Learning objectives
At the end of the course, the student will be given the opportunity to acquire a critical knowledge of the main issues and events of Contemporary history (knowledge and understanding) and to develop the ability to express their arguments with competence and clarity (communication skills).
The student will acquire specific skills and methodologies useful to improve their knowledge of particular topics of Contemporary history (learning skills) in relation to the topics studied during the course (applying knowledge and understanding) and apply it to different contexts.
From this viewpoint the course offers the opportunity to strengthen, starting from the specific themes of Contemporary history, students' cognitive and communicative abilities to understand and re-organize their personal comprehension of the world (making judgments).
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the principal issues and events of contemporary history (from 1815 until nowadays). Particular attention will be given to their geographical setting (for this purpose it is strongly recommended the use of an historical atlas). The modules available on the Elly platform will be a reference point for studying or revising.
Course unit content
The course offers an overview of the main issues and events of Contemporary history and focuses on the turning point of WWI. Key themes will be: the age of Revolutions; the age of the Restoration; the Italian Risorgimento; the “European world” in the XIXth century; the First World War; the age of totalitarianisms; the age of the Cold War; the European integration.
Full programme
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Bibliography
a) P. Genovesi, Parma 1914-1918. Vita quotidiana di una città al tempo della Grande Guerra, Mup.
b) A volume to be chosen among: B. Bongiovanni, Storia della guerra fredda, Laterza or P. Gabrielli, Anni di novità e di grandi cose. Il boom economico tra tradizione e cambiamento, il Mulino or A. Ventrone, Il nemico interno. Immagini e simboli della lotta politica nell’Italia del ‘900, Donzelli.
c)Notes of the course (integrated with an individual work) or E. Gentile, Due colpi di pistola, dieci milioni di morti, la fine di un mondo. Storia illustrata della Grande Guerra, Laterza.
Teaching methods
Oral lessons and seminars.
Assessment methods and criteria
Self-evaluation text at the beginning of the course.
Training can be made in itinere on the blended course.
Before the final oral exam students will have to do a computer based test; a final oral exam will follow and will be divided into two parts (to be completed in the same day): the first part will verify the general topics (see “prerequisites”); the second part will consist in questions about the specific themes and bibliography of the course. The evaluation (out of 30) has to reach at least 18/30 in both parts in order to be positive. The result will be communicated on Esse 3.
The evaluation will be based on the following points: a) comprehension of the course’s contents; b) ability of setting in the right place and period the events; c) accuracy of the answer; d) speaking skills and specific terms; e) individual ability in the organization of the contents; f) capability of creating links between the different events and issues studied.
Other information
The Erasmus students have to contact the professor at the beginning of the course.
