Global Hotspot: Pakistan Syllabus

Course Description

Few countries in the world are more strategically critical yet less understood than Pakistan. This young country in an ancient land lies at the crossroads of history, religion, language, and culture. On the frontline in the war against terror, this nuclear power is in the midst of political turmoil whose outcome will have great implications for the rest of the world.

Course Outcomes

• Students will analyze the ways in which Pakistan has been shaped by factors such as history, geography, economics, religion, natural resources, and language.
• Students will analyze current challenges facing this volatile nation that has ancient roots.
• Students will be able to use these same analytical skills to better understand any nation of the world from the perspective of that nation, as well as from the perspective of the United States.
• Students will appreciate how the nations of the world are connected, develop an interest in international affairs, and see why such matters are important from a gospel perspective.

Course Materials

Required Materials

• Microphone (for recording Topic Presentations)
• I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb. ISBN-10: 0316322407. This text should be available at most bookstores and libraries, including online. Students, please note that there are two versions of I Am Malala. Make sure you do not purchase the “Young Readers Edition.”

Compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.

Technology

It is assumed that you either have your own computer or you have consistent access to a computer. You need to have the appropriate permissions on your computer to download lesson content, access websites, and update and/or download software as needed. Additionally, you will need a reliable Internet connection. Visit the Orientation to Online Learning page in the first lesson of your course to verify that you have your computer set up properly.

You will use Microsoft Office products in this course. If you do not yet have the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) on your computer, you can use this free download to obtain the software.

Note: This free download is only for BYU-Idaho students with a current login.

Mozilla Firefox is the recommended Internet browser for any I-Learn course. Videos, readings, and course functionality will work best when you use Firefox.

Keys to Success

BYU-Idaho Learning Model

All courses, including online courses, at BYU-Idaho follow a pattern of learning that enables students to take more responsibility for their own learning and for helping to teach one another. This pattern is called the Learning Model. Here are two pages to help you better understand the Learning Model.

• Take charge of your education by applying the Learning Model
• Learning Model interactive tutorial

Tips for Success in this Course

• This class is a 3-credit course, you should expect to spend around 9–12 hours per week (3–4 hours per credit hour) completing course activities and assessments. Plan your weekly schedule wisely to set aside adequate study time and allow you to work at a healthy, steady pace throughout the course.
• Read the Introduction each week before beginning the lesson. Your instructor will provide timely information about changes, expectations, and other important things to note as you begin the lesson.

Weekly Activities

In every week there are a variety of assignments due. You will find descriptions of each below.

Discussion

Class discussions are the main interaction we will have in this course. Each discussion board will have two parts. Part one is a response to the Choose Your Position scenario. Part two is sharing insights gained from the readings (text, case studies, study materials, etc.) with your fellow student group members. Make sure to include references to which items had the most impact.

Reading: I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Each week there will be assigned chapters from the book I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. Accompanying each chapter is a Reading Quiz.

Reflection Write-up

The Reflection Write-up is the end-of-week wrap up assignment. It brings together everything we've been discussing and studying for the week and allows you to reflect on what you've learned. Answers to Reflection questions should be kept between 50 and 75 words.

Digging Deeper

Each week a variety of additional resources will be provided to enhance your study of the weekly discussion topics. There will be a selection of articles, videos and audio files. You are required to read or watch thirty (30) minutes of these additional resources. You are welcome to view more if you like as they will provide a deeper understanding of course material.

Major Assignments Fictional Internship

You have three major assignments this semester: case study, topic presentation, and Futures Project. To create these assignments you will participate in a fictional internship with the fictional Pakistan Research Group (PRG). You will find more information about PRG in the Resources folder in the course.

Case Study

The first project you will work on as an intern at the fictional PRG company will be to write a case study. In a small group, you will be expected to research and write a summary (case study) of a discrete episode or issue in Pakistan's history. Each student will sign up for a case study on the PRG Group Pages.

Topic Presentations

The second project this semester that you will work on as an intern at the fictional PRG company will be to prepare a topic presentation. Topic presentations are narrated presentations on topics related to each week's lesson. Each presentation has a due date that can be found on the Calendar. Each student will sign up for a topic presentation on the Topic Presentation Google Document. This is an individual assignment.

Futures Project

The last project you will work on this semester as an intern at the fictional PRG company will be to create a screencast. The purpose of this third project is for you to convince your instructor and classmates that you have learned the important and basic facts about Pakistan and how to analyze important issues facing this country. Create a 4–6 minute screencast in which you answer the following question: "What does the future hold for Pakistan, and why should I care?" This is an individual assignment.

Grading

Grading Categories and Weights

Category	Weight
Reflection Write-ups	15%
Case Study	20%
Topic Presentation	20%
Futures Projects	20%
Reading Quizzes	10%
Discussion Boards	5%
Final Exam	10%

Final Exam

The final exam is a multiple choice and matching test that encompasses everything you have learned. Questions are taken from the Weekly Study materials, Malala readings, Case Studies, and Topic Presentations.