REACH: Russia

Clackamas Middle College

Course Information: Spring 2017

Ryan DeGregorio / Class web age can be found through
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  • Course Description*

This class will explore the history of Russia. We will first explore 19th century Russia and how those events shape early 20th century Russia. From there, the curriculum will explore the rise of the USSR and its relations with the USA. After that unit, we will explore the fall of the USSR and the events that have shaped the Russian Federation. Finally, students will analyze current events and how these issues shape America’s relationship with Russia.

  • Course Rationale

Reading is fundamental to the success of any student. Students will enhance their reading ability through the engagement ofboth a varietyof text types, as well as changing levels of reading difficulty, and by developing effective note-taking skills and employing multiple reading strategies. Furthermore, students will develop their argumentative skills using discussion techniques and written activities that require empirical evidence to justify an opinion.

  • Expected Student Learning Outcomes*

Upon completing REACH Russia, students should be able to:

  • apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing;
  • create and sustain arguments based on readings, research, and/or personal experience;
  • produce expository, analytical, and argumentative compositions that introduce a complex central idea and develop it with appropriate evidence drawn from primary and/or secondary source material, cogent explanations, and clear transitions;
  • demonstrate understanding of the conventions of citing primary and secondary source material;
  • move effectively through the stages of the writing process, with careful attention to inquiry and research, drafting, revising, editing, and review;
  • Demonstrate an understanding how the recognition of individual rights in the 20th century impacts US policies with foreign nations.
  • Assignments and Grading

●Content Knowledge (class will attempt to cover the following curriculum, as time provides)

  1. 19th century Russia
  2. Russian Revolution, Last Czar of Russia, Karl Marx, Communism, Marxism
  3. WWI
  • Soviet/Russian leadership; Trotsky, Lenin, Stalin, Brezhnev, Khrushchev, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Putin (Medvedev)
  • WWII, Geneva Convention
  • USSR, Cold War, Red Scare, Domino Theory, Espionage, Nuclear Arms Race, MAD, Warsaw Pact, NATO
  • American presidents post WW2-fall of USSR; Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush
  • Fall of Soviet Empire, Perestroika, Glasnost
  • Russian Federation
  • Independence for Eastern Bloc
  • Economic and political turmoil under Yeltsin leads to support for rise in Russian nationalism
  • Civil rights in Russia, opposition oppression
  • Economic status of Russia'soil dependent market, Russian oligarchy
  • Global Influence of Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Georgia, foreign election interference
  • Russian Aspirations in Future
  • Relationship with United States
  • Guidelines for Course Grade
  • There will be no extra credit at the end of the term
  • The following is a breakdown of planned assignments, activities, and assessments for the term.
  • Points listed in bold reflect the value of the assignment in the gradebook. Each assignment, activity, or assessment will be graded on the number of points available within the respective grade input. For example, a quiz that is scored 45 out of 50 will have equal weight in the gradebook with a quiz that is scored 7 out of 10, as both have a value of 5 points in the gradebook.
  • Plans are subject to change as class needs will dictate, which could result in the reduction or addition of assignments, activities, and assessments.
  • Activities and Assignments (70 points)

●Part 1 Reading Notes 5,Study Guide 2, Graphic Organizer 2, Timeline 2, Kennan’s Thesisdiscussion 2 andanalysis 2, U.S./Soviet PropagandaSeminar 5, Propaganda Worksheet 2, Short story 3

●Part 2 Reading Notes 5, Study Guide 2, Graphic Organizer 2, “Russia” map 2 and map key 2 based on “Data Cards” activity, Challenge questions 4

●Part 3 Reading Notes 5,Study Guide 2, Graphic Organizer 2, Photo analysis presentation 3, Option Role Play activity 5

●“Putin’s Way” documentary notes 2, discussion 2, questions 2, seminar 5

●Quizzes (35 points) 5 pts each

a)Quiz 1 19th Century Russia thru Fall of Theocracy

b)Quiz 2 Russian Revolution Thru WWII

c)Quiz 3 Cold War, Nuclear Arms Race, Brezhnev and Nixon, Gorbachev and Reagan, Fall of USSR

d)Quiz 4New Russia, ethnic divisions, oligarchs, economic changes, Yeltsin and a weak state, “shock therapy

e)Quiz 5 Putin, a strong central government, authoritarian reforms, protests

f)Quiz 6 Chechnya, economic opportunity, and challenges, impacts on Russian

g)Citation quiz

●Summative Assessments (60 points) 15 pts each

1)Test 1 = material in Quiz 1-3

2)Project 1

3)Test 2 = material in Quiz 4-6

4)Project 2

Late Work

  • All work is due at the start of class, unless otherwise stated.
  • Work that is late can earn a grade of no higher than 70%.
  • Late work will be accepted up to a week after the due date.
  • Please let me know if you are having issues that prevent you from completing your work on time. Life can get in the way. That said, if life is constantly getting in the way of your success, you need to find ways to overcome and prioritize your education.

POLICIES:

  • As a student of CMC, I expect you to adhere to the policies of the school, as outlined by the Student Handbook (located on the website). You are responsible for the assignments in this class and to communicate any questions, comments or concerns you must me. Acceptable means of communication include an appointment, e-mail, voicemail or through online discussion forums/blogs.

Academic Honesty and Responsibility:

  • Academic honesty is expected of all students, and dishonesty in this area will face disciplinary action. This includes dishonesty on examinations and other forms of classroom assessment as well as claiming the work of another as one’s own without crediting that source. There is zero tolerance for this and it will be punished. When applicable, students must cite their work per MLA citation formats. Any work that is turned in without those citations will receive a zero and be construed as plagiarism. You must cite quotations, as well as any work you paraphrase. Any student who is caught plagiarizing will be referred to Mr. Sien.

●Plagiarism/Cheating

Please read carefully. Plagiarism and/or cheating will not be tolerated. There are severe consequences for those involved with academic dishonesty.

●You must use research conventions to cite and clearly mark other people's ideas and words within your essays. Plagiarism is an act of intellectual dishonesty and is academically unethical and unacceptable to do any of the following acts:

●To submit an essay written in whole or in parts by another student as if it were your own.

●To download an essay from the internet, then quote or paraphrase from it, in whole or in part, without acknowledging the original source.

●To restate a clever phrase verbatim from another writer without acknowledging the source.

●To paraphrase part of another writer's work without acknowledging the source.

●To reproduce the substance of another writer's argument without acknowledging the source.

●To take work originally done for one instructor's assignment and re-submit it to another teacher.

●To cheat on tests or quizzes using crib sheets, hidden notes, viewing another student's paper, revealing the answers on my own paper to another student, through verbal or textual communication, sign language, or other means of storing and communicating information, including electronic devices, recording devices, cellular telephones, headsets, and portable computers.

●To copy another student's homework and submit the work as if it were the product of my own labor.

●The consequences for committing any of the previous acts of academic dishonesty can include a failing grade for the assignment or quiz with no opportunity for make-up, failure in the class and possible removal from the course in extreme/repeat offenses.

●All work will be cited in MLA format, which will be taught in class. Materials relating to how to cite material in MLA format will be posted on the class blog.

Note: The content of this syllabus is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the class and/or instructor.