American Historical Influences

Bachelor Degree in American Studies

AMR 100

Breyer State University

Instructor: Tanya Mueller, MA

SYLLABUS

 

Pictures from left to right: Light house in Portland, Maine; alter to Jesus Malverde off Calle Libre in Baja California; Laura Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana

COURSE OVERVIEW: This course is a general survey of the major historical influences that shape culture in the United States and it will provide a basis of understanding for other courses in the series. Course readings will focus on the major geographical areas of the United States including New England, The South and The Southwest and will examine how the development of these regions have affected American history, politics and culture. When the course is completed students should be able to have an understanding of how American culture has developed not only as a historical evolution but as a geographical one as well.

TIMEFRAME: This is an (8) semester hour course. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the 10-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day that your text books arrive and you are thus ready to begin the course.

You are required to complete the assignments by the due dates indicated in the syllabus. I consider the syllabus a contract between instructor and student, and any changes to the due dates (granted under extenuating circumstances) must be agreed upon by both. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded eight (8) semester hours of credit.

TEXTBOOKS: There are four (4) texts for this course. The first three texts are required. The remaining text will be the student's choice.

Book 1: A History of Latinos in America: Harvest of Empire. Juan Gonzalez Penguin Books: ISBN # 0140255397.

Book 2: Slavery and Freedom: An Interpretation of the Old South. James Oakes W. W. Norton & Company: ISBN # 0393317668.

Book 3: Women's America: Refocusing the Past (4th Ed*). Linda Kerber and Jane Sherron De Hart Oxford University Press: ISBN # 0-19-509-147-7.

* Make sure you purchase the 4th Ed of this text .

(For this course only certain excerpts will be used however this book will be used in many other courses throughout the program.)

Choose One:

Book 4: Ragged Dick and Struggling Upward. Horatio Alger Penguin Books: ISBN # 0140390332.

Book 5: Barrio Boy Ernesto Galarza University of Notre Dame Press: ISBN # 0268004412.

Book 6: Memories of the Old Plantation Home: A C reole Family Album. Laura Locoul Gore, Norman Marmillion, Sand Marmillion Zoe Co: ISBN # 0970559100.

You can purchase these texts at a local bookstore, or online

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NOTE: Style guides such as Wayne C. Booth's The Craft of Research , or Kate L. Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations are strongly encouraged as well. These books will greatly help students' writing and will be useful throughout the program.

Suggestions for further reading:

Book 7: The Irony of Democracy. Thomas Dye and Harmon Zeigler Harcourt Brace College Publishers: ISBN # 0155058002.

Book 8: A People's History of the United States: 1492 - Present by Howard Zinn Harpercollins Press: ISBN # 0060528370.

Book 9: Folk Saints of the Borderlands: Victims Bandits, and Healers. James Griffith Rio Nuevo Publishers: ISBN # 1887896511.

Book 10: Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam Touchstone Press ISBN: 0743203046

Book 11: Magical Urbanism: Latinos Reinvent the US City. Mike Davis Verso: ISBN # 185984328X.

EXAMS: There will be two papers in this course, each consisting of 50% of your grade.

GRADING: The grading scale for this course is as follows:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below 70% = Fail

The grading criteria for the written assignments are as follows:

CONTENT and LEVEL: 60%

1. Content is pertinent, and reflects points requested from the readings as well as original thought.
2. Student position or view is stated clearly, with appropriate justifications and logic.
3. Comprehensiveness of discussion is adequate.
4. The paper adequately addresses the assignment in scope and content.

ORGANIZATION: Weight 20%

1. The paper demonstrates logical flow from idea to idea, point to point.
2. The paper includes relevant supporting ideas from the assigned readings or research as appropriate.

FORMAT/GRAMMAR: Weight 10%

1. Spelling and sentence structure are without error.
2. Punctuation and word choice are without error.
3. Paper contains a title, subheadings and paragraphs as appropriate.

READABILITY/STYLE: Weight 10%

1. The paper reflects a synthesis of ideas from the readings and from experience as requested.
2. The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment.
3. Style of the paper is appropriate academic level.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Tanya Mueller holds a Bachelor's degree in American Studies with a concentration in gender from ASA accredited California State University, Fullerton. She also holds a Master's degree also from CSU, Fullerton, in Political Science with an emphasis in gender politics. She is currently working on a doctorate in clinical psychology at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA.

Tanya is a 3rd generation Los Angeles, CA native and her love for culture and learning has led her to travel all over the country. Because of her location in the greater Los Angeles area she frequently travels throughout Southern California and Baja California, Mexico. The photos at the beginning of the syllabus are photos she has personally taken during some her many travels. Many of her observations for the course come directly from her travels in the regions listed.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1). Examine the roots of American cultural systems in United States .
2). Understand American attitudes of culture and how those attitudes evolved to form what we currently understand to mean "American culture".
3). Engage in the intellectual debates surrounding historical influences in American culture.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact your instructor at politikchik@adelphia.net

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