AFCS 101 DEC African Culture and Society I

Transcription

1 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 1 AFCS 101 DEC African Culture and Society I March (Spring, 2015) Session Monday-March 23-Saturday, May 16, 2015 Course Description An interdisciplinary survey of institutions, politics, cultures, and societies in Africa from roughly1800 to the present (emphasis on the period following the Second World War). Course meets multicultural graduation requirement. Prerequisite: None Proctored Exams: Final Textbooks Thomson, Alex. An Introduction to African Politics. Third Edition. Routledge, ISBN Davidson, Basil. The African Genius. Ohio University Press, ISBN Textbooks for the course may be ordered from MBS Direct. You can order online at sure to select Online Education rather than your home campus before selecting your class) by phone at For additional information about the bookstore, visit Course Overview Whether considering politics, ethnicity, linguistics or geography, Africa is without question the earth s most diverse landmass. So how can it be that Africa is so often misunderstood and defined by stereotypes and vague generalities? In this introductory course we will look at Africa from an interdisciplinary perspective in order to understand the ways in which present ways of living in and thinking about Africa have developed from distinct historical, political, cultural, and societal contexts. In sum, we seek to expand our thinking about Africa by taking a longer and fuller view of the continent s experiences. Technology Requirements Participation in this course will require the basic technology for all online classes at Columbia College: A computer with reliable Internet access, a web browser,

2 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 2 Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office or another word processor such as Open Office. You can find more details about standard technical requirements for our courses on our site. Course Objectives Recognize significant facts, dates, names, peoples, places, events, and ideas in modern Africa. Engage in discussion that promotes involved citizenship. Study appropriate primary and secondary sources. Develop skills for reading, writing and speaking about modern African issues. Measurable Learning Outcomes Demonstrate knowledge about history, politics, culture and society in Africa from the precolonial era to the present. Describe the chronological development of institutions, politics, culture, and society in Africa from the mid-1800s to the present. Articulate a coherent narrative of African history with an awareness of diversity and cultural pluralism. Summarize patterns of change and continuity in the experiences of Americans from different regions, ethnicities, classes, and genders. Think critically about evidence from a variety of primary sources. Differentiate between historical facts and historical interpretations provided by secondary sources. Respond effectively to essential questions that consider the power of the individual, international factors, the influence of cultural values and the role of change in recent African history. Argue a thesis on controversial issues in modern Africa from either a historical, cultural, economic or political perspective.

3 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 3 Grading Grading Scale GRADE POINTS PERCENT A B C D F Schedule of Due Dates Grade Weights ASSIGNMENT POINTS PERCENT Discussions % Quizzes % Research Paper % Final Exam % Total % WEEK ASSIGNMENT POINTS DUE Assignment Overview Introductions -- Discussions (EQ, OLC, and DT) 25 Quiz 1 40 Proctor Information -- Quiz 2 40 Research Paper Topic -- Quiz 3 40 Quiz 4 40 Quiz 5 40 Quiz 6 40 Research Paper 200 Quiz 7 40 Quiz 8 20 Final Exam 300 Total 1000 Saturday Discussions: Participation in all assigned discussion topics will improve performance on exams and may be considered holistically by the professor. Each week you must participate in three discussions: Essential Question(s) Online Learning Center Deep Thought

4 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 4 You must first post your answer to the questions asked and then respond to at least one of your classmates posting in each of the three discussions. Six posts are required each week, 2 each in Essential question, Online learning center, and Deep thought. Discussions are informal; however, you are still expected to communicate effectively and ensure that your posting is intelligible as well as original. Quizzes: Each week, you will complete a multiple choice quiz over the week s reading material. Quizzes 1-7 will consist of 20 questions worth 2 points each, and you will have 35 minutes to complete each quiz. Quiz 8 consists of one essay question also on the final. You will have 25 minutes to complete it. All quizzes may be found in the Quizzes area and are not proctored. You will only have one attempt to complete each quiz, so be sure to complete the weekly readings first. While the quizzes are open book, you will not have the time to look up all of the answers. Final Exam: We have one proctored exam, administered by a supervisor approved by the instructor (see Proctored Policy for more information). The exam consists of fifty (50) multiple choice questions earning 4 points per answer and two (2) essay questions earning 50 points per answer. You will have two hours to complete the exam. The exam is comprehensive. A study guide to help you prepare for the exam will be made available. Research Paper: We have a research paper that requires you, first, to critically analyze primary sources and, second, to research related secondary sources. Scholarship provides you with the opportunity to develop research and writing skills as well as to synthesize knowledge about an important subject. Moreover, scholars of history not only discuss the matters of fact but also tell their stories with skill. In order to earn full credit for this component score, you will submit a paper that: Considers the controversial issue announced by the professor in the initial threads for conferencing. Identifies at least four examples of primary sources (i.e., letters, diaries, publications) related to the issue. Constructs a thesis statement based upon the examples. Consults a number of additional secondary sources that help to develop a thesis. Incorporates an introduction, body, and conclusion. Organizes paragraphs with approximately eight sentences developing a single topic. Elaborates major points with a degree of specificity. Clarifies premises using coherent diction. Avoids spelling errors, awkward language, improper grammar, flawed punctuation, and other technical mistakes. Includes four to six pages of full typed text circumscribed by one inch margins, making each double spaced page approximately 250 words and lines with a standard type 12 point font. Uses a documentation style guide consistently and correctly; see the Chicago Style (University of Wisconsin) link available on the Course Content Area for examples. Includes a bibliography, with primary and secondary sources listed separately. Meets the deadlines for drafts and revisions according to the Schedule of Due Dates table. Note: Only original work will be accepted, recycled papers are not permitted. A Note about the Texts: The main textbooks for this course, An Introduction to African Politics by Alex Thomson and The African Genius by Basil Davidson are considered Secondary Sources, which means that the author (or historian) has written his version of history based on interpretations of historical documents or primary sources. Primary Sources are documents that are used by historians to write about past events. These are such things as diaries, journals, letters, etc. that were written at the time the historian is studying.

5 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 5 Course Schedule Week 1 Impact of International Trade and Religious Expansion in Pre- Colonial Africa Davidson: Part One: Africa s World Introductions: To get started with the course, post a message in the Introductions posting on the first day of the course. Introduce yourself to our online community by writing a brief autobiography for your classmates. Essential Question: What do you know and hope to learn about Africa? Are your initial thoughts about Africa largely a product of stereotypes? Online Learning Center: Visit the website Exploring Africa and review the page Unit Two: Studying Africa through the Social Studies. Then, in the Discussions area of the course, answer the following: What were some characteristics of pre-colonial African societies? Deep Thoughts: One student will suggest a Deep Thought for discussion based on the chapter readings. The first person to post provides the thought; subsequent postings should respond to that thought. Please post your answer to the posted thought (unless you posted the question) and comment on at least one other student's posted answer (even if you posted the question). Quiz 1: The quiz this week will focus on these readings. Week 2: Formation of African Societies and Government and the Colonial Era Thompson: Davidson: Sections 5-8 Introduction: State, Civil Society and External Interests History: Africa s pre-colonial and colonial inheritance Essential Questions: What elements of pre-colonial African society continue to influence African politics today? Online Learning Center: Examine the map of Africa in 1914 and watch the video European Imperialism in Africa. Then, in the Discussions area of the course, answer the following: What were the various consequences of European Colonization in Africa? Deep Thought: One student will suggest a Deep Thought for discussion based on the chapter readings. The first person to post provides the thought; subsequent postings should respond to that thought. Please post your answer to the posted thought (unless you posted the question) and comment on at least one other student's posted answer (even if you posted the question). Quiz 2: Please complete by midnight. Proctor Information: Please post your proctor s information in the proctor information drop box. See the Proctor Policy for more instructions. Be sure to schedule a testing time with your proctor for the Final Exam well in advance.

6 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 6 Week 3: Ethnicity and the Rise of African Nationalism Thomson: Davidson: Ideology: nationalism, socialism, populism and state capitalism Ethnicity and religion: tribes, gods and political identity finish part II Essential Questions: Do you consider ethnic identity to be primordial or instrumental? Online Learning Center: Examine the map of Africa s Ethno linguistic Groups and review the African People & Culture page on the website The African Guide. Choose any African ethnic group and write something basic about their history and culture, posting your findings in the Discussions area. Feel free to use a good outside source such as JSTOR or an encyclopedia (not Wikipedia). Hint: Don t confuse ethnic groups with nations or national identities. For example, American is a national identity, but Hispanic would be an ethnic identity. Deep Thought: One student will suggest a Deep Thought for discussion based on the chapter readings. The first person to post provides the thought; subsequent postings should respond to that thought. Please post your answer to the posted thought (unless you posted the question) and comment on at least one other student's posted answer (even if you posted the question). Quiz 3: Please complete by midnight. Research Paper: Submit your proposed topic for approval in the (Paper-Exam) part of the Discussions area. Be sure to consult the resources provided in the Content area for selecting a topic first, and do not rely on simple Google searches or Wikipedia articles. Note: Only original work will be approved; recycled papers are not allowed. Week 4: Social Classes, Religion, and African Politics Thomson: Davidson: Sections Social Class: the search for class politics in Africa Essential Questions: Can African classes be defined solely by the means of production, or do political considerations also play a prominent role? Online Learning Center: Watch Parts I and II of the UKTV documentary, Kwame Nkrumah: Black Power. Then, in the Discussions area of the course, answer the following: In what ways did Kwame Nkrumah attempt to achieve African nationalism in Ghana? Deep Thought: One student will suggest a Deep Thought for discussion based on the chapter readings. The first person to post provides the thought; subsequent postings should respond to that thought. Comment on at least one other student's posted answer (even if you posted the question). Quiz 4: Please complete by midnight. Week 5: Foreign, Military Influence and Interests in Africa

7 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 7 Thomson: Davidson: Sections Legitimacy: neo-patrimonialism, personal rule and the centralization of the African state Coercion: military intervention in African politics Essential Questions: To what extent can African military coups be explained by environmental (socio-economic/political culture) factors? Online Learning Center: Watch Parts I and II of the Fela Kuti documentary. Then, in the Discussions area of the course, answer the following: How did Fela Kuti use Afro-beat to address the political and social conditions of Nigeria's military dictatorship(s) and flawed Democracy during the 1970s and 80s? Deep Thought: One student will suggest a Deep Thought for discussion based on the chapter readings. The first person to post provides the thought; subsequent postings should respond to that thought. Please post your answer to the posted thought (unless you posted the question) and comment on at least one other student's posted answer (even if you posted the question). Quiz 5: Please complete by midnight. Week 6: Economic Challenges in a Global Age Thomson: Davidson: Sections Sovereignty I: external influences in African politics Sovereignty II: neo-colonialism, structural adjustment and Africa s political economy Essential Questions: To what extent has the international economy hindered Africa s post-colonial development? Online Learning Center: Watch the news story China-Africa Relations on VOA s in Focus as well as the news story China Strengthens Ties and Trade with Africa. Then, in the Discussions area of the course, answer the following: Does China represent a partner for development or a replacement for European colonial powers? Why or why not? Deep Thought: One student will suggest a Deep Thought for discussion based on the chapter readings. The first person to post provides the thought; subsequent postings should respond to that thought. Please post your answer to the posted thought (unless you posted the question) and comment on at least one other student's posted answer (even if you posted the question). Quiz 6: Please complete by midnight. Course Evaluations: Please evaluate the course. You will be able to submit your course evaluation between of Week 5 and Thursday of Week 7. A link will be sent to your CougarMail that will allow you to access the evaluation.

8 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 8 Week 7: Africa at a Crossroads Thomson: Authority: the crises of accumulation, governance and state collapse Democracy: re-legitimizing the African state? Davidson: Sections Essential Questions: Why were so many multi-party elections contested in Africa during the 1990s? Online Learning Center: Watch the BBC clip, Nelson Mandela Released 1990, and the video, South Africa: Black Empowerment since the Apartheid? Then, in the Discussions area of the course, answer the following: What was the impact of Africa's most powerful country becoming a multi-racial democracy? How did Mandela s actions promote reconciliation between Blacks and Whites? Deep Thought: One student will suggest a Deep Thought for discussion based on the chapter readings. The first person to post provides the thought; subsequent postings should respond to that thought. Please post your answer to the posted thought (unless you posted the question) and comment on at least one other student's posted answer (even if you posted the question). Quiz 7: Please complete by midnight. Research Paper: Please submit the final copy of your paper via the Dropbox. Week 8: Review Mechanisms of Change and Current Events Thomson: Davidson: Sections Conclusions: State and civil society in post-colonial Africa Essential Questions: In what ways have the course materials influenced your thinking about Africa? Online Learning Center: Review the slideshow about Zimbabwe s President Robert Mugabe, Time Photos: The Reign of Robert Mugabe. Then, in the Discussions area of the course, answer the following: What concepts in the textbook characterize Mugabe's rule? Should the international community be doing more? Deep Thought: The Deep Thought for Week 8 will be a little different than the previous seven weeks. Read the article Look at the bigger picture in Africa, and respond to the following questions in the Discussions area: Do you share Ibrahim's outlook on Africa's development? Why or why not. Quiz 8: Please complete by midnight. Final Exam: Please complete the Final Exam. The test will cover all material between Weeks 1 and 8. Check the study directions posted in the exams and papers section for help. Your proctor will have already received the exam password.

9 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 9 Course Policies Student Conduct All Columbia College students, whether enrolled in a land-based or online course, are responsible for behaving in a manner consistent with Columbia College's Student Conduct Code and Acceptable Use Policy. Students violating these policies will be referred to the office of Student Affairs and/or the office of Academic Affairs for possible disciplinary action. The Student Code of Conduct and the Computer Use Policy for students can be found in the Columbia College Student Handbook. The Handbook is available online; you can also obtain a copy by calling the Student Affairs office (Campus Life) at The teacher maintains the right to manage a positive learning environment, and all students must adhere to the conventions of online etiquette. Plagiarism Your grade will be based in large part on the originality of your ideas and your written presentation of these ideas. Presenting the words, ideas, or expression of another in any form as your own is plagiarism. Students who fail to properly give credit for information contained in their written work (papers, journals, exams, etc.) are violating the intellectual property rights of the original author. For proper citation of the original authors, you should reference the appropriate publication manual for your degree program or course (APA, MLA, etc.). Violations are taken seriously in higher education and may result in a failing grade on the assignment, a grade of "F" for the course, or dismissal from the College. Collaboration conducted between students without prior permission from the instructor is considered plagiarism and will be treated as such. Spouses and roommates taking the same course should be particularly careful. All required papers may be submitted for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers may be included in the Turnitin.com reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. This service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com site. Non-Discrimination There will be no discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, ideology, political affiliation, veteran status, age, physical handicap, or marital status. Disability Services Students with documented disabilities who may need academic services for this course are required to register with the Coordinator for Disability Services at (573) Until the student has been cleared through the disability services office, accommodations do not have to be granted. If you are a student who has a documented disability, it is important for you to read the entire syllabus before enrolling in the course. The structure or the content of the course may make an accommodation not feasible. Online Participation You are expected to read the assigned texts and participate in the discussions and other course activities each week. Assignments should be posted by the due dates stated on the grading schedule in your syllabus. If an emergency arises that prevents you from participating in class, please let your instructor know as soon as possible. Attendance Policy Attendance for a week will be counted as having submitted a course assignment for which points have been earned during that week of the session or if the proctoring information has been submitted or the plagiarism quiz taken if there is no other assignment due that week. A class week is

10 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 10 defined as the period of time between Monday and (except for Week 8, when the week and the course will end on Saturday at midnight). The course and system deadlines are all based on the Central Time Zone. Cougar All students are provided a CougarMail account when they enroll in classes at Columbia College. You are responsible for monitoring from that account for important messages from the College and from your instructor. You may forward your Cougar account to another account; however, the College cannot be held responsible for breaches in security or service interruptions with other providers. Students should use for private messages to the instructor and other students. The class discussions are for public messages so the class members can each see what others have to say about any given topic and respond. Late Assignment Policy An online class requires regular participation and a commitment to your instructor and your classmates to regularly engage in the reading, discussion and writing assignments. Although most of the online communication for this course is asynchronous, you must be able to commit to the schedule of work for the class for the next eight weeks. You must keep up with the schedule of reading and writing to successfully complete the class. Research Papers submitted late will result in the paper s grade being reduced by 15%. Discussion posts submitted late will be reduced by 10 points. Late assignments will not be accepted if they are more than two weeks overdue. Non-submission of a given assignment will result in a grade of 0 (zero) for that requirement. All late assignments should be placed in the Late Assignments Dropbox in D2L. Please DO NOT them to me. Course Evaluation You will have the opportunity to evaluate the course near the end of the session. Course evaluations will open on of Week 5 and will remain open until Thursday of Week 7. A link will be sent to your CougarMail that will allow you to access the evaluation. Be assured that the evaluations are anonymous and that your instructor will not be able to see them until after final grades are submitted. I hope you will comply Proctoring Policy Students taking courses that require proctored exams must submit their completed proctor request forms to their instructors by the end of the second week of the session. Proctors located at Columbia College campuses are automatically approved. The use of Proctor U services is also automatically approved. The instructor of each course will consider any other choice of proctor for approval or denial. Additional proctor choices the instructor will consider include: public librarians, high school or college instructors, high school or college counseling services, commanding officers, education service officers, and other proctoring services. Personal friends, family members, athletic coaches and direct supervisors are not acceptable. Additional Resources Orientation for New Students This course is offered online, using course management software provided by Desire2Learn and Columbia College. The Student Manual provides details about taking an online course at Columbia College. You may also want to visit the course demonstration to view a sample course before this one

11 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 11 opens. Technical Support If you have problems accessing the course or posting your assignments, contact your instructor, the Columbia College Helpdesk, or the D2L Helpdesk for assistance. Contact information is also available within the online course environment. CCHelpDesk@ccis.edu ex helpdesk@desire2learn.com Online Tutoring Smarthinking is a free online tutoring service available to all Columbia College students. Smarthinking provides real-time online tutoring and homework help for Math, English, and Writing. The Writing Center can be used for writing assistance in any course. Smarthinking also provides access to live tutorials in writing and math, as well as a full range of study resources, including writing manuals, sample problems, and study skills manuals. You can access the service from wherever you have a connection to the Internet. I encourage you to take advantage of this free service provided by the college. Access Smarthinking through CougarTrack under Students->Academics->Academic Resources. Grading Criteria Discussions GRADE CRITERIA 25 = A Answers given for all questions. Answers are complete and concise. Shows familiarity with the assigned readings. Responses are complete, concise and referenced where applicable. 20 = B Answers are incomplete, not fully developed. 15 = C Answers are not complete, inadequately developed, or grammar/mechanics interferes with meaning. 10 = D Answers are in complete and poorly, hastily composed. These most often are a reflection of personal opinion rather than engagement with the course materials. Late assignments will have points deducted from calculated grade per syllabus. Research Paper Criteria A B C D F Content 30% original thought; a clearly defined point competent thought; a clearly defined point predictable thought; defined point somewhat confused thought; vapid or somewhat confused thought; absence of point

12 Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 12 muddled point Organization 30% exceptional organization, sentence structure, transitions and paragraph development also follows proper MLA, APA or Chicago Style format effective organization, sentence structure, transitions and paragraph development adequate organization, transitions, and paragraph development, usually coherent sentence structure frequently weak and chaotic organization, transitions and paragraph development ; frequently incoherent sentence structure incoherence in organization and paragraph development; ineptly constructed, Diction 20% fitting, lively and consistent diction accurate diction understandab le diction frequently inexact diction unidiomatic and obscurelyworded sentences Mechanics 20% almost total freedom from mechanical errors only infrequent and minor errors. isolated serious mechanical errors; occasional minor mechanical errors occasional serious errors in mechanics; fairly frequent minor errors frequent mechanical errors, either serious or minor