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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "HS-RS 368"
COURSE NAME: "The Other America: History of the Counterculture in the US"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2019
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Andrea Lanzone
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 1:30-2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing, One previous history course
OFFICE HOURS:
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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.
The seminar analyzes the history of Counterculture in the United States and examines the impact that Counterculture had during the Sixties and early Seventies (and the legacy and influence that certain particular experiences and ideas have had on later generations). The Other America also aims through the words of Whitman, Steinbeck, Woody Guthrie, Kerouac, Dylan, Springsteen, and many other writers, poets, activists, and musicians to observe the inequities encountered by different American minorities in the 20th Century and to disclose their strategies of survival as they have sought justice and dignity.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This seminar is designed to give students a broad overview of the History of Counterculture in the United States. Students will learn about the beginning of the Other America's history (Native Americans, African Americans, European immigrants) and how the cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s and its standard bearers (Mario Savio, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Russell Means etc.) have shaped and changed the American national identity, politics and society. In order to do so, 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. There will be two class meetings per week. Lectures will be followed by questions and discussion. All assigned readings should be completed before each class meeting.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The seminar provides the student with a deep and critical understanding of United States of America’ history 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. Group discussions will be a central part of the course structure.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| America Divided | Maurice Isserman, Michael Kazin | Oxford | 0-19-516047-9 | | |
| Boom! Voices of the Sixties | Tom Brokaw | Random House | 978-1-4000-6457-1 | | |
| The Other America | Michael Harrington | Touchstone | 978-0-684-82678-3 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Attendance and Participation | 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. | 20% |
| Final | 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. | 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 cou
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 two absences will have a negative effect on the grade, the more absences, the negative-er the effect.
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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 - Identity, Democracy & American Dream
week 1 -The End: John Lennon in New York City
week 2 - History of Counterculture: Indians, African-Americans and European immigrants
week 3 - Sacco and Vanzetti
week 4 -Steinbeck, the 1930s and Bruce Springsteen: the American migrants
week 5 -American Poetry: From Whitman to Kerouac
week 5 -Portrait of the Beat Generation
week 6 -1950’s: Cultural Revolution
week 6 -America Divided: the 1960s
week 7 -Mario Savio and the Making of a Youth Culture
week 8 - Midterm Exam
week 9 -War on Poverty: The Other America
week 9 -Civil Rights
week 10 -Martin Luther King and Malcolm X
week 11 -The Vietnam War
week 11 -The Sixties in Sport: Muhammad Ali
week 12 -The Sixties in Music: Woodstock
week 12- Black Panther's Party and American Indian Movement
week 13 -Winners, Loosers and Consequences
Final Exam
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