Professor Cornelia F. Sexauer (Connie)
Office number: 326
Office phone number: 261-6304
Office hours: M-F 10-10:50 or by appointment
Office e-mail: csexauer@uwc.edu
HIS286
U. S. History 1945-Present
Spring, 2003
(MWF 11-11:50 AM)
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of HIS 286 are to provide University of Wisconsin students an essential understanding of U.S. history from the end of World War II to the present. The course seeks to engage the student in history. At the same time the student will be given an opportunity to develop some of the skills of an historian – proficiencies that are useful in other professions as well. The assignments will include learning the expertise of an historian, and building analytical and communication skills. The themes of the course will include:
World War II – Home Front
Suburbanization
Cold War Policies
Korean War
Vietnam War
Civil Rights – African-American and Women
Liberation Extended
Diversity of the Population
Presidential Polices of the 20th century
As the students work through these themes they will have the opportunity to sharpen their analytical tools by personally engaging with scholarly syntheses and primary documents. They will also have the opportunity to sharpen their communication skills through class discussion, written assignments and two written exams. We will be reading personal reflections, historical analyses, and primary sources. Students will be asked to critically assess and discuss these source materials and connect them to the readings, lectures and films. In order to get full credit for discussion sections the student must actively participate in discussions and demonstrate the ability to pull out relevant aspects of the material. Be prepared for an occasional pop quiz on the reading material, which includes books when due for discussion.
In addition to a discussion grade, the students may have short in-class and out of class writing assignments, as well as a book review paper, and 2 exams. Students will not be allowed to consult their texts or notes during the exams. To answer the test questions the students are expected to draw on the lectures, assigned readings (including the books), appropriate primary sources, films and whatever material is presented in the class.
For this course you are being asked not simply to memorize and repeat historic information but to think critically about the questions involved and to come to your own conclusions with support for your conclusions based on materials presented in the class.
The essay, thus, should be structured as an argument in behalf of your conclusion and should be backed up with solid evidence. BE SPECIFIC AND USE EXAMPLES to show you know the material. A good rule of thumb in answering essay exams in this class is to take the role of the instructor as you attempt to teach your reader what you have learned in this class.
The 4-5 page book review paper must contain a cover sheet, have numbered pages, be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, with appropriate margins. All work turned into the professor must be in full sentence format. Please adhere closely to the page requirements of your assignments and do not produce less than or more than the required pages. Please FOLLOW THE BOOK REVIEW GUIDE provided when you submit your book review paper and if you have questions bring them to the instructor’s attention. Any written work turned in must have the student’s name, the professor’s name, the date, the name and number of the class and the day and time the class meets.
If for any reason a student misses class it is the student’s responsibility to obtain lecture notes, discussion notes, or film notes from another student. If the student is not in class when films are presented he/she must view this film outside of class. The films will be on reserve in the library following their viewing in class. Notes or copies of lectures will not be available from the professor.
Makeup exams are not allowed unless for emergency reasons and must have the approval of the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to ask for a doctor’s note or other authorization.
GRADING FORMULA:
25% Discussion: Class participation, Pop Quizzes, Short in-class and out of class writing assignments.
25% Book Review – It is highly recommended that you stop by the writing center to have them look over your writing. The Professor will gladly proof-read your book review before it is due and offer suggestions. You will not get a chance to re-write once you have turned in your finished book review.
25% Mid-Term Exam
25% Final Exam
Grades will be based upon performance on the book review, discussion and two examinations. The book review will be on one of the three books presented in class. This assignment is due on the day of discussion for that book and must be turned in before the class discussion. The overall discussion grade will be based on ACTIVELY participating in ALL class discussions. The two exams will consist of an essay, weighted at 70% and an identification section weighted at 30% of the exam grade. The exams will treat major themes from the preceding one-half of the class. The identification section will require the student to address WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND WHY (historical significance) of the three specific persons, events or ideas, from a choice of six. Only terms written on the board will appear on the ID section of the exams. There will be plenty of ID terms throughout the course and these will not only serve as ID’s but could well be used as support for essay answers. All graded work must be the student’s own work.
This grading scale, along with everything else contained in this syllabus, is subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to the students with as much advance notice as possible.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
If you need accommodations because of a disability of any kind, if you have emergency medical information that the professor should be aware of, or if you need special arrangements to succeed in this class please contact the professor at the earliest possible convenience.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
All conditions contained in the student handbook related to academic dishonesty will be in effect during the semester. It would behoove you to familiarize yourself with these conditions. Cheating will not be tolerated. See the special sheet attached on plagiarism.
DROPPING CLASS:
You may drop a course or courses by completing a registration form during the first 10 weeks of a semester-long course. If you drop a course after the second week of classes, a grade of W will be recorded on your official record. A faculty or academic advisor’s signature is required on all drops.
REQUIRED BOOKS:
The following books are required for this course and can be purchased at the University book store. If you have any problems getting the books see the instructor immediately.
Randall Bennett Woods: Quest for Identity – America Since 1945
Betty Friedan: The Feminine Mystique
Philip Caputo: A Rumor of War
Michael Moore: Stupid White Men
REQUIRED READINGS:
A reading list will be handed out the first week of classes.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
The reading schedule you will receive gets you ready for the next class. Those required readings and any written assignments are necessary to prepare you for discussions and for material on required tests. Be sure to read and study the material before the class session. DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE – THE GRADE-KILLING MISTAKE – of assuming the reading is unimportant. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMMAND OF BOTH THE LECTURES AND THE REQUIRED READINGS YOU WILL NOT DO WELL IN THIS CLASS.
If class is cancelled and you wish to make this up you may request an appointment with the professor to discuss the class (i.e. the Apr. 3rd class when I need to attend a conference.)
Wed. Jan. 22 Introduction. Why study history? What do I know? How to do well in this class.
Fri. Jan. 24 Film: The First Measured Century (2nd half of the film)
Mon. Jan. 27 1940’s America’s Decision to Fight
Wed. Jan. 29 Film: Rosie the Riveter
Fri. Jan. 31 1950’s Cold War Policies
Mon. Feb. 3 Prosperous Post-War Years
Wed. Feb. 5 Film: Suburbanization
Fri. Feb. 7 Origins of the Civil Rights Movement
Mon. Feb. 10 Film: Mississippi Burning
Wed. Feb. 12 Film: Mississippi Burning
Fri. Feb. 14 Discussion Mississippi Burning and how it fits with this class
Discussion of Friedan’s book - Book Review Due
Mon. Feb. 17 Presidency of JFK and LBJ
Wed. Feb. 19 Film: LBJ
Fri. Feb. 21 The Women’s Movement in Modern Times
Mon. Feb. 24 Film: Easy Rider
Wed. Feb. 26 Film: Easy Rider
Fri. Feb. 28 Discussion of Easy Rider and how it fits with this class
Mon. Mar. 3 How to Write an Essay Exam - Review
Wed. Mar. 5 Mid-Term Exam
Fri. Mar. 7 Black Power – What Happened?
Mon. Mar. 10 The Vietnam Experience – How did we get there?
Wed. Mar. 12 Discussion of the Caputo book – Book Review Due
Fri. Mar. 14 Return Mid-Term Exams
Mon. Mar. 17-21 NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Mon. Mar. 24 The End of the Vietnam War
Wed. Mar. 26 Nixon’s Foreign and Domestic Policies
Fri. Mar. 28 Watergate and the Downfall of Nixon
Mon. Mar. 31 Film: Silkwood
Wed. Apr. 2 Film: Silkwood
Fri. Apr. 4 NO CLASS
Mon. Apr. 7 Discussion of Silkwood and how it fits with this class
Wed. Apr. 9 Media’s Affect on the Culture of America
Fri. Apr. 11 NO CLASS
Mon. Apr. 14 Awakening of Liberation Movements
Wed. Apr. 16 Ford and Carter
Fri. Apr. 18 Social Aspects of the American Economy
Mon. Apr. 21 Reagan and Bush
Wed. Apr.23 Film: Roger and Me
Fri. Apr. 25 Film: Roger and Me
Mon. Apr. 28 Discuss: Roger and Me and how it fits with this class
Wed. Apr. 30 Presidency of Wm. J. Clinton
Fri. May 2 Discussion of Moore’s book – Book Review Due
Mon. May 5 Fifty Years of Change
Wed. May 7 Fifty Years of Change (continued)
Fri. May 9 Diversity in American Life: Changing Social Patterns
Review for the Exam
Mon. May 12 EXAM – 10:30AM-12:30PM
ASSIGNMENTS:
You will be given a reading sheet for the textbook and the document packet.
For each discussion listed on the schedule you will turn in a one-two page written
response that demonstrates prior thought on the subject. Use the questions in the
assigned readings to prompt your answer and also record your thoughts for possible
discussion questions or concerns about this reading. This paper will be used to figure
the class participation grade and will not be returned to the student. Since these sheets
part of the discussion grade if you are not in class the day of that discussion you will not
get credit for a sheet turned in late.