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Note: Please print out this syllabus right away. Do not count on it being available online. RUSSIAN JUSTICE - CRJU 475-T, Spring 2012 Tuesdays, 7-9:45 pm, LH 308, #20749 Jay Wachtel Click here for a neatly formatted Word version Course description and learning goals This course explores factors leading to the establishment of a totalitarian regime in post-Revolutionary Russia. Students will learn how the organs of state security and the Russian judicial system were employed as an instrument of repression, with special attention to the 1936-38 Moscow Show Trials. Stalin's success in gaining support for his actions from the Western world will also be discussed. To help students better comprehend the juridical and political aspects of Stalinīs purges, they will prepare detailed biographies of Party members and perform in a scripted dramatic presentation at the end of the term. Required Texts
Students will submit a comprehensive biography of a key Soviet figure, tracking them from birth through the 1936-38 Moscow Show Trials. Biographical subjects will be assigned to students soon after the term begins. NOTE: Students who wish to convert their biography points to performance points must inform the instructor by the ninth week. Please see grading for more information. General Instructions Biographies must strictly adhere to APA format (click here for a tutorial.) They should be at least six pages in length, excluding the cover and list of references, with one-inch margins all around, 12-point Times New Roman type, double-spaced and single-sided, and not contain illustrations of any kind. There must be at least eight references to scholarly articles or books in addition to the required texts, with no more than three coming from Internet sources. Papers will be returned after grading and will be orally presented on the final exam date. The paper must be the student's own original work. Students may not use any paper or article that they have used or are using in any other course. Students must use their own words and thoughts throughout, keeping quotations, if used at all, at an absolute minimum, and always distinguishing them with " " marks. Copying without attribution, or paraphrasing, or rearranging words or sentences to make paragraphs seem original, are strictly prohibited. A very broad view of the meaning of plagiarism will be enforced. Plagiarism will result in failure of the course. More information about plagiarism and how to avoid it is available here. Structure Papers are in two equal-length parts. Part I is a chronological narrative that sets out the basis for the individual's adult personality. Students will describe their subject's familial and cultural heritage, upbringing, family and social life and intellectual development from birth to emancipation. Key family or external (e.g., sociopolitical) events that may have played a role are also important. Part II continues the narrative with an account of the subject from emancipation forward, including their personal and work lives, social, emotional and ideological development. Special attention should be paid to the facts and circumstances that led them to join the Communist Party and/or other political causes. Students will describe their subject's work, their political roles and beliefs, disputes in which they might have become embroiled, and the consequences to them, their families and friends. It is important to know how subjects reacted to events and how they tried to shape or influence their environments. Student pairs who share major characters will split up the work, with one student doing Part I and the other Part II. Each paper will comply with all other requirements, including length (six-page minimum excluding cover and references.) Papers will be orally presented on the final exam date. am. Students should select two or three key issues to highlight and use cue cards to help guide their presentations. Presentations should run no longer than 5 mis. in length each so that plenty of time is left for discussion. Papers can earn up to 15 points; oral presentations, 5 points. Exams Three essays administered during the first half of the course. Each will cover a portion of the first seven weeks of class and test students' knowledge of key issues, concepts and events discussed in texts, lectures, slides and films. Each exam is worth 20 points. Class Participation Attendance This is a participative course. Attendance is mandatory and roll will be taken at the end of each class. Missing more than one hour or leaving early is same as missing a session. Students who for any reason miss three class meetings will drop one letter grade. Students who miss more than three class meetings will receive an "F" grade. Students who foresee or develop attendance issues should drop the course. Trial reenactment Students will participate in a reenactment of the Moscow show trials, to be presented to members of the Division and outside guests on the indicated dates. Students earn two class participation points for attending a formal rehearsal (there are normally four), four for a performance (there are normally two), and four for participating in class on the date of the final. Two students will assist with staging the production. In lieu of submitting biographies they will collaborate to prepare a brochure to be distributed to the audience that provides historical context and describes the characters in some detail. Class participation can earn up to 20 points. Grading 100 points can be earned - 20 for each exam, 15 for the paper, 5 for the oral presentation of the paper, and 20 for class participation. In lieu of the paper and oral presentation: 1. Students who assist with staging earn up to 20 points for preparing the brochure. 2. Students who perform roles can choose to convert the 20 points to a performance score. In that case they will be graded for their performance, including preparation, memorization and quality of effort. This is strictly optional! Students who wish to be graded on performance instead of submitting a biography have until the ninth week to notify the instructor in writing (e-mail OK). Semester grades may be adjusted ("curved") to reflect class performance. Unexcused failure to participate in and complete any required component of the course - exams, term papers or reenactment will result in failure of the course. Work turned in late loses half the points. No extra credit assignments will be given. Meeting no. - Date - Topics - Readings - Slide shows - Assignments 01 - 01/24 - Early Russian history (Kenez chp. 1) - slide show 02 - 01/31 - Revolution and Civil War (Kenez chp. 2) - slide show 03 - 02/07 - First half: Exam (Kenez chps. 1 & 2.) Second half: Walk-through, instructions on bio's 04 - 02/14 - New Economic Policy (Kenez chp. 3) - slide show 05 - 02/21 - First five-year plan (Kenez chp. 4) - slide show 06 - 02/28 - First half: Exam (Kenez chps. 3 & 4) Second half (actors): Relocate to other classroom. Script readings, work on bio's Second half (stage crew): Tech & blocking 07 - 03/06 - High Stalinism (Kenez chp. 5) - slide show 08 - 03/13 - 1936 trial (Conquest pp. 78-108), 1937 trial (Conquest pp. 147-167), 1938 trial (Conquest chp. 12) - slide show 09 - 03/20 - First half: Exam (Kenez chp. 5 and Conquest 1936, 1937 and 1938 trials) Click here for a study guide Second half: Full run-through including tech. Actors perform scripts (read-assist) Last day to notify instructor to have twenty points shifted to a performance score (see above). 10 - 03/27 - Spring break. Memorize scripts. 11 - 04/03 - Rehearsal (2 points) 12 - 04/10 - Rehearsal (2 points) 13 - 04/17 - Rehearsal (2 points) - last day to turn in final bio for grade 14 - 04/24 - Dress rehearsal (2 points) 15 - 05/01 - Performance (4 points) 16 - 05/08 - Performance (4 points) 17 - 05/15 - Final exam day (4 points) - students present term papers & critique course |