Quebec and French Canada (HIST*3600)

Code and section: HIST*3600*01

Term: Winter 2020

Instructor: Alan Gordon

Details

Course Synopsis:

This course examines selected themes in the social, economic, political and cultural evolution of Quebec and its relations with the rest of Canada. The course will also touch on the development of French Canadian, Métis, and Acadian communities in other provinces.  This year we will be examining Quebec and French Canada through the concept of double minority.  This concept recognizes that francophones and anglophones – as well as allophones – all find themselves in minority positions in different contexts.  How this sense of being a minority has affected Canadian history will be examined.  Content will trace Quebec and French Canadian history from the Conquest up to the current debates over secularism and religious minorities.

Note: The ability to read and understand French is an asset in this course, but is not a requirement.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• demonstrate a broad understanding of the historical development of Quebec and French Canada
• intensively analyze historical themes, facilitating investigation in some depth (both in terms of factual material and of theoretical approaches)
• appreciate the temporal dimensions of constructing historical inquiries, and particularly understand the diversity of historical perspectives that proceed from the different framing of historical inquiries by place, culture, and time.
• evaluate and differentiate historical and political narratives grounded in cultural contexts
• read and analyze primary sources, and explore secondary material at an advanced level
• use advanced skills associated with bibliographic research beyond basic bibliographic search resources
• produce original research that reflects not only a synthesis of scholarship, but an original interpretation
• demonstrate skills in written communication through the completion of written assignments

Methods of Evaluation:

There will be a mix of written assignments, including an essay and essay proposal, and exams.

Texts and/or Resources Required:

The required textbook is Gossage, Peter, and J.I. Little. An Illustrated History of Quebec: Tradition & Modernity. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2012. 

There will be additional materials on reserve.  This course puts an emphasis on reading primary source documents (in translation) and discussing them.  These will be provided in-course.

*Please note: This is a preliminary website description only. The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description. The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester.

 

Syllabus