Spring 2020 - IS 350W D100

Seminar on Global Problems in Interdisciplinary Perspective (4)

Class Number: 7504

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Tue, 8:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units. International Studies major or honours students.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An interdisciplinary course which aims to bring together different perspectives on international affairs through the study of in-depth particular contemporary problems. Students with credit for IS 450W may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is designed to focus on the skills and applications of research and writing that are relevant beyond academia, and which IS students will likely encounter across governmental, nongovernmental, and private sectors. Much of this work involves researching, over a relatively short period of time, what has been written about a specific topic or problem and organizing key arguments about it, often going so far as to think through and develop arguments in favour of a particular course of action. This kind of work requires clarity of purpose, the capacity to identify and synthesize key ideas, and economical and authoritative writing.

This course takes up four particular problems of international significance from different disciplinary perspectives. The concerns that will be the focus for this course are these:

1. What are the different approaches that can be taken to combat climate change?

2. Does the prism of human rights offer the best template for addressing global injustices?

3. How can United Nations peacekeeping be reformed to have a greater impact?

4. What are the pitfalls in current approaches to humanitarian philanthropy?

This course will be comprised of a mix of lectures and individual tutorials. These will address the four problem topics as well as guidance on the different research and writing tasks.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The course is organized around the development of different research and writing skills. The course’s assignments are of the type that students of International Studies may expect to be asked to take up in their professional careers.

Grading

  • Literature Review (between 3,500 and 4000 words) 25%
  • Briefing Paper (approximately 1500 words) 25%
  • Op-ed essay suitable for publication in a major newspaper (maximum 1000 words) 25%
  • Policy Paper (maximum 2000 words) 25%

NOTES:

Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.

The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Assigned readings. We will be reading one book for each question (some of these are available online through SFU library or are free online):

  • The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, David Wallace-Wells
  • Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World, Samuel Moyn
  • United Nations Peace Operations in a Changing Global Order, Cedric de Coning and Mateja Peter (eds.)
  • Winners Take All, Anand Giridharadas

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS