This course examines the central issues involved in the Vietnam War. Our objective will be to determine why American policymakers persisted in a course that resulted in a disaster for both the United States and the people of Vietnam. The method by which we will accomplish this objective is through an immersion in government documents, memoirs, and other primary sources. Students will be expected to reach their own conclusions about the central issues of the Vietnam War rather than by simply relying on the conclusions of historians and political scientists. In addition to learning about the Vietnam War, a central purpose of this course is to improve the research skills and writing abilities of each student in the class. Course assignments will include several short papers, tutorial sessions, and class presentations. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: Four 5-page papers. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit:14 (expected: 14). Preference given to first-year students and sophomores. Permission of instructor required." (This course is part of the Critical Reasoning and Analytical Skills initiative. ) International Relations Subfield