CQUniversity Unit Profile
HIST19038 20th Century: Crucible of the Modern World
20th Century: Crucible of the Modern World
All details in this unit profile for HIST19038 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit provides you with a broad survey of world history in the twentieth century. There is no doubt that the modern world has been profoundly shaped by this often bloody century, sometimes called the age of extremes. In this unit, you will examine the decline of European influence, the devastation of the world wars, the collapse of colonial structures and the emergence of independent states in Asia and Africa, and the rise (and fall) of two super powers, the USA and the USSR. You will be asked to consider the emergence of conflicting ideologies: communism, fascism, Zionism, pan-Arabism and political Islam. This unit is designed to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the forces that have shaped the modern world order.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: Minimum of 18 credit points

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2023

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 10%
2. Group Discussion
Weighting: 10%
3. Essay
Weighting: 40%
4. Presentation
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Emails, satisfaction survey.

Feedback

Students responded positively to weekly stimulus questions.

Recommendation

Students responded positively to the peer assessment task where they were asked to respond to at least two stimulus questions and also to respond to two comments posted by other students. This year, this assessment was only for the first half of the term but will be expanded to cover the whole term.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Develop a broad knowledge of the history of international relations in the 20th Century
  2. Foster unprejudiced knowledge of the history of international relations in the 20th Century and acceptance of the informed opinions of others
  3. Identify some of the key problems in the history of international relations in the 20th Century and their elucidation by evidence-based research
  4. Develop historical skills including the ability to locate and analyse historical evidence and the ability to critique historical interpretations and their applications to contemporary global issues.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10%
2 - Group Discussion - 10%
3 - Essay - 40%
4 - Presentation - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

International History of the Twentieth Century and Beyond

Edition: 3rd (2015)
Authors: Antony Best, Jussi Hanhimaki, Joseph A. Maiolo, Kirsten E. Schulze
Routledge
ISBN: ISBN 9780415656429
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

The prescribed textbook can be accessed online at the CQUniversity Library website. Access may be limited. If you would prefer your own copy, purchase either paper or eBook versions at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Turabian

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Benjamin Jones Unit Coordinator
b.t.jones@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Introduction to the Unit

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Remember to post a comment and reply to others in the group discussion as part of the group discussion assessment. 

Week 2 Begin Date: 13 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

WW1 and its aftermath

Chapter

Best et al. Chapters 1 and 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Remember to post a comment and reply to others in the group discussion as part of the group discussion assessment.

Week 3 Begin Date: 20 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Empires and Nationalism before WW2

Chapter

Chapters 3 and 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Remember to post a comment and reply to others in the group discussion as part of the group discussion assessment.

Week 4 Begin Date: 27 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

USA and the Americas

Chapter

Chapters 6 and 16

Events and Submissions/Topic

Remember to post a comment and reply to others in the group discussion as part of the group discussion assessment.

Week 5 Begin Date: 03 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Arab-Israeli Conflict

Chapter

Chapters 5 and 18


Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz Due: Week 5 Thursday (6 April) 11:45 pm AEST

This is your last week to post a comment and reply to others in the group discussion as part of the group discussion assessment.


Online Quiz Due: Week 5 Thursday (6 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 10 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Group Discussion task due: Friday 14 April 11:45 pm AEST


Group Discussion Due: Vacation Week Friday (14 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 6 Begin Date: 17 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Path to WW2

Chapter

Chapters 7 and 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 24 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Cold War to Détente

Chapter

Chapters 9 and 11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 01 May 2023

Module/Topic

Vietnam Wars

Chapter

Ch 12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Essay is due Friday 5 May at 11:45pm


Major Essay Due: Week 8 Friday (5 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 08 May 2023

Module/Topic

The Non-Aligned Movement and Developmental States

Chapter

Chapters 13 and 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 15 May 2023

Module/Topic

People's Republic of China 1949-1989

Chapter

Ch 15

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 22 May 2023

Module/Topic

Rise of Political Islam

Chapter

Ch 19

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 29 May 2023

Module/Topic

Conclusions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Powerpoint Presentation is due Friday 2 June at 11:45pm


PowerPoint Presentation Due: Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 05 Jun 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Jun 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

Through the Moodle unit website, you will undertake a quiz consisting of twenty (20) questions to test your understanding and knowledge of historical issues that have been raised in the unit so far. The questions are based on the lectures  so make sure you take good notes. They are comprised of true/false, one or two word responses (e.g. a name or term), and multi-choice with four options. The quiz must be completed within one (1) hour and on the first attempt. Online Quiz. See the Assessment Block in Moodle for further details.


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Thursday (6 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

Quiz opens Monday of Week 5 at 8.00 AM and closes Thursday of Week 5 at 11:45pm.


Return Date to Students

Results will be available online on completion of the quiz.


Weighting
10%

Assessment Criteria

Selection/provision of the correct response.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Develop a broad knowledge of the history of international relations in the 20th Century

2 Group Discussion

Assessment Title
Group Discussion

Task Description

Between Weeks 1 and 5, there will be stimulus material and a prompting question placed in the “General Discussion” forum on moodle. Students are expected to engage thoughtfully with this material and respectfully with each other. Students are encouraged to post a comment every week but for this assessment students must post at least two (2) comments  on two different weeks in the discussion forum. In addition, students are expected to read and engage with their fellow students and must post at least two (2) replies to comments from other students. The comments need to be at least a few sentences long but should not exceed two paragraphs. The comments should indicate that the student has listened to the lecture and thought carefully about the question. The two replies should indicate that they engaged with the forum in a respectful manner. Students are required to submit one self assessment and will be assigned a fellow student to complete a peer assessment on using the marking rubric. Your final grade for this assessment will be the average of your mark and the mark your peer assessor assigns you. You may appeal the mark given by your peer assessor if you believe it does not match the marking rubric. The Unit Co-ordinator will adjudicate and adjust the final mark if appropriate.


Assessment Due Date

Vacation Week Friday (14 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

If the self and peer assessments are submitted on time they can be returned to the student within 2 days. However, if the peer assessment is not received within two weeks the unit coordinator will step in and assign a mark.


Weighting
10%

Assessment Criteria

Please refer to the marking rubric on Moodle for full details. To achieve high marks in this assessment a student must:


1 .Post at least two outstanding comments of an appropriate length which are sophisticated and logical with clear evidence that the student has listened to and understood the lecture and have skilfully and thoughtfully responded to the stimulus question.

2. Post at least two reply comments which are knowledgeable, well-written and highly respectful of other users on the forum.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Foster unprejudiced knowledge of the history of international relations in the 20th Century and acceptance of the informed opinions of others

3 Essay

Assessment Title
Major Essay

Task Description

Select ONE (1) of the essay questions on Moodle and answer it in an essay of 2000 words (10% variation is acceptable).

References and bibliography must be included in the Turabian referencing style. Before commencing this task you should refer to the essay-writing and referencing guides provided on the HIST19038 Moodle website.

Thorough research requires that you look beyond your set textbook, Best et al. CQUni Library holds a range of 20th Century history books and there are additional resources in the Digital Readings (DRs) on Moodle. You should also search the CQUni Library databases for relevant scholarly articles on the topic of your choice. Only use articles from peer-reviewed journals or other reputable academic sources, and be sure to provide accurate citations (footnotes). In addition to the textbook, you are expected to consult a minimum of six (6) tertiary-standard academic books and/or journal articles in the preparation of the research essay

Before submission, ensure that your research essay meets the assessment criteria listed below.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (5 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit through the Turnitin link on Moodle.


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (19 May 2023)

Essays will be marked and returned within two weeks of receipt by the Unit Coordinator.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

The essays are marked on three principle criteria that can be summarised as CREW. This stands for: Content, Research, and Essay Writing.

Content:

• presentation of accurate, relevant and unbiased historical evidence

• evidence that the relevant(s) lecture has been listened to

Research (and referencing):

• evidence drawn primarily from scholarly texts

• acknowledgement of all sources of ideas/evidence (footnote) and any quotations

(footnote and quote marks)

• correct use of the Turabian referencing style

Essay Writing:

• meeting the required number of words, the bulk of which should be own wording

• logical structure/organisation of ideas

• clear, concise and correct written English

• presentation in formal essay style and layout


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Upload into Moodle as .doc or .docx. Ensure you run a Turnitin plagiarism check.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Develop a broad knowledge of the history of international relations in the 20th Century
  • Foster unprejudiced knowledge of the history of international relations in the 20th Century and acceptance of the informed opinions of others
  • Identify some of the key problems in the history of international relations in the 20th Century and their elucidation by evidence-based research
  • Develop historical skills including the ability to locate and analyse historical evidence and the ability to critique historical interpretations and their applications to contemporary global issues.

4 Presentation

Assessment Title
PowerPoint Presentation

Task Description

This assignment requires you to create a PowerPoint presentation with voice over audio. The audio recording should be 10 minutes in length (a 10% variation is acceptable) with between 10 and 20 slides. In this presentation you will answer the following question, “What lessons from the 20th century can help us face problems in the 21st century”. To answer this question adequately, you must refer specifically to three different topics in the unit and propose three lessons. In the presentation you must demonstrate that you have engaged with the unit content by quoting relevant sources. Like a footnote in a written essay, whenever you quote or refer to a source, include the bibliographical details on a slide. Feel free to be creative with your slides and include a mixture of dot points, quotes, and images. The final slide of your presentation must be a formal bibliography in Turabian style. As with the first essay, you must consult a minimum of 6 scholarly sources in addition to the textbook.

If you would like to create a video instead or use something other than PowerPoint please email me to discuss. In theory this is fine so long as it answers the question, is 10 minutes, includes at least 10 slides or graphics with notes and references and finishes with a bibliography but please clear this with me first.

Before submission, ensure that your research essay meets the assessment criteria listed below.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit through the link on Moodle.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (16 June 2023)

Presentation will be marked and returned within two weeks of receipt by the Unit Coordinator.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

The PowerPoint presentation will be marked on a similar criteria to the essay. Content and Research are paramount, along with Presentation.

Content:

• presentation of accurate, relevant and unbiased historical evidence

• evidence that the relevant(s) lecture has been listened to and the textbook has been read

Research (and referencing):

• evidence drawn primarily from scholarly texts

• acknowledgement of all sources of ideas/evidence and any quotations

(if you refer to a scholarly text or directly quote from it, include the reference on the slide and in the bibliography)

• correct use of the Turabian referencing style

Presentation:

• audio recording should be 10 minutes long, the bulk of which should be own wording (i.e not just quoting other sources)

• three clear lessons are articulated in a logical and well-structured way

• clear, concise and correct spoken and written English

• presentation style and layout of 10-20 slides is engaging and informative


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Upload into Moodle as a powerpoint (unless you have arranged to create a video instead).

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Foster unprejudiced knowledge of the history of international relations in the 20th Century and acceptance of the informed opinions of others
  • Identify some of the key problems in the history of international relations in the 20th Century and their elucidation by evidence-based research
  • Develop historical skills including the ability to locate and analyse historical evidence and the ability to critique historical interpretations and their applications to contemporary global issues.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?