The upcoming week will give an opportunity for students to read scholarly articles related to Stalin's Soviet Union. These readings will cover the bullet topics under the consolidation and maintenance of power and aims and results of policies.
You will be placed in groups, with each group responsible for reading the article and bringing in additional information as preparation for leading round table/whole class/fish bowl/socratic seminar style discussion for 30-45 minutes the following week. I will fill in gaps in knowledge where necessary. Use the Kognity readings as background, as well.
As you read:
Take note of important information that may need defining.
Think of discussion questions that fill the areas of historic understanding: causation, change, perspective, continuity, significance, and consequence. (Some of these will require that background knowledge related to eras prior to Stalin's U.S.S.R.).
Identify the thesis/argument, use annotation to notate what types of evidence are being used and how they are being used.
Grading:
Class Discussion Rubric
(From https://facultyinnovate.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/Classroom_Discussion_rubric.doc)
Peer and Self Evaluation Group Work
(From https://www.northwestern.edu/searle/docs/History%20and%20Philosphy%20Self%20and%20Peer%20Evaulation.pdf)
Articles:
Stalin's Charismatic Authority
The Emergence of Stalin's Foreign Policy
Accounting for the Great Terror
Was Stalin Weak
Stalin as Isis and Ra
Utopian Visions of Family
Suggested Schedule:
A Day: Monday 8/19; B Day: Tuesday 8/20
Read your assigned article. Annotate. Begin formulating discussion questions within your group.
A Day: Wednesday 8/21; B Day: Thursday 8/22
Research additional information related to the assigned article. Begin formulating a basic structure for your discussion and direction/ideas that are important to full understanding. Read associated section in Kognity for additional information.
Weekend: Read upcoming articles to be prepared for class discussion.
A Day: Friday 8/23; B Day: Monday 8/26
Begin formalizing and fine tuning your discussion.
A Day: Tuesday 8/27; B Day: Wednesday 8/28
Discussions begin with Stalin Charisma and Foreign Policy articles. 30-45 minutes of solid, in class discussion is expected.
A Day: Thursday 8/29; B Day: Friday 8/30
Discussion for Great Terror and Weak Stalin articles
Weekend - read upcoming articles.
A Day: Monday 9/2; B Day: Tuesday 9/3
Discussion for Isis and Ra and Utopian Visions
Wednesday 9/4; Thursday 9/5
Begin China with underlying conditions leading to the rise of the authoritarian state under Mao.