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Book and
Film Reviews
The books assigned are works of fiction or
memoirs that are related to real events. The films are interpretations
of real events. The aim of the essay is to connect the personal
with the political, and representations of reality against
what we know (or think we know). Your review should focus
on the connection between the narrative of the book, and
how we can connect those narratives to the issue at the broader
international level. Be sure to cite academic texts, journals
and newspapers in your discussion. You may use readings from
the assigned reading list for the course; coherent use of
other texts or articles, however, is recommended and will
contribute to a more positive assessment of your work.
Policy Position Paper
You are researching an issue for the Minister
of Foreign Affairs who is expected to make a decision on
the issue at a forthcoming United Nations General Assembly.
What does the minister need to know in order to reach a decision
on what your country’s position ought to be? Clarity
and concision are essential in this exercise. Use bullet
points where applicable, and be sure to include the various
options your government has, and the implication of each
option, should it choose to adopt the position.
Be sure to cite academic texts, journals and
newspapers in your analysis. You may use readings from the
assigned reading list for the course; coherent use of other
texts or articles, however, is recommended and will contribute
to a more positive assessment of your work.
Use of the Internet for your papers
The World Wide Web is becoming more valuable
as a source of information every day, but one must always
approach its use as a research tool carefully and with a
critical eye. Internet sources are acceptable, but use them
sparingly and judiciously. Also, when using an internet source,
account for the nature of the website whence the information
was received. E.g. if you are citing something from the Oxfam
website, describe what type of organization Oxfam is vis-à-vis
its ideological and political perspectives. We will discuss
the value of internet sites, the pros and cons of research
on the web, and the general rules on website citation in
tutorials.
Guidelines for written assignments
We will be focusing on writing skills in tutorials.
Nevertheless, be sure to download, print and consult the
handout “How to write a paper” available on the
course website, for presentation format, and other useful
tips on grammar and style. We will use this handout in the
tutorials. As final year students, you are expected to know
and be able to use correct referencing techniques. If you
are in any doubt in this regard, seek help BEFORE your first
assignment is due. You are also advised to seek the help
of the writing centre on campus.
Be sure to follow these guidelines for your assignments:
- Turn in two copies of your paper.
- Papers must be typed. No handwritten papers will
be accepted.
- Do not put your name on your paper, only your ID number.
- No plastic or manila file jacket covers. They will be
discarded. Just staple the paper at the top left corner.
- Make sure you have a hard copy of your paper for yourself,
just in case.
- Number your pages.
- Put your ID number on each page.
- If there is not enough space on one of the end pages for
comments, leave a blank page for comments.
- Cover page to be set out as follows (exactly!)
How Papers are Graded
Content and analysis 40%
Structure and organization of information
and ideas 20%
Grammar and use of English 20%
Referencing 20%
Required books
- Michael T. Snarr and D. Neil Snarr, eds. Introducing
Global Issues, 2nd ed. Lynne Rienner, 2002.
- Gregory M. Scott et al, eds. 21 Debated: Issues in
World Politics, 2 nd ed. Prentice Hall, 2004.
- Hutchings, Graham.Modern China:
A Guide to a Century of Change. Harvard University
Press, 2003.
Recommended books
- Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean, edited
by Richard Hillman and Thomas D’Agostino. Lynne Rienner/Ian
Randle, 2003.
- Cindy C. Combs, Terrorism in the 21st Century,
3rd ed. Prentice Hall, 2002.
- Ivelaw Griffith, ed. Caribbean Security in the Age
of Terror: Challenge and Change, Ian Randle Press,
2004.
Choose one of
the following books for your book review (these are all fiction
or memoirs)
- Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China – Jung Chang.
New York : Simon & Schuster, 1991.
( China )
- Harbor – Lorraine Adams . New York , N.Y. : Knopf/Random
House, 2004. (Terrorism)
- The Fountain at the Centre of the
World – Robert
Newman. Brooklyn , N.Y. : Soft Skull Press, 2004. (Environmental
politics)
- My Brother – Jamaica Kincaid. New York : Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, 1997. (AIDS)
Writing Guides
The Pen Commandments: A Guide for the Beginning Writer by
Steven Frank . Pantheon, 2003.
The Elements of Style , 4 th ed. by William Strunk
Jr., E.B. White, Roger Angell. Longman, 2000. (Also available
online at http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html )
Other readings
Where possible, readings will be made available on line. Journal
articles that are not available online will be placed at Docu-Spot
for you to purchase copies. Readings may be added during the
semester. Students will be notified when new readings are added
and information on accessing the new readings will be given.
International Relations Academic
Journals
Academic journals represent the very best source of information
on international relations research, and they regularly publish
cutting-edge work in the discipline. The information found
in any issue of leading journals represents the core of contemporary
scholarly debates on issues in international relations and
foreign policy. Some of the leading journals in our discipline
are: International Studies Quarterly, International Studies
Review, International Studies Perspectives, International Security,
International Organization, The Journal of Conflict Resolution,
World Politics, International Affairs, and Comparative
Politics. Policy-related journals include Foreign
Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Washington Quarterly, and Orbis.
Many of these journals can be browsed online using Ebsco Host.
Cell phone and class attendance policies
Cell phones must be turned off during class time, and should
not be present or visible during class time.
I learned last semester that students feel they can come and
go in and out of class whenever they please. This practice
is disruptive and disrespectful, to me and to the rest of your
classmates. Lecture starts at 5 minutes past the hour, has
a break at about the end of the first hour, and ends 5 minutes
before the hour. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you
must wait until the break if you wish to come in. Similarly,
do not leave unless it is break time or the lecture has come
to an end. It is regrettable that it has to come to this, but
it is obvious that without such strict rules, the class is
perceived as a free for all.
Internet resources
Communication with the class will be conducted via the campus
pipeline email accounts. Please check your mailboxes regularly,
and be sure to clear it as it does not have much capacity,
and gets full quickly.
The lecture notes, in power point format, will be sent each
week before class. Most often they will be sent the evening
before or the morning of class.
There is a course website. The address is http://dthorburn.tripod.com/gt37m.
Once it is fully operational, you should be able to download
readings that are available online, as well as have access to
links to relevant websites, and other information. I am also
working on building a website on the UWI pipeline system. You
will be kept informed of the progress of the website.
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