3400: 250: 020
Fall 2009
10:45-Noon TTH/ Kolbe Hall 51
Office: CAS
200b
Office Phone:
330-972-6603
Office Hours: T/TH
3:30-4:30 PM or by appointment
E-mail: lgordon@uakron.edu
TAs: David Pennington <djp45@uakron.edu> & Daniel Safko <dcs28@zips.uakron.edu>
Course Description: This course examines major developments in American history from the
nation’s colonial beginnings to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Through lectures, readings, movies and class
discussion, we will study the early formation of the colonies, the road to
nationhood, westward expansion and the beginnings of industrialism. The course emphasizes a clash of cultures
that produced the young nation and subsequently affected its future development
for generations. We will close by
examining the event that nearly destroyed the
Course Requirements:
2 Essay tests 30%
(15% each)
Class Participation and
Discussion 15%
total
3 Writing Assignments 25% total
Misc class activities 10% total
Final Exam 20%
Required
Paine, Common Sense
Jacobs, Life of a Slave Girl
Watkins, Company Aytch
Recommended
Class Discussions: Discussions will center on selected chapters from Marcus & Burner
and led by my Teaching Assistants. These
small discussion groups also offer students opportunities to ask questions and
clarify points made in lecture or in the reading. Students are expected to take an active part
in these weekly discussions and come to them prepared with assigned reading in
Marcus & Burner completed. See below
for specific reading assignments.
Class Participation: Students should be prepared for and attentive during both lecture and
discussion. Expect to be called upon to
answer questions relevant to lecture or readings and take part in class
activities.
Class Attendance: Attendance is required in the
both lectures and discussion
and roll will be taken daily. Students
are allowed three absences (either excused or unexcused—there is no
distinction) for the semester. Missing
more than three classes (lecture and discussion) will have a detrimental effect
on a student’s final grade.
Tests: Two
tests will consist of essay questions and short identification terms. These tests will draw on reading assignments,
movies, class lectures and discussion. Make-ups for either test will be
arranged at a time set by the professor.
These make-ups will only be allowed under emergency circumstances and
students must present documentation to support their having to miss the test.
Final Exam: The
final exam will include essay questions and short identification terms, drawing
on class material not covered by the two previous tests.
Papers: There
will be three separate paper assignments during the semester. The first will be a short, one page position
paper based on Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. The second assignment will be a two page
analytical essay exploring the experiences of a slave as depicted in Harriet
Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave
Girl. The final paper (4-5 pages)
will critically evaluate Sam Watkin’s Company
Aytch. A separate sheet describing
each of these assignments is attached.
See below for due dates. Late
papers will be penalized.
Misc Class Activities: TAs will occasionally assign activities in their class
discussions which can include quizzes, mock exams, and other assignments. These activities make up 10% of a student’s
final grade.
Cheating: Cheating
in any form including plagiarism—presenting someone else’s words as your
own—will not be tolerated. It is cause
for an “F” in the course and can lead to consequences that are more serious. Do
your own work and give other people credit for theirs!
Class Etiquette:
A certain level of class decorum is required in this course. Students are
expected to come to class on time and remain for the entire class period unless
they have notified the professor or teaching assistant in advance. Eating in class is not permitted. Nor is it permissible to do work for another
class, read newspapers, surf the web, send emails or text messages, talk to
classmates during lecture or discussion, or sleep. PLEASE SHUT OFF YOUR CELL PHONES DURING CLASS TIME. Repeated failure to follow these guidelines
will have a detrimental effect on the student’s overall grade.
Norton: Chapters 1-2
Discussion: Marcus & Burner, Chapters 1 & 2: “Contact
& Conquest”
Week Two, Sept 1 & 3: The Colonial Period (Pt. 1)
Norton: Chapters 2-4
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapter 4, 10, & 11 “European
Encounters & Beginnings of Slavery”
Week Three, Sept 8 & 10: The Colonial Period (Pt.
2)
Norton: Chapters 3-4
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapters 7 & 8, “Points of
View: Women in Colonial
Week Four, Sept 15 & 17: Revolution
Norton: Chapter 5-6
Marcus & Burner:
Chapters, 17, 18 & 19, “Voices from the Revolution”
Discussion: Paine, Common
Sense
**Paper #1Due: Tues, Sept 15**
Norton: Chapter 7
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapters 20 & 21,
“Republicanism”
***Test #1: Thurs, Sept 24 **
Norton: Chapters 8-9
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapters 23, 24, & 25,
“Points of View: Religion in the New Nation”
Norton: Chapter 11
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapters 34, “Life in the
Industrial Revolution”
Week Eight, Oct 13 & 15: Westward Expansion
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapters 28, 29, 30 & 31,
“Going West”
Week Nine, Oct 20 & 22:
Norton: Chapter 12, pp.
325-335
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapter 27, “Trail of Tears”
Week Ten, Oct 27: The Antebellum South and Slavery
Norton: Chapter 10
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapters 32 & 33, “Points of
View: Nat Turner’s Rebellion”
Week Eleven, Nov 3 & 5: Abolition & Reform
Norton: Chapter 12, pp. 319-325
Discussion: Jacobs, Life of
a Slave Girl
***Paper #2 due Tues, Nov 10 ***
Norton: Chapter 14
Discussion: Marcus &
Burner, Chapter 38, “John Brown”
Norton: Chapter 15
Discussion: Watkins, Company
Aytch
Week Fourteen, Nov 24: Civil War (Part II)
Norton: Chapter 15
Discussion: Marcus & Burner, Chapters 39-40, “Winding Down
the War and an Uncertain Future”
Week Fifteen, Dec 1 & 3: Reconstruction
Norton: Chapter 16
Discussion: Marcus & Burner: Chapters 45, 46 & 47, “Reactions
to Reconstruction”
***Paper #3 due Thursday, Dec 3***
***Final Exam: Tues, Dec 8, Noon-1:55 PM
***
Information on this
syllabus, including dates of exams and reading assignments, is subject to
change. All such changes will be
announced in class as far in advance as possible.