Prof. C. Findley  	Tel.: 292-5404
Office:  Dulles 238  	e-mail:  findley.1@osu.edu
e-mail:  findley.1@osu.edu 	Office Hours: M 3:30-5:00 & by appt.

HISTORY 727:  STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAMIC MIDDLE EAST:  THE MODERN PERIOD

Spring Quarter 2007; W, 3:30-6:18, Dulles Hall 344; Call. no. 11298-3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will explore selected topics in the history of the modern Middle East. The course is designed to serve the needs of graduate students in History and allied fields, particularly those preparing to present relevant fields in their Ph.D. qualifying examinations.  The objective is to read the scholarly literature intensively in order to understand the current state of the field, read as many as possible of the influential recent works, and become able to assess where the frontiers for future research lie. 

COURSE FORMAT AND REQUIREMENTS

The goal of introducing the students to the literature in breadth will take precedence in this course over any attempt to present a continuous narrative across time and space or a neat packaging of issues.  
	Each week, the class will be devoted to discussion of the scholarly literature.  A topic will be selected for each week.  Different students will be asked to read different works on that topic from the course bibliography.  
	Students will prepare a short (about 5-pages) analytical report on their assignments and circulate their papers electronically to the instructor and all the members of the class by 5 p.m. on Monday.  Members of the class will read one anothers’ papers prior to class, and will come to class prepared to discuss the papers. 
	Class meetings will be devoted to discussion of the readings and oral reports about them.  Students are expected to read their assigned works carefully and in entirety.  Each student must then come to class prepared to present a brief oral report summarizing the significance of his or her book for the week’s topic.  The reports should be addressed to the other members of the class and should serve to acquaint them with the principal findings and contributions of the work being discussed.  
	Everyone should bear in mind that preparing the oral report is different from writing the short paper on the assignment.  Effectiveness in presenting such a report requires preparation, rehearsal, and timing in advance.  It is important to keep the presentation within the time limit that will be announced (probably 10 minutes), so as to leave sufficient time for the other reports and for discussion. 
	For their final assignment, students will prepare a term paper on a topic approved by the instructor.  The suggested, basic concept for the term paper, of about 15-20 pages, is a review of the literature on a subject about which there has been significant scholarly controversy.  All students will be asked to present a brief oral report on their papers in class, late in the quarter.   

COMMON PROBLEMS OF IN-CLASS REPORTS IN HISTORY 727

Over the years, several problems have been noticeable in the in-class reports presented in History 727.  Perhaps it will save time to call your attention to them right from the start.  One problem is excessive reliance on narrative.  We have a strong desire to “tell the story of the book.”  Even if the book is in the narrative mode, it is probably too long for that approach.  Most of the books we will read are so analytical that they have little narrative content.  You, too, be analytical.  Emphasize the large-scale organizing concepts, reasons why things happened, results, interpretations.  Another common problem is relying on notes made while reading to give the in-class talk.  Notes made while reading are no more than raw material.  The papers that we circulate also are no more than a help.  Giving a good ten-minute talk means preparing to give a talk that you know you can complete in ten minutes.  

NOTE CONCERNING REGISTRATION

All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter. No requests to add the course will be approved by the Chair of the Department after that time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term academic misconduct includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; examples of such misconduct include, but are not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct:  
	
	http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp).

For a discussion of plagiarism, see: 

	http://cstw.osu.edu/writingCenter/handouts/research_plagiarism.cfm

Students who need help with writing are urged to contact the OSU Writing Center: 

	http://cstw.osu.edu

DISABILITY SERVICES

Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone, 292-3307, TDD 292-0901;  http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/. 

GRADING

Grades will be calculated as follows: 
  30%   average of grades for written reports on weekly assignments
  30%   average for oral reports on weekly assignments 
  40%   one paper (15-20 pages, typewritten, double-spaced, or equiva~
          lent), on a subject agreed on in advance with the instructor 

COURSE SCHEDULE

The actual class meetings may have to be arranged at alternate times to avoid class conflicts.  The following is a starting point and gives the general concept. 

	2007
		28	Mar	W	Organizational Meeting 

		 4	Apr	W	(and subsequent Wednesdays) Weekly Discussions of Scholarly Literature 
						
		TBA				Class Meeting to Present Oral Reports on Term Papers 

		6	Jun	W	Final Projects due by 3:30 p.m.