Time Schedule:
Scott Alan Brown
HIST 498
Seattle Campus
Each seminar examines a different subject or problem. A quarterly list of the seminars and their instructors is available in the Department of History undergraduate advising office.
Class description
Europe in Revolt: Revolutions and Upheavals in Twentieth-Century Europe Europe’s twentieth century was punctuated by two world wars, the Cold War geopolitical conflict, civil wars, revolutions, mass demonstrations, and countless other moments of social and political upheaval. This class will familiarize you with key European revolutions and upheavals from this century, while also affording the opportunity to explore one or more of these episodes in greater depth via a substantial research paper. In addition, we will address the question of what exactly is a “revolution,” and whether apparently less cataclysmic moments of “upheaval” qualify as “revolutionary.”
Student learning goals
Formulate a historical question and locate primary and secondary sources to address this question
Use primary sources to construct a well-substantiated argument that answers a historical question
Write a persuasive, well-research and -substantiated research paper analyzing one or more historical questions
General method of instruction
This class will be run as a seminar, with discussion of weekly readings and outside work on student research papers.
Recommended preparation
I assume no specific knowledge from students. However, courses in modern European history, along with a general familiarity with twentieth-century European history and an intellectual curiosity in its revolutions, will be helpful.
Class assignments and grading
Along with assigned readings, students will complete a number of intermediate assignments (paper topic, prospectus, bibliography, outline) building toward a final research paper, and they will present to the class on their research paper at the end of the course.
Final research paper (50 percent), thoughtful participation in weekly discussions (35 percent), satisfactory completion of intermediate assignments (15 percent)
