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Skidmore College
HISTORY 361H

Topics in Latin America
Contemporary Central America

Introduction

Welcome to Contemporary Central America. This webpage should provide access to all of the resources you need to do well in this class.

Course Objectives

This class introduces students to themes affecting political, economic and social developments of 20th century Central America. Students are expected to have taken history courses and be familiar with the general outline and issues of Latin American history; the difference between primary and secondary sources; and approaches to historical inquiry and writing.

The course will be a combination of lecture-discussions in which the professor will lecture for one class each week and, beginning in week 4, students will lead discussion in the second class. Student discussion leaders are expected to focus not only on "facts" but different ways in which historians have framed their questions and presented their evidence, and questions that can usefully be addressed with the primary source readings assigned. All students are expected to take part in the discussions. To lead discussion, you will need to finish the readings prior to the class meeting. There is a significant amount of reading, so you need to plan to make sure that it gets done in a timely fashion. As discussion leaders, you will be expected to meet with the professor prior to discussion, and then provide discussion questions or guidance through the class e-mail list by Tuesday's class during the week during which you will lead the discussion.

In addition, each student will write a 17-25 page research paper. An initial draft will be presented for peer review in week 9 or week 10, and a final draft will be presented to the professor at the last class session. I will not accept late papers without an official incomplete. No exceptions.

Follow the links on the side of the page to find the class schedule, requirements, bibliography & resources.