms of and arguments against US interventionism Explain which view you find most convincing and why. In a final brief paragraph, do you see any relevance for the issues raised in the documents to US foreign policy today? Quote directly from at least 5 different primary documents.

      March

      Mar 3-7 Mid-Semester Break--no assignments-- Enjoy and Go Pack!

      From Good Neighbors to Dancing with Dictators

      Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt
    14. Th 13 Mar Complete quiz 06 over LaRosa & Mora, ch 13-17 [Note: I did not intend to have a quiz due the first day back from break. Apologies. You have until Th Mar 13 midnight-- that means two assignments for Thursday.]

    15. Th 13 Mar Discussion 09 Fighting Revolutions First 2 groups--use at least four documents under the "US Fights Revolutionary Challenges" section of your online documents. In a final brief paragraph, do you see any relevance for the issues raised in the documents to US foreign policy today? H-M: Identify the various means [specific policies and actions used by the US to combat revolutions. N-Z: Identify criticisms of US policies and actions. A-G: By next due date, (Monday) identify the two best discussions on each topic above.

    16. Mon 17 Mar Complete quiz 07 over LaRosa, ch 18-21

      Recent Decades: Militarism, Economic Self-Interest, Policy Drift

    17. Th 20 Mar Discussion 10 Taking Foreign Policy Underground: The Reagan/Bush Iran-Contra Scandal Portrait of Ronald ReaganRead information from at least five documents on the Iran-Contra Documents Page. This concept map of Iran-Contra Scandal may help clarify this complicated mess. The cat is out of the bag. Shredded documents, erased emails, and more point to a major scandal in the Reagan/Bush I administration. Last Name A-G: You are legal defense to some of the Reagan perpetrators. Prepare your case that the ends justify the means. Using the online documents (and additional searches for Internet sources), justify the illegal acts by Reagan officials to support the contras. H-M: You are a prosecuting attorney who believes that even the White House staff should obey the law: Using the online documents (and additional searches for Internet sources), summarize the types of crimes committed by members of the administration. N-Z: Post by next due date (Monday): You're a reporter for the Washington Post, covering the trials. Indicate the two arguments you find most convincing on each side of the debate and explain why. Oliver North Diary Entry on Contra Drug Running

      Although we will not pursue the topic here, the Contras also ran drugs from Latin America into the US. In his diary entry of 9 August 1985 [shown at right], Lt. Col. Oliver North, who coordinated many of the Iran Contra covert activities from the basement of the Reagan White House, recorded his suspicions. Look at the red box in the middle of the page,. You should be able to decipher his crabbed, lefthanded scrawl. He recorded that:
      "Honduran DC-6 which
      is being used for
      runs out of New Orleans
      is probably being used
      for drug runs into U.S."
      Semper fi, Ollie?? Thus Contra drug trafficking is a closed question; they did it. The only open question is the degree of involvement and knowledge of the CIA and other Reagan administration operatives.

      Flag of Cuba Fidel Castro
    18. Mon 24 Mar Complet quiz 08 over Holden documents 60-93

    19. Th 27 Mar Discussion 11 School of the Americas Debate Go to the School of the Americas page and follow the instructions there.

    20. Mon 31 Mar Complete quiz 09 over LaRosa & Mora, ch 22-28

      April

    21. Th 3 Apr Discussion 12 Fighting the Drug Wars Examine this map of drug-trafficking routes from Latin America. Quote from at least two sources under "US Responses to Drug Trafficking" on the HI 453 Wiki Pages Do Internet searches [or the bibliographies and links on the above page] to locate at least 2 more credible, online sites. How do you decide whether to trust the information on a a web site? Review the suggested criteria on the Web Site Evaluation Page. You are advising President Bush on his drug problem policy. H-M: Summarize your suggested US drug policies within Latin America. N-Z: Summarize your suggested domestic drug policies (within the US). A-G: By next due date (Monday), read the documents and your colleagues' proposals. Identify whose suggested policies would work best and why (best two on each side).

    22. Mon 7 Apr Discussion 13 Debating NAFTA and Hemispheric Economic Relations Read Holden & Zolov, 118, 119, 121, 123, plus use two online sources from the NAFTA section (bottom of your Primary Sources page). Also quote from at least two sources under "Globalizing Trade" on the HI 453 Wiki Pages N-Z: Prepare an argument that NAFTA and free trade benefit workers in the US and Latin America. A-G: Prepare an argument that NAFTA and free trade harm them. Both groups, consider wages, human rights, environmental issues, quality of life, etc. H-M: By next due date (Thursday), indicate which two arguments that you find most convincing on each side of the issue and why.

    23. Th 10 Apr Discussion 14 Evaluating Current Relations Quote from at least four different essays in LaRosa & Mora, ch 22-28. A-G: Identify the main areas (issues) where the US and at least some Latin American countries are cooperating most effectively. H-M: Identify the main areas (issues) where the greatest conficts exist between the US and Latin America. N-Z: By next due date (Monday), evaluate the two best arguments on both sides of the issue.

    24. Mon 14 Apr Discussion 15 Rain Forest Preservation Research at least two web sites under Environmental/Ecological Issues on the Research Sites Page. Also quote from at least two sources under "Rainforest Preservation" on the HI 453 Wiki Pages You are a delegate to an international congress on the environment. Prepare your brief remarks. N-Z: Explain the benefits of rain forest preservation and the need for governmental action. A-G: Recalling the prior NAFTA discussion, explain why the use of rainforests should be governed by free trade and the marketplace. H-M: Read some online materials as well as the arguments by your colleagues. By next due date (Thursday), indicate the two strongest arguments on each side of the issue and and explain why.

    25. Th 17 Apr Complete quiz 10 over Holden & Zolov, documents 94-124

      No assignments for M 21 Apr or Th 24 Apr. Work on Final Discussion, due midnight Mon 28 Apr]

      Red Checkmark: Final Discussion is Due!
    26. Mon 28 Apr Final Discussion [50 points, cannot be omitted!] 1000-1200 words: Impact of US Actions and Policies Using Holden & Zolov documents since 1950, identify the 2 US US policies or actions that have most helped Latin America and the two that have done the most harm. Put another way, give examples of what you consider the best US policies and actions in Latin America and the least effective (most negative) policies and actions. Cite and quote from at least 12 different documents from Holden & Zolov.

      Congratulations! Felicidades! Way to go! You have completed all assignments for HI 453 online! Well done! Bueno! Magnifico