Minnesota State University Moorhead
History 390: Antebellum America
Course Syllabus
Spring 2011
Instructor: Dr. Sean Taylor
Meeting Time and Place: MW 1:30-2:45 pm, Ma 373
Office: Ma 374G
Phone: 477-2814
e-mail: sean.taylor@mnstate.edu
Office Hours: MW 8:45-9:30, 11:30-12:30, 2:45-4:00, F 8:45-9:30, 11:30-12:30 and by appointment
Web Address: www.mnstate.edu/taylorse
Your Nicenet Class Key: A309048H84
Course Requirements:
I. Electronics
Please turn off all electronic devices such as pagers and cell phones before entering my classroom, it is very disruptive to the class to have a cell phone ring in a discussion. Use of electronic such as phones and pagers in class constitutes grounds for dismissal from my class for that day.
II. Readings
Textbook: There is no real textbook class for the course. I don’t think they really have a place in upper level courses so instead we will read from a variety of primary and secondary sources found either in scholarly journals or historical monographs. Required Books: The Early American Republic: A Documentary Reader Sean Patrick Adams; The Bonds of Womanhood: "Woman's Sphere" in New England, 1780-1835 Second Edition,
Nancy F. Cott; A Shopkeeper's Millennium: Society and Revivals in Rochester, New York, 1815-1837, Paul E. Johnson; Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made, Eugene Genovese.
Lectures: Lecturing in this class will be minimal, used to introduce topics and set the stage for the material we will cover.
III. Academic Expectations (Read Carefully)
Assignments and Weighting: a research paper, written reading responses, and, discussion/participation.
Discussion/Participation: (30% of your grade) I firmly believe the only way you can understand the past is by “rolling up your sleeves and dive right in” and read and think about the material presented in class. Consequently, the only way this course works is if you do your part and come to class having read and thought about this material. It is not enough to skim it just before class—you must read it and try to understand why it was written. As noted above, a substantial portion of your grade in this class is based on your in-class performance. Participation is evaluated as follows:
A= Well-prepared; brings, refers to, and questions assigned texts; displays critical thinking; respects others and does not dominate; listens attentively.
B= Prepared; brings, refers to, and occasionally questions assigned texts; comments further discussion; listens attentively.
C= Usually prepared; brings but rarely refers to or questions assigned texts; rarely speaks, sometimes inattentive and sometimes engages in private conversations and interrupts others.
D= Often unprepared; often does not bring or is unfamiliar with assigned texts; has private conversations with others and is otherwise inattentive in class.
F= Unprepared; indifferent to issues being discussed and very inattentive.
Attendance and participation are essential and expected for a good grade in this class. I will send an attendance sheet around each day for you to sign. This will not directly affect your participation grade, but does provide me with a record of your attendance should any question arise regarding your participation grade.
Think pieces: (30% of your grade) Each student will prepare two, each worth 15% of your final grade. Think pieces are short essays in which you react to the readings and raise questions for class discussion. Your think piece should be thoughtful, well written, and carefully proofread. It should end with at LEAST three important questions provoked by the readings assigned for the day your think piece is due. These questions will be discussed in class. Each think piece should be approximately 3 double-spaced typed pages in length.
NOTE: Think pieces need to be posted on the nicenet course site 24 hours before the scheduled course meeting. Class participants must print and read the think pieces and bring them to class as they will form the basis of discussion that day.
Research Paper: (40% of your grade) The core of historical research revolves around your ability to examine historical sources, both primary and secondary, and say something about the historical past based on your research. The best method to accomplish this is the tried-and-true research paper. More on this later in separate hand out.
LATE WORK raises the issue of fairness for students who complete all assignments on schedule. Therefore students will not be permitted to MAKE-UP examinations, assignments and papers without a legitimate reason and discussion with the professor PRIOR to the scheduled examination or assignments. In accordance with university policy, students who miss class because of a university-sponsored activity will be permitted to submit assignments after the due date, without penalty. NOTE: Technical problems with personal computers or other electronic equipment or media will not automatically be accepted as a legitimate reason for lateness. Unexcused LATE PAPERS will be penalized one letter grade per day they are late. Failure to complete major assignments and papers will result in an F course grade.
Academic Integrity: Don’t cheat as I will use every means at my disposal to punish academic dishonesty. Note that plagiarism is often the area students run into problems. The standard definition of plagiarism is copying four or more words in a row without quote marks. A consistent pattern of "paraphrasing" by changing only one or two words also constitutes plagiarism. See page 127 of the student handbook for more information.
Grading: Numerical grade levels are as follows: A (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62) F (below 60).
A=Outstanding competence
B=Above satisfactory competence
C=Satisfactory level of competence
D=Marginally satisfactory level of competence
F=Unsatisfactory level of competence
Please note that a C is considered satisfactory at MSUM. I do not believe in grade inflation and will use the entire grade scale when calculating your final grade. If you work hard you will do well. Note also that A’s are given for work considered outstanding. Simply fulfilling the course requirements will not guarantee an A in this class. You must clearly exhibit outstanding competence to receive an A in the course.
General Expectations: Throughout the entire semester I expect an intellectual commitment on your part. Education is a two-part process: I must want to teach you, and you must want to learn. I will do everything I know to stimulate your interest, but I expect you not only to complete all the requirements but also to think deeply about the content of the course. This course is challenging, but I believe you will find it rewarding and perhaps, dare I say it, fun—if you keep up with the work.