Professor Amy Werbel

awerbel@smcvt.edu (I check this far more often than my phone messages)

home number: 660-4918

appointments arranged 24/7 via e-mail

 

AM 101 A and B

Introduction to American Studies: The 1960s

Spring, 2008

Sections A and B: Mondays, 5-6:40 p.m., STE 104

Section A: Wednesday, 12-12:50 JEM 376

Section B: Wednesday, 1-1:50 JEM 376

 

Required Texts:

  • David Farber and Beth Bailey, The Columbia Guide to America in the 1960s, Columbia University Press, 2001.
  • Ann Charters, ed., The Portable Sixties Reader, Penguin, 2003.
  • Michael Harrington, The Other America, (various editions)
  • Howard Zinn, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (various editions)

Monday nights:

 

January 14.  Overview of the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement Reading:  Farber and Bailey, 1-33.  Portable Sixties Reader 24-45.  This week’s point paragraph can be brought to section on Wednesday. 

 

After this week, all point paragraphs are due on Monday nights, based on the reading for that week.  Late point paragraphs will not be accepted.

 

January 21. Overview of the Vietnam War and Civil Unrest

Reading: Farber and Bailey, 34-54.  Portable Sixties Reader, 118-141, 155-179.

 

January 28. Overview of Sixties Culture and American Studies

Reading: Farber and Bailey, 55-76.  Portable Sixties Reader, 329-343, 367-388, 408-412. Henry Nash Smith, “Can American Studies Develop a Method?” (doc sharing in ECollege).

 

February 4. Prof. Bob Niemi, English Dept. – Sixties Film

Reading: “From Counterculture to Counterrevolution” and David Lubin, “Twenty-Six Seconds” from Shooting Kennedy: JFK and the Culture of Images (doc sharing in ECollege).

 

February 6. Choices for midterm book review due in section on Wednesday (be prepared to discuss why you picked this one).

 

 


 

February 11. Prof. Susan Summerfield, Music Dept. – Sixties Music

Reading: “The Rise of Rock and Roll” (doc sharing in ECollege)

 

February 25. Provost Bill Wilson – Service in Vietnam

Reading: All readings in category “Vietnam” (doc sharing in ECollege) For tonight’s class, print out the worksheet, fill it out and bring it in to class.  This will count as a “point paragraph.”

 

March 3.  Fred Lane, independent author - The Warren Court

Reading: All readings in category “Warren Court” (doc sharing on ECollege).

 

March 5 – No sections this week.  Instead, take part in events for “Our War, Our Responsibility Day”

 

March 7: Midterm Book Reviews Due in Drop Box on ECollege before 10 p.m. today.

 

March 10. Prof. Lorrie Smith, English Dept. - Black Power

Reading: Lorrie Smith, "Black Arts and Hip Hop Poetry" and Amiri Baraka “Readings”(both files in doc sharing in ECollege), and Portable Sixties Reader: pp. 464-484. 

 

March 17, 18, and 24 – No classes. Winter Break

 

March 26.  Prof. Amy Werbel, Art Dept. – Pop Art

In section this week.   No reading or point paragraphs.

 

March 31. Prof. Yovanna Pineda, History Dept. – The Chicano Movement

Reading: All readings in category “Chicano Movement” (doc sharing in ECollege).

 

April 7. Prof. Doug Slaybaugh, History Dept. – The War on Poverty

Reading: Michael Harrington, The Other America (entire book)

 

April 14. Prof. Susan Ouellette, History Dept. - Women's Liberation

Reading: Portable Sixties Reader: pp. 493-512, 531-546.

 

April 21. Prof. Ray Patterson, Religious Studies Dept. - Religious Changes

Reading: All readings in category “Spiritual 60s” (doc sharing in ECollege). 

 

April 28. Prof. Bill Grover, Political Science Dept. – Sixties Legacies

Reading: Howard Zinn, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, vii-36, 56-68, 87-125, 163-182, 197-208.

 

Final Exam due in drop box by end of final exam date

 

Course Requirements and Policies:

  • 10 point paragraphs (due in class on 10 Mon. nights of your choice)= 30%
  • 1 “Current Events” assignment = 10%
  • contributions to class discussion / attendance: 10%
  • 5 pp. midterm book review = 20%
  • 10-15 pp. take-home final = 30%

 

Description of Assignments:

Point Paragraphs

A point paragraph (PP) is a paragraph that names a viable discussion point and develops that point with evidence or argumentation—kind of a “mini-essay.” We’ll be using these as a way to direct our discussion of the readings as well as develop your analytical writing and collaborative learning skills. The main components of a PP are its point and the demonstration of the point. A good point paragraph makes a single point with a strong demonstration, is well unified, and uses good style and mechanics. Here’s more on these components:

 

Point.  A point (or thesis) is a proposition, theory, or position stated in a complete sentence (or two).  It is not a statement of topic, a statement of fact, or a subjective opinion, reaction, or feeling. Compare these examples:

    • Many white students became involved in the Civil Rights movement.
    • A lot of white students have written about why they became involved in the Civil Rights movement.  
    • It is interesting that a lot of white students became involved in the Civil Rights movement.
    • Many white students became involved in the Civil Rights movement because it was a way of rejecting the values of their parents.  It was a kind of rebellion along with a lot of other ways they rebelled, and not just an act of conscience.

Only the fourth one makes a genuine Point. The best points also provide new insight into the material at hand, surprise us in some way, or teach us something.  This isn’t necessarily a point we will all agree about!

Demonstration.  Your point paragraph should include evidence—i.e. quotes from the reading for the day (examples, illustrations, observations related to the text assigned for the class) as well as clear explanation of how that evidence supports the Point. Check to see that it is clear in the writing how evidence supports the Point.

Focus and Style:  A paragraph should keep its focus on a point related to the reading for the day, and all sentences in the paragraph should relate to that point in one way or another. The paragraph should exhibit correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and so on.  
Grading Scale:  A point paragraph that is focused on the reading for the day, includes a point (as defined above), evidence to support that point, and exhibits good writing style, will receive three points.  Almost there = 2 points.  Not much effort shown = 1 point.  No grading categories met = 0 points.  You may write as many of these as you want to up to 30 points, but can not earn more points than that in this category of assignment. Late point paragraphs are not accepted.

 

Current Events Assignment
Each student will be assigned one section date to bring in an article from a current national newspaper (i.e. The New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post or Wall Street Journal) that demonstrates a lingering “legacy” or result of changes that happened in the sixties.  This also might be an article that shows how things haven’t really changed.  On their assigned due date, students will present the article they have chosen to the class, and discuss how it reveals change or similarity to issues of the sixties.  The article should be accompanied by a “point paragraph” on this topic that will be graded as part of the 10 points for this assignment.  You may submit a separate point paragraph for the day to count as one of the ten required for the course if you wish.

 

Book Review
Choose a book in the bibliography of the Columbia Guide to the Sixties, or a book written by one of the authors in the Portable Sixties Reader.  The book should have been written in the sixties, or about the sixties (of course), and it can be fiction or non-fiction.  Submit your choice of book in class on February 6th.

I would like your book review to be approximately 5 double-spaced pages.  Make sure to include a thesis that presents your critical assessment of the merits of the text i.e. what are its strengths and weaknesses?  what does the book teach us about the sixties? (review notes on what makes a thesis statement above under “point paragraph”)  This is a formal writing assignment so grading will take into account your focus on the topic, critical thinking about the subject matter, and also elements of style: grammar, word choice, flow between and within paragraphs, etc.  These midterm papers are due in the correct dropbox in ECollege on March 7th by 10 p.m.  Be sure to work in MS Word, even if you have to type it in a lab – no Macs!!! Students who plagiarize by presenting information written by others as their own will be prosecuted without mercy through the academic review board (I have no sympathy for this whatsoever).

Take Home Final
Write a 10-15 pp. double-spaced essay that comprehensively surveys course material (reading, lecturers, videos, etc.) while supporting one of the following thesis statements:

  • Only because of the actions of everyday Americans, was the country able to change in the 1960s.
  • The sixties were truly a time when people believed a better life was possible if the change they struggled for occurred. 
  • Events of the sixties forced Americans to choose sides, which created dangerous tensions, divisions, and even violence, but also led to the possibility for change.
  • Americans may believe that “the people” create real change because we are a democracy, but history demonstrates that individual leaders must step forward and inspire followers if anything significant is going to happen.

This final paper is due in the correct dropbox in ECollege before Monday, May 5th at 10 p.m.  Be sure to create a .doc file – other file types will not upload.   This is not a group assignment – you must work on your own. 

Grading and Class Attendance Policies:

  • You are required to complete all assignments on your own.  These are NOT group assignments.  If work appears to be copied or shared, all involved students will receive a grade of zero.  Plagiarism will result in disciplinary action.
  • You may miss one class and one section without penalty.  Each additional unexcused absence will result in the loss of two points from your final grade, subtracted from your class contributions grade. 
  • Late point paragraphs will not be accepted.  Late midterm and final papers will be graded down 3 points per 24 hour period.

What you need to know about eCollege

  1. Getting in:
    1. www.smcvtonline.org – location of eCollege
    2. Login ID is your mikenet name
    3. Password is your SMC ID# without the preceding 80 (unless you’ve changed it previously). 
    4. Your mikenet name is your smcvt email (minus the @smcvt.edu.)
  2. If you have questions about eCollege, contact the eCollege Help Desk available 24/7 at 303.873.0005 or helpdesk@smcvtonline.org . 
  3. For this class, we will use “doc sharing” where I will post articles for you to read both in the main page and in categories – to access these click on “select view” --, “dropbox” where you will upload your midterm book review and final take home exam in MS Word format, and “gradebook” where you can keep track of how you are doing. Each professor uses eCollege in different ways – ask for help if you are confused.

 

eCollege system uptime is 99.999%.  If students cannot access eCollege, they should use the automated Password feature at www.smcvtonline.org to see if they’ve forgotten their password.