King's
College Department of History
The study of American History is
celebration as well as it is critique. It examines achievements
and failures; triumphs and tragedies; hopes and frustrations. It cannot lay
claim to prognostication yet it should offer guidance and direction in examining
the present and in shaping the future.
This specific study of American
Political and Cultural Rhetoric will utilize several significant themes to study
the dynamic forces and ideas by which men and women in the public arena have
shaped the American story of their times and, hopefully, offer guidance in
evaluating contemporary rhetoric in that public arena. Properly subtitled, this
course is the study of “American visions” and the “voice” given to them
over time.
The course will examine the written
and spoken words of women and men in American history. Focus will be given to
significant periods of American cultural and political history. Students will be
expected to study the structures and substance of major selections of
American rhetoric as well as to examine the historical context of these
selections. Selections will be used as appropriate in whole or abbreviated
format. Special attention will be given to the major political, social, and
cultural crosscurrents in American history. PRIMARY SOURCES will be the
exclusive materials of study in the course
and, where possible, appropriate audio and/or visual records will be utilized to
assist in the study.
While the spoken word – sermon,
speech, oration, eulogy, commemorative tribute - will be the primary focus of
the study, selected printed prose and poetry – where appropriate – will be
included in the course as well.
Historical literacy is essential to the education of the
professional man or woman of the 21st century and his or her ability to judge
and decide both private and public issues in a context which respects
appropriate traditions. As
communications scholar and historian Stephen Lucas notes in his work Portents
of Rebellion, “Discourse always occurs within a context, and that context
will always influence the ways language shapes perceptions, attitudes, and
beliefs.”
Specific
Benefits of
HISTORY 425: AMERICAN POLITICAL and
CULTURAL RHETORIC
The General Course Outline
identifies specific reading materials from the COURSE SOURCES document
which are to be completed prior to discussion of the material in class
lectures. Any and all of these should be read prior to classroom
discussion
**SUPPLEMENTAL READING
Assignments will be made using www.douglassarchives.org.
Use of other materials especially www.learner.org/biographyofamerica
OR other scholarly web sites which
may be accessed from the Douglass Archives is recommended for the study of
context.
**REQUIRED PARTICIPATION - WEB CT
DISCUSSION COMPONENT
On a biweekly basis a reading and a
related Question for Discussion will be posted to the DISCUSSIONS component of
WEB CT. It is expected that each student will read the material and enter
the graded discussion on the reading.
Three (3) brief papers will be
assigned. Guidelines for each assignment will be distributed as appropriate.
Exploration of various research resources including the library and on-line
sources will be encouraged in the completion of these assignments.
One of these research/writing
assignments will engage us in the search for and posting of appropriate
materials to the Douglass Archives.
Upper class students will be
expected to demonstrate proficiency in applying the writing and critical
thinking developed in CORE 110 and CORE 100. All students will be expected to
submit papers in typed or word processed form. Handwritten work will NOT be
accepted. ***Papers not submitted on time will be severely penalized; the
highest possible grade will be a "C".
There will be two (2) written tests
given during the semester including the final examination. The first
test will be announced in class at least one week in advance. The second
(final) examination will be given according to the Registrar's examination
schedule. The tests will be based on the lectures and
reading materials, as assigned. The general structure of the tests will
be essay. Each test will be non-comprehensive and will review the most recent
materials covered.
Tests will always provide student
choice within the sections of the examination. There will always be provision
for “research time” (open book/notes) during each examination. Tests should
always be written in PEN!!
This course has been designed
primarily as a DISCUSSION and COLLOQUYcourse with lecture leadership as needed
or appropriate. The REGULAR PARTICIPATION - asking or responding to questions,
volunteering one's own ideas or arguments, sharing evidence – IS EXPECTED
from each student. This participation will be noted and weighed in the
overall semester grade evaluation as a significant factor.
This is an
adult environment. You and I have adult
responsibilities. Each student I and are expected to attend classroom
lectures/discussions on a regular basis. I will notify you ahead of time if
possible of my expected absences and will use WEB CT to keep you posted with
course information. Rules of the College regarding your class attendance will be
followed strictly. Students are responsible for all materials discussed in
lectures and classroom discussions. There will be a MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE ABSENCE of
THREE (3) - excused OR unexcused.
Absence on the day of a scheduled
test or failure to submit a research assignment will NOT be excused unless a
serious reason has been explained to me (in advance, if possible) and
arrangements for a make-up test and/or late submission are made within five (5)
class days of the scheduled test or assignment due date. It is the
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT to arrange the make-up with me. It will be within
the discretion of the professor to permit any and all exceptions to these rules
based on the evidence presented.
Three consecutive absences or a
pattern of absence over a three week period will initiate an Excessive Absence
Report to the College Student Services Office.
NOTE WELL
- It is to be correctly assumed that it will be impossible to receive a grade
which is higher than the percentage of days attended without significant
reasons.
The determination of the final
semester grade will be based on the successful completion of all requirements
for the course using numerical values as follows:
The general grading scale to be
used is as follows:
A+ = 98 A = 95 A- = 92
B+ = 88 B = 85 B- = 82
C+ = 78 C = 75 C- = 72
D+ = 68 D = 65
F = 59
Learning is not achieved only
within the confines of a classroom. To that end be advised of the following:
WEB CT MAIL COMPONENT
Please
be advised that in the event of unexpected class cancellations, emergencies, or
other special circumstances that I will contact you via WEB CT MAIL. This will
also apply to any necessary procedural changes within the semester which cannot
be appropriately announced in class in timely manner.
WEB CT CHAT ROOM COMPONENT
At varying intervals during the
semester there will be a course “CHAT ROOM” which is open to all students
and will permit general discussion of the content and the character of the
course. These sessions will be
announced in the classroom at least one (1) week in advance.
SYLLABUS
COPY
This
syllabus is available on line at www.kings.edu/hbfedric/
under list of Course Syllabi or
in the SYLLABUS component of WEB CT – HISTORY OF AMERICAN RHETORIC.
History
Department
King's
College
Last
Updated August 20, 2003