Class 4 English Syllabus

[Albertina Drybread]

Whatbrought about the Ukrainian nation? Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? Just how for that matter does any modern nation emerge? And why some nations and not others? What is the balance between structure and agency in history? Can nations be chosen, and does it matter? Can the choices of individuals influence the rise of much larger social organizations? If so, how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future?

Often the most important historical factors are the ones that are most difficult to see. Ukraine tends to exemplify the major trends in European and world history, but sometimes in a form so radical that they escape notice and classification. Ukraine provides an early example of European state formation and an early example of anti-colonial rebellion. We will begin with brief reflections on ancient history and geography, and cover the middle ages and the early modern period, but will concentrate upon the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, and will conclude with the current war. Topics there include the Kyiv state, early modern Lithuania, and Poland during the age of discovery. Ukraine also provides an intense example of the confrontation between modern national politics and extreme colonial alternatives from the far right and far left. Modern topics therefore include Russian and Austrian empires; Jewish and Polish urban society; Romanticism and modern nationalism; the Bolshevik Revolution and its Ukrainian counterparts; Soviet modernization and terror; Nazi occupation and the Holocaust; and ethnic cleansing. Finally, contemporary Ukrainian history poses in striking form the question of the functionality and durability of the post-imperial state. The last few topics are thus: the late Soviet Union; problems of post-Soviet rule, the Orange Revolution and Maidan and the war of 2014; and the present war.

Please do the assigned readings before lecture and be prepared to discuss them in section. It is your responsibility to bring the books and your notes to section. The use of electronic devices is not permitted in lectures, sections, or examinations. Please bring pen and paper. You will be supplied with a list of terms and an outline for each lecture (with the exception of the guest lectures).

Thank you (and Yale) so much for sharing this syllabus and class! What huge benefit to those of us who until recently have been remiss in learning about Ukraine's fascinating history and culture. I'm ashamed it took a brutal war and genocide to get my attention. Around the time of the Iraq war I remember reading somewhere that invasions and wars are how Americans learn geography. Sadly true. Much gratitude to you for sharing your incredible knowledge of Ukraine, its history and people, with us. There is no one better to be learning it from!

Dear Friends, this semester I am teaching a lecture class at Yale devoted to the history of Ukraine. The lectures are being made available on a Youtube channel: the first one is here. They will continue to be published over the course of the autumn. A number of you have asked for the syllabus, so I am placing it here. I hope it\u2019s of interest. By the way: I will have a long article on Ukraine, war, and democracy appearing in Foreign Affairs this week. More soon! Best, TS

In addition, some courses have course websites that act as a syllabus, particularly the introductory courses in Math and CS. You can also contact the instructor and/or the SSO (Student Services Officer) in an academic department/school to inquire about the availability of a syllabus, or ask to see a previous syllabus.

Many instructors will hand out physical copies of their syllabus on the first day of class. If you are joining the course later than the first day, be sure to ask if there are any handouts (like the syllabus) you might have missed.

Heads-up! Syllabi are always subject to change, especially if a different instructor is teaching a course. However, even looking at a previous year's syllabus can give you valuable information as you are evaluating a course.

Hang on to your syllabus and refer to it throughout the quarter. Some like to say that a syllabus is essentially a contract between the professor and the student, detailing both what you can expect of this course and what will be expected of you.

A syllabus is a very valuable tool, underused by many students. All professors will write and use their syllabi differently. Sometimes syllabus information may be spread over several links in Canvas, or on a course website.

A syllabus provides important information about what is expected from students taking the course. It details the course requirements, your assignments and their deadlines, participation and attendance expectations, and how your grade is calculated. When are the exams and major assignments due? Are assignments due in class or electronically by a certain time? What is the late policy? Be sure to check all the deadlines for all your courses to see whether you are committing yourself to four midterms in the same week or two problem sets on the same day every week (and reconsider, if you are).

Your decision to take the course implies that you have read and understood the syllabus, and that you will accept the requirements and the grading policies spelled out there. So be sure to read the syllabus carefully before making your enrollment decision!

A syllabus is a document that outlines all the essential information about a college course. It lists the topics you will study, as well as the due dates of any coursework including tests, quizzes, or exams.

Reading materials and supplies This section lists books, online resources, and other content you will need for class. Additional tools, like a calculator or specific software, will be listed here, too. Typically there is a note about which materials are required and which are recommended.

Policies The document should outline how you will be graded, attendance requirements, and how the professor expects students to behave. This section may also include university-wide policies on academic honesty and respect, or how students with disabilities can request support.

Class schedule This section covers when assignments are due, when tests will be given, and all coursework for the class, including in-class assignments, homework, essays, labs, and assessments.

In the past, professors handed out paper copies on the first day of each class; today, most instructors put them online. If your university uses Blackboard, Canvas, or another digital course management system, you might find your syllabuses there. You may also get it as a link from your professor or can find it on your course website.

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