History 1040
The Great War in Comparative Perspectives

Fall Term 2101

"The Great War was the 'incomprehensible.'" Duroselle 1994

"What was thinkable, what was imaginable about human brutality" shifted between 1914 and 1918, and that shifting of perspective, made the worst events of the Second World War and the modern age, including 9-11, possible."

Table of Contents:

Course Information

We will spend the first three weeks studying the origins of the Great War. Then, we will examine the front experience, developments in the arts, and the expanding role of states as a result of the war-related mobilization of the population. Furthermore we attempt to analyze social change in the workers and middle classes and shifts in gender roles. In the end, we try to answer the question why Russia experienced two revolutions, Germany a "failed" one, and why there was none in Britain. Military operations and weapons technology will be only of minor importance for this course.

We will break this course up into the following sections:

Time: 4-5:15
Days:  T-H
Room: A221 Langley Hall
Instructor: Tony Novosel, Ph.D.
Office Hours: By Appointment and at Einstein's in Posvar Hall on the days of class from 1:30-3:3:30
Office Phone: 648-7464
Home Phone: 412-567-2697
e-mail address: pugachev@pitt.edu 
Skype: novoawl

 

Required Books: 

  • Marc Ferro, The Great War: 1914-1918

  • Strachan, Hew, ed. The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

  • 14-18: Understanding the Great War. Stephane Audoin-Rouzeau and Annette Becker

  • Writing and Researching for History Papers - Use this link.  It has everything you need for writing for History. 
  • Not a book, but a resource we will use throughout the course: The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (PBS/BBC)

E-Reserves:

A number of your readings will be online on E-Reserves.  You will need a password that I will give you the first day of class. Here are the instructions:

  • LOCATING ELECTRONIC COURSE RESERVE MATERIALS:
    • http://www.library.pitt.edu/services/reserves/#locating-e
      • Electronic reserves can be accessed online via PittCat. After connecting to PittCat, choose Course Reserves. Select the instructor's name from the drop down box and click Search. Electronic reserve lists are at the top of the list. Click on the e-reserves entry, then click on the e-reserves link. Enter the password.
  • CONNECTING TO LIBRARY RESOURCES FROM OFF CAMPUS:
 

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Academic Integrity Guidelines

All students are expected to observe the same code of academic honesty required of all University of Pittsburgh Students.  The conduct below constitutes a violation of this code.

  • Taking of Information
    • Copying graded assignments from another student. 
    • Each written assignment must be the student’s own work.
  • Tendering of Information
    • Giving your work to another student to be copied.
  • Plagiarism
    • To present as one's own work, the ideas, representations, or words of another, or to permit another to present one's own work without customary and proper acknowledgement of sources. (University of Pittsburgh Guidelines on Academic Integrity, p. 5)
  • Honors Pledge
    • You will do the mid-term and the final exams for this course according to my “Honor System.”  Your signature, either typed or physically signed, on the exam verifies that you completed the exam independently.  You may not collaborate with anyone.
  • University of Pittsburgh's Guidelines

Disability Resources and Services

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7890/412-383-7355 (TTY), as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.  You can view a comprehensive description of the services of that office at www.drs.pitt.edu.

Printable and Downloadable PDF Format


Documents for the Class.  DO NOT begin a paper until you have read the ones dealing with how to write for History.  Also print out those that are necessary for the class and keep them in a folder.
 
Resources for Studying History
Comprehensive research sites we will for this class.
Print these and keep them for Reference:
 
More important Sites for Studying the Great War that we will use in class. Primary and Secondary Sources.
Primary Resources:

 

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    Course Requirements:


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  • Class Schedule - Week- by-Week:

    Week-1

    Week-8
    Week-2 Week-9
    Week-3 Week-10
    Week-4 Week-11
    Week-5 Week-12
    Week-6 Week-13
    Week-7 Week-14
    Final Exam- Take Home

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  • Important Note: If you do not want to buy the books at the Bookstore there are many online resources that are much cheaper.  Go to:

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