History A347-001 A&S
Spring 2002
T-R 2:00-3:15
MA 418
Syllabus
Dr. Mark Fernandez
Office: Bobet Hall 424
Office Hours: M-F: 11:30-12:30 and by appointment
Office Phone: 865-2566
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will survey the history of the American West from its earliest origins to 1890 as well as the role of the region in the American imagination in the twentieth century.
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:
Taylor, The Turner Thesis.
DeVoto, Journals of Lewis and Clark
McMurtry, Lonesome Dove
Slotkin, Regeneration Through Violence
White, Middle Ground
Additional internet readings will be assigned from time to time. 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 three absences. Upon the fourth 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. If you have an extraordinary reason for missing class, you must notify me in advance of the absence (or after in cases of emergency) and have supporting material, e. g., doctor's notes, etc.
SPECIAL NEEDS:
If you have special needs related to physical or learning disabilities, please make arrangements through the Office of Academic Enrichment.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Students will be required to complete all reading and writing assignments. Additional internet readings and e-mail assignments may be required. There will be two exams (a mid term and a final). Students will also be required to write three short position papers on class readings as well as a final research paper (more to follow on these). Of course, students are required to take all quizzes, tests, and complete all assignments on time.
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 30% (10% each) of your final grade; class participation will be worth 10%, the exams will be worth 40% (20% each) of your final grade. The research paper will be worth 20% of the final grade. 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 which will be figured in to my subjective assessment of your class participation. These two items will be the part of your class participation 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 entire course and the incident will be reported in writing to the Dean.
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT:
I do not allow tape recording or video taping of class sessions without a request from the Office of Academic Enrichment. If you have beepers or cellular telephones, please be sure to turn them off before coming to class.
REVISION OF SYLLABUS:
I reserve the right to revise this syllabus at any time during the semester.
ASSIGNMENTS AND DEADLINES:
January 22 -- look at the following images that you drew of the American West and write a one to three paragraph analysis and e-mail it to me by January 22. What do these images tell us about our conception of the American West?
1st Short Paper: Discuss the cultural accommodations between westerners and Indians in the Great Lakes region based on your analysis of The Middle Ground. Due Feb. 28.
Second short paper and research paper -- assigned in class.
Final short paper: Write a brilliant analysis of how Lonesome Dove succeeds or fails in presenting an image of the American West. Due April 25.
Research paper presentations:
April 30 -- Sophie, Sara, Brooke, Alex, Nolan
May 2-- Adam, Jeanette, Mirya
N. B. Students may submit a rough draft of the short paper to me at any time in the semester with the exception of the week before the deadline.
