HIST 2058 - Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide in History

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

This course will explore the nature of ethnic cleansing and genocide and seek to discover the common historical, political and sociological threads that unite these tragedies. Students will analyse and discuss a series of case studies including, among others: the near extermination of First Nations people by colonisers of the New World, the Armenian genocide, the man-made famine in Ukraine, the Holocaust, the displacement of peoples in the aftermath of the Second World War in Europe and Africa, and the case of ethnic cleansing and genocide during the wars of Yugoslav succession.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code HIST 2058
    Course Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide in History
    Coordinating Unit Historical and Classical Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of level 1 Arts courses, including 3 units in History
    Incompatible HIST 2031 or HIST 3031
    Course Description This course will explore the nature of ethnic cleansing and genocide and seek to discover the common historical, political and sociological threads that unite these tragedies. Students will analyse and discuss a series of case studies including, among others: the near extermination of First Nations people by colonisers of the New World, the Armenian genocide, the man-made famine in Ukraine, the Holocaust, the displacement of peoples in the aftermath of the Second World War in Europe and Africa, and the case of ethnic cleansing and genocide during the wars of Yugoslav succession.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Robert Foster

    Associate Professor Vesna Drapac (co-course convenor)

    Ph: 83135821; Email: vesna.drapac@adelaide.edu.au


    Associate Professor Robert Foster (co-course convenor)

    Ph: 83135616; Email: robert.foster@adelaide.edu.au


    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    1. An understanding of the causes, nature and consequences of ethnic cleansing and genocide in modern history.

    2. An ability to distinguish between different historical interpretations and different cultural perspectives.

    3. Enhanced skills in research, synthesis, organisation and presentation of information.

    4. Enhanced problem solving skills.

    5. Familiarisation with the research skills necessary for working with primary sources.

    6. An ability to work independently.

    7. An ability to work cooperatively.

    8. An ability to evaluate arguments.

    9. Enhanced oral communication skills.

    10. An awareness of the role of historians in determining the dominant perceptions of the past and the way these impact on the present.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-10
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 3,4,5 & 8
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1,2,5,6 & 7
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 7 & 9
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 3,4,5,6
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1,6,7,9,10
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 2, 3, 6,7, 10
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1,2,7,& 10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There are no textbooks for this course.

    1. The Course Guide supplements this Course Outline and contains instructions and relevant information about the assessment, the readings and the general running of the course. This will be available on MyUni. (See 3.3 below.)

    2. The Course Reader contains essential readings for tutorial discussion and will be available for purchase though the Image and Copy Centre.
    Recommended Resources
    The Barr Smith Library has a rich collection of books on our subject. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with the resources guide for this course which is available online through the Barr Smith Library. The resources guide also provides critical information on accessing materials in hard copy and electronically through the Library. (See 3.3 below.)
    Online Learning
    This course has a website accessible through MyUni. The site will contain the Course Guide. The Course Guide provides further instructions on the assessment tasks, reading lists, essay questions and other relevant materials.

    In addition the website will contain lecture notes, handouts and worksheets.

    Regular announcements and updates will be posted on MyUni.
    You will be expected to check your emails regularly for updates and other information relating to the course.
    The University provides you with electronic access to the full text of articles in a very large range of history journals through the Barr Smith Library. There will be a lecture devoted to providing you with the background necessary to search for useful materials available online.

    The resources guide for this course is available at: http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/hist2058.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course comprises face-to-face teaching on campus with two one-hour lectures and one tutorial per week.

    Lectures begin in Week One and tutorials begin in Week Two.

    Lectures in this course refer specifically to the topics and readings to be discussed in tutorials. Lectures are therefore designed to stimulate debate and reflection. They do this by evoking the wider context in which to place the subjects under review, by pointing you to historians’ debates on key issues and by referring directly to items in your course reader. On occasion, there will be guest lecturers or documentary films shown during the lectures. Short answer questions in the final exam will draw on material covered in the lectures and lecture handouts. Attendance at lectures is therefore strongly recommended.


    Tutorials are designed to promote discussion among all members of the class and to hone each student’s oral communication skills. The materials in the course reader and the lectures provide you with the necessary background to participate in tutorials and to contribute to discussion. Tutorials comprise an essential component of the course with the primary purpose of developing key graduate attributes as listed above. As a result tutorial attendance is a requirement of this course. (See 5.2 below).

    See the Course Guide for further instructions on tutorial participation.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Students will need to devote approximately 13 hours per week to this course across the semester. This will comprise the 3 contact hours and about 10 hours of independent study in preparation for tutorials, written assignments and the exam. A total workload of about 156 hours.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The lectures in the course are designed to provide a framework for the undertanding of the issues covered in the course, and provide important background for the tutorial exercises. As well as presenting case studies, ranging from early modern times to the contemporary world, they will also engage the theoretical and ethical dimensions of the subject.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The Small Group Discovery Experience will be embedded in select tutorials, and in a series of assignments over the duration of the course. Led by researchers in the field, students will be guided in the active engagement of questions relating to the national and international community's reponses to Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide (issues such as formal apologies, repatriation and criminal tribunals). The assessment will include a short annotated bibliography early in the semester and a group presentation at the end of semester. (An alternative form of assessment will be available for students who do not wish to be group assessed.)

    More detail will be available in the Course Guide which will be available on MyUni at the start of the semester.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Tutorial Participation and Attendence: 10%
    Learning objectives: 1-10.
     
    Small Group Discovery Project: 20% (equivalent to 1000 words)
    Learning objectives: 1-10.

    Essay: 40% (2,000 words)
    Learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ,6 & 8.

    Two-hour Exam: 30%
    Learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 8.


    Due dates for the assignments to be announced on MyUni.

    The exam will take place in the examinations period. Please note this in your diaries and ensure that you are in Adelaide at that time.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Tutorial attendance is a requirement of this course and absences other than for medical reasons (with supporting documentation) will result in serious penalties. Students must attend at least 80% of tutorials to pass. Students who are absent at tutorials for which they are the designated discussion leaders (presenters) will not be permitted to present at another tutorial unless they provide a medical certificate attesting to their inability to attend the tutorial due to illness.

    Students must satisfactorily complete all of the assigned work in order to pass this course.

    All written work is to be submitted electronically AND to Turnitin. (See 5.4 below.) Assessment tasks must be submitted within two weeks of the due date, assignments submitted after this are subject to be marked at a pass or fail grade, unless students have been granted a formal extension.

    In the exam you will not be permitted to write on the same topics as your written assignments.

    The exam will take place in the exam period. Please ensure that you will be in Adelaide at this time.
    Assessment Detail
    1. Tutorial attendance and participation = 10%
    In this course there is a strong emphasis on a key graduate attribute - building on your oral communication skills - by participating in, leading and summarising small group discussions. Therefore attendance at weekly tutorials is a requirement and frequent absences (other than for medical reasons) will lead to severe penalties. (See above 5.2.)

    No work will be accepted in lieu of tutorial attendance and participation.

    Tutorial tasks will vary and include informal presentations by group leaders.

    2. Small Group Discovery Project (1000 words or equivalent) = 20%
    At the start of the semester students in each tutorial will be divided into three or four sub-groups and tasked with investigating a particular topic relating to how national and international communities respond to cases of historical injustice; these might include State Apologies, Repatriation/Reparation, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, and War Crimes Tribunals. Over the course of the semester, these groups will investigate their selected topics and periodically report their findings in tutorials. The assessment will include a short annotated bibliography early in the semester and a group presentation at the end of semester. (An alternative form of assessment will be available for students who do not wish to be group assessed.)
     
    3. Essay (2,000 words) = 40%
    For this assignment you will be required to focus closely on a case study. You will present a synthesis of your response to the question in your own words. Your main goal will be to develop an argument in a logical and persuasive style and to seek appropriate evidence or examples to illustrate it. You will be assessed on your ability to sustain an argument and the initiative and creativity exhibited in your use of a range sources, primary and secondary. Essay questions will be available in the Course Guide. If you prefer to write on a different essay topic you must seek permission from your tutor who will set an appropriate question.

    4. Two-Hour Exam = 30%

    The two-hour exam will comprise two unseen short-answer questions and a synoptic essay. Essay questions will be available on MyUni one week prior to the exam to assist with your preparation. However, you will not be allowed to bring any notes or essay plans into the exam. You will be examined on your grasp of the overarching themes of the course and the questions will be structured accordingly. The questions will be of a general nature and you will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of more than one case study in the exam.

    You will not be permitted to write on the same topics as your written assignments. (See 5. 2 above.)

    The exam will take place in the examinations period. Please ensure that you will be in Adelaide for the exam period. (See 5.1 and 5.2 above)
    Submission
    Online Submission of Assignments (e-submission) via MyUni
    All assignments are to be submitted electronically via MyUni - this is a two-step process. The assignment needs to be electronically submitted for marking via the ‘Assignments’ link in the course menu. It then needs to be submitted separately to Turnitin, which is also done via the MyUni site. Marked assignments will be returned to the student in printed form.

    (This means that you DO NOT have to submit hard copies of your assignments.)

    Extensions
    Students wishing to apply for an extension need to submit the relevant form available at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html  to the school office at least 5 days prior to the due date for the assignment.

    Exceptions to the Policy
    If one of the following criteria is met, an informal extension can be organised with the course coordinator or tutor:
    · small extension – 2 days or less;
    · assessment item is worth 20% or less;
    · student is registered with the Disability Office (need to attach a Disability Access Plan – DAP).

    All work submitted late without an extension will incur a penalty of 2% per day including weekends.

    Normally written work will be returned approximately a fortnight after submission.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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