Course Syllabus
MMW 14 | SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Chronologically, this course covers the global developments that took place roughly between 1750, the midpoint of the Enlightenment, and 1914, the outbreak of World War I. Many of these developments were so dramatic and consequential that 1750-1914 has often been referred to as the “age of revolutions.” Indeed, it was a period marked by important political and social cataclysms. None, however, as this course will argue, played as pivotal and defining a role as the economic revolutions that shaped them. Simply put, it was primarily the revolutionary changes in the economic mindset of the West that galvanized and propelled those other changes. The Enlightenment discourse of a social contract, the Darwinian rationale of survival of the fittest in a social and economic context, the imperialist agenda of exploiting natural resources and markets overseas, and the nationalist ideology of securing and augmenting a “fatherland”—each to one degree or another was inspired by a broader overhaul in European economic thinking, one that Adam Smith observed in 1776 as the unbridled adherence to the economic axiom: “No laws are prevalent against gaine.” The aim of this course is, thus, to explore how the West’s ambitious pursuit of economic self-interest shaped this “age of revolutions,” as well as how other cultures reacted to this expansion. In doing so, we hope to arrive at a fuller understanding of how the trajectory of the modern world took shape.
You can find the full course syllabus here.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
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REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS & MATERIALS
- Course Reader
- Robert Heilbroner, The Worldly Philosophers (Touchstone Books)
- Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, The Communist Manifesto (International Publishers)
- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (Penguin)
- Adelman, Jeremy, et al. Worlds Together/ Worlds Apart, Worlds Together, Worlds Apart. 6th ed. New York: Norton, 2021. ISBN: 978-0-393-42296-2.
- Bullock, Richard, et al. The Little Seagull Handbook. 4th ed. New York: Norton, 2021. ISBN: 978-0-393-53702-4.
Both texts are provided as e-books on our lecture Canvas site, bundled for $62. If you purchased the books previously through the Norton e-books link on Canvas, you can access them via the links on the Canvas site. If you opted out previously, you will need to opt out again.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS & GRADE BREAKDOWN
Midterm examination (in-person 15%)
Final examination (in-person 20%)
Reading quizzes (10%)
Discussion Board Submissions (5%)
Section attendance and participation (10%)
Students who miss 3 sections will fail section with a F (59/100).
Students who miss 4 sections or more will fail section with a 0.
Any absence can lower your grade.
Writing Project (Total 40%)
Perusal annotations on Writing Project Prompts (5%)
Writing Forum (20%)
Final Paper (15%)
Grading Policies: For grades A+ to D, the MMW program calculates the course grade based on whole letter grades and grade points, not points/percentages. You can find the MMW Grading Scale here.
Assignments submitted after the due date will receive a 1-step deduction on the grade scale for every day it is late. Assignments submitted 10+ days after the due date will receive an automatic F (59/100). Unsubmitted assignments will receive a 0. Assignments will not be accepted after the start of the final exam. Note that not all assignments can be submitted late.
If you find yourself struggling and/or unable to complete your coursework, please reach out to me and your TA as soon as possible. You may also find it helpful to reach out to ERC Academic Advising.
You must take MMW 14 for a letter grade in order to meet ERC’s graduation requirements.
RESOURCES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): College life can be stressful, and it is normal to feel overwhelmed at times. UCSD has a staff of professionals who are available for confidential meetings to discuss any personal concerns you might have. Feel free to contact CAPS at any time to set up an appointment: http://caps.ucsd.edu.
Academic Integrity: MMW expects all assignments to be the product of original individual work for the course. Assignments submitted with integrity give credit where credit is due and honestly acknowledge others’ work by adhering to standards of citation, assignment requirements for use of sources and materials, and University guidelines.
It is your responsibility to know and observe all of the UCSD rules concerning academic integrity and plagiarism. Familiarize yourself with your responsibilities and rights under the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship, and with the MMW policies governing academic integrity included in the MMW Formatting and Submission Guidelines. Assignments suspected of misconduct will be referred to the Academic Integrity Office (AIO). Assignments found to be in violation of UCSD’s Policy on Integrity of Scholarship will automatically receive a 0. If you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism, how to credit the work of others properly, or how to evaluate sources for quality and reliability, please talk to your TA and/or me to discuss the matter. It is better to turn something in late than to turn in something plagiarized! We want to read your work!
Students with disabilities: Students requesting accommodations and services for this course due to a disability or injury must provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) prior to eligibility for requests. Receipt of AFAs in advance is necessary for appropriate planning for the provision of reasonable accommodations. OSD Academic Liaisons also need to receive current AFA letters if there are any changes to accommodations. For additional information, contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at 858-534-4382, or email at osd@ucsd.edu.
OPHD and CARE at SARC: The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) is the Title IX Office for UC San Diego and investigates reports of sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating and domestic violence and stalking. You may file a report online with the UC San Diego Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD). For further information about OPHD, please visit their website or call at 858-534-8298.
Please note that University employees (including all faculty and teaching and research assistants), who are not confidential resources, are designated Responsible Employees. Responsible Employees are required to report any incidents of sexual violence or sexual harassment to OPHD. If you are not ready to file a report, but wish to receive confidential support and advocacy, please contact CARE at SARC. CARE at SARC provides violence prevention education for the entire UCSD campus and offers free and confidential services for students, staff and faculty impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. Accessing resources at CARE at SARC will not constitute a report to the University.
SESSION OUTLINE
Please see the weekly modules and the course summary below, for assigned readings, assignments, and due dates. You can also find this information in the syllabus linked above.
Course Summary:
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