QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
CORE 220: GLOBAL ISSUES SPRING, 2007
INTRODUCTION & FIRST WEEK
Queens Mission Statement:
Core
I.
CORE 220, the fourth semester of the CORE Program, examines
some of the key global issues that shape our lives. Through readings,
discussions, individual research of a particular country and its region, and
participation in Forums and a Model United Nations, students are expected to
nurture an awareness and understanding of (1) the global world and some of its
key issues, (2) the character and needs of other parts of the world, (3) the
role of the United States and the United Nations in the international system,
and (4) solutions to world problems in a Model United Nations framework.
II.
DISCUSSION
SECTIONS. Students in CORE 220 are divided into
sections. Sections meet on Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday. On some Thursdays
all students from all sections meet together in Sykes 24. On the Thursdays when students do not meet
together, students will meet in sections but in rooms different from their
Monday-Wednesday-Friday rooms. Specific
arrangements and changes will be announced ahead of time. Students will stay with their sections for
the entire semester. It is essential
that roughly the same number of students be in each section, so changing
section assignments is not possible.
Students are expected to come to their sections thoroughly prepared to
discuss, debate, ask questions, listen actively, and share information and
experiences.
IMPORTANT!! This is a discussion class
at the sophomore level. You are expected
to analyze and assimilate readings
independently and come to class prepared to
discuss ideas. Reading comprehension issues and detailed
page by page rehashing
of every line of text is not the norm of
the classroom style.
IMPORTANT
NOTE:
Core 220 students share a common experience in many ways: they read the same articles (outside the
regional unit); they take similar exams at the same time; they write the same
types of papers; they participate in the same Thursday morning activities. But their experiences are also different
because each section is taught by a different teacher. Some teachers give quizzes on daily readings;
others do not. Some teachers have
energetic teaching styles; others are more “laid back.” It is no more reasonable to expect that all
Core 220 sections could be identical than it is to expect that all Core 220
teachers (or students, for that matter) could be identical.
Contact Information and Offices of
professors teaching Core 220:
Dimitra
Acheson
Email: achesond@queens.edu
Debra
Campbell Watkins 205 ext. 2535
Email: campbeld@queens.edu
Loren
Fauchier Dana 211B ext. 2573
Email: fauchiel@queens.edu
Reed
Perkins
Email: perkinsr@queens.edu
Usha
Sanyal McEwen
15 (704) 233-8088
Email: usha.sanyal@gmail.com
Michele
Shaul Watkins 220 ext. 2318
Email: shaulm@queens.edu
Gabriela
Tarazona-Sevillano Dana 212A ext. 2334
Email: gabrielatarazona@earthlink.net
BobWhalen Watkins 209 ext. 2208
Email: whalenb@queens.edu
III. ATTENDANCE POLICY. Students are expected to attend all
classes.
There may be, to be sure, those RARE cases where missing class is
unavoidable. Therefore, students may
miss 4 classes without penalty. Students
who miss more than 4 classes, however, will have their final grade reduced by 1
point off the final average for each class missed over the allowed 4. Missing class does not, of course, exempt
students from the work scheduled for that day.
Even if they must miss class for some reason, students are expected to
make arrangements to turn in any work due on the day it is due. A test or quiz missed for any reason
will receive a grade of “zero.” There
are no make-ups for quizzes. Make-ups
for tests may be possible when extreme and totally unforeseen events prevent a
student from taking a test as scheduled.
Oversleeping, attendance at other school activities, minor aches and
pains, etc., are NOT excuses for missing a test. In any case it is the student’s responsibility
to contact his or her instructor immediately should any question arise
regarding tests.
ATTENTION: Students
should not make personal travel plans that interfere with their academic
responsibilities. Classes missed because
of personal travel are not excused absences.
A make-up test will normally not be allowed when an exam is missed
because of personal travel.
III.
TEXTS. We will use
the following texts:
a.
Jeffrey D.
Sachs. The End of Poverty
b.
CORE 220 Reader
[To be distributed in class]
c. Human
Development Report, 2006 [Herein “HDR
2006”]
d.
The
Economist [Delivered weekly by
instructor]
e.
Assigned Book
and/or
IV.
COURSE GRADE. The final
grade will be based on the following breakdown:
Exam
One 16%
Exam
Two 16%
Final
Exam 20%
Section
Grade 20% (See below)
Country
Report and Presentation 15% (See instructor for specific details)
Writing
Assignments, consisting of:
a.
1 Position Paper 10%
(See Reader for instructions)
b.
1 Resolution 3%
(See Reader for instructions)
V.
SECTION GRADE. Each student
is expected to participate actively in the work of his or her section. At the end of the semester, each section
instructor will evaluate each student and assign a Section grade based on
attendance; class participation; participation in the Model United Nations
sessions; quizzes; in-class writing assignments; any special projects or other
assignments given by your instructor. The
Section grade will count 20% of the final course grade.
VI.
EXAMINATIONS. There will be
3 examinations in this course. The
specific topics investigated on the exams may vary from section to section, but
all exams will cover the same basic material.
Exam One will count for 10% of the final grade and will be given
as scheduled. Exam Two will count
for 18% of the final grade and will be given as scheduled. The Final Exam will count for 20% of
your final course grade.
VII.
AMBASSADORSHIPS
AND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS. During this course each student will
represent a country. The student will be
that country’s Ambassador to the (Model) United Nations (“MUN”). In both situations (MUN) each student will be
responsible for specific writing assignments.
These assignments and reports include but are not limited to:
A.
MUN Position
Paper. Each student will write a well-researched
position paper. For guidance on how to
write one see the Reader and ask your Instructor.
B.
MUN Resolution. Each student will write a well- researched
resolution. For guidance on how to write
one see the Reader and ask your Instructor.
VIII.
COUNTRY
REPORTS. Each student will write and present a country
report. (See Reader for format and other
guidelines). Students will present a
brief oral version of their country reports in sections. See schedule and instructor for exact date.
IX.
MODEL UNITED
NATIONS. In Unit 3 of the course, each student will
represent his/her country as its Ambassador to the United Nations. Students will participate in Committees,
examine the issue involved (see Syllabus), and help write a resolution. The resolution will be presented to the
entire General Assembly of the Model United Nations (on Thursdays) for
deliberation and a vote.
X.
KEEPING UP
WITH CURRENT EVENTS. In order to be intelligently informed about
your country, the region and the world in CORE 220, you must keep up with the
news. All students are expected to read The
Economist (Fridays are set aside for this).
Instructors will specify what students should read for their
section. Students should read other news
sources such as the New York Times (available on the Internet at
nytimes.com) and sources required by your instructors. Instructors reserve the right to give regular
quizzes on breaking news and current events.
XI.
WORK LOAD AND
RESPONSIBILITY. Students should anticipate 2 ½ to 3 hours of
homework for every hour spent in the classroom.
Assignments are listed in the Syllabus for each day. Work indicated for any day should be done in
advance of that class. Unannounced
quizzes and in-class writing assignments may be given on any class day. It is the student’s obligation to contact his
or her instructor regarding any missed work.
XII.
The
CORE 220 homepage is located at: http://campus.queens.edu/depts/core/core220/index.htm
XIII. E-RESERVES:
Some
material for this course is on E-Reserves in our library system. You can find this material by:
1. Going to the
2. At the left
toolbar click “Campus Resources”
3. Then click on
“Reserve Materials Online!”
4. Click on
“E-Reserve System”
5. In the username box type “reserve” and for
password type “p@pers”. You can locate
the e-reserve material by searching for the class--Core 220.
If you have problems with E-Reserves call Everett Library
at 704.337.7117.
XIV. NOTE: A reading assignment should be completed
before class on the date for which it is assigned.
XV. SOME IMPORTANT WEBSITES:
www.cia.gov www.washingtonpost.com
www.srmun.org www.csmonitor.com
XVI. USEFUL
MODEL UN WEBSITES:
United
Nations: “Cyberschoolbus”
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/modelun/prep.html
http://www.stanford.edu/group/Jonsson/mun.html
United
Nations Association—
http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=457131
How
to Write Position Papers and Examples:
http://www.amun.org/amun_sampleppr.php
XVII. Disability Accommodations Statement
If
you are a student with a verified disability and you require accommodations,
please provide your instructor with the necessary memorandum that was given to
you by Student Disability Services.
Contact: The Coordinator of Disability Services: Sandy Rogelberg,
704-337-2508 / rogelbes@queens.edu.
XVIII. Honor Code Statement to include on the course
syllabus
The
Honor Code, which permeates all phases of university
life, is based on three fundamental principles. It assumes that Queens
students: a) are truthful at all times, b) respect the property of others, and
c) are honest in tests, examinations, term papers, and all other academic
assignments. It is a violation of the
Honor Code for a student to be untruthful concerning
the reason for a class absence.
Please contact me if you believe a violation of the Honor Code has
occurred.
XIX. Plagiarism
The
current student handbook states that “plagiarism is the intentional or
unintentional act of using the work and/or ideas of others without appropriate
acknowledgement. Included in the act of
plagiarism are: failing to cite and
document sources; using false citations of sources; claiming papers that have
been written by others as your own; and using unintentional incorrect citations
and documentation.” As instructor of
this course I will pursue the prosecution of a plagiarism violation to the
fullest extent. Note that “unintentional
acts” are considered plagiarism. In
other words, you just can’t say “I didn’t know.” Regarding questions of plagiarism in general
and documentation in particular, please ask the instructor and/or the Academic
Resource Center (ARC) at
In
the rare occasion when it is necessary to close the university announcements
will be made on TV and radio, and will be posted on the
___________________________________________________________________________________
CORE 220: SPRING 2007 SYLLABUS
COMMON PROBLEMS/DIFFERENT LIVES
M 1/8 Introduction to the course
W 1/10 Reading:
“Questions for
Reading: “
Th 1/11 Video: “All About
Study Questions [Reader, bring to the film]
F 1/12 Discussion of video
Unit 1:
Regional Study: JANUARY 17-FEBRUARY 14.
See the syllabus handed out by your instructor for specific details. [See regions/countries table]
W 1/17 Region/countries
Th 1/18 Region/countries
F 1/19 The Economist Day
M 1/22 Region/countries
W 1/24 Region/countries
Th 1/25 Region/countries
F 1/26 The Economist Discussion Day
M 1/29 Region/countries
W 1/31 Region/countries
Th 2/1 Region/countries
F 2/2 The Economist Discussion Day
M 2/5 Region/countries
W 2/7 Region/countries: Oral Country Report Presentations
Th 2/8 Region/countries: Oral Country Report Presentations; Country Reports Due
F 2/9 The Economist Discussion Day
W 2/14 Exam I
Unit 2:
Understanding others, ourselves and the world
Th 2/15 Movie: Friedman. The World is Flat? (Sykes auditorium)
F 2/16 The Economist Discussion Day
M 2/19 Reading: Sachs: Chapter 1
W 2/21 Reading: Sachs Chapter 2
Th 2/22 Movie: The New Heroes (Sykes auditorium)
F 2/23 The Economist Discussion Day
M 2/26 Reading:
Sachs: Chapter 3
W 2/28 Reading: Sachs: Chapter 4
Th 3/1 Movie: The
New Heroes (Sykes auditorium)
F 3/2 The Economist Discussion Day
M 3/5 Reading: Sachs: Chapters 11 and 12
Hand out take-home essay component. Due day of the Exam.
W 3/7 Reading: Sachs: Chapters 13-14
Th 3/8 JBIP presentation (Sykes auditorium)
F 3/9 Reading: Sachs: Chapters 15-16
M 3/19 The Economist Discussion Day
W 3/21 Exam Prep
Th 3/22 Exam II
UNIT 3: THE UNITED
NATIONS AND MODEL UNITED NATIONS
F 3/23 Sachs regional chapter (assigned by your instructor)
M 3/26 Introduction to Position Papers and Resolutions
Reading: How to Write a Position Paper [See due date below] [Reader]
Internet
Activity Assignment
W 3/28 Introduction to the United Nations
Reader: The United Nations (msn.encarta) [Reader]
Discuss results of Internet Activity
Th 3/29 Reading: “The World Without the United Nations” [Reader]
Study Questions: “Guide to In Search of Peace” [Reader and bring to the film]
F 3/30 Section topic for MUN
M 4/2 Section topic for MUN
W 4/4 Reading: General Assembly Rules of Procedure [Reader]; Jeopardy Game with
MUN Rules
Th 4/5 Introduction to UN and Model United Nations (MUN) (Sykes auditorium)
MUN Simulation
Group A in Single Committees
Group B: HDI
Position Paper and draft resolution
due for Group A (Each student writes and
brings to class his/her own position paper and a resolution that deals with the
issue addressed in his/her country’s position.)
F 4/6 No class (Good Friday)
M 4/9 Group A Committees; Group B: HDI
W 4/11 Group A Committees; Group B in Single Committees
Position paper and draft resolution due for Group B (Each student writes and brings to class his/her own position paper and a resolution that deals with the issue addressed in his/her country’s position.)
Th 4/12 MUN (Sykes auditorium)
F 4/13 Debrief on MUN
M 4/16 Group B Committees; Group A:
HDR 2006
W 4/18 Group B Committees; Group A: HDR
2006
Th 4/19 MUN (Sykes auditorium)
F 4/20 Summarizing the MUN Experience
M 4/23 Exam Prep