History 213---The United States in the Twentieth Century
Call Number: 02862/3/4
Spring Quarter, 2000
Mr. Rick Dodgson.
Instructor's Office Hours:Bentley 68, Mon., Tues., Wed., 9:00-10:00 and by appointment (593-4345--office; 593-3930-home; email, rd338088@ohio.edu)
Introduction:This course will provide an overview of American twentieth century history with particular emphasis on political, social and cultural issues. Course lectures, readings, and discussions will emphasize 3 major themes: (1) the changing role of government in American lives; (2) changing patterns of social interaction and cultural norms; and (3) the activities and impact of various American social movements.
The course has two primary goals. The first is to help students develop skills necessary for the critical evaluation of historiographical arguments and historical evidence itself. The second is to consider how knowledge of 20th Century history helps us to understand the present and prepare for the future.
Required Books:
- Tindall and Shi, America: A Narrative History, Brief 5th edition, volume II - available for purchase at Little Professor Bookstore.
- Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse 5, available for purchase at Little Professor Bookstore.
- Readings for Discussion Sections - on reserve at Alden Library Reserve Room or on electronic reserve.
- 20th Century American novel - see separate handout.
Attendance:
- Attendance is not taken normally taken in lectures. You are responsible for all material covered during the lecture period.
- Attendance at discussion sections is mandatory. Unexcused absences will have a deleterious effect on your grade.
- Attendance for the guest speakers is mandatory. Unexcused absences will have a deleterious effect on your grade.
Course Requirements:
- There will be three lectures and one discussion session per week.
- Discussion section quizzes are worth 10% of your grade.
- There is one mid-term exam that is worth 20% of your grade.
- There is one final exam that is worth 30% of your grade.
- Exams will consist of essay questions and identifications and offer choice. (Bring "blue" examination books). One essay question on the final will be cumulative.
- There is one short book review paper that is worth 20% of your grade.
- There is a group paper that is worth the last 20% of your grade. Details about the papers are provided on separate handouts.
Please note: Pay attention to the dates when your papers are due. Without exception late papers will lose 5 points for every day that they are handed in after they are due.
Grading Scale:
100-93 = A
92-90 = A-
87-89 = B+
83-86 = B
80-82 = B-
77-79 = C+
73-76 = C
70-72 = C-
67-69 = D+
63-66 = D
60-62 = D-
59-0 = F
Make-Up Policy: Students who have to miss an exam should notify the instructor in advance with a satisfactory excuse (e.g., a documented sickness or family emergency) and make arrangements for a make-up. A student who does not arrange for a make-up within a week after an exam will automatically receive a failing grade for the exam.
Academic Misconduct: Academic misconduct includes cheating and plagiarism (using someone else's words or ideas without acknowledging or citing this use). [Ohio University Undergraduate Catalog, 2000-2001, p. 32]. Punishments range from receiving an "F" for that examination to suspension.
Final Examination: Friday, 17th November 2000, 8:00-10:00 a.m. All students, including graduating seniors, must take the final.
Class Schedule:
Week One: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp.18-20
26/3 Introduction and Syllabus
27/3 19th Century
28/3 Progressive Era: Life and Culture
29/3 Discussion: Oral history project
Week Two: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp.23
02/4 Progressive Era: Politics I
03/4 Progressive Era: Politics II
04/4 America and World War I (Last day to sign up for your novel choice)
05/4 Discussion: Progressivism
Week Three: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp.24,25
09/4 America and World War I
10/4 The Roaring Twenties
11/4 The Republican Decade and the Crash of 1929 (Submit the name of interviewee for your oral history projects)
12/4 Discussion: World War I
Week Four: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp.26 & up to pg.969
16/4 Hoover and the Depression
17/4 FDR and the First New Deal
18/4 Scottsboro (Submit list of potential questions for oral history project)
19/4 Discussion: 1920s Society
Week Five: Tindall and Shi Reading pgs.969-986
23/4 The Second New Deal
24/4 T.B.A.
25/4 Mid-term
26/4 Discussion: Depression
Week Six: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp.28,29.
30/4 The Origins of World War II
01/5 America's War: 1
02/5 America's War: 2
03/5 Discussion: World War II
Week Seven: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp. 30-31
07/5 Veterans Presentation (Compulsory attendance with written question)
08/5 Truman and the Cold War
09/5 1950s Politics and Culture (Novel assignment due)
10/5 Discussion: The Beats
Week Eight: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp. 32.
14/5 Civil Rights 1
15/5 Civil Rights 2
16/5 JFK
17/5 Discussion: Civil Rights
Week Nine: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp. 33.
21/5 LBJ
22/5 Vietnam War
23/5 Flashing on the Sixties (Group oral history project due)
24/5 Discussion: The Sixties
Week Ten: Tindall and Shi Reading Chp. 34
28/5 Sixties speaker (Compulsory attendance with written question)
29/5 Nixon and Watergate
30/5 Group presentations
31/5 Review session
07/6 Final:Thursday 12.20 - 2.00 p.m. Bentley 132
Page URL: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~rd338088/syllabus.htm
© Copyright 2001, Rick Dodgson
Webmaster: Rick Dodgson
Revised:March/23/2001
