Classroom Participation: (25%)
This course will be structured around discussions. For it to be successful, participants must come to class having read the assigned material and ready to talk about it. Informed participation includes introducing questions, fleshing out the arguments presented in the readings, analyzing and evaluating the conclusions of the assigned texts, discussing the implications that the arguments have on our larger understanding of history, and summarizing the state of the conversation at hand. Informed participation not only demands you speak, but that you actively listen to the issues that your classmates raise.
Attendance, Participation, and Your Grade: Unexcused absences count as a -1, attendance coupled with active listening counts as a 0, and informed participation in discussion counts as +1. At the end of the semester, a total score of 0 will earn a C (75), and a score of 24 (or however many discussion days we end up having) will earn an A+ (100) on the participation portion of the grade.
Motivated Questions: (5%)
During each class, students will present a motivated question after we have discussed the text’s basic argument. The question will be preceded by a brief paragraph establishing how it is related to the author’s argument and why it is worth our time addressing. The question should address larger issues raised by the reading material, and it should have no simple answer. Each student will be responsible for presenting a question two times during the semester. The questions must be e-mailed to Dr. Kerr by 10:00 am on the day they will be presented.
Quizzes: (20%)
Multiple choice quizzes will be administered periodically to gauge your familiarity with the readings and lecture material. You will need to bring a #2 pencil to every class period. If you miss class on the day they are given, you will not be allowed to make up the quizzes. If you have a medically excused absence, the quiz will not count in your overall average.
Book Reviews: (15%)
You will be expected to write two-page reviews of two of the three assigned books. The reviews must identify, synthesize, and evaluate the book’s contents. You can choose which books you write reviews for. The reviews must be submitted at the beginning of class on the last day we discuss a book. Additionally they must be submitted in hard copy and in person at the start of class. Useful suggestions for writing book reviews can be found on Blackboard.
Annotated Bibliography: (5%)
Final Paper: (30%)
Each member of the class will write a 10-12 page research paper on a topic (related to the course themes) and city of your choosing. The paper must be based on primary source materials, such as newspapers, Sanborn maps, oral histories, government reports, memoirs, pamphlets, manuscript collections, etc. You will identify these resources and prepare an annotated bibliography listing these primary and also relevant secondary sources by September 15th. Feel free to consult with reference librarian Patricia Hardesty for assistance. Drafts will be submitted electronically on October 29th and optionally on November 17th. The final papers will need to be posted to the course Blackboard dropbox by December 10 before noon.