Soc 450: Globalization and Social Change
Spring 2012 Instructor: Dr. Gonzalo Santos
Course activities placed at CSUB's Blackboard testing site at: https://bb.csub.edu/ Upon completion of Theme III course goals and objectives, CSUB students will be able to:
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Textbooks:
This course explores the theory and dynamics of global integration
in the contemporary social world, how it affects, and in turn is affected
by, the world's economic, political, cultural and social structures, trends,
and processes. First, using the McMichael book, we attempt a serious
periodization of the models of political economy, or types of capitalist
globalization, implemented in the modern world-system over the course of
the 20th century, up to the first decade of the 21st. We pay particular attention
to what led to the crisis of each model, and what caused the next one being
adopted and by whom. Then, using the Lechner & Boli anthology of articles,
we'll analyze some of the key theoretical and empirical perspectives on the
origins, aspects, trends, and multiple challenges of contemporary globalization,
from some of the most renowned experts in the field.
Course Structure:
Attendance: Attendance
is mandatory (unexcused absences. tardiness and early departures will be
penalized). Furthermore, all students must come prepared to discuss
the assigned readings. Students will be quizzed on every single reading assignment,
using BlackBoard.
Class Presentations:
The course will be run as a "semi-seminar," whereby in every class session
a group of three students will make PowerPoint presentations on the assigned
readings for the day, followed by Dr. Santos's lecture and class discussion.
Each student presents twice in the quarter. Time allotted per individual
presentation will be 10 to 15 minutes. Presenting students will introduce,
describe, highlight, and summarize his/her own assigned reading, and on the
last slide raise one or two key questions for class discussion. Please bring
your presentations in a USB-type memory stick. Presenting students should show up
early to set up & test their presentations prior to the class starting.
The presentations will be graded based on: (a) the analytical strength and relevance of the presentation, including its depth on the selected key issues and the breath of the overall summary (how well it covers all the main aspects), (b) the quality of the question(s) posed at the end, and (c) the quality of the visual presentation and the poise, clarity, and effectiveness of the oral presentation.
Essay Quizzes:
To ensure students read the two textbooks, there
will be ten short-essay chapter quizzes for the McMichael book, and eleven
short-essay "Part" quizzes for the Lechner & Boli. All quizzes
will be done on BlackBoard and are due on by the Sunday the chapter (McMichael)
was assigned, or "Part" (Lechner & Boli) ended. Please refere to the
schedule of reading assignments below. All quiz answers will be graded for
clarity and demonstrated comprehension and critical thinking.
Research Paper: Each student will write an individual research paper on a topic relating to a group research project. Prior approval by Dr. Santos is required for both the group topic and each individual subtopic. The papers need to be submitted in electronic form (in Word) in the course's Blackboard account. The paper is due on Wednesday, June 13, before noon.
Each paper should be bound and include a title page and an abstract, then between 6 and 8 pages of text (excluding the bibliography), a bibliography, and finally an appendix for whatever charts and figures are included. For a precise guide on the paper's format and citation style, go to:
http://www.csubak.edu/~gsantos/guide-paper.htmlEach individual paper should pose a central argument, or thesis, or hypothesis, and include the following sections: an introduction stating the thesis/topic, the theoretical approach and methodological framework of the paper; an analytical section on the relevant historical & contemporary processes, facts, data, related to the topic; this section should not only be descriptive, but it should include your critical analysis to explain these things, as well as other plausible alternative explanations in the literature, and your critique of them; your summary and main conclusions. The bibliography ought to reflect a good search on the World Wide Web, as well as consulted books and scholarly journals in the library. Appendices should include charts, graphs, and figures covering the pertinent topic - the better selected, relevant, and more global in nature, the more valuable.
Plagiarism: To
prevent students from wittingly or unwittingly engaging in plagiarism, Dr.
Santos strongly recommends students to carefully read and abide by the document
CSUB Classifications of Plagiarism found at: http://www.csub.edu/tlc/options/resources/turn_it_in_help_page.shtml
Anyone found guilty of engaging in plagiarism will automatically fail the
course and be reported to the Office of Student Discipline and Judicial Affairs
for further disciplinary action.
Grading: Each class presentation is worth 5 points. The ten McMichael chapter quizzes are together worth 30 points. The eleven Lerner & Boli "Part" quizzes are together worth 40 points. The research paper is worth 20 points. Extra credit/absence-tardiness penalty may apply. The final letter grade will be assigned, on a scale of 0 to 100, as follows:
94-100+ = A 84-86 = B 74-76 = C
90- 93 = A- 80-83 = B- 70-73 = C-
87- 89 = B+ 77-79 = C+ 65-69 = D < 65 = F
Office Hours and Email Communication with Dr. Santos & Mr. Campos: Dr. Santos & Mr. Campos office hours are posted above. Students may communicate with both Dr. Santos & Mr. Campos by email to the class email address above. Mr. Campos, will be in charge of grading the written submissions in Blackboard, and may also be reached directly and privately at his own email address above. Please be advised that email communication has to be very brief and to the point. Expect a one line reply. Always sign off with your FULL NAME, do not assume we know who you are! You may also reach or leave messages for Dr Santos at his office phone (above). If you send an email message to Mr. Campos requesting to talk to him, include a phone number so he may call you back.
Schedule
of Reading Assignment
Week |
Monday |
Wednesday |
Friday |
1
April 2 - 8 |
INTRODUCTION |
Dr. Santos
McMichaelChapter 1 |
Dr. Santos
McMichaelChapter 2 |
2
April9 -15 |
Group 1
McMichaelChapter 3 |
Group 2
McMichaelChapter 4 |
Group 3
McMichaelChapter 5 |
3
April16 - 22 |
Group 4
McMichaelChapter 6 |
Group 5
McMichaelChapter 7 |
Group 6
McMichaelChapter 8 |
4
April23 - 29 |
Group 7
McMichaelChapter 9 |
Group 8
McMichaelChapter 10 |
Group 9
Lechner & BoliArticles 1, 2, 3 |
5
April 30 -May 6 |
Group 10
Lechner & BoliArticles 4, 5, 6 |
Group 11
Lechner & BoliArticles 7, 8, 9 |
Group 12
Lechner & BoliArticles 10, 11, 12 |
6
May7 - 13 |
Group 13
Lechner & BoliArticles 13, 16, 18 |
Group 1
Lechner & BoliArticles 19, 20, 21 |
Group 2
Lechner & Boli
Articles 22, 23, 24 |
7
May14 - 20 |
Group 3
Lechner & BoliArticles 25, 26, 27 |
Group 4
Lechner & BoliArticles 28, 29, 31 |
Is Wallmart Good for the U.S.? |
8
May21 - 27 |
Group 5
Lechner & BoliArticles 33, 34, 35 |
Group 6
Lechner & BoliArticles 39, 41, 44 |
Group 7
Lechner & BoliArticles 46, 50, 51 |
9
May 28 - June 3 |
HOLIDAY Memorial Day |
Group 8
Lechner & BoliArticless 52, 53, 54 |
Group 9
Lechner & BoliArticles 55, 56, 57 |
10
June 4 - 10 |
Group 10
Lechner & BoliArticless 58, 59, 60 |
Group 11
Lechner & BoliArticles 61, 62, 63 |
Group 12
Lechner & BoliArticles 65, 66, 68 |
11
June 11 |
Group 13
Lechner & BoliArticles 69, 70, 71 |
Research Papers due in BlackBoard before noon on Wednesday, June 13. |
Date: My presentation will be on:
1.________________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________________