Course Credits: 3
     Contact Hours: 45
     Prerequisite: ENG 100
Humanities/Writing Intensive

Course Description

American Studies 202 offers an introduction to American life, with a particular emphasis on its variety and diversity. The course examines the creation of a multicultural, multiracial society through an analysis of the ways ethnicity, gender, race, age, and other factors provide distinctive outlooks on the American Experience and ideals. We will explore social processes (such as stereotyping, prejudice, and racism), group identity, and contemporary issues. This class will seek to

1. introduce the student to the interdisciplinary study of American society through the synthesis of theories, concepts, and insights from history, social science, and literature
2. give the student a sense of history and shared experience through an analysis of key American novels in their time settings

Objectives

     1.   to introduce the student to the interdisciplinary study of American society through the 
           synthesis of theories, concepts, and insights from history, social science, and literature 
     2.   to give the student a sense of history and shared experience through an analysis of key
          American novels and time settings

Competencies/Student Learning Outcomes

As a course in Humanities, American Studies 202 will enable the student to: 

1. demonstrate an understanding of the humanities as a collection of disciplines that study human nature, culture, attitudes, and accomplishments
2. communicate an understanding of the value of participating in intellectual and aesthetic pursuits
3. demonstrate an understanding of the common bonds that encourage a sense of civic purpose and responsible citizenship

Student Learning Outcomes

The student will, to the instructor’s satisfaction

1. define key cultural concepts drawn from the social sciences - sociology, history, economics, political science, and the humanities and literature (See “American Cultural Literacy/Cultural Concepts”)
2. explain the basic outline of American historical periods - events, processes, and individuals (see Lecture handouts #1-8)
3. write three +5 page papers, with a draft, conference, and re-write to final paper, based on assigned novels, with a synthesis and analysis utilizing cultural concepts and insights from American history

a) Paper #1 on The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (text)
b) Paper #2 on The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (text)
c) Paper #3 on The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (text)

Texts

        1.   The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

        2.   The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair

        3.   The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

Evaluation

     Grades in this course are based upon the following:

1. PAPERS
There will be three papers, each five typed pages minimum, analyzing the themes of solidarity (ethnic, class, family) vs. Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest, individualism) in American society in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. The papers will be based on the three novels and related historical and theoretical material, focusing on the experiences of two families - the Rudkis, and Joad clans, on the frontier, city, and countryside, as immigrants and migrants. Guidelines will be forthcoming. Since this is a Writing Intensive (WI) course, these papers are a major element in determining the grade for the course. Each paper will require a preliminary draft which will be reviewed and revised by the student and instructor together before the completion of the final project. Each paper will be worth 20% of the final grade, and the three papers together constitute 60% of the course grade.

2. EXAM
There will be two exams, one at midterm and one in finals week, covering the related course materials - concepts of cultural literacy and the history lectures which provide the historical and institutional structure for interpreting and analyzing the novels. These two exams make up 30% of the grade, each worth 15%. Attendance and participation in class make up the remaining 10% of evaluation.

Themes and Approaches for American Studies 202 

American Studies 202 focuses on Diversity in American life and culture. We will examine how various groups - immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, women, factory workers and migrant workers, pioneers and farmers, have experienced and influenced American society. We will draw on a wide range of sources - novels, films, and music to examine the unique experiences of different groups in a developing pluralistic society. Common links such as stereotyping, cultural identity, the melting pot, and political radicalism have been shared by many groups.

We will develop the historical, institutional, and social framework in the American Experience through the last century as a background for the Shaara, Sinclair, and Steinbeck novels. We will examine how the real historical conditions, values, and experiences are reflected in the novels. We will analyze the political positions taken by the authors on the major issues of their times. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the connections between history and culture, class and politics, power and identity in the writing of their papers.

Course Reading Schedule

       Week      Novel 

       1 -   5      The Killer Angels         + lectures & films 
       6 -  10     The Jungle                      + lectures & films 
      11 - 15     The Grapes of Wrath    + lectures & films