MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE
Behavioral & Social Science
History 119 – American Social & Cultural History Since 1900
Instructor: Al Smith Founder’s Hall 120E Office Hours: MTWTH 11-12:30 and by appointment (occasionally, I am out of town).
Ph.#, 575-6153
Texts: American Cultures, by Al Smith & A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Three (3) unit historical surveys of the development of American society and culture focusing primarily on the United States. History 119 surveys 20th and 21st century U.S. social and cultural history. The U.S. is presented as a nation of immigrants - a kind of stew that is at once multicultural and uniquely mono-cultural.
This course will analyze the social, political, economic, and technological contributions to the multi-cultured American system by various indigenous, European, African, and Asian peoples. Specific aspects of cultural expropriation, as well as cross-cultural diffusion will be examined. Discrimination based on gender, politics, and economics will be discussed, as will issues of ethnic assimilation. These co-educational courses partially fulfill general educational, transferability, and degree requirements.
Social-Cultural History requires students to actively participate in topical class discussions and to apply critical thought in writing logical, focused arguments. Exams will require short essay answers. English 101 is recommended for success, but not required.
History 119 Course Learning Objectives
COURSE WORK
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF – number your work!
WEEKLY HOMEWORK (due each week)
A - Discussion Question: due weekly - This means discussion is a percentage of your grade. Each week you are responsible for sending me a question about History into Blackboard. It may be about the readings / video assigned. But, it may also be about anything historical that you were interested in. At the beginning of the first class of the week, I will bring up Blackboard in class and answer your question. These are worth 20 points each.
SEMESTER EXAMS
B – Professor’s Choice Essay. I will select a topic or topics for a five (5) paragraph analytical essay on readings from the first section of class. Instructions are posted in the syllabus/calendar. The essay is due into Blackboard the end of week #4. We will review the week prior to due date.
C – Social Justice Student Choice Project. Each student will propose a Social Justice / Community Service project. One-paragraph proposals are due week #8. Project completion must be by semester’s end – week 15.
D – Student Choice Essay/Video. Students will select either the option of doing an eight-to-ten minute video (with caption), or an essay on a topic of student choice. Either must take a position on a historical person, event or phenomenon.
E – Course Learning Objectives Project. 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 (LISTED ABOVE).
A through E @ 200 ea = 1000 possible points
100 point Final Discussion: We will have a Final Discussion during Finals week. The Topic is listed in the Syllabus – although this is subject to change and modification by the class during the course of the semester. This is worth 100 points extra credit.
There is homework due weekly so familiarize yourself with the format
GRADES: Basically, there are points available each week – you can keep easy track of your progress on Blackboard as well.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Weekly Questions (sent to Blackboard) =200
Professor’s Choice Essay = 200
Community Service / Social Justice Project = 200
Student’s Choice Essay = 200
Final Course Learning Outcomes Exam = 200
Final Class Discussion =100
possible points 1100
Point scale
900 - 1000+ = A Percentage 90%+ = A
800 - 899 = B 80-89% = B
700 - 799 = C 70-79% = C
600 - 699 = D 60-69% = D
599 & below.....F
A NOTE ON ATTENDANCE:
As it is necessary to include aspects of class discussion for the most desirable grade, I recommend full attendance. More than two (2) consecutive absences will result in impaired understanding of course specifics, but I will not drop you. If you are having any kind of problems, let me know and we can work around them if possible. Remember: IT IS THE STUDENTS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY WITHDRAWN FROM CLASS should this become necessary.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF.
Behavioral & Social Science
History 119 – American Social & Cultural History Since 1900
Instructor: Al Smith Founder’s Hall 120E Office Hours: MTWTH 11-12:30 and by appointment (occasionally, I am out of town).
Ph.#, 575-6153
Texts: American Cultures, by Al Smith & A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Three (3) unit historical surveys of the development of American society and culture focusing primarily on the United States. History 119 surveys 20th and 21st century U.S. social and cultural history. The U.S. is presented as a nation of immigrants - a kind of stew that is at once multicultural and uniquely mono-cultural.
This course will analyze the social, political, economic, and technological contributions to the multi-cultured American system by various indigenous, European, African, and Asian peoples. Specific aspects of cultural expropriation, as well as cross-cultural diffusion will be examined. Discrimination based on gender, politics, and economics will be discussed, as will issues of ethnic assimilation. These co-educational courses partially fulfill general educational, transferability, and degree requirements.
Social-Cultural History requires students to actively participate in topical class discussions and to apply critical thought in writing logical, focused arguments. Exams will require short essay answers. English 101 is recommended for success, but not required.
History 119 Course Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to demonstrate factual knowledge of key political, economic, social and cultural events and issues in U.S. Social & Cultural History since 1900.
- Students will be able to apply critical thinking (including causal analysis and skeptical inquiry) to historical concepts and developments in U.S. Social & Cultural History since 1900.
- Students will be able to evaluate, analyze and interpret primary and secondary historical sources and make historical arguments based on these sources about U.S. Social & Cultural History since 1900.
COURSE WORK
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF – number your work!
WEEKLY HOMEWORK (due each week)
A - Discussion Question: due weekly - This means discussion is a percentage of your grade. Each week you are responsible for sending me a question about History into Blackboard. It may be about the readings / video assigned. But, it may also be about anything historical that you were interested in. At the beginning of the first class of the week, I will bring up Blackboard in class and answer your question. These are worth 20 points each.
SEMESTER EXAMS
B – Professor’s Choice Essay. I will select a topic or topics for a five (5) paragraph analytical essay on readings from the first section of class. Instructions are posted in the syllabus/calendar. The essay is due into Blackboard the end of week #4. We will review the week prior to due date.
C – Social Justice Student Choice Project. Each student will propose a Social Justice / Community Service project. One-paragraph proposals are due week #8. Project completion must be by semester’s end – week 15.
D – Student Choice Essay/Video. Students will select either the option of doing an eight-to-ten minute video (with caption), or an essay on a topic of student choice. Either must take a position on a historical person, event or phenomenon.
E – Course Learning Objectives Project. 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 (LISTED ABOVE).
A through E @ 200 ea = 1000 possible points
100 point Final Discussion: We will have a Final Discussion during Finals week. The Topic is listed in the Syllabus – although this is subject to change and modification by the class during the course of the semester. This is worth 100 points extra credit.
There is homework due weekly so familiarize yourself with the format
GRADES: Basically, there are points available each week – you can keep easy track of your progress on Blackboard as well.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Weekly Questions (sent to Blackboard) =200
Professor’s Choice Essay = 200
Community Service / Social Justice Project = 200
Student’s Choice Essay = 200
Final Course Learning Outcomes Exam = 200
Final Class Discussion =100
possible points 1100
Point scale
900 - 1000+ = A Percentage 90%+ = A
800 - 899 = B 80-89% = B
700 - 799 = C 70-79% = C
600 - 699 = D 60-69% = D
599 & below.....F
A NOTE ON ATTENDANCE:
As it is necessary to include aspects of class discussion for the most desirable grade, I recommend full attendance. More than two (2) consecutive absences will result in impaired understanding of course specifics, but I will not drop you. If you are having any kind of problems, let me know and we can work around them if possible. Remember: IT IS THE STUDENTS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY WITHDRAWN FROM CLASS should this become necessary.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF.