History 110, Spring 2012
Stevenson University, Stevenson, MD 21153
Marilyn Julius, Instructor
mjulius@stevenson.edu
Website: http://www.historymj.com/AmeHistTWO
Office: LRC #114, Greenspring Campus
Objectives |Materials | Assignments | Please
Welcome to our history! This course, the second half of Stevenson's United States history sequence, covers the years 1877 to the present. We will cover twelve decades of American life -- a challenging task.
As I hope you will think about often, history is so much more than dates and facts, more even than the sum of our nation's economic, political, social, and cultural past. History is about ideas. And so the theme for this course is liberty, one of the biggest ideas of all.
But what exactly does freedom mean? How has our interpretation of this cherished value changed over our country's history? Freedom for whom? Freedom from what? And how have we reconciled the concept of freedom with that other American ideal: equality?
We will consider these questions over the semester, and maybe you will be surprised at your own thinking on the subject of freedom. Let Freedom Ring!
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Class Components:
- For each topic we cover, we will usually spend one day covering some distance -- usually a decade or so -- through a quiz, mini-reports, lecture, various media, and discussion. To prepare for class, you should read the assignment thoroughly enough to pass a quiz and to participate actively in class discussion
- On the next day, we will usually slow down for a side trip to learn more about some particular aspect of the time period we are studying -- through discussion, simulations, group work, music and film. To prepare for class, you will have primary sources and websites to explore.B
- Sunday Midnight: Weekly Posting: By Sunday midnight of each week you will post your Liberty Journal entry on Blackboard -- your take on the meaning of your chosen word during this time period as you've thought about the week's chapter and primary source materials.
Course Materials:
Text: Give Me Liberty! An American History, Volume 2, Second Seagull Edition, by Eric Foner. New York: Norton, 2008. Available at the College Store.
- Text: Give Me Liberty! An American History, Volume 2, Second Seagull Edition, by Eric Foner. New York: Norton, 2008. Available at the College Store. ISBN-10: 0393932567
Online: An online StudySpace featuring maps, quizzes, podcasts, primary sources, andother course materials and study aids. http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/foner2/
Assorted handouts and online readings
Assignments See Assignments page for more detail on each assignment.
Assignment |
Wt |
Class Participation |
15% |
Quizzes |
10% |
Liberty Journal Postings |
15% |
Tests and Exam
|
|
Evaluation
Letter |
% |
SU |
Rounding |
|
A+ |
98 |
93-100 |
A |
92.5-100 |
Departmental Learning Objectives:
Upon completing this course, you will be able to
- Demonstrate your knowledge of historical periods, person, events, ideas, and themes in U.S. history from 1877 to the present (discussion board, reading journal, self-tests, essays).
- Demonstrate your understanding of the concepts of historical causation, conflict, and change over time. (essay tests, discussion board)
- Analyze the changing interpretations of freedom and equality since the Civil War (final essay)
- Read, interpret, and evaluate primary sources (reading journal)
- Write clearly about history (discussion, journal, essay tests, final essay)
Please . . .
Be prepared. Some days you may be asked to write about the reading at the beginning of class orto read your reading response aloud. Some days you may have a quiz. You should always be prepared to discuss readings and topics aloud.
Be prompt. Turn in all work on time. Grades on late assignments will disappoint you (papers are devalued one letter grade per class period except in the case of documented absences for illness requiring a doctor's visit, a court appearance, a death in the family). But wait! You do have one safety valve. One assignment may be turned in one class period late. Tests may be made up only with a documented excuse: from a physician, hospital, court, or other verifiable documentation
Be honest with yourself and with me about your attendance, class preparation, and assignments. Document your papers correctly (plagiarism will result in failure of the course). Also, be candid. Honest feedback will help me fit the course to your needs and desires.
Be open-minded. Expect a lot. Get involved. Be curious. Have fun, too!
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