David, imagine having to talk to you on the Internet! I too am teaching
Britain & British Empire 1688-present this semester (I get 14 weeks) & have
just sent in my book order. We should talk! I am using the Wilcox-Arnstein
surveys of Britain from DC Health coupled with a fairly stodgy but accurate
survey of British Empire which is at home & I'll write you the title. I have
had good luck with assigning each student to research a different former
British colony (there are at least 30, and you can double up on India,
Canada, South Africa, etc) in terms of what the Brits brought to it and what
they left behind, and finally how it affected Brits back home (especially now
that the Empire is literally coming back to roost, as it were, in the
homeland). I also assign a novel that shows social life sometimes between
1750 and 1960--there was a recent discussion on H-Albion about post-1945
novels & films. Since my period is victorian & social technology I do a lot
with the industrial revolution, cities, etc. but of course now have some
material on Britain in the EuroCommunity to add to that. If you want a look
at my syllabus & assignment calendar I'll send it when it's ready but would
want to see yours in exchange.
Merry Christmas!
Dale Porter