AMH 4935: The Fifties (Senior Seminar)

SYLLABUS (Fall 2007)

Mondays, 4:00-6:50pm, AL 338

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Kenneth Osgood

Office: AL 155

Office Hours:    Thursday’s, 9:00-11:00am (and by appointment)          

Phone:  (561) 297-2816                                              

Email:  kosgood@fau.edu

Instructor’s Web Site: http://www.fau.edu/~kosgood

Course Web Site:  http://wise.fau.edu/~kosgood/1950/home

 

 

Course Description:

 

The senior seminar is the capstone course of the history degree.  Your main objective in this course is to produce a high-quality, original research paper on any topic you choose (provided it is based on a significant body of primary sources).  You will work on this paper throughout the semester, presenting regular progress reports and discussing your research with the class.  Your final research paper must be based on primary sources; it must develop an original thesis; and it must be stylistically correct. 

 

America in the 1950s is the topic of the course.  Most Americans have a stereotyped view of the 1950s as an age of June Cleaver, the Beaver, BBQs, big cars,  Marilyn Monroe, the bomb, and, of course, Elvis (he lives!).  While these represent facets of life in the 1950s, they only reveal part of the American scene.  As we will discover, beneath the surface of consensus and conformity in the 1950s, lay the foundations for the deep social and political turmoil that would erupt in the 1960s, as Americans began to question traditional gender roles, civil rights practices, government national security policies, and values.

 

Course Objective and Requirements:

 

This course has a single objective:  for each of you to produce a substantial research paper based on original research in primary sources.  Everything we do during the semester will be done with this goal in mind.  We will essentially dedicate the entire semester to research and writing.   In addition to your final research papers, regular participation, minor writing assignments, and oral presentations count for half of your final course grade.  (This is good news: All you have to do is put forth a solid and consistent effort on these assignments and fully half of your course grade will be an “A”!) 

 

Please be warned!  This will be a very demanding class that will require extraordinary effort – reading, researching, and writing -- outside of class time.  To do well in this class, you must get started on your research project right away, and you must work consistently over the semester.  You will not be able to “cram” and still pass this course.

 

Required Readings:

 

·        Halberstam, David.  The Fifties (Fawcett Books; ISBN: 0449909336).

 

·        Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing History, 5th edition (Bedford/St. Martin’s; 2007).

 

 

Discussion:

Discussion is an integral part of the course.  It is essential that you complete all of the required reading for the week before class, or else you cannot participate!  Your participation counts for a sizable portion of your grade.  In addition, you will be expected to discuss the work and research of your peers.  You should ask questions of others in the class, share ideas, and critique the work of your peers.

 

Attendance and Late Policies:

  • Attendance is absolutely mandatory. 
  • Your final course grade will be lowered an entire letter grade for each unexcused absence. 
  • No late work on any of the assignments will be accepted, unless excused in advance.

 

Important Research Paper Guidelines:

 

  • All papers must be based on primary sources to receive a passing grade. 
    • If your paper is based predominantly on secondary sources, you will not receive a passing grade in the course.

 

  • All papers must follow the stylistic guidelines posted here. 

 

    • A full 25% of your paper grade is based simply on following these instructions.

 

  • Your final paper must be submitted two ways: as a paper copy handed in to me, and as an electronic copy submitted through Blackboard.
    • If I do not receive an electronic copy, or if the electronic copy differs from the paper copy, you will receive a failing grade in the course.
    • Your paper will be checked for plagiarism using plagiarism detection software. 
    • Feel free to contact me with questions or concerns you may have about this policy.

 

 

Grade Breakdown:

 

Primary Source assignments:  15%

Class Participation and Oral Presentations: 15%

Misc. Writing Assignments (rough draft, bibliography, introduction, etc.): 20%

Final Paper: 50%

 

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