CONTEMPORARY
UNITED STATES HISTORY
(a.k.a., “Surviving the Sixties”)
History Department Philosophy Statement
The history department consists of active historians, students and teachers, who believe that knowledge of the past is necessary to comprehend the present and to forge the future thoughtfully and deliberately. We foster the sheer enjoyment of the adventure of historical discovery and study, seeing ourselves in the present as interconnected with people of the past—our families, fellow citizens, and humanity across the globe. In our work as historians, we develop the requisite skills to embrace purposefully life’s journey and challenges as we learn to understand ourselves and humanity.
Teacher Contact Information
661-0108 (Extension 275)
Room 712, Upper School
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, students study the people, events and developments that involved the United States in the time frame c. 1945-1981 (i.e., the end of World War II to the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan). Within this context, particular focus is placed on life in the 1960s, as well as what led up to and followed this decade.
COURSE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What are your informed, historical perspectives on life in the United States and America’s role in world affairs during the time period c. 1945-81?
How does music help inform your perspective on America’s history and culture?
What occurred before the 1960s that influenced the people, events and developments that came to define "The Sixties"?
What occurred during the 1960s that was especially meaningful to the United States and world at that time and afterwards?
How have the people, events and developments of the Sixties influenced American society and the world in the years that have followed?
TEACHER’S GOAL
I want you to enjoy this course for the right reasons, which include the following: you learn information that you did not know or fully understand prior to this course; you develop historical perspectives that are meaningful (especially to you); you gain a deeper understanding of this country, the United States, and its past and present peoples’ experiences; and, you gain an understanding of the affects of this country’s actions on the rest of the world.
COURSE RESOURCES
Brokaw, Tom. BOOM!: Voices of the Sixties, Personal Reflections on the ‘60s and Today. New York: Ramdom House, 2007. (ISBN: 978-1-4000-6457-1)
A variety of primary and secondary literary, music, and film resources.
EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Unit Tests
Tests will cover information presented in class as well as readings and other homework assignments.
Projects
There will be both individual and group projects that offer students the opportunity to exercise their research, interpretation, debate and presentation skills.
Quizzes
Announced and unannounced quizzes will be given on assigned readings and homework as well as on information covered in class.
Assignments
There will be homework and in-class assignments in which students have the opportunity to develop their research skills and express their interpretations of historical issues.
Class Participation
Your class participation grade is based on your intellectual and personal contributions to the classroom environment.
History Department Policy for Late Work
Students who miss a class for any reason (including illness, plays, or sports) are responsible for obtaining class work, including handouts, and assignments, and completing them as assigned. All assignments which were due when a student was absent are due the day after they return. Exception: any work which was due during an absence due to illness will get a deadline extension of one day for each class day absent due to illness. Any unexcused late assignment will lose a full grade for each day it is late.
SEMESTER GRADE CRITERIA
1st and 2nd Quarters 80%
Final Exam 20%
HONORABLE CONDUCT
Honor Statement
Conducting oneself honorably is essential to living a meaningful and successful life. Honorable conduct is a gift that one gives to enhance the entire community. I choose to tell the truth, do my own work, treat others decently and fairly, and take responsibility for my actions. Integrity, goodness, and truthfulness are ideals I strive to live up to each day. By living honorably, I respect myself and serve others.
Plagiarism/Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty
To plagiarize is, according to the American Heritage Dictionary (1973, p 1001), “1. To steal and use [the ideas or writing] of another as one’s own. 2. To appropriate passages or ideas from [another] and use them as one’s own…To take and use as one’s own writings or ideas of another.”
To avoid both purposeful and accidental forms of plagiarism, students must properly document any and all sources of information in their work. Please see the MLA Handbook for Research Papers (required for all St. Margaret’s English classes) for further specifics. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your teacher for clarification.