COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will investigate the conception of revolution in the modern world contributions of the American Revolution.
REQUIREMENTS:
Students are required to attend and to participate in class and to complete all reading and writing assignments and exams. All students are required to activate their Loyola e-mail accounts by the second week of the semester unless they have their own account through an ISP. Every student MUST subscribe to the class listserv. Instructions on subscribing to the listserv will be distributed in class.
REQUIRED READINGS:
Harry Ward, The American Revolution
Pauline Maier, American Scripture
David Hackett Fischer, Paul Revere's Ride
Gordon Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution
Additional internet readings will be assigned on a weekly basis. If you do not have a PC, you may use the facilities available on campus, especially the Humanities Lab BO 448.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are required to attend all classes. I will allow four absences. Upon the fifth absence ten points (one letter grade) will be deducted from the student’s final grade with an additional ten point deduction for each further absence. Tardiness will not be tolerated. Students who are habitually late will be informed by me as such after which time their late arrivals will be counted as absences. Students who miss two classes or are tardy more than twice in the first four weeks of the semester will be cited for “irregular attendance” on the early warning rosters that I return to the Dean’s office. Those students or their parents will receive early warning letters from the Dean.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Students will be required to write three short (5-7 pp.) papers based on their assigned readings. These assignments are to be double-spaced typewritten essays based on original work. Periodic in class and e-mail writing exercises based on assigned readings will also be required. Students will also be required to take a final exam (in essay format).
MAKE-UP TESTS AND EXTENSIONS:
Make-up tests and/or extensions will be allowed only in extraordinary circumstances. To receive permission for a make-up test or paper extension, the student must contact me BEFORE the scheduled test or assignment deadline except in cases of emergency.
GRADING:
Grades will be assessed on a standard ten point scale (90-100=A, 87-89=B+, 80 86.9=B, etc., 59 or below = F. The three short papers will be worth 60% (20% each) of your final grade; in-class and e-mail writing assignments together will be worth 10%; the final exam will be worth 25%, and class participation will be worth 5%. The in-class writings and email will receive a check “*” or an “x.” The cumulative number of *’s and x’s will be used to determine your numerical grade for the in-class exercises. My subjective assessment of your class participation will be the basis of that grade.
INTEGRITY OF SCHOLARSHIP AND GRADES:
Please read the “Integrity of Scholarship and Grades” statement on pp. 45-46 of the Undergraduate Bulletin. Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive an “F” for the course and the incident will be reported in writing to the Dean.
REVISION OF SYLLABUS:
I reserve the right to revise this syllabus at any time during the semester.
ASSIGNMENTS AND DEADLINES:
Week One
January 13 -- No reading assignment.
Week Two
January 18 -- 20
Ward, ch. 1-2.
Week Three
January 25 -- 27
Ward, ch. 3' Wood, Part I "Monarchy."
Week Four
February 1 -- 3
Ward, ch. 4.
Week Five
February 8 -- 10
Ward, ch. 5; Paul Revere's Ride.
Short Paper due February 10. Choose a topic from Paul Revere's Ride
and write a 5-7 page critical analysis.
Week Six
February 15 -- 17
Ward, ch. 6
Week Seven
February 22 -- 24
Ward, chs. 7-9.
Week Eight
February 29 -- March 2
Ward, chs. 10-12.
Week Nine
March 14-- 16
Ward, chs 13-14.
Week Ten
March 21 -- 23
Ward, chs. 15-17
Week Eleven
March 28 -- 30
Ward chs. 18-19; Wood, Part II "Republicanism."
Week Twelve
April 4 -- April 6
Ward, ch. 20.
Week Thirteen
April 11 -- April 13
Ward, ch. 21; American Scripture.
Second short paper due April 13. Write a 5-7 page analysis of the importance
of the Declaration of Independence to American history.
Week Fourteen
April 18 -- Ward, ch. 22.
Week Fifteen
April 25 -- 27
Ward, chs. 23-24.
Week Sixteen
May 2 -- Wood, Part III "Democracy."
Third Short paper due May 2. Write a brilliant 5-7 page analysis of
how Gordon Wood's views of the significance of the Revolution compare and
contrast with the other major interpretations that you have encountered
this semester.