Goals and Objectives
Calendar and Requirements
History S/322
Spring 2002
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Goals of this course are to learn in depth about the defining period of U.S. History, to develop the student's skill in oral communication, to enhance the student's skills in writing, and to enlarge the student's understanding of the art of historical writing. Both formal speaking to a group and informal class discussion will be exercises to improve oral communication. Inherent in oral communication is to develop the art of listening. Therefore, the class is one of discussion, not lecture. Objectives: Each student is expected to prepare and deliver one introduction to the author of the work to be discussed, to prepare a short book review, and to lead one or more class discussions. All students are expected to write a review for each book and discuss each book. It is superfluous to add that you should read all the books. The specific topics for each class are:
February 18 Nash, Urban Crucible
February 25, Morgan, The Stamp Act Crisis
March 4, Zobel, The Boston Massacre
March 11, Labaree, The Boston Tea Party
March 18, Maier, From Resolution to Revolution
March 25, Oliver, The Origin and Progress of the American Rebellion
April 8, Alden,The American Revolution
April 15, Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia
April 22, Szatmary, Shays’ Rebellion
April 29, McDonald, E Pluribus Unum
May 6, Main, The Anti-Federalists
May 13, Concluding discussion
Specific Requirements
A short review (175 words maximum) is due on each work at the beginning of the class in which the book is to be discussed. These reviews are to be patterned after the reviews in Choice. The review should, at the top of the page, give the bibliographical data of the work (author, title, place and date of publication) and the birth (and where applicable the death) date of the author/s. These data are not part of the 175 word maximum.
Students who have not had History 211 or equivalent recently should read the appropriate chapters of a U.S. Survey textbook before reading the first book.
March 25 MID TERM EXAM The mid-term examination will cover the six books before its infliction.
May 21 FINAL EXAMINATION The final examination will cover the film all the books of the course. The examinations will probably be open book and take home. You may also use class notes and a dictionary in taking the examinations, but no other sources.
One student will be assigned to present a formal introduction to the author of the book. The introduction will attempt to put the author into a historical setting (which affects his or her interpretation of the past) by noting birth date, education, principle events of the time in which the author was forming a view of the world (Weltanschauung).
One student, the discussant, will be assigned for each book to lead the discussions in each class. He or she will elicit from the other members of the seminar their observations on the significance and method of the author as well as the significant materials of the book.� All Students are expected to read each book and discuss each book and to be able to cite specific references to support their points.
Grading
Reviews: 15 percent of the final grade; only the ten highest counted. In cases where all grades are C or better, the eleventh grade will be added to the whole.
Formal speech: 5 percent.
Class discussion: 15 percent of the final grade; only the ten highest counted. You must participate in the class discussion to receive credit. Attendance alone is not sufficient. You are expected in discussing the books to be able to sustain your position with references to pages in the text.
Mid-term examination: 25 percent.
Final examination: 40 percent.
Cuts: one discretionary (three hours).
Honor policy: plagiary cannot and will not be tolerated. Your work must be your own. When quoting an author, give page references in parentheses after the quotation marks. When referring to particular ideas, give page referees in parentheses.
Consulting Hours: W 1:30-2:30 T -Th 11 – 11:30 F 2—4; committee meetings excepted, and by appointment. It is wise to call (7235) first. Generally, if my door is open I'm glad to see you except just before lectures (C & K tracks).
ADD/drop dates: FEBRUARY 18, March 29.
Purpose of the course: First, to introduce the students to a study in depth of selected topics of the American Revolution (ca. 1760 to 1788). Second, to introduce to the student the nature of historical writing: its aims and methods. The student will learn to discover and test authors' theses, use of sources, logic, and biases.� It is for this reason that you are asked to give date of publication and authors' vital dates. Third, to give the student practice in oral communication.