Students will be able to understand the histories, cultures, and experiences of different groups within South African society, as well as the political and power relationships that have structured their interactions over time. How well did you achieve this learning goal in this course?
Students will be able to think critically about the ways in which broad social structures and institutions shape and constrain individual action. How well did you achieve this learning goal in this course?
Students will be able to analyze South Africa's distinctive history of racial and ethnic classification in comparative perspective, including in relationship to the United States. How well did you achieve this learning goal in this course?
Students will be able to work with primary sources and use them to explain historical phenomena. How well did you achieve this learning goal in this course?
How useful to you were the discussion sections?
How useful to you were the lectures?
How useful to you were the readings?
How useful to you were the writing assignments?
One of the differences between this year's course and previous versions was the inclusion of more explicit reflection on the historian's craft. While conveying specific content related to South African history remained a paramount goal, we also sought to devote more explicit attention to the historical enterprise itself -- to how historians think, devise questions, analyze sources, and create interpretations. Did including this kind of 'meta-historical' reflection enhance the value of the class for you?
What suggestions would you offer to improve this course in future years?