Book Review of Leah Zani, Bomb Children: Life in the Former Battlefields of Laos

Class Objectives:

1. Be able to identify key individuals, events, turning points and social and cultural patterns in the interactions between Vietnam and the outside world in modern times.
2. Understand how to evaluate and interpret primary sources and to draw conclusions and insights from them.
3. Be able to synthesize information from several sources to trace a historical theme over time.
4. Be able to develop a persuasive argument with a clear central thesis in written work.

This class will be taught through a combination of online lectures, films, and readings. In order to succeed in this course, students should take notes on all of the lectures and films, complete homework assignments and book reviews, and take the required exams on schedule.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.

June 11 Last Day to Add Classes
June 12 Registration Cancelation
July 10 Last Day to Drop Classes
July 15-28 Curtiss Course Critique

Textbooks:

Mark Atwood Lawrence, The Vietnam War: An International History in Documents (Hereafter referred to as “Lawrence book”)
Qiang Zhai, China and the Vietnam Wars, 1950-1975 (Hereafter referred to as “Zhai book”)
Patrick Hagopian, The Vietnam War in American Memory: Veterans, Memorials, and the Politics of Healing (Hereafter referred to as “Hagopian book”)

Leah Zani, Bomb Children: Life in the Former Battlefields of Laos (Hereafter referred to as “Zani book”)

Requirements:

weekly homework assignments (24% of the final grade)
book reviews (36% of the final grade)
exams (40% of the final grade)

Weekly Homework Assignments (24% of the final grade):

There will be 6 weekly homework assignments. Each weekly homework assignment is worth 4% of the final grade. You accumulate 24% over the semester. Homework assignments can include document analysis, or film review, or chapter summary. The due date is on Friday of the week. There will be penalty for late submission, except for the first weekly homework assignment in case you need time to get the books..

You should write your homework in your own words. If you include a direct quote from the reading in your homework, make sure you put quotation marks around the passage that is being quoted. Before submitting your writing, you should proofread it. Homework containing multiple mistakes in spelling, punctuation, and grammar will be marked down. Once you have completed your homework assignment, submit it on Blackboard under the appropriate heading. Do not type directly into Blackboard, but submit it as a document attachment.

Book Reviews (36% of the final grade): You need to turn in two book reviews over the semester. (Each is worth 18% of the final grade.)

Submit a review of the Hagopian book on July 24 and a review of the Zani book on July 29.

Your book review should be double-spaced and 3-4 pages in length. They should include (1) a summary of the main content and conclusions of the book; (2) an evaluation of the book’s strengths and shortcomings, that is, is it well-researched and clearly written? Are its main arguments convincing? What sources does the author draw on? Does the author overlook inconvenient evidence? Does the author contradict himself in the book? What lessons did you learn after reading the book? Would you recommend the book to other students? There will be penalty on late submission.

Examinations (40% of the final grade):

Midterm exam (20% of the final grade) on July 3

Final exam (20% of the final grade) on July 30

The exams are open-book in format. They typically include essay questions. They cover material from point-power presentations, films, and assigned reading. A study guide for exam preparation will be provided before each exam.

Grading Scale: A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=59 and below.

Weekly Power-point Presentation, Reading, and Homework Assignment Schedule:

Week 1 (June 8-12): French Colonization and Vietnamese Nationalism

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapter 1; Zhai book, chapter 1

Homework Assignment: document analysis

Submit a one-page, double-spaced comment on Document 1.1 in the Lawrence book, chapter 1, addressing the following questions: What was Phan Boi Chau’s view of French policy (including its taxation, its treatment of the Vietnamese people)? What did he mean by “New Vietnam”? What kind of a country he wanted Vietnam to be? What was his opinion of Japan?

June 12: Week 1 Homework Assignment Due

Week 2 (June 15-19): Ho Chi Minh’s Revolution

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapter 1; Zhai book, chapter 1

Homework Assignment: film review

Submit a two-page, double-spaced review of a 42-minute film about Ho Chi Minh, addressing the following questions: How did Ho Chi Minh’s father influence his attitude toward the French? Where did Ho Chi Minh travel internationally? What was his view of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and Soviet leader Lenin? Why did he adopt communism? How did he conduct his anti-French activities during the 1920s and 1930s? How and why did he cooperate with the Americans (especially the OSS) during WWII? Why did he quote the U.S. Declaration of Independence when he established his own government in Vietnam (DRV) in 1945 following Japan’s surrender?

June 19: Week 2 Homework Assignment Due

Week 3 (June 22-26): First Indochina War

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapter 2; Zhai book, chapter 2

Homework Assignment: document analysis

Submit a one-page, double-spaced comment on Document 2.1 in the Lawrence book, chapter 2, addressing the following questions: What did Truong Chinh advocate? What did he mean by “people’s war” and the “chopstick” metaphor? Where did he get his inspirations?

June 26: Week 3 Homework Assignment Due

Week 4 (June 29-July 3): Ngo Dinh Diem and U.S. Commitment to South Vietnam

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapter 3- 4; Zhai book, chapters 3-4

Homework Assignment: film review

Submit a two-page, double-spaced review of the film titled “America’s Mandarin,” a 55-minute documentary on the rise and fall of Ngo DInh Diem in South Vietnam, addressing the following questions: What did Diem inherit when he became leader in South Vietnam in 1954? How did the United States help him consolidate his power? Who did he rely on in running his government? Why did the Strategic Hamlet program fail? Why did Buddhist groups oppose Diem? What were the lessons of his collapse?

July 3: Week 4 Homework Assignment Due

July 3: Midterm Exam

Week 5 (July 6-10): LBJ’s Escalation of the Vietnam Conflict

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapter 5; Zhai book, chapter 5

Homework Assignment: chapter summary

Submit a two-page and double-spaced summary of the first part of Chapter 5 (pp. 112-117) of the Zhai book, addressing the following questions: Why did the Chinese advise caution to the Vietnamese Communists in confronting the American pressure in 1961? What was Mao’s view in the Chinese leadership debate about foreign policy in 1962? What was the debate’s implication for China’s response to the Vietnam conflict?

July 10: Week 5 Homework Assignment Due

Week 6 (July 13-17): China’s Response to U.S. Escalation

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapter 6; Zhai book, chapter 6

Homework Assignment: chapter summary

Submit a two-page and double-spaced summary of Chapter 6 of the Zhai book, addressing the following questions: How did China respond to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident? What were Mao’s calculations when he decided to assist North Vietnam against the U.S.? What was the relationship like between China and North Vietnam during China’s intervention in the war? Was China bluffing in the Vietnam War?

July 17: Week 6 Homework Assignment Due

Week 7 (July 20-24): The Tet Offensive

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapter 7; Zhai book, chapters 7-8

July 24: Review of the Hagopian Book Due

Week 8 (July 27-30): Nixon’s Approach to the Vietnam War

Power-point Presentation (voice over)

Reading: Lawrence book, chapters 8-9; Zhai book, chapter 9

July 29: Review of the Zani Book Due

July 30: Final Exam

Online learning expects the student to be self-motivated and self-disciplined. Compared to the traditional in-person classroom setting, online learning can be less structured; therefore, you must assume more responsibility for the learning process and outcome. Because of the less structured nature of the class, you should plan time to study as much for this course as you would for a traditional face-to-face course.

Communication is also vitally important. You should always feel free to contact me about any questions or concerns that arise. The best way to contact me is by email: qzhai1@aum.edu. I check my email constantly every day. I will respond to your email as quickly as I can.

Academic Dishonesty
There is no tolerance of academic dishonesty. Students must be aware of what actions constitute violations of the Student Discipline Code, which can be found on pp. 48-51 of the AUM Student Handbook.
Two common examples of academic misconduct:
• Plagiarism–submitting for credit, without appropriate acknowledgement, a report, speech, outline, thesis, or other written, visual, or oral material that has been knowingly obtained or copied in whole or in part from another person’s academic composition, compilation, or other product. This includes internet sources. All work in this course will be checked for plagiarism by SafeAssign and Turnitin, programs that detect plagiarism very effectively.

• Taking an exam or doing academic work for another person or providing one’s own work for another person to copy and submit as his/her own.

“Free Academic Support”: All students have the opportunity to receive free academic support at AUM. Visit the Learning Center LC) in the WASC on the second floor of the Library or the Instructional Support Lab (ISL) in 203 Goodwyn Hall. The LC/ISL offers writing consulting as well as tutoring in almost every class through graduate school. The LC may be reached at 244-3470 (call or walk-in for a session), and the ISL may be reached at 244-3265. ISL tutoring is first-come-first served. Current operating hours can be found at www.aum.edu/learningcenter

Students with Disabilities:

Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting during office hours the first week of classes, or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately. If you have a conflict with my office hours, an alternate time can be arranged. To set up this meeting, please contact me by phone, e-mail, or during class hours. Bring a copy of your accommodation memo and accommodation contract to the meeting. If you do not have an accommodation memo but need accommodations, contact the Center for Disability Services (CDS) located in 147 Taylor Center, or by phone (334)-244-3631 or by e-mail cds@aum.edu.