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History 445
Fall 2008
Prof. John Putman

Gateway

Schedule

CA Links

California History

The California Dream Barbie

Readings

Requirements

            History 445 is a thematic and chronological examination of California history from late 18th century to the present.  In this course we will address the emergence of California as a major player in the nation’s social, cultural, political, and economic landscape. Organized around the concept of the “California Dream,” we will explore the Spanish and Mexican origins of California, the significance of the Gold Rush, California’s integration into the national market economy, ethnic diversity and conflict, progressive-era politics and reform, the battle over water and the environment, significance of Hollywood, the wonderfully turbulent 1960s, and the rise of California on the contemporary cultural and political scene. 

Readings:

button Malcolm Rohrbough, Days of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the American Nation
button Phoebe Kropp, California Vieja
button James Fadiman, The Other Side of Haight
button Additional Readings and Documents will be available online or on Electronic Reserves

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Requirements:

Grades will be based on two midterm exams, a 7-8 page primary source research paper, class participation, and a final exam. The exams are essay in form. Class participation includes classroom discussions and activities as well as attendance. 

button Midterm 1:                                 20%
button Midterm 2:                                 20%
button Paper:                                        25%
button Final:                                         25%
button Class Participation:                     10%

Student Learning Goals:

1. Students will understand and analyze the major themes and issues in California History and the historical forces that  shaped them.

2. Students will investigate the racial and cultural diversity of California and how this has shaped California history.

3. Students will explore and critically analyze both primary and secondary source material.

4. Students will probe the nature of historical interpretation.

5. Students will undertake historical research using primary source material and improve writing skills.

A brief note on grades:  A student will earn an “A” for only excellent and outstanding work.  A “B” represents very good work, which means more than just doing the job.  A “C” is given to those who demonstrate adequate competence and satisfactory completion of assignments.  “D” work is that which fails to demonstrate competence and/or fails to fully complete the assignment.  I don’t think I need to explain the meaning of an “F” to you. Finally, I always assume that each student puts his or her full effort into an assignment, so please don’t try to make a case for a higher grade based on how much time and effort you put into an assignment.  I can only grade performance not effort.

SDSU Academic Honesty Policy:

Institutions of higher education are founded to impart knowledge, seek truth, and encourage one’s development for the good of society. University students shall thus be intellectually and morally obliged to pursue their course of studies with honesty and integrity. Therefore, in preparing and submitting materials for academic courses and in taking examinations, a student shall not yield to cheating or plagiarism, which not only violate academic standards but also make the offender liable to penalties explicit in Title 5.

Cheating shall be defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work by the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to (a) copying, in part or in whole, from another’s test or other examination; (b) discussing answers or ideas relating to the answers on a test or other examination without the permission of the instructor; (c) obtaining copies of a test, an examination, or other course material without the permission of the instructor; (d) using notes, cheat sheets, or other devices considered inappropriate under the prescribed testing condition; (e) collaborating with another or others in work to be presented without the permission of the instructor; (f) falsifying records, laboratory work, or other course data; (g) submitting work previously presented in another course, if contrary to the rules of the course; (h) altering or interfering with the grading procedures; (i) plagiarizing, as defined; and (j) knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above.
Plagiarism shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the University as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements without giving credit to the appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas, statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e) submitting another person’s artistic works, such as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f) submitting as one’s own work papers purchased from research companies. Those guilty of committing plagiarism or cheating will receive an F for both the assignment and the entire course.

 

Please be aware that the major themes and ideas that comprise my exams are generally drawn from my lectures so attendance is critical if you wish to do well in this course. Readings, both from the text and the other assigned books, are not extra or optional assignments. The readings complement, but do not replace, my lectures and are there to help you better understand major themes and issues raised in class.  One key to success in this course is to keep up with the reading assignments.

Class Etiquette: Please arrive on time and do not leave before the end of class unless you inform me prior to class.  Also, please be sure cell phones and beepers are off or on silent.  This also means no text messaging in class.

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