Despite the terror and destruction that it brings, warfare has been an inescapable part of human history. This course will examine the changing character of of warfare since the late 1700s through to the early 21st century. In doing so it will focus on the development of armed forces (land, naval and later air), introduce key theories regarding their use, examine the the way that wars in the period were fought, and consider the strains that war places on the societies that fight them. This foundational 'survey course' will examine these elements by using an historical approach and make use of following key themes: the nature and character of war; the interplay of politics, strategy, operations and tactics; resourcing war; the relationship between technology and war; and military adaptation.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
1. Describe the history of warfare since in the modern era.
2. Identify the key developments and transitions in the conduct of war since the French Revolution.
3. Critique historical developments in the evolution of modern warfare through the use of a range of historical resources and interpretations.
4. Analyse the causes and consequences of the historical development of warfare.
5. Demonstrate a comprehension of the complexity of the history of modern warfare.
6. Employ written and oral communication skills to clearly and confidently articulate your ideas about war studies
Research-Led Teaching
This course will be informed by Dr Bou's extensive research and publishing experience in warfare in the period in which the course covers.
Field Trips
No field trips are part of this course
Additional Course Costs
Nil
Examination Material or equipment
Students will work on a reading journal through the semester, which will be made available to them for the exam.
Required Resources
All readings will be provided to the students via Wattle.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:- Written comments
- Verbal comments
- Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.Other Information
It is a requirment of this course that in order to pass it ALL assessment items must be attempted when they are due. Failure to submit an essay or attend the exam (without suitable extensions or other special considerations in place) means you cannot pass the course.
Class Schedule
Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
---|---|---|
1 | Frames of reference | |
2 | The wars of revolution and Napoleon, 1879-1815 | |
3 | Waxing and waning empires - war in China in the mid-19th Century | Short essay (reading synthesis) due |
4 | Small wars of conquest - Britain and France build their empires | |
5 | The beginnings of industrial war | |
6 | The great war - the First World War, part 1 | |
7 | The great war - the First World War, part 2 | Research essay due |
8 | The greater war - the Second World War, part 1 | |
9 | The greater war - the Second World War, part 2 | |
10 | The Cold War - limiting 'hot wars' | |
11 | Crises of empire - wars of decolonisation | |
12 | War after 1990 |
Tutorial Registration
Register via Wattle in February 2019. Keep an eye on the Wattle site and turn on your Wattle forum notifications.
Assessment Summary
Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Return of assessment | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tutorial participation and reading journal | 10 % | 31/05/2019 | 04/07/2019 | 1, 2, 3 |
Short essay - reading synthesis | 20 % | 13/03/2019 | 26/03/2019 | 3, 4, 5 |
Research essay | 40 % | 23/04/2019 | 20/05/2019 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Exam | 30 % | 06/06/2019 | 04/07/2019 | 2, 4, 5 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.Participation
See above regarding tutorial participation.
Note (VERY IMPORTANT): It is a requirment of this course that in order to pass it ALL assessment items must be attempted when they are due. Failure to submit an essay or attend the exam (without suitable extensions or other special considerations in place) means you cannot pass the course.
Examination(s)
See above
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Tutorial participation and reading journal
Tutorial participation
You will be assessed on your contribution to tutorial discussions based on:
- your ability to make considered and well-expressed contributions to discussions;
- your ability to articulate verbally the ideas contained in the lecture and readings for each week; and
- your consideration for and cooperation with your peers;
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 3, 4, 5
Short essay - reading synthesis
The capacity to synthesise the ideas of scholars and experts, as expressed in journal articles, books and other media, is one of the essential skills that you should be acquiring during your studies.
For this piece of assessment you should choose one of the readings listed against this assessment item on the Wattle site and write a 1200-word synthesis (summary) of this reading addressing the following questions:
- What content does the reading present?
- What is the main argument of the reading?
- What evidence does the author present for their argument?
This last requirement is a significant part of the piece, hence it is requirement that the chosen piece be compared to at least three other substantive sources.
For evidence you should consider, firstly, the sources used by the author as set out in the footnotes and/or text, and secondly, the logic of the argument presented, e.g. does the argument presented arise from the evidence presented? Or is it simply presented without validating evidence?
Further guidance on this assessment will be given in the lecture and tutorials in the first week.
These short essays are to be submitted via Turnitin no later than 11.55 p.m. (2355), 13 March 2019.
Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Research essay
For this assignment you will respond to one of the essay question/s set against this assessment item on the Wattle site.
You are expected to read beyond the course's essential reading, using other sources suggested by your reading and work in the library. The essay is to be 2500 words in length (+/- 10 per cent), not including notes and bibliography. See later sections in this guide for further information regarding essay requirements.
This essay must be submitted via Turnitin no later than 11.55 p.m. (23:55), 23 April 2018.
Assessment Task 4
Learning Outcomes: 2, 4, 5
Exam
The course finishes with an unseen invigilated exam on a date yet to be scheduled. The exam will be 2 hours in duration. You will be expected to answer a combination of short answer and essay questions that will test the full coverage of the course. Students will be given their accumulated reading journal to assist them with the exam.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.Online Submission
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.Hardcopy Submission
For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.Late Submission
Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.
Referencing Requirements
Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.Returning Assignments
Essays will be returned via Turnitin. Exams will not be reurned to students.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.Resubmission of Assignments
No essay resubmissions will be used in this course.
Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Research InterestsDr Jean Bou is a historian of warfare in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. He has particular interest in military institutions and how they change and adapt, or do not, in both peace and war. |
Dr Jean Bou
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Instructor
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Research Interests |
Dr Jean Bou
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