Honors Colloquium

TR 11-12:15, Room 220 Main Hall

Spring 2005

Dr. Leslie Heaphy

 

Office:  310 D

Office Hours:  M 12:30-1:30. MW 4:00-5:00 and TR 12:30-1:30 or by appointment

Contact information: 330-244-3304 or Lheaphy@stark.kent.edu

 

Course Description:

This course will explore developments and themes in American History from the end of the Civil War into the twentieth century.  We will examine such themes as race, gender, religion, war, and entertainment.  The class will use discussions, lectures, films, and in-class presentations to focus on the various topics. 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES 

 

This course has several objectives:

 

1.      To strengthen your reading and critical thinking skills through a careful consideration of the reading assignments;

2.      To exercise and improve your writing skills with many opportunities;

3.      To enhance your ability to express yourself through classroom discussion, and to foster your respect for and appreciation of beliefs with which you may not agree;

4.      To promote your understanding and appreciation of historical changes and the impact such changes have upon humanity;

5.      To improve your knowledge of later American History and how it connects with the present

 

 

Required Readings

The Story of America Vol. II

How the Other Half Lives

And Class Handouts

 

Assignments

Two exams…………………………………200 points total

In-class assignments……………………….. 50 points total

Research project…………………………….200 points total

Short Papers……...………………………….50 points total

Journal………………………………………50 points total

Posters……………………………………….25 points

Artifact Demo……………………………….25 points

 

            Total……………………………..600 Points

 

A         540-600 points

B          480-539 points

C         420-479 points

D         360-419 points

F          Below 360

 

Policies/Services

Students with Disabilities

University Policy #3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content.  If you have a documented disability and are seeking academic accommodations please contact Kelly Kulick in the Office of Student Disability Services at 330-244-3287.  Students need to understand that if they will be requesting academic accommodations they are required to present medical documentation that addresses their disability before they are eligible for assistance through the Office of Student Disabilities which is located in the new Campus Center.  The new office number for the Office of Student Disability Services will be #47.  The new phone number will be 330-244-5047.

 

Academic Honesty

All work that students hand in is expected to be their own.  Failure to do so is plagiarism and students could be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the "Cheating and Plagiarism" section of the University's Digest of Rules and Regulations.  Your instructor may use software to identify portions of papers which have been copied from websites.

 

Writing Center

            Located in Main Hall, room 202, the Writing Center offers students help and instruction on any writing assignments in this class or any other.  They offer tutorials, handouts and brochures, and information on their website:  www.stark.kent.edu/writing.  There is no cost to use this service.

           

Testing Center

            The Testing Center is located in the lower level of the new Campus Center.  Call for hours and other information.  If you need to use their services for make-up tests be sure to bring your student id with you.  This is where all tutoring services are also located.

 

Campus Theme

This year the Campus Theme is Globalization.  The campus theme is designed to help students see connections between the classes they are taking as different disciplines may introduce the same topic but deal with it in different ways.  The book Globalization:  A Short History is available in the library for those interested.

 

Course Outline

The following schedule is tentative and the readings are subject to change.  Students will be kept informed of any changes.  Students are expected to keep up with all readings and will be periodically asked to write discussion questions and responses to their readings.

 

Week 1                        Overview and Reconstruction

 

Week 2                        Politics of Reconstruction

 

Week 3                        Urbanization and Immigration

                                                Begin How the Other Half Lives

Week 4                        Industrialization and Labor policies

                                                Finish How the Other Half Lives

Week 5                        Reforms and Leisure

 

Week 6                        Populism and War

 

Week 7                        Progressive Era

 

Week 8                        WWI Era

                        ***********1st Exam Due March 10th****************

Week 9                        Roaring ‘20s

 

Week 10          ********Spring Break*************

 

Week 11                      Great Depression

 

Week 12                      New Deal Politics

 

Week 13                      WWII Arrives

 

Week 14                      Aftermath of War and Cold War Origins

 

Week 15                      Cold War Hot Spots

 

Week 16                      Presentations

 

Week 17                      Final Exam Week—Presentations

                        ********2nd Exam Due on May 10th at 10:30 a.m.************

 

Assignments

            Exams

Students will take two exams during the semester—during the 8th week and finals week.  The exams will be divided into two sections, one part will be take home and a second section will be done in class.  Further directions will be handed out during the semester.

            Exam 1

            Exam 2

 

            Journal

Students will keep a weekly journal responding to the readings and class discussion.  The form of the journal can be decided by the students but each journal will have 15 entries by the end of the semester.  Each entry should have the date of the week it is written at the top of the entry.  Entries can be handwritten or typed but should be at least 250 words.  Students are asked to respond to readings and class discussions by thinking about the following questions:

  • Main topic of the readings/discussions
  • New things you learned
  • Ties to more recent history
  • Questions it leaves you with
  • Things you find interesting about the topic
  • Why you chose to write on this topic

Students do not have to respond to all readings or discussions each week but can pick and choose what interests them to respond to.  Journals will be handed in with their exams.

 

            In-Class Assignments

Students will be periodically asked to complete work in-class or make short presentations in class.  These assignments cannot be made up if you miss class since they are designed for class.  This is where your attendance can directly hurt your grade if you miss these assignments regularly.  Directions for these assignments will be handed out in class.

 

            Posters

Each student will complete one poster based on our discussions of World War I or World War II propaganda.  Students will put together a poster that is a propaganda piece for the Korean or Vietnam conflicts or the Cold War—the choice is the student’s.  They will choose to depict the conflict from the views of one of the participants.  Students will be graded on how well they integrate and use the ideas of what propaganda is designed to accomplish.

The important part of the presentation is not how artistic someone is but how well they illustrate and make their point.  The due date for all posters will be during the month of April when we arrive at these topics for discussion.

 

            Artifact Demonstration

Each student will be expected to bring in one historical artifact during the semester and present it to the class.  The object must relate to a topic of discussion and students need to explain how this object can enhance the study of that topic.  This presentation should explain the artifact and then show the class why it is important, what it can tell them about the topic etc.  For example, you might bring in a protest song from the 1960s when we are discussing that topic.  You can play the song and discuss the words with the class.

There is no specific due date for this project but everyone needs to complete it by the end of the semester.  When you have an idea for an artifact please let me know what it is and we can decide when the best time would be to bring it to class.

 

            Short Papers

Students will complete two short papers—one due Feb. 24th and the other April 7th.  Each paper will be 3-4 pages, typed and double spaced.  One paper must be written about an event as if you were a participant and you are explaining your role in the chosen event.  The other must be written as a reaction to hearing about an historical event—what do you think?  Are you supportive or not and why?  While both papers will allow for some creativity in developing they will be graded on their historical accuracy.  If you chose to be a participant at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, for example, then you need to be sure to identify who you are and then explain your role.  These papers will require some research so they should include citations and a bibliography.  You can put citations directly in the paper.

 

Research Project

Each student will complete a research project on a topic of their choosing.  The format of their project will also be chosen by the student.  All topics and formats must be approved by the instructor.  Topics must be related to American History between 1865 and 2000.  To get full credit for the project students must complete all components and not just the final project.  Students can also choose to work in groups of two to complete a project if they wish—there will be some additional expectations if you work with another student.

 

Common Components for all projects:

            100 word abstract

            References/citations—at least four sources actually used

            Proposal/outline

            Thesis Statement/conclusion

            Journal—if working in a group

            Assessment of work by each group member

 

Proposed forms for project

            CD/DVD/Video

            Web site

            Power point presentation

            Newspaper special supplement

            3D style project/diorama

            Posters

            Research Paper

            Other possible formats:  music, art, theatrical, food

 

Students must have their topics approved by February 3rd.  After approval of their topics students must decide what format their project will take—this must be approved by February 17th.  Then students will turn in an outline for their project including sources on March 17th.  Final projects are due the last day of regular classes before finals week (May 12th). 

At the completion of each project students will be expected to present their topic to the class—10 minute presentations with time after for questions.  Students will all be expected to complete their projects within the time limit to allow time for all presentations.  Part of the grade will be dependent on how well students plan their time—practicing is an excellent idea.  Presentations will take place during the final week of classes and during the final exam period.

 

Suggested Topics:

Immigration                  Battle of the Little Big Horn                   Expositions

Railroads                      Reconstruction                                      KKK

Jazz Age                       Movie industry                          Spanish-American War

Industrialization Reservation schools                              WWI

WWII                          Henry Ford                                          Peace Movements

FDR                             Theodore Roosevelt                             Sports

New Deal                     Great Depression                                  Pearl Harbor

Japanese Internment     Atomic Bombs                                     Red Scare

Korea                          Vietnam                                                Occupation of Japan

Watergate                    JFK                                                     Harry Truman

First Ladies                  AAGPBL                                             Negro Leagues

Civil Rights                   Malcolm X                                           NOW

NSC-68                       Robert Lafollette                                   Literature

Ashcan school              Harlem Renaissance                              Betty Friedan

Rock and Roll              Quiz show scandal                                Hostage Crisis

Foreign Policy              Berlin Airlift                                          League of Nations

Rosenberg’s                 Sacco and Vanzetti Case                      Scopes Monkey Trial

Ulysses Grant               Freedman’s Bureau                              Women’s suffrage

Margaret Sanger           14th or 15th Amendments                      Al Capone and the Mob