當代世界

Course Description This course aims to provide an introduction of major issues in the contemporary world, in order to enhance students’ understanding about human development and global society, while facilitating students’ global perspectives as the members of world citizens. This course is designed to familiarize students with various important issues in our global environment. Now we live in an increasingly integrated global society, which generates both new opportunities and challenges. Nowadays, rarely few countries and people could isolate themselves from the impacts of outside world. The significance of the course is to enhance students’ interests and abilities in comprehending what the global society is composed of, how does it operate and be governed. Hence, this course covers several crucial subjects, including: international politics, international conflict, international trade and finance, foreign investment, multinational corporations, regional integration, environment, climate change, and globalization, etc. Through lectures and class discussion, students would be able to have profound understanding about these major issues in the contemporary world, while facilitating individual student’s critical thinking, unique perspectives and analytical abilities on these global issues. Objectives of the Course The objectives of this course are to expect students to possess the following capacities: 1. Develop basic understanding regarding major issues in the contemporary world and pay constant attention to international news. 2. Capable of utilizing various perspectives in comprehending major global issues. 3. Enhance the ability of critical thinking, argument-making, and deliberate discourse.

Proficient at English

1. Conduct class lecture by using PowerPoint 2. By playing relevant multi-media and documentary films to undertake and facilitate class discussion 3. Group presentation: students are divided into several groups to conduct group presentation on various issues 4. Utilizing instant interaction software to undertake class quiz to facilitate students' interests and comprehension

Class Participation & Discussion (20%): Class participation is moral duty for students, but not mandatory. In order to evaluate students’ comprehension, students will take a quiz in class occasionally, which will be accumulated by the end of the semester as the proof for assessing students' class participation. To facilitate students’ interests on global issues, students are encouraged to regularly watch international news programs, such as CNN, BBC, Euronews, Al Jazeera, etc. Students may be asked some questions related to recent international news or ongoing global issues in class. Students are expected to prepare and familiarize with assigned readings before the class and are encouraged to participate in class discussion. The performances of student’s participation will be assessed on both quality and quantity of students’ statements. It means that students are highly encouraged to express their unique viewpoints, logical arguments, and constructive critique which are relevant and can contribute to class discussion. Essay Paper (20%): Each student is expected to select ONE topic from the outline of the course and to write ONE short paper (format will be announced afterward). This essay paper should be a logical and analytical paper, providing analysis and discussion about the important issues, concepts, or phenomena related to one specific topic of this course. This paper should include a concise summary of the readings and reflection of the lecture, and a significant portion of critical analysis. A successful short paper should be question-oriented and provide a critical assessment and compelling arguments. Non-native English speaking students should seek assistance from NCTU's Language Teaching and Research Center’s Language Consultation (http://ltrc.nctu.edu.tw//room/index.php) to conduct proofreading before handing in the paper. Examination (30%): There will be ONE FINAL Exam in the course. This exam could be composed of single choice, multiple choice, term explanation, and essay questions. Coherent writing and critical thinking are important to take high scores in the exams. The essay questions are not designed to test students’ English writing ability, but to assess students’ comprehension with regard to the contents of readings and students’ abilities of writing compelling arguments and analysis. The contents of examination is derived from the assigned reading materials and the critical arguments from the class discussion. Students are encouraged to take notes in the class, which will be beneficial for students to prepare the final exam. Group Presentation (30%): Depending on total number of students, students will be divided into several teams for group presentation. Each group will elect a team leader, who is responsible for organizing the team and leads their members to perform the group presentation. Each group is expected to choose one week’s subject as the focus of their presentation. Under the selected subject, each group can choose a specific issue, case, phenomenon, etc., to conduct their presentation in the same time as their selected subject is scheduled to lecture. Each group should perform a formal presentation with Power Point within 15 minutes.

• Global Politics
• Global Economy
• Global Society
• Human and Nature

Jackson, Robert ed., 2014, Annual Editions: Global Issues, 30th Edition, McGraw-Hill Higher Education Oatley, Thomas, 2011, International Political Economy, 5th Edition, Cambridge: Pearson Publishing Pease, Kelly-Kate S., 2012, International Organizations, 5th Edition, Pearson Publishing. Seitz, John L. and Kristen A. Hite, 2012, Global Issues: An Introduction, 4th ed., Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Snarr, Michael T. and D. Neil Snarr ed., 2012, Introducing Global Issues, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc.

地點

Office: 606 Assembly Building 1

時間

Office hours: 15:30 pm- 16:30 pm, Tuesday, email appointment in advance is required

聯絡方式

Tel: (03) 5712121 Ext. 52730 Email: chiouyihung@gmail.com (primary); chiouyihung@nctu.edu.tw