Syllabus

History 2020: American People Since 1865 Spring 2006

Instructor: Pete Roode peter.roode@gmail.com peterroode@comcast.net
Home phone 867- 3516 (cellphone may work 542-7781) Textbook, The American Promise – second compact edition –

Required reading: The Story of American Freedom by Eric Foner

Required reading choice - pick one.

Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus

By Rick Perlstein

The Assassin’s Gate: America in Iraq by George Packer

Additional supplemental short readings will be passed out in class and / or sent out as e-mail attachments and / or posted at http://roodehistory.blogspot.com/

We may have up to 2 video assignments – available at the LRC.

Midterm Examination: March 1
Final exam – Monday May 1 12:30-2:30

Grading - plus/minus system ( A, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, …etc)

• 25%--Midterm Exam
• 25%--Final Exam
• 30%-- Quizzes & In-class writing assignments.
• 20% --review essays – 3-5 pages each on 2 of the required readings.

PLAGIARISM OR ANY OTHER FORM OF CHEATING WILL RESULT IN FAILURE FOR THE COURSE

January 30 is the last day to drop the class without a grade.

March 6 is the last day to drop with a “W”.

If your grades up to the final are a solid “A” I will exempt you from the final.

CLASS ATTENDENCE AND PARTICIPATION: Your grade may be adjusted for positive or negative class participation. Serious class participation is required. Being present only physically is NOT participation. Interruptions or a lack of courtesy to your teacher or classmates will count against your grade. All students are expected to attend all class periods. Reasonable excuses will be duly considered. They should ordinarily be documented by a physician, team coach, faculty advisor, or dean. Unexcused absences exceeding three (3) class meetings may result in a grade-penalty.

Make-Up Exam Policy
If for any family or medical reason you find it absolutely necessary to miss an examination, you must contact the instructor before the examination and have him consent to your absence if you wish to take a make-up exam. If you do not contact the instructor before missing an exam, penalties, which may include a failing grade on the exam, will be assessed as are deemed appropriate.

Writing Assignments Review essays will be due at the beginning of class on the assigned date. Late essays will receive reduced grades.

QUIZZES and In-class writing : May include all kinds of questions. Short answers & multiple choice & definitions & fill in the blanks & essays. They may be announced or unannounced, at any time after an assignment is due or a topic is covered in class. They’ll be based on the required readings , articles & documents and viewings.

OFFICE HOURS AND MEETINGS: We will have 2 required meetings during the semester. I’ll pass around a sign-up sheet. I’ll have office hours on request and after class. I’m available most weekdays from mid-morning to early afternoon. I live right beside campus. I’m happy to talk and usually available on a few hours notice to walk over to the library and meet. I would strongly encourage meeting EARLY if you do not understand any of your grades. As the result of any such discussion I reserve the right to raise, lower or leave the grade the same.

Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible. Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.

FINAL GRADES
Final Grade sent to the registrar will be based on cumulative average performance. The overall class average will be loosely adjusted to match the average grade distribution in other History 2020 sections.

This course fulfills the Learning Outcomes for a General Studies class.

Weekly Schedule - readings must be completed before class meetings

Week 1: January 18 Introduction – America-in-the-world overview.

Week 2: January 23 RECONSTRUCTION American Promise, chapter 16 pp387-391, 394-410 Story of American Freedom Chapters 1, 3, 5

January 25 THE WEST AND THE CITY American Promise Chapter 17

Week 3: January 30 GILDED AGE American Promise , Chapter 18

Story of American Freedom Chapter 6

February 1 AMERICA’S WORKERS American Promise, Chapter 19

Week 4: February 6 FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND EMPIRE

American Promise Chapter 20

February 8 PROGRESSIVE REFORM American Promise, Chapter 21

Story of American Freedom Chapter 7

Week 5: February 13 WORLD WAR I American Promise, Chapter 22

February 15 Story of American Freedom Chapter 8

Week 6: February 20 THE NEW ERA American Promise Chapter 23

February 22 THE NEW DEAL American Promise Chapter 24

Story of American Freedom Chapter 9

Week 7: February 27 SECOND WORLD WAR American Promise Chapter 25

March 1 MIDTERM

Spring Break

Week 8: March 13 TRUMAN COLD WAR POLITICS American Promise Chapter 26

March 15 Story of American Freedom Chapters 10 and 11

Week 9 March 20 IKE American Promise Chapter 27

March 22 Story of American Freedom Chapters 10 and 11

Week 10: March 27 The 1960’S REBELLION AND REFORM

American Promise Chapter 28

Story of American Freedom Chapter 12

March 29 VIETNAM American Promise Chapter 29

Week 11:April 3 RETREAT FROM LIBERALISM American Promise Chapter 30

April 5 Story of American Freedom Chapter 13

You should have finished EITHER Before the Storm OR Assassin’s Gate

Week 12: April 10 Story of American Freedom paper due. – send a copy to both e-mail addresses

April 12 CULTURE WARS ARTICLES - Before the Storm Discussion

Week 13: April 17 END OF COLD WAR American Promise Chapter 31

April 19 Foreign Policy Articles

Week 14: April 24 Clinton Articles

April 26 Bush and Iraq articles

Assassin’s Gate or Before the Storm paper due – send a copy to both e-mail addresses.

Final Exam Monday May 1, 12:30-2:30
To contact Pete Roode send e-mail to both addresses: peter.roode@gmail.com & peterroode@comcast.net