Development Studies (DEST) 201 - Lecture 01
Introduction to Development Studies

Winter 2008

MWF 11:00-11:50 ST 147

 

 

Instructor:	Dr. Chui-Ling Tam
Office Location:	SS 336
Office Phone:	(403) 220-7182
E-Mail:	cltam@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	M 13:00-14:00; W 9:30-10:30

Additional Information

 

The teaching assistant is Ms. Connie Friesen (cafriese@ucalgary.ca, 270-3648), a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Communication and Culture. Her office location is SS 335. Office hours are by appointment only, normally during MWF 1200-1300.

 

For electronic communication with the instructor, students are encouraged to use their ucalgary accounts or Blackboard - the instructor will normally reply within 48 hours, during regular business hours. Questions of general interest will be addressed in class or on the Discussion Board in Blackboard.

Course Description

 

This interdisciplinary survey course provides students with a strong foundation in and understanding of the debates and concepts that have shaped development thinking, policy and practice. Case studies from the Global North and South will be used to highlight the historical, geographical, and contemporary significance of development strategies. The course will explore the defining characteristics of "developing" societies, as well as concepts and issues such as poverty, population, migration, labour, gender, environment, sustainable development, technology, and actors in development.

Objectives of the Course

 

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• recognize the complexity of development in its historical and geographical contexts;
• critically analyse the similarities and differences between development issues in the Global South and Global North;
• appreciate the challenges and opportunities for engagement within local and global communities.

Textbooks and Readings:

Allen, T and Thomas, A, eds. (2000) Poverty and Development: Into the 21^st Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Assignments and Evaluation

Task	Value	Due
Class discussion summary	10%	Fridays (excluding quiz dates)
Quiz #1	10%	Fri 8 February
Topic selection	5%	Wed 13 February
Quiz #2	10%	Fri 7 March
Quiz #3	10%	Fri 28 March
Final research paper	25%	Fri 4 April
Final examination	30%	April 21-30

 

Quizzes

Each quiz covers all readings, lectures and videos presented since the previous quiz.

 

Final examination

The final examination covers all readings, lectures and videos presented during the term.

Class discussion summary

Students will form small discussion groups on Fridays around one question presented in class pertaining to a topic covered in that week's lectures and/or readings. Each group will, at the end of their discussion, submit a written group answer to the discussion question (and include the full names of each student in the group). Group discussions will be facilitated by the course instructor and teaching assistant. There will be no lecture on March 21 (Good Friday), hence the group discussion will be on Wed, March 19.

 

Topic selection

Students will choose one case study each from the Global South and Global North and briefly explain the similarities and differences between those case studies with reference to one particular development strategy or issue. Students must cite two potential academic journal references (using a bona fide reference style). Maximum length is 250 words or 1 page. Further details will be posted on Blackboard.

Research paper

Students will build on their "topic selection" to assess the benefits and limitations of development strategies with reference to their chosen case studies. Students will critically analyse their topic, with a clear introduction and conclusion that incorporates the student's position statement, supported by sound argument and case study evidence. Students may use no more than two chapters from the textbook as references. Students must also use at least two academic journal references not within the textbook. Do not quote the instructor's lectures - go to an original source. Maximum length is 2,500 words or 10 pages. Further details will be posted on Blackboard.

Style and Length Requirements for Written Assignments

Students are urged to stay within the maximum word and/or page length, or risk a penalty. A bibliography and brief appendix are not included in the length restrictions. All written assignments must be TYPED and DOUBLE-SPACED in 12 PT FONT. Page margins should be 1 INCH (2.5 cm) wide, and all pages should be numbered. Double-sided assignments are encouraged to save paper, but are not mandatory. Information to be included on the title page are: title of paper, course code, instructor's name, student's name, student ID, and date of submission. References should follow a bona fide format. Examples of a correct title page will be posted on Blackboard.

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  Yes

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

 

Week	Date	Topic	Readings	Task due
CONCEPTUALISING DEVELOPMENT
Wk1	Jan 14	Introduction	None	Summary 1
Wk2	Jan 21	Concepts of development	Ch.2	Summary 2
STRATEGIES OF DEVELOPMENT
Wk3	Jan 28	History of development	Ch.11	Summary 3
Wk4	Feb 4	Economy and development	Ch.13	Quiz #1
Wk5	Feb 11	Actors and institutions	Ch.9	Summary 4 Topic selection
Reading week Feb 17-24. No classes.
Wk6	Feb 25	Globalization	Ch.16	Summary 5
CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPMENT
Wk7	Mar 3	Population and health	Ch.3 and 6	Quiz #2
Wk8	Mar 10	Labour	Ch.5	Summary 6
Wk9	Mar 17	Gender and development	Ch.18	Summary 7 (Good Friday)
Wk10	Mar 24	Spaces and places	Ch.20	Quiz #3
Wk11	Mar 31	Environment and sustainability	Ch.7 and 19	Summary 8 Research paper
Wk12	Apr 7	Measuring development	Ch.4	Summary 9
Wk13	Apr 14	Review	Ch.17	Summary 10