Rasputin and His Russia

HUM 252H Spring, 2015

HYBRID

Please consult the Weekend College schedule; this is a hybrid course,

meeting 8 am to 12:30 pm On Weekend Sunday
Instructor: Jane Crawford
Phone: 818-744-3967
Email:jcrawford@msmu..edu
Office: Rm 208 C Bldg 2, Doheny

Course Description:
Rasputin has been blamed for many things, from the corruption of the
Russian imperial family and the Russian Revolution. For many years
sealed, the state documents regarding this enigmatic figure and his
relations to the last Tsar and Tsarina are now available to historians.
The picture that emerges is surprising and intriguing. What were the
last years of Romanov really like? What were roles of Rasputin, Nichols
II and Alexandra in the wake of rising unrest? With Russia back in the
news, join us for this look inside the outward splendor of an empire
racked by turmoil. Was Rasputin a devil or a voice of reason?
Attendance
You are expected to attend all sessions. If you are excused from a
session for an emergency reason, you will be expected to an extra
project to make up. A second absence will result in a U grade.
Texts:
Gogol, N., Dead Souls, ISBN-10: 0679776443
ISBN-13: 978-0679776444
Hoskings, Geoffrey, Russian History: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford
University Press, SBN-10: 0199580987/ISBN-13: 978-0199580989
Fuhrmann, Joseph, Rasputin: The Untold Story, ISBN-10: 1118172760
ISBN-13: 978-1118172766
Simanovitch, Aron. Rasputin: Memoirs of His Secretary ISBN-10:
1484925858
ISBN-13: 978-1484925850
King G., The Last Empress, ISBN-10: 029923374X
ISBN-13: 978-0299233747
McKay, J., Four Russian Serf Narratives ISBN-10: 029923374X
ISBN-13: 978-0299233747

Fitzpatrick, S. The Russian Revolution, ISBN-10: 0199237670

ISBN-13: 978-0199237678
Massie, R., The Romanovs: the Final Chapter, Massie, R., The Romanovs:
the Final Chapter
Recommendednot required
I have tried to choose books that were not 800 pages, but some of these
big books are excellent:
Massie, Robet K., Nicholas and Alexandra, ISBN-10: 0345438310
ISBN-13: 978-0345438317 (long but worth it)
Mironenko, S., A Lifelong Passion , ISBN-10: 0385486731
ISBN-13: 978-0385486736 ( letters of Nicholas and Alexandra)

Textbooks available in Bookstore and amazon.com or other

outlets. Note that some of these books are on Kindle, which is
cheaper, as well as in physical book format:

Course Assignments

Participation in Discussion Forums Week2- 5 X 25=100 pts.

Research Paper of 12- 15 pages on an aspect of the general topic
200 pts.
(You are required to submit a prospectus with short bibliography,
outline and three pages of draft as assigned for 10 pts each ; in
other words, 40 pts of the 200 are required preparatory
assignments for the paper).
Oral presentation on your paper Wk 6
Trip to the Silverlake Russian Orthodox Church Weekend 5

Art the end of the course, grades will be computed according to the
usual: 94-100, A; 93-89,A-; 88-84, B; 83-80, B-; 79-76, C+; 74-70, C; 6967 C-; 66-62, D+, 61-60, D-; Below 60, F.

Course Outline
Week 1- Russias History and Society: the riddle, mystery and paradox
Weekend 2- Nicholas and Alexandria and the Revolution of 1905;
Rasputin in Petersberg
Weekend 3- WWI: the Tsarina and Rasputin at the Helm
Weekend 4 : Murder of Rasputin and the fal of the Romanovs
Weekend 5- Trip to Russian Orthodox Church; Rasputin and the Jews
Weekend 6 The Final Chapter and the Bolshevik Triumph
General Information
Plagiarism is prosecuted to the fullest extent of MSMC policies. Use
MLA or APA citation formats. If you use more than three sequential
words of another, cite the author. If you paraphrase an original idea or
concept of another, cite the author. Plagiarize, and fail the course.

Please notice the fastest way to get to me: jcrawford@msmu.edu

I use Angel for Assignments.

You may not make up Discussion posts; for good reason, you may make
up Fisc. Questions

MSMC POLICIES
Student Outcomes/Course Objectives:
]
FYI: Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes:
Student learning is at the core of the MSMC mission. MSMC faculty developed a plan to assess
the student-learning outcomes that represent the knowledge, skills and attitudes expected of
(someone in our major/a college student). In this class one or more student learning outcomes
will be assessed. Some of our class assignments may be used to evaluate overall student learning
and to improve teaching and learning in this class, this department, and throughout the College.
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Students and facultys freedom of speech is constitutionally protected, so they are free to take
reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve
judgment about matters of opinionand allow the same freedom for others. See Student
Handbook(s) for further discussion.
iv. Accommodation policy
:
MSMC, in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on
the basis of disability. If you are a student with a documented disability or special need,
please see the Director of Learning Assistance Programs at the campus in question to make
arrangements for classroom accommodations. Additional disability related information and
policies are stated in the Student Handbook.
v. Student credit hour policy:
A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by
evidence of student achievement that reasonably approximates not less than:
(1) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of outofclass student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester, or the
equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
(2) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) for other academic
activities, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic
work leading to the award of credit hours.