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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "HS-RS 371"
COURSE NAME: "The American 20th Century"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2018
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Andrea Lanzone
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00-4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisites: One previous history course. Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
History Research Seminar: 300-level history
courses designated by the prefix HS-RS indicate courses being offered as
Research Seminars. These courses are writing-intensive and help to
train students to carry out original research by guiding them through
the preparation of a significant research paper. History majors are
encouraged to take these before their senior year, and especially before
the semester in which they prepare their thesis.
This seminar examines the history of the United States from the closing
of the frontier to the present. Although the analysis of the 20th
century will generally be chronological, an attempt will be made to
trace the importance of key experiences and ideas that have shaped US
society during the last 100 years. Special attention will be paid to
such topics as the closing of the frontier, immigration, World War I,
the Great Depression, the impact of American literature, World War II,
the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Sixties, and to ideas such as
democracy, freedom, “American Identity” and the “American Dream.”
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
There will be two class meetings a week. This course will be run as a seminar in which students discuss the assigned readings and research projects.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The American 20th Century 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 (group discussions will be a central part of the course structure) and develop their abilities to:
Formulate a research question about a historical subject.
Evaluate primary and secondary sources..
Respect academic integrity and ethical standards.
Communicate and develop information and ideas.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
The American Century | Harold Evans | Knopf | 0-375-70938-X | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
Attendance | Attendance is mandatory. Participation is graded based on the student's comments, questions, active note-taking and general active engagement in class discussions and activities | 30 |
Paper#1 | Students will develop a paper on one of the problems/issues discussed in class and will analyze its dynamics, problems and prospects | 15 |
Midterm Exam | Essay-based exam in which students critically engage with the materials and debates presented in class lectures, discussions and readings | 10 |
Final Exam | Essay-based exam in which students critically engage with the materials and debates presented in class lectures, discussions and readings | 30 |
paper#2 | Students will develop a paper on one of the problems/issues discussed in class and will analyze its dynamics, problems and prospects. | 15 |
-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 course. 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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
More than two absences will have a negative effect on the grade, the more absences, the negative-er the effect. Students cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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week 1: The Closing of the Frontier
week 2: America Moves to the City
week 3: The Phenomenon of American Immigration
week 3: Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt
week 4: Wilsonian Progressivism Home and Abroad
week 4: World War I : The War to end War
week 5: American Life in the Roaring Twenties
week 6: The Great Depression and the New Deal
week 7: World War II in Europe
week 7: America in World War II
week 8: Midterm exam
week 8: The 1940s
week 9: The Eisenhower Era 1952-1960
week 10: Kennedy’s New Frontier
week 10: Civil Rights and Vietnam
week 11: The Seventies
week 12 The Eighties
week 13 The Nineties and the New Millennium
Final exam
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