Latin American Studies 200 Spring 2007

Crosslisted as: Geog 200, Hist 200, Span 200, Govt 200

Class Meets TR 1420-1540 EST 260
Lead Instructors: Dr. David J. Keeling and Dr. John Dizgun

Keeling Office: EST 304, Phone: 745-4555 EMail: Keeling; Dizgun Office CH 230C, Phone: 745-6486, Email: john.dizgun@wku.edu.

Office Hours: by appointment.
Participating Instructors: Dr. John Petersen (Political Science), plus occasional guest lecturers.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

COURSE PURPOSE:

This course fulfills the Category E general education requirement. It will help you attain these general education goals and objectives:
? An appreciation of the complexity and variety of the world’s cultures.
This is an interdisciplinary course that introduces you to the cultures and societies of Latin America. In each section of the course you gain an appreciation for the major topics, themes, and processes that have shaped, and continue to shape, Latin America. You benefit from the unique perspectives and insights that each discipline has to offer. Each participating instructor has a broad and deep level of interest and experience in the region, which serves to enrich the learning process. This course also is a required foundational course for the Minor in Latin American Studies. All course reading assignments and lectures are intended to help you develop an appreciation for the complexity and variety of this region’s culture.

REQUIRED READING:

(1) Goodwin, Paul B. Jr. (2007) Global Studies: Latin America; Available at the College Bookstores (probably shelved under GEOG200 or one of the cross-listed course numbers);
(2) Amado, Jorge – Gabriela, Cinnamon, and Clove. A novel (available at online stores).
(3) Asturias, Miguel Angel (1997) El Señor Presidente. A novel.

GRADING:

There are three exams in this course (two one-hour section exams and the final two-hour exam, all of which are in a concept-driven, critical-thinking, essay and key terms format) (500 total points available). Each section exam is worth 27.5% (137.5 points) and the final exam is worth 20% (100 points). Fifty (50) bonus points will be allocated proportionately to the highest of your exam scores. Attendance and participation are expected and are required, and are crucial to your success in this course. Fifteen percent of the course grade (75 points) is allocated for attendance, participation, and study/quiz assignments. Total points available for the course equal 500. Grades are allocated as follows: A = 90-100%; B = 80-89.9%; C = 70-79.9%; D = 60-69.9%; F = <60%. h5>

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Please make every effort to come to class on time. The class ends at 3:40 pm, so do not begin packing up materials until the appropriate time as it disturbs other students. If you attend class, the instructor will assume that you are present to learn the course material, not to talk with your neighbors, read the newspaper, or do homework for another class. Please turn off your cellphones or put them on vibrate while you are in this class. If you must leave class early for whatever reason, you must communicate this to the instructor before class starts. If these rules are not to your liking, I urge you to drop this course immediately and take something else. Those students who stay with the course and who attend regularly generally get more from the course than students who miss class. Excessive absences (both excused and unexcused) will have a negative effect on your grade (5 or more absences will justify loss of one letter grade). Any student who accumulates 9 absences of any type will receive an automatic "F" for the course – this is non-negotiable. In any event, a student MUST be present in class at the appointed time, and stay until the end of class, to receive the daily attendance points for that class. All exams and quizzes must be completed as scheduled in order to complete the course. Make-up exams are given only under VERY SPECIAL circumstances. Students are reminded that they are allowed only to sign THEIR OWN NAME on the attendance sheet! Receipt of this syllabus signifies acceptance of the course requirements and regulations.

Here is what we expect from students:
· You will treat everyone in the class, including the professor, with the respect due to all human beings.
· You will attend every class, give your full attention to the material, and conduct yourself in an appropriate manner.
· You will agree to do the work outlined in the syllabus on time.
· You will acknowledge that previous academic preparation (e.g., writing skills) will affect your performance in this course.
· You will acknowledge that your perception of effort, by itself, is not enough to justify a distinguished grade.
· You will not plagiarize or otherwise steal the work of others.
· You will not make excuses for your failure to do what you ought.
· You will accept the consequences -- good and bad -- of your actions.

Here is what students can expect from us:
· We will treat you with the respect due to all human beings.
· We will not discriminate against you on the basis of your identity or your well-informed viewpoints.
· We will manage the class in a professional manner. That may include educating you in appropriate behavior.
· We will prepare carefully for every class.
· We will begin and end class on time.
· We will teach only in areas of our professional expertise. If we do not know something, we will say so.
· We will conduct scholarly research and publication with the aim of making ourselves more informed teachers.
· We will return your assignments quickly with appropriate feedback.
· We will pursue the maximum punishment for plagiarism, cheating, and other violations of academic integrity.
· We will keep careful records of your attendance, performance, and progress.
· We will investigate every excuse for non-attendance of classes and non-completion of assignments.
· We will make ourselves available to you for advising.
· We will maintain confidentiality concerning your performance.
· We will be honest with you.
· Your grade will reflect the quality of your work and nothing else.
· We are interested in your feedback about the class, but we are more interested in what you learned than how you feel.

** NOTE: Latin American Studies 200 strictly adheres to the course drop policy found in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. It is the sole responsibility of individual students to meet the cited deadlines for dropping a course. In exceptional cases the deadline for schedule changes (dropping a course) may be waived. The successful waiver will require a written description of extenuating circumstances and relevant documentation. Poor academic performance, general malaise, or undocumented general stress factors are NOT considered legitimate extenuating circumstances. Since the granting of such waivers is rare, we urge you to follow the established guidelines. Remember that a $20 fee applies to all course changes initiated after the deadline for dropping a course.

Student Disability Services
In compliance with university policy, students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services in DUC A-200 of the Student Success Center in Downing University Center. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.

Course Outline and Reading Assignments LAS 200 Spring 2007

Section One:
Middle America (Dizgun) READINGS

Tues 1/23/07	Introduction to Latin America	Reading: Global: 2-6.
Thurs 1/24/07	The Geography of Middle America	Reading: Global: 7-51; Start El Presidente novel.
Tues 1/30/07	Understanding People and Places	Reading: Global: 116-164; Read El Presidente Novel.
Thurs 2/1/07	The History of Middle America - Study Guide.	Reading: El Presidente. Study the Middle America Overview
Tues 2/6/07	Conquest and Colonization	Reading: El Presidente Novel.
Thurs 2/8/07	Development in the 19th C World Economy	Reading: El Presidente novel.
Tues 2/13/07	Revolution to NAFTA: 20th C. Mexico	Reading: Global: 182-186.
Thurs 2/15/07	Society, Economy, and Place	Reading: Global: 187-199.

Tuesday 2/20/07 * First Section Exam - Middle America *

Section Two:

South America (Dr. David Keeling and Dr. John Dizgun)

Thurs 2/22/07	Geography of South America	Reading: Global: 52-115.
Tues 2/27/07	Understanding People and Places	Readings: Gabriela Clove novel.
Thurs 3/1/07	History of South America	Readings: Gabriela Clove novel.
Tues 3/6/07	Conquest and Colonization	Readings: Gabriela Clove novel.
Thurs 3/8/07	Development in the 19th C. World Economy	Readings: Gabriela Clove novel.
Tues 3/20/07	Populists, Dictators, and Rebels	Readings: Global: 200-220.
Thurs 3/22/07	Populists, Dictators, and Rebels	Readings: Global: 200-220.
Tues 3/27/07	20th Century Change	Readings: Finish Gabriela Clove novel.
Thurs 3/29/07	The leftist movement, Washington Concensus, and social Change	Reading Assignment #2 due today can be viewed online

Tues 4/3/07 * Second Section Exam -- South America *
Click on Study Guide to view the study guide for the second exam

Section Three:

Latin America: Society, Government, and Politics (Guest Lecturer Dr. John Petersen)

Thurs 4/5/07	Migration in the 20th Century	Readings: handouts.
Tues 4/10/07	Latin America in the Global Economy	Readings: Global: 165-181.
Thurs 4/12/07	The Cold War and its Legacy	Readings: Global: 221-224.
Tues 4/17/07	The Dirty Wars in Latin America	Readings: handouts.
Thurs 4/19/07	Music, Art, and Literature	Reading: handouts
Tues 4/24/07	Latin American political structures (Petersen)	Readings: Review.
Thurs 4/26/07	Latin America and US Relations (Petersen)	Readings: Review.
Tues 5/1/07	Post Cold-War Political Systems (Petersen)	Readings: Handouts.
Thurs 5/3/07	The Future of Latin America	Readings: Assignment #3 Due TODAY - Assignment available Online.

Final Exam: Monday May 7, 2007, 1:00 - 3:00pm.

HAPPY STUDYING!!

To email the course instructors, just click on: david.keeling@wku.edu, or john.dizgun@wku.edu.
To view the MAP LOCATION STUDY GUIDE, just click on: LOCATION GUIDE.

Download a blank copy of the maps for Middle America and South America, as well as a combined map of the region.

Reading Assignment #3 due on May 3 can be viewed online.

The study guide for the final exam is available here.

Click here for the John Charles Chasteen's concise history of Latin America reading that covers the years 1950-1990 in a pretty clear and concise fashion - this was mentioned in class the last week.
Click New York Times for a copy of the Dirty War article to be discussed in class in April.
Click here for the nuncamas.org website.

Return to the Geography Department HOME PAGE.

Last updated on 5/4/07.