American Frontier II A338/27910
H511/4777
Fall 2008 Weds 6:00-8:40pm, CA 217
Professor Coleman Office hours in CA 503N
Email: Tues 2-4pm; Thurs 10-12 noon
Office/voice mail: 274-5817 and by appointment
Introduction:
The American West is a region characterized at once by its physical setting, the historical processes that have occurred there, and the set of meanings American culture has ascribed to the region. It is home to a highly diverse set of peoples that have been interacting with one another for years, decades, even centuries. It is described by physical and political boundaries (the Mississippi River, the Pacific Ocean, and borders with Canada and Mexico), economic development (extractive industry, tourism), and by imaginative constructs (the "frontier," the "Wild West," and the mythic characters inhabiting such places). This semester we will use a variety of approaches to explore a range of topics in our efforts to examine the American West from the later part of the 19th century through the 20th century. We will focus on two specific themes: 1) the political, economic, social, and environmental relationships that have shaped the region; and 2) the cultural meanings and mythic representations people have attached to it. The Mythic West, far from separate and distinct, has always been intimately connected to “real” western people, places, resources, and politics. We will study how the American West and its images have developed together, often in tension with one another, and how they have created the West that we know today.
Because this is an upper-level history course, I expect students to exercise their minds strenuously. This can be challenging, sometimes painful, and often fun, but either way it is always rewarding. We will mix a chronological approach with a thematic one throughout the semester. Classes will include lectures as well as a significant amount of discussion every week. There is no text book. For each assigned readings, students will write a short response paper or make a presentation to the class. There will also be a longer paper based on a scholarly book and topic of your choice. Here is your biggest chance to interpret, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate. By the end of the semester it is my hope that you will have a working knowledge of western history, some skill in the historian’s craft of interpreting primary and secondary sources, and practice presenting your ideas powerfully in class as well as in clear, if not graceful, prose.
Beyond adding to an understanding of American society and culture, this course speaks to a number of IUPUI’s Principles of Undergraduate Learning: it refines communication skills through class discussion, presentations, exams, and papers, it demands that students analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and apply a range of specific information as well as larger thematic ideas, it teaches information, writing, and thinking skills useful in a variety of real life situations, and in training students how to be good historians, it strengthens students’ intellectual depth and breadth. In a perfect world, it will help you become informed and thoughtful citizens—of your home, neighborhood, city, and nation.
Books
Jane Tompkins, West of Everything: The Inner Life of Westerns (1992)
John Neihardt, Black Elk Speaks (1932)
George Sanchez, Becoming Mexican American (1993)
Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation (2005)
John Krakauer, Into the Wild (2007)
Requirements
1) A midterm quiz and a final exam. The midterm will only include IDs; the final will include IDs and some essay questions based on lectures and discussion, course reading, occasional films, and larger course themes. We will compile a list of identification terms from each class as the semester proceeds, and you will have potential essay questions a week in advance of each exam. We will discuss how to prepare and write good exams during class. The final exam will consist of identifications from the second half of the semester; the essay questions may be cumulative. (Midterm quiz – 10%; Final Exam – 20%)
2) One page response papers or (in the case of the Sanchez book) class presentations on each assigned book. Unless otherwise noted (Sanchez), you will summarize the author’s argument as concisely as possible, explain briefly how they make their argument with an example, and discuss briefly how it fits into course themes we have discussed so far. Sometimes I will give the class a question to answer to guide your responses. They are due to me, on Oncourse, by 4:00pm the day we discuss that book. (10% for each book; 40% total – I will drop the lowest grade)
3) An analytical paper of 10-12 pages, based on a topic of your choice, due November 19. Students must incorporate at least one scholarly book from the list I provide, one scholarly journal article, one primary source, and one cultural representation of the West. Students will develop these papers throughout the semester and performance on intermediate assignments will count towards the grade on their final paper. (20% total)
3) Participation in regular class discussions, smaller presentations, and general signs of intellectual life. These are integral to the learning process and to the success of this course. We will be discussing readings every week, and you must come prepared. Quality class participation means asking good questions more than answering them, and we all appreciate quality comments over sheer quantity. If you are painfully shy, begin by emailing me your comments or come visit during office hours. (10% of final grade)
4) Attendance. Faithful attendance is vital to your success in this course and is required. Since emergencies plague even the most diligent, however, you may miss up to two classes without penalty, no questions asked or excuses required. *For each and every class missed past two, I will deduct two points from your final grade average. Avoid this at all costs since it can do significant damage to an otherwise hard-earned grade. Save your free misses for emergencies! Perfect attendance will bump up your grade.
The success of our class discussions depend upon students keeping up with the reading. I expect you to meet deadlines and due dates. Print out your papers well ahead of time, and always save a copy on disk. If you have a conflict with something, you must talk to me BEFORE it happens, otherwise I will need documentation of illness or other emergency. Avoid intellectual dishonesty at all costs—representing someone else’s words or ideas as your own counts as plagiarism, and if I catch you doing this or cheating on exams you will face anything from failure of the work in question to failure of the course and disciplinary action from the university. See the Code of Student Conduct at http://life.iupui.edu/help/code.asp as well as campus policies on academic misconduct at http://registrar.iupui.edu/misconduct.html; and come see me if you have questions. Please take advantage of my office hours and email account if you have questions, need help, or just want to talk about the class. If you have more general questions or need guidance about pretty much anything, contact the Student Advocate Office. The Student Advocate Office is located in UC002 (278-7594 or http://www.life.iupui.edu/advocate/)
Schedule of Assignments
Aug. 20 Introduction and Course Themes
Watch Shane and identify main themes
Aug. 27 Ideas about the American West
Discuss Tompkins, West of Everything (response paper due at 4pm)
Sept. 3 The American West at 1900 and the New Western History
Bring book reviews of your top two choices from the bibliography
Sept. 10 Native Americans and Primary Sources
Discuss Neihardt, Black Elk Speaks (response papers due)
Sept. 17 Western Economies
Bring in primary source
Sept 24 Western Violence
Bring in scholarly article
Oct. 1 Natural Resources
Bring in summary of scholarly book
Oct. 8 Mexican Americans and Secondary Sources
Discuss Sanchez, Becoming Mexican American (class presentations)
Oct. 15 World War II
Midterm quiz
Bring in thesis, argument, and outline
Oct. 22 no class
Write your papers and read Schlosser
Oct. 29 The Post-WWII West
Discuss Schlosser, Fast Food Nation (response papers due)
Nov. 5 The Western Environment and Tourism
Bring in drafts
Nov. 12 Seeking Answers in the West
Discuss Krakauer, Into the Wild (response papers due)
Nov. 19 New Westerns – Lone Star
Papers due
Nov. 26 no class – Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 3 Course Conclusions
Dec. 10 Final Exam 6:00-8:00pm