HISTORY/WGST 370

 Women in America: The Historical Perspective, 1600-2000

The University of Michigan-Dearborn

Fall 2007

Social Sciences Building, Room 1600, T & Th 1:05-2:20

 

Course Website: https://ctools.umich.edu/portal/

OR

http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~ppennock/370schedule.htm

 

Professor Pam Pennock

e-mail: ppennock@umd.umich.edu

Office: 1240 SSB

Office phone: (313) 593-5284

Office Hours:  M, T, & W 11:30-12:30, Th 2:30-3:00

Dept. Office:  2nd floor SSB, 313-593-5096

                          *and by appointment*

 

 

 

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the various and complex roles women have played throughout American history.  Students will develop an understanding of the ways in which gender has been historically and socially constructed and the ways in which those constructions, and others such as race, ethnicity, class, age, and region, have shaped women’s lives.  The course will also consider how standard interpretations of American history are altered when we include women’s experiences in the historical record. 

 

The materials featured in this course are varied, ranging from primary documents to historians’ interpretations, documentary films, and images.

** The course is rigorous, fast-paced, reading-intensive, and writing-intensive. It also incorporates frequent class discussion of course materials. 

 

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of the course, students should have obtained:

*       substantial knowledge of the history of women in the United States from a variety of perspectives

*       the ability to think critically and make their own interpretations about the events, figures, and movements they have studied

*       the ability to understand and analyze primary sources

*       the ability to understand and criticize diverse historical interpretations

*       improved writing and speaking skills

 

The course is demanding, and I have high expectations of my students in this upper-level history course.  Students need to keep up with the material and apply both their time and intellect to it.

 

Required Course Readings

*       Sara M. Evans, Born For Liberty (1997) ISBN 0684834987

*       Deborah Gray White, Ar’n’t I a Woman?: Female Slaves in the Plantation South (Revised Ed., 1999) ISBN 0393314812

*       Susan Ware, Modern American Women: A Documentary History (2nd ed., 2002) ISBN 0072418206

*       Readings on course website, internet links and .pdf files

 

Important Note:  Use of the course website is required. It contains not only all of your assignments and schedule for readings, but also links to other required readings. The Social Sciences building, the Library, as well as other campus buildings have computers for your use. Printing is normally free in all of these computer labs, but some of them require that students bring their own paper.  Please talk with me as soon as possible if you have problems accessing a computer and/or any links on the websites.

 

Course Requirements:

Grading will not be on a curve.

 

1.       Midterm Exam (20%)

The essay exam will occur in class on October 16, and students should bring blue books. A study guide will be provided in advance of the exam. I also urge students to come to me for assistance in studying.

 

2.      Short Writing Assignments  & Pop Quizzes (15%)

I strongly believe that we learn best when we have to put our thoughts into writing.  Several times during the semester students will write short essays that summarize or analyze course materials. The due dates for these assignments are firm because I design class discussions around them.  All assignments and due dates are listed on the course schedule.  

 

I may give a pop quiz if I discern that students are not engaged with the material.

 

3.      Book Review Paper (10%)

This paper requires students to write a critical summary and analysis of Ar’n’t I A Woman. 4 pages. Due Oct 2.

 

4.      Final Paper (25%)

For this paper, students will select assigned course materials (from the entire course) that illuminate a theme of the student’s choice, and write a 6-7 page paper that uses those sources to support a thesis. Students are required to turn in a paper outline on Dec. 4, and the paper is due on Dec. 11.

 

5.      Second Exam (15%)

This exam, which will take place during final exam week and covers the second half of the course, features short essays and identifications.  Date and time to be announced.

 

6.      Attendance and Participation (15%)

I expect prompt and diligent attendance in class.  I assume that you signed up for this class because you are interested in the topic, are eager to learn, and want to be here.  Participation in class, whether during participatory lectures or during designated discussion activities, is crucial to the learning process in this course.  The course will feature numerous discussions, some of them led by students.  In order to participate intelligently and enthusiastically, you must, first of all, attend class, second, have digested lectures and readings, and third, have thoughtfully completed your writing assignments.   Active participation can really make a difference in your course grade. 

 

Note on discussion:  In this course we will consider many controversial and touchy issues.   Discussion must remain respectful at all times.  I ask that students respect each other’s views and try not to monopolize the conversations. 

 

 

Course Policies

If you feel that you will not be able to abide by these policies, you are free to withdraw from the course.

Make-Up Policy

Legitimate excuses encompass emergencies, and they do not include work, vacation, or routine appointments.

I do accept assignments via email attachment (Word or .rtf files only) if an emergency arises and you cannot give me a paper copy in class.

 

Homework/Short writing assignments: Students must turn in homework assignments during class on the day the assignments are due (not early, not late) to receive full credit for the assignment.  The reason for this policy is that I build class discussion around the assignments. 

  • If you have a legitimate reason for missing class on the day a homework assignment is due, you must contact me as soon as possible, preferably the same day. You then may turn it in to me no later than the beginning of the next class period and still receive full credit.
  •  If you do not have a legitimate excuse for an absence yet are able to turn in the assignment early, I will give partial credit – as long as you tell me about it ahead of time.
  •  If you want to turn in the assignment late without a legitimate excuse, I will not accept the assignment.
  •  I will not accept more than two early/late homeworks per student, especially because one of the purposes of the assignment is to help students prepare for class discussion that day.

 

Papers (Book Review and Final Paper): Papers are due by the beginning of the class period on the associated due date, but they may be turned in early without penalty. Unless a student presents me with a documented, legitimate excuse, ten points will be deducted for each day that a paper is late (including weekend days), and I will not accept a paper that is over three days late.

 

Exams: Students with a legitimate excuse (e.g. serious illness, death in the family) may make up a missed exam, but students must contact me before the scheduled exam time.  Make-up exams will only be given to those students who can document a crisis.

 

Note on responsibility:

All students are responsible for their own learning and for knowing the course policies. If you have to miss a class, you are responsible for knowing what occurred during the session, obtaining class notes and assignments from a classmate, and making up the work.  Habitual tardiness or absence from class will negatively affect your grade.

Using Laptop Computers In the Classroom

Students may use laptops in the classroom as long as they stay “on task.” In other words, students may not engage in e-mailing, extraneous internet searching, or work for other classes or work during class time.

 

Email Etiquette

I welcome students’ email communication.  Please sign your email messages to me and write clearly. (You would be surprised at how often I cannot understand students’ messages and how often students do not include their names.)

 

Academic Misconduct

Plagiarism is a serious offense.  If I determine that a student has plagiarized on any assignment, he/she will fail the course. 

There are different forms of plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs when you:

*   use someone else’s exact words without putting quotation marks around them,

*   put quotation marks around someone else’s exact words BUT fail to provide a reference or citation to the source and page number,

*   paraphrase someone else’s words too closely without using quotation marks (even if you do provide a citation) Don’t get lazy when you’re paraphrasing!

*   use someone else’s thoughts without a reference or citation to the source  (if you’re paraphrasing someone’s words, you do not need quotation marks but you still need a citation) .

 (For the purposes of this course, however, students do not need to cite my lectures as a source.)

 

If you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please come talk to me.  I don’t want anyone to fail on account of misunderstanding.

I am alert (and web-savvy)! Don’t do it!

 

The university’s statement on academic integrity:

The University of Michigan - Dearborn values academic honesty and integrity. Each student has a responsibility to understand, accept, and comply with the university's standards of academic conduct as set forth by the Code of Academic Conduct, as well as policies established by the schools and colleges. Cheating, collusion, misconduct, fabrication, and plagiarism are considered serious offenses. Violations will not be tolerated and may result in penalties up to and including expulsion from the University.

 

Disabilities

Students who feel they need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me as soon as possible.  At the appointment we can discuss the course format, anticipate your needs, and explore potential accommodations.  Students need to register with Disability Resource Services (1060 UM) every semester they are taking classes.  For more information, contact Nancy Lehnert, Disability Resource Services Assistant, 593-5430.