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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 283"
COURSE NAME: "The American Experience II: From the Closing of the Frontier to the Present"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2017
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Andrea Lanzone
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will examine the transformation of the United States from a peripheral country to a world power. The course will analyze the causes of that transformation, focusing on industrialization, the First World War, the Great Depression, changes in American social thought and literature, the Second World War, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the search for a new world order. Special attention will be devoted to democracy and freedom, the role of race, the impact of immigration, as well as the post-war student and protest movements.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course is designed to give students a broad overview o of the History in the United States. We will learn about the closing of the American Frontier, the impact of immigration, the Wilsonian progressivism at home and abroad, the First World War, the Twenties, the Great Depression and the New Deal, and the Second World War. The second part of the course will be dedicated to the 1950s, the 1960s (Kennedy, Civil Rights and Vietnam, Feminism, New Left and Black Panthers) the Seventies, the Eighties, the Nineties and the new millennium.

The class will discuss the assigned readings. Students’ active participation in discussions is absolutely necessary to making the course work well. The very high percentage of the final grade will be based on class participation. Lectures will be followed by questions and discussion. Students should come to lectures prepared. All assigned readings should be completed before each class meeting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The American Experience II provides the student with a deep and critical understanding of United States of America in terms of historical events, social systems, economic processes and ideologies. One of the aims of the course is to enhance student's skills in critical thinking and reading. To this end, students shall investigate one key event in the recent history of the United States of America.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
A People's History of the United StatesHoward Zinnharperperennial978-0-06-083865-2  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
attendance and participation 40%
midterm 10%
oral presentation 10%
paper 20%
Final  20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the co
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
More than one absence will have a negative effect on the grade, the more absences, the negative-er the effect.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1 -The closing of the American Frontier

Week 2 -The impact of Immigration

Week 3 -The Republican Roosevelt

Week 3 -The Wilsonian Progressivism Home and Abroad

Week 4 -The First World War

Week 4 -The Roaring Twenties

Week 5 -The Great Depression

Week 5 -The New Deal

Week 6 -The Second World War

Week 7 -The 1940s

Week 8 -The 1950s

Week 9 - Introduction to the 1960s

Week 10 -Kennedy, Civil Rights and Vietnam

Week 11 -Femminism, New Left and BPP

Week 12 -The Seventies

Week 13 - The Eighties

Week 14 - The Nineties and the New Millennium