INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN
STUDIES I
Aspects of American Culture
AMST 211—Fall 2006
VOICE: 17438775 (W) 17729091 (H)
An interdisciplinary course
that examines the ways different disciplines have approached the study of
American culture. Students are
introduced to the main cultural movements in American history and to
contemporary intellectual debates within the field.
Grading
Policy: 20% for Attendance*; 20% for the Class
Presentation; 20% for the Midterm Exam; 20% for the Research Paper; and 20% for
the Final Exam. A Guidelines sheet will be distributed outlining the
requirements for your Class Presentation and for your Research Paper.
Grading
Scale:
93-100=A; 90-92=A-; 88-89=B+; 83-87=B; 80-82=B-; 78-79=C+; 73-77=C;
70-72=C-; 68-69=D+; 63-67=D; 60-62=D-; 0-59=F
Attendance
Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. It is the student’s responsibility to sign
the attendance sheet each day of class; failure to sign the attendance
sheet—even if in attendance—will be counted as an absence. If your unexcused absences exceed 25% of the
total number of lectures of the course in this semester, you will be
automatically withdrawn from the course and be given a grade of (WF) which will
be counted towards your GPA. As well,
you are expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each
day's class. This means that you must
read the pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to
discuss and debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and answer
questions related to the issues being covered.
NOTE: TURN OFF all cell
phones during class.
* Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum
double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the
day(s) of your absence. The summary must
be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s),
the internet, or any other source(s).
Times New Roman font is strongly recommended; however, if you use an
alternative style, make sure your font does not resemble italic or bold text. Also, Comic Sans MS font is not allowed.
Texts:
InfoUSA: Information
NOTE: All class
readings from InfoUSA are also available online and can be printed from the
AMST 211 class webpage: [http://userspages.uob.edu.bh/cscpo/amst211.htm]
Handouts Provided From:
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sept. 17: Introduction to American Studies I
Sept. 19: The Self-Made Man
Film: Benjamin
Franklin, DVD (Part 1)
Sept. 21: The Gentleman
Farmer
Film: Benjamin
Franklin, DVD (Part 2)
Sept. 24: [First day of Ramadan 1427]
Sept. 24: The Historical
Context of the
Sept. 26: The Historical Context of the
Sept. 28: [Last day for dropping courses]
Sept. 28: The Historical
Context of the
Oct. 1—Nov. 23: [Withdrawal
period with “W”]
Oct. 1: Benjamin
Franklin's Phenomenal Influence on American Culture [Ramadhan—
Film: Benjamin
Franklin, DVD (Part 2—Role in the American Revolution)
Oct. 3: Development
of Political Parties & The Peaceful Transfer of Power [Ramadhan—
Film: Thomas
Jefferson, DVD (Part I)
Oct. 5: Development of
Political Parties & The Peaceful Transfer of Power [Ramadhan—
Film: Thomas
Jefferson, DVD (Part II)
Oct. 8: Slavery &
The Abolitionist Movement [Ramadhan—
Oct. 10: Slavery &
The Abolitionist Movement [Ramadhan—
Oct. 12: Individualism [Ramadhan—
Oct. 15: What Kind of
Government Should Command a Man’s Respect?
[Ramadhan—
Oct. 17: What Kind of
Government Should Command a Man’s Respect? [Ramadhan—
Oct. 19: All Men and
Women Are Created Equal [Ramadhan—
Oct. 22: This Fourth of
July is Yours, Not Mine [Ramadhan—
Oct.
23-25: Eid Al-Fitr 1427—
Oct. 26: This Fourth of
July is Yours, Not Mine
Oct. 29: Freedom for
Slaves as A Goal of the Civil War
Oct. 31: The
Proposition That All Men Are Created Equal
Nov. 2: The American
Family
Nov. 5: Education
Nov. 7: Education
Nov. 9:
Midterm Exam
Nov. 12-16: Mid-semester break [No classes]
Nov. 19: Self-Help &
Economic Success
Nov. 21: Class Divisions
Nov. 23: Race Divisions
Nov. 26: Race Divisions
Nov. 28: Class &
Race Divisions
Nov. 30: Class &
Race Divisions
Dec. 3: Gender
Divisions
Dec. 5: Gender
Divisions
Dec. 7: The Melting Pot
Reconsidered
Dec. 10: The Wild West
Dec. 12: The Wild West [continued]
Dec. 14: Theories of Culture
Dec. 16-17: National Day of Bahrain—Holidays [no classes]
Dec. 19: Theories of Culture
Dec. 21: Theories of Culture
Dec. 24: Theories of Culture [Research Papers Due]
Dec. 26: Theories of Culture
Dec. 28: Theories of Culture
[Last
Day for In-Class Presentations]
Dec. 30: Arafh Holiday
Dec. 31-Jan. 2: Eid Al-Adha Holiday [no classes]
Jan. 7: Theories of Culture
Jan. 9: Last day of classes; Review
Jan. 17, 2007: Final Exam
11:30-13:30
Jan. 29-