Images of Class and Power

Bachelor Degree in American Studies

AMR 120

Breyer State University

Instructor: Tanya Mueller, MA

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: This course will examine the issues of class and power in American society. "The American Dream" and class mobility will be examined as part of the American character. When the course is completed students should have an understanding of American class structure and the societal sentiment that is associated with the class structure.

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.

Book 1: Nickel and Dimed: on (not) Getting by in America. Barbara Ehrenreich Metropolitan Books: ISBN # 0965187705.

Book 2: Ragged Dick and Struggling Upward. Horatio Alger Penguin Books: ISBN # 0140390332.

Book 3: World's Apart: Why Poverty Persists in Rural America . Cynthia Duncan Yale University Press: ISBN # 0300084560.

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

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 5: Sweatshop Warriors: Immigrant Women Workers Take on the Global Factory. Miriam Ching Yoon Louie South End Press: ISBN # 096086380.

Book 6: Why Americans Hate Welfare. Martin Gilens University of Chicago Press: ISBN # 0226293653.

Book 7: The Irony of Democracy: An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics. Thomas Dye and Harmon Zeigler Harcourt Brace Press: ISBN # 0155058002.

Book 8: The Working Poor: Invisible in America. David Shipler Random House Inc: ISBN # 0375708219.

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 issues of class and power in the United States.
2). Understand American attitudes of class and power and the roots of these attitudes.
3). Engage in the intellectual debates surrounding class and power issues 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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