HISTORY 112 – Twentieth Century United States History
Section 5611
Professor Al Smith – office hours: MTWTH 11:00 – 12:30 FH120E
Syllabus / Schedule - Fall 2016
THIS SEMESTER’S THEME:
The Corporation: The corporate financial structure has crept into every aspect of both the United States and the world. In this course we will investigate the birth, growth and development of modern, corporate-based political economy. We will evaluate the positive and negative aspects of the 20th century’s most dominant institution.
TEXTS:
“The Twentieth Century, A People’s History,” by Howard Zinn &
“American Cultures,” by Al Smith
THE SEMESTER’S WORKLOAD
SNAPSHOT – 4 GRADED AREAS
1 – 10 weekly writings = 200 points
2 – 10 weekly questions = 200 points
3 – Community Service Project = 200 points
4 – CLO Project / Final Discussion = 300 points
WEEKLY HOMEWORK (…due each week)
A - Reading Responses: In the READING SCHEDULE (below), you will find listings and links on the readings from all sources that are due each week. Each week’s readings and assignments are responded to using the standard template provided on the syllabus. These will be sent in to the Blackboard for your course by Sunday night of the week when assigned. ALL readings are required to be integrated into your Reading Response. These are worth 20 points each.
B – Discussion Question: due weekly - This means discussion is a percentage of your grade. Each week at the beginning of the first class of the week – you are responsible for bringing me a typed question about History. It may be about the readings / video assigned. But, it may also be about anything historical that you were interested in. These are worth 20 points each.
TESTING AND ASSESSMENT (…due by the Final week only)
1 Community Service Project: this is an opportunity to engage in community service, service learning, personal and professional development. Students will identify and assess a goal – submit a proposal of 1 page or less for instructor approval – then complete the project YOU selected! (Don’t worry – I have plenty to choose from). This is worth 200 points.
1 Final Exam / Final Discussion: is in-part your completed Course Learning Objectives. This will be done using a form called an Annotated Bibliography. By the end of the semester, you should have completed one (1) Annotated Bibliography sheet for each CLO (course learning objective). This is worth 200 points. We will have an open Final discussion of the course theme during Final exams. This is worth 100 points.
History 112 Course Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to demonstrate factual knowledge of key political, economic, social and cultural events and issues in 20th Century United States History.
- Students will be able to apply critical thinking (including causal analysis and skeptical inquiry) to historical concepts and developments in 20th Century United States History.
- Students will be able to evaluate, analyze and interpret primary and secondary historical sources and make historical arguments based on these sources about 20th Century United States History.
A NOTE ON READING: Your performance relating to weekly reading is directly linked to your success with course assignments. If you do not read the course material you will not succeed on the writing, testing, or discussion/participation levels.
Remember: you also have access to many Student Success Support Services, such as the Tutorial Center. The Library & Learning Center has resources that can make or break an assignment. The Writing Center is open, as is the Office Administration Center -- all of these counts towards helping with your success. ONLY YOU can access them!
There is homework due weekly so familiarize yourself with the format
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OTHER STUDENT RESOURCES:
LINK TO ALL ASSESSMENT / ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS<CLICK>
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
ONLINE HELPDESK http://www.mjc.edu/current/studentservices/waystolearn/online/index.html
TIMEMAPS - Interactive World Maps
WORLD INTERACTIVE MAPS
BIG HISTORY
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READING SCHEDULE History 112
Week #1 – Beginning Monday, 8/29/2016
GENERAL NOTES
Read: As an introduction, read History, interpretation & causation, and then 32-41 in Smith.
Then, read the Preface and chapter 1 in Zinn (…Empire.)
Read George F. Hoar, Against Imperialism, 63
(scroll down on the link above for the other articles, below)
Theodore Roosevelt, The Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, 65 in Smith.
Video or article: The Corporation
HOMEWORK: Student Success Self-Mentoring / Assessment worksheet – Due typed, in class day #2 of the course: Points possible = 40.
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Week #2 – Beginning Monday, 9/5/2016 (Labor Day)
READ: Chapter 2 in Zinn (…Socialist…). And, Teresa O’Neill, Immigration: Opposing Viewpoints, 68 in Smith.
VIDEO or ARTICLES: - Gilded Age - Robber Barons or - Captains of Industry?
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #3 – Beginning Monday, 9/12/16
READ: Chapter 3 in Zinn.
VIDEO or ARTICLES: http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm
WWI http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvets4.html
Harlem http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/circle/harlem-ren-sites.html
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #4 – Beginning Monday, 9/19/16
GENERAL NOTES
READ: Chapter 4 in Zinn, and the JMLA, Carey McWilliams, Okies in California the Migration of Destitute” Citizens” 429, and The President’s Commission on Migratory Labor, “The Bracero Program” 431, in Smith.
VIDEO or ARTICLES: Depression http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE9aFqEyUhA
Who Killed the Electric Car? (in 8 parts, part #1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTHsTCBxDM8))
pt. 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yykBKYmh44
pt. 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMcsKj6kUbk
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #5 – Beginning Monday, 9/26/16
READ: Chapter 5 in Zinn
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
WWII http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WW.htm
WWII Timeline http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm
War Economy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S9FDkmB1gI
Rosie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04VNBM1PqR8
FOOD INC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oq24hITFTY
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #6 – Beginning Monday, 10/3/16
GENERAL NOTES
READ: Chapter 6 in Zinn.
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
Former President & General D. D Eisenhower Defines the Military-Industrial Complex: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3KFBXQI2E
*Topic: the Cold War/McCarthy -ism
THE COLD WAR - PART 1: WORLD WAR TO COLD WAR
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #7 – Beginning Monday, 10/10/16 (Columbus Day)
READ: Chapter 7 in Zinn, and “Prisons...” (106), and “Stupid…” (143), and “Brady Bill...” (155), and “Nothing Works…” (177), and “New Contract...” (443), and “COINTELPRO” (92) in Smith..
VIDEO or ARTICLES: KENNEDY: ASSASSINATED?
“Green Berets” vs. “Platoon,” conflicting views of the Vietnam War.
“Born on the Fourth of July”(2 of 9)
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #8 – Beginning Monday, 10/17/16
READ: Chapter 8 in Zinn, and “COINTELPRO” (92), and “Otto Kerner…” (74).
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
“Selma”
“Our Check…”
“Woodstock”
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #9 – Beginning Monday, 10/24/16
READ: “Civil Rights Acts…” (72), “Nigger...” (274), and “Subway...” (246) compared with “Public Space...” (247), and “Black Nationalism...” (274), and, “Cesar Chavez…” (342) and “Chicano…” (344) (compare to “Chicana... “ (359), and “Birmingham Jail...” (266) AND “Indian Self-Determination…” (214) in Smith (DON’T FREAK OUT…THERE IS NO ZINN THIS WEEK, AND LESS READING NEXT WEEK).
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
“A Day Without A Mexican”
FOOD DAY!!!
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #10 – Beginning Monday, 10/31/16
READ: Chapter 9 in Zinn, and “Men...” (393), & “Gay Cultures...” (395), & “No...” (415) in Smith.
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
Hillary vs Donald - Epic Rap Battle
Sex, Drugs & Rock 'N Roll
GENERAL NOTES
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #11 – Beginning Monday, 11/7/16
READ: Chapter 10 in Zinn.
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #12 – Beginning Monday, 11/14/16
READ: Chapter 11 in Zinn, and “Prisons...” (106), and “Stupid…” (143), and “Brady Bill...” (155), and “Nothing Works…” (177), and “New Contract...” (443) in Smith.
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
“Jarhead,” or “Three Kings”
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #13 – Beginning Monday, 11/21/16 (Thanksgiving)
READ: Chapter 12 in Zinn.
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
Collapse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVd-zAXACrU
Do a VIDEOGRAPHY
How does history in film compare with reality?
Community Service Project
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #14 – Beginning Monday, 11/28/16
READ: COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (CLOs) instructions, and chapter 13 in Zinn.
VIDEO or ARTICLES:
“Connections”
Urban Food deserts
Ron Finley Guerilla Gardener
Community Service Project
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction. Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night: Points possible = 40.
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Week #15 – Beginning Monday, 12/5/16
READ: FINAL DISCUSSION INSTRUCTIONS
READ: "Arrogant Empire"
and compare it with this Youtube clip - Jeff Bridges on HBO…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw
How do we see ourselves – How does the World view the United States in the 20th Century?
Community Service Project
HOMEWORK: Discussion Question brought typed to class on the first day of the week’s instruction.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (CLOs) Due in class the last day of the week’s instruction.
NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED
Reading Response on last week’s readings sent into Blackboard by Sunday night (if needed).
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Week #16 – Finals – Beginning Monday, 12/12/2016
FINAL SCHEDULE (Finals are held on different days than regular classes!)
FINAL TOPICAL DISCUSSION:
The final Discussion will require you to integrate material from “Collapse,” “Food, Inc.” and “Who Killed the Electric Car” in your evaluation of the Corporation in the twenty-first Century. Remember to use the video “The Corporation” as your guide to the history and structures of modern corporations.
Instructors cue: The Citizen’s United decision and 21st Century corporate politics.
Federal Spending Priorities since 1981 AND Your Tax Dollars at Work!
COST OF WAR COUNTER