PACS2500 Course Homepage Fall 2012
Printer-friendly versionPACS2500-001 Fall 2012 -- Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies -- Course Homepage
Including Instructor Contact Information, Course Rules, Grading
Course Schedule / Online Textbook Page This page contains reading assignments, text links, course schedule, test information, power points, and lecture ".mp4 videos." Access requires a username and password that you obtain by purchasing a voucher from the Bookstore (see below) and giving it to us. Temporary Page No Longer Maintained, Use the Main Schedule Page: Temporary Schedule / Online Textbook page provides access to the online textbook with everything that you need for the first two weeks.All-Purpose Web Form No Longer Available -- Urgent Contact Form -- "Word Cloud" Input Form -- Generate Word Cloud
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Absolute Deadline Has Now Passed for attendance makeups, late opinion assignments, extra credit papers, and anything else
Only exceptions: students who were sick this week and missed class. (Makeups for this week are due at the time of the final exam. (Use the Urgent Contact Form) Students who made special arrangements for late submissions should also use Urgent Contact Form.
Notices Test Dates
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D2L Gradebook
Opinion Assignment Deadlines
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General Course Information
Peace and Conflict Studies Certificate Program: Website with information on PACS Certificate program requirements and sign-up procedures.
Course: PACS 2500-001: Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
Instructor: Guy Burgess -- Contact Link
Teaching Assistant: Rachel Norton -- Contact Link
Main Campus Office: Norlin Library Room S423
Guy Burgess' Main Campus Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 10:15-10:45. (I'm also usually available after class, just talk to me at the end of class. I can also, by appointment, meet before 10:15.) Office hours are also a time for informal conversation. Don't feel like you have to have a problem.
Rachel Norton's Main Campus Office Hours: 2:45pm-4:45pm Thursdays, other times by appointment
Main Campus Office Phone: 303-492-6708 Used primarily during office hours and on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Do Not Use for Messages. Use Urgent Contact Form.
East Campus Office: ARC building, 3100 Marine St, East campus, Room A228 [2nd floor (excluding basement), south "Annex" wing, (not room 228)] -- Take the Stampede bus.
Guy Burgess' Secondary, East Campus Office Hours: If regular office hours don't work, I can oftem meet, by appointment, at my East Campus research office.
East Campus Office Phone: 303-492-1635 -- Use Urgent Contact Form form not voice mail for messages.
Class Period: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 AM -- 11:50 AM
Classroom: Bruce Curtis (Museum Collections) Building MCOL, W100
Class E-mail: Updates about the class will be sent out to your official University e-mail address. You are responsible for routinely monitoring mail to this address.
Web Site: http://pacs-courses.colorado.edu/pacs_courses/pacs2500-fall-2012. This site will be continually updated as the course proceeds. Check frequently for updates. (I will also send out e-mail notices whenever a significant update is posted.)
Urgent Contact Web Form: For urgent questions requiring a quick response, this sends me an immediate, flagged e-mail and it preserves a record of your message in the gradebook. Do not simply reply to an existing e-mail message from me. I check this constantly, it's the best way to reach me. I will try to respond quickly. If you don't hear back reasonably promptly, feel free to resend your message. (For example, you should use this form to report any problems with the website.)
All Purpose Web Form: For all assignment submissions plus questions regarding grades, attendance records, assignment modifications, special arrangements, or anything else I need to remember over the long term use the All-Purpose Web Form. These messages will automatically be saved in your gradebook file so I won't lose them. Do not submit this kind of information by e-mail, it will get lost.
Back-Ups: You are responsible for making backups of all of your work. This is easy to do. Use flash drives or e-mail yourself copies of draft and final assignments. This will protect you in case something terrible happens to your computer. Every semester I have several students who run into serious trouble because of computer failure. Don't be one of them. Protect yourself!
Text: The custom, online text used in the class is produced from major online knowledge-base systems based at the University of Colorado Conflict Information Consortium. These include Beyond Intractability, the web site of the Intractable Conflict Knowledge Base Project and CRInfo, the Conflict Resolution Information Source as well as other Web accessible sources. Required and supplementary readings will include summaries of some of the key books in the peace and conflict resolution fields as well as comprehensive articles describing key conflict dynamics and intervention strategies. Also included are interviews with professional peace builders, inspirational stories and case studies, and relevant news articles. This online text will be supplemented with online news articles and editorials offering the latest information on major peace and conflict issues as well as a variety of sometimes controversial opinions on how to make sense of these events.
The cost of the online textbook is $33.50 and must be purchased from the University Bookstore in the UMC at the table by the east door. From the bookstore you will receive a Voucher. Simply fill out the voucher, cut off the receipt and give it to me. You will receive a username and an initial password (which you should change) by e-mail. You'll need to do this to access course materials after the first three weeks. We've tried to keep the cost of this text quite low by comparison with other courses. Still, if you have trouble affording this, contact me about options. We will work something out. It is important that everyone has access to the system.
Lost Online Text Password: If you lose or forget your password, simply enter your official University e-mail address (that you used to register your online text) using the Request New Password link in the upper right-hand corner of the Web site. A new password will be immediately e-mailed to you. Try this before contacting me with password problems. It almost always works.
Clickers: I will be using clickers to conduct a number of in-class polls. These are not required but highly recommended and you can use the same clicker in other classes. I will send you an e-mail for classes where they will be used.
Reading Assignments and Class Activities: Day-to-day assignments will be posted on the Online Textbook and Course Schedule page (see link at the top of this page) which will be updated as the course proceeds. Since plans for the course may occasionally vary significantly from the original syllabus, you should talk to me before working ahead more than one week.
PowerPoints and .MP4 Podcasts: To help you get the most out of lectures and class sessions, I will try to post the PowerPoints immediately before class and a video with the PowerPoints and accompanying soundtrack shortly after class. (The course schedule includes links to these Power Point and QuickTime files. These links will not, however, work until the files are posted.) The purpose of this is to help you study for the tests and and make up for any classes that you may have to miss. (See attendance policy below.) Students should also assume that there will be occasions when the Power Points or Podcasts are not available because of equipment failure or some other reason. There will also be class sessions that feature materials (such as DVDs) that cannot be posted online. In these cases, it is the your responsibility to get the notes from one of your fellow students.
Slides will be posted in .PPT format so that they can be read and edited by Microsoft Office. If you don't have Office and don't want to pay for Office, you can download Open Office http://www.openoffice.org/ (Mac, Windows, and Linux versions) for free to read and edit the files. This free, high-quality software suite includes a spreadsheet, word processor, PowerPoint-like presentation software. The University may also provide low/no-cost access to Microsoft software.
Laptops: Use of laptops is permitted as long as they are only used to take notes for this class. I will be posting PowerPoints ahead of each class and I encourage you to use them as a basis for your note taking. I want the PowerPoints to help you spend more time listening and less time furiously writing. Significant grade penalties may be imposed for the use of laptops for other purposes as well as the use of cell phones and smart phones.
Course Requirements / Grading
Assignment / Grades Web Form Online Submission System
To simplify the process of keeping your gradebook file up to date I require everyone to send me all submissions using an online submission system. This system automatically enters anything that you send me into the appropriate section of the gradebook. It is vastly easier and less prone to error than the process of accepting paper or e-mail submissions. To use this system simply follow links to the All-Purpose Web Form, use the "pulldown" selection menu to indicate the nature of your submission, and then enter your submission into the text boxes. Keep things simple--you don't need bold, italic, etc. Just use simple paragraphs. You should know that once the deadline for particular assignment passes, you will no longer be able to use this system to submit that assignment.
To practice using the system you can select "practice" from the pulldown, Submission Type field
Get Acquainted Assignment
To make it easier for me to get to know you and to familiarize you with the online submission system, I am asking everyone to use the All-Purpose Web Form to send me a get acquainted message by the end of the 2nd week of class with the information listed below. If you haven't yet turned in your Voucher and received the username and password you can still use the Web Form. Just leave the username and e-mail address fields blank
- Full name
- Name that you prefer me to use
- Major / year (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior)
- Career aspirations
- Reason for taking the course
- Related courses that you’ve taken
- Anything else about yourself that you think I should know
- Confirmation that you have read and agreed to the course rules on this website.
Desire to Learn (D2L)
Frequently, throughout the semester, your grades will be uploaded to Desire to Learn (https://learn.colorado.edu/). I will send out an e-mail when I do this along with a request that you check your grades and let me know about anything that might be incorrect. I only use D2Lto post grades – everything else is handled on this website. After posting, you will have 2 weeks bring any errors to my attention by submitting an "Error Report" using the all-purpose web form system.
Grade Problems
If you become sick or encounter other problems that prevent you from completing coursework in a timely fashion, talk to me as soon as possible and I will work out a reasonable solution. Similarly, if you find your grades not meeting your expectations, talk to me promptly and we will figure out what needs to be done to correct the situation. Don't leave it until the end of the semester when there is very little that I can do.
Tests -- 50% of Your Grade
There will be three tests (two midterms and a final) each covering a third of the course. (For the most part the final will not be cumulative. There will, however include a few "summing up" questions that ask you to consider the entire course as a whole.) The dates of these tests are posted at the top of this page and on the course schedule page (see link at the top of this page).
The purpose of the tests is to determine how well you understand and can apply the big ideas presented in class and in the readings. The tests will be structured around a series of study questions. The study questions and associated reading assignments and class sessions will be found on the Course Schedule page. For each test, I am asking you to be prepared to write (during an in-class, "blue book" test) short answers to questions based on the study questions. For each questions you should be prepared to 1) list the major points, 2) demonstrate that you understand the meaning of each point, and 3) explain why a particular idea is important and how it can be applied to actual conflict situations. For “opinion type” current events readings you will be asked to demonstrate that you have read and thought about the articles.
To encourage you to focus more on understanding and applying the ideas and less on memorization, you will be allowed to bring one page of notes to each test. You can use both sides of an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper with small type and small margins. While study groups are okay, I insist that you write your own notes. It's not okay to simply copy someone else's notes. You are also required to submit your notes page with your test. Should questions arise about your test grade, we may look at your notes page and use it to assess the degree to which you prepared for the test.
At least 80% of the test questions will be based on the study questions. There may be a few questions that cover other topics and should be relatively easy for you to answer if you've been attending class, paying attention, and doing the readings.
The test will also be graded on a curve. So, if the test turns out to be too hard or too easy, the grades will be adjusted accordingly. The grading scale will be adjusted to match University grading criteria.
Students who miss a test will be contacted immediately after the test and asked to fill out a Doodle Poll to identify times when a makeup test might be administered. Based upon this Poll one or more required makeup tests will be scheduled. It is imperative that students respond promptly to this Poll and that they attend the makeup test. Except in very special circumstances, tests will not be given outside of the makeup test period.
Students who are disappointed with their grade on the first test will have a few options for improving their grade. These options are outlined on the Re-Test / Extra Credit Assignment page. These options will not be available for the 2nd and 3rd tests.
Attendance -- 20% of Your Grade
Not all of the course material will be covered in the study questions. Many other insights will be offered in class. While it is impractical to test for everything, it is practical to give those those who attend class regularly credit for doing so. Accordingly, we will be taking attendance throughout the semester. We will also be noting (and penalizing accordingly) students who chronically arrive late, leave early, do other work, or who are disruptive. (We recognize there are occasional situations in which students have to come late or leave early. In these cases, I expect a brief explanation of the situation.
Sign-up Sheet -- The principal attendance taking strategy will be in attendance sheet passed around in class each day. It's important that you sign this sheet and pass it along to the next person so that everybody gets a chance to sign before the end of the class. If it misses you for some reason, come sign it after class.
Coming Late / Leaving Early -- If you arrive late (more than 5 minutes) or have to leave early, sign-in/out using the sign-up sheet at the back of the room. Everyone gets 2 free arrive late / leave early opportunities. After that there will be an attendance penalty.
Clickers -- We will be using "clickers" to conduct polls of what the class thinks about various issues. More information about the clickers is available on the OIT website: http://oit.colorado.edu/services/teaching-learning-tools/cuclickers/help/students. The clickers are highly recommended but not required. They can be purchased from the University bookstore for around $30 and used in classes throughout your University career. You should also register your clicker so that I know that a particular clicker belongs to you. Information on how to do this is available from OIT: http://oit.colorado.edu/services/teaching-learning-tools/cuclickers/help/students.
Notes -- In the event that you feel that you attended class on a particular day but my records show that you did not, you can show me your notes for that day. (This opportunity, which is limited to two classes per semester, requires that you take reasonably detailed notes.)
Attendance Grades -- Attendance grades will be calculated on a sliding scale based on the number of un-made-up absences. Students who have 2 un-made-up absences will receive an "A" for their attendance grade. Students who had even fewer un-made-up absences will receive extra credit. Students who have more than two un-made-up absences will lose one half of a grade (on their attendance grade) for each un-made-up absence.
Attendance Makeups -- I realize that everyone is likely to have to miss a few classes. That is why I post .MP4 Video recordings of class sessions. All that you need to do to get credit for classes that you miss is listen to the video and send me reasonably detailed notes (at least 450 words). Your write-up should demonstrate that you listened to the recording and did not simply copy and paste headings from the PowerPoint slides. In the event that the recording is not available or that much of the class consisted of videos or activities that were not recorded, you should talk to me about an alternative makeup assignment. Unless you receive special permission, you need to do this within two weeks of the class that you missed. Everyone gets 3 automatic makeup opportunities. If you need more than that I ask you to talk to me and we will work out some appropriate arrangement. I'm quite reasonable about this. Don't feel like you have to come to class sick. While I make it easy to make up missed classes, I never completely excuse missed classes. (This includes religious holidays.)You have to do the makeup if you want credit.
NEW -- To receive credit for group discussions associated with a class that you are making up, simply include in your write up your thoughts on the discussion questions and include at the top of your attendance makeup submission a notation indicating that you are also making up a group discussion. Students who have already submitted an attendance makeup without doing this can submit a revised makeup. Students who are listed as attending a class but did not receive a discussion grade (because the problem with ID numbers, for example) can, in a limited number of cases, ask to receive discussion credit.
Special Circumstances -- There are a variety of good reasons for missing class – religious holidays, major field trips associated with other classes, illness, family emergencies, etc. In these cases, my policy is to provide ample time to do the appropriate attendance makeup assignments. This includes providing additional attendance makeup opportunities if needed. I do not count the missed classes as having been attended unless a makeup assignment is received.
Opinion Assignments -- 20%
In addition to the testable, "core insights" material, I want to encourage everyone to start developing their own opinions about how the big conflicts confronting our society and the world should be handled. The opinion assignment will be asking your opinion about how we should deal with issues like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the larger threat of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, failed states, economic inequality, global warming, economic revitalization, partisan differences, globalization, immigration, abortion, and homosexual marriage.
These issues all embody irreducible political components which make grading in the conventional sense inappropriate. This is why, for the opinion assignments, grades will be based on the level of effort expended not the views expressed. During the course of the semester you will have the opportunity to submit five "opinion assignments" (four are required) using the All-Purpose Web Form system. These assignments are due roughly every three weeks and if you miss one period you cannot, without special permission, do that assignment later. In other words, you're required to work on this steadily throughout the semester. The due dates are noted on the course schedule and at the top of this page.
For each opinion assignment I would like you to read and react to materials materials mentioned in the daily PowerPoint slides that are not required readings. You should feel free to find and get credit for other articles on these topics. If you want to do something else, let me know. As long as it fits with the spirit of the assignment it should be okay.
These assignments are evaluated on the basis of five criteria:
- The amount of the opinion reading done. "B-level" target: two highlighted articles
- Length of the opinion assignment. "B-level" target: 450 words
- Writing quality. "B-level" target: well written, and proofed essay
- Persuasiveness. "B-level" target: reasonably compelling arguments
- Opinion. "B-level" target: focus on opinion not "book report"
- Conflict Dynamics. Ideas for more constructively approaching the conflict
Anyone who meets the above criteria will be assured of a B with a curve used to assign grades above (and below) that. (Everyone should be able to do B or better work on this.)
In writing your paper, be sure to start with a list of links (URLS) for each item that you read.
You should feel free to approach this from either a neutral or a partisan perspective. And, you should feel free to take whatever political position you might believe in. No penalties for taking positions with which we might disagree!
Class Discussion -- 10%
Often, over the course of the semester, the class will break up into small groups to discuss interesting conflict issues, debrief videos are other presentations, or participate and exercises and simulations. Each group will be asked to hand in notes describing what they talked about and listing group participants. The notes pages will be graded and averaged for this portion of your grade. For this you will need to use your class ID numberwhich we will assign as well as your nameClass discussion notes will be graded as follows: [ok] indicates that you received a grade that is the same as your average grade for the rest of the course; [+1] indicates that received a grade that is one step above your average grade for the course (e.g. if your average grade is a B then this means that you received a B+. If your average grade was a C then you received a C+); [+2] indicates two steps above your average grade; [-1] indicates one step below, etc.
NEW -- To receive credit for group discussions associated with a class that you are making up, simply include in your write up your thoughts on the discussion questions and include at the top of your attendance makeup submission a notation indicating that you are also making up a group discussion. Students who have already submitted an attendance makeup without doing this can submit a revised makeup. Students who are listed as attending a class but did not receive a discussion grade (because the problem with ID numbers, for example) can, in a limited number of cases, ask to receive discussion credit.
Political Diversity
This class, by its very nature, addresses controversial political issues. In fact, Peace and Conflict Studies is widely seen as offering a liberal, progressive approach to foreign policy and social issues. While there is some truth to this perception, it is not as well-founded as you might think. Over the course of the semester I will explain what appears to be a major convergence in views of those who approach issues of war and peace from perspectives commonly associated with the military and the religious right as well as the diplomatic and secular left. Still, it's impossible to do justice to this topic without critically reviewing politically sensitive arguments on all sides of the issue.
I will do my best to highly competing arguments and will not, in any way, penalize students for the political views they express in their work. My goal is to encourage you to develop your personal opinions on the important issues that we will be discussing. Anybody who feels uncomfortable about any of this is encouraged to talk to me. You will find that I will be quite accommodating.
Apology for Voice Recognition Errors
I use voice recognition software because of problems that I have with my fingers. Occasionally, this results in spectacular and often inexplicable typographical mistakes. I apologize in advance. And, obviously, let me know if I've written something that is difficult to understand.
University Policies
Disabilities: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to your professor a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner (for exam accommodations provide your letter at least one week prior to the exam) so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or by e-mail at dsinfo@colorado.edu.
If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Medical Conditions: Injuries, Surgeries, and Illnesses guidelines under Quick Links at Disability Services website and discuss your needs with your professor.
Religious Obervances: Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. The procedures used in this class are outlined above. Contact your instructor if you still have questions. Information about University policies regarding religious observances is available at: http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Unacceptable Classroom Behavior: Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Discrimination and Harassment: The University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities. (Regent Law, Article 10, amended 11/8/2001). CU-Boulder will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this CU-Boulder policy, "Protected Classes" refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender
identity, gender expression, or veteran status. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies, and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination
or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh
Honor Code: All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited
to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
