Instructor: Dr. Kenneth Osgood
Office: HU 151
Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 12-2 (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/AMH2020/home
Course Description:
This course provides an in-depth look at recent United
States history from the end of Reconstruction to the present. The course traces
both change and continuity in American life. It examines the major developments and forces that have
changed the way Americans live. It also examines resistance to those changes
and the values and practices that have endured. Beyond introducing you to the major events and themes
of recent American history, this course seeks to develop your understanding of
historical interpretation by presenting radically different interpretations of
the events we will discuss, and by asking you to evaluate those
interpretations.
Above all else, this course seeks to encourage you to ask questions about the recent past: questions about war and peace, questions about relations between different races, classes and sexes, questions about reform and obstacles to reform, questions about the government and its role in shaping American life, questions about social practices and popular culture—questions, in short, about life.
Grade Breakdown:
Essay I: 10%
Midterm: 15%
Essay II: 20%
Final Essay: 30%
Final Exam: 15%
Discussion, Homework, Quizzes: 10%
Important Dates:
9/21: Essay I
10/5: Midterm
10/22: Essay II
11/26: Final
Essays Due
12/7: Final Exam (7:45–10:15 a.m.)
Course Requirements:
This class is designed as a reading, writing, discussion,
and lecture course. To do well, you must study the readings carefully, work
diligently on writing assignments, participate actively in class discussion,
and attend class regularly. For
lecture and readings schedule, click here.
Required Readings:
Johnson, Paul. A History of the American People. New York: HarperCollins, 1997.
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History
of the United States: 1492-Present. Revised and Updated Edition. New York:
HarperPerennial, 1995.
About the Readings:
One of the
objectives of this course is to introduce you to historical
interpretation. The history many
of you learned in high school was taught as if there one true way of
understanding the past. To the
contrary, history itself is contested.
Historians are constantly debating, challenging, and revising the way
history is written. The two texts
for this course, by Paul Johnson and Howard Zinn, were selected because of the
profound differences in their historical interpretations. One of them is deeply conservative: It provides an apologetic and
sympathetic interpretation. The
other is radically liberal: It is
often very critical of the forces which have governed American history.
Throughout the
course you will be asked to critically analyze these sources. What issues does one author cover, but
the other does not? What was
included and what was left out?
How do they assess events differently? In what ways are their assessments similar? What are the benefits and limitations
of each work?
Discussion:
Although many of the class periods are devoted to lecture, the course involves regular discussions sessions. It is essential that you complete all of the required reading by the time of the scheduled discussions. To help you prepare for the discussions, and to help you understand the readings, I will post study guides and homework assignments on the course web site. These homework assignments are due on the days of scheduled discussions.
Exams:
Two exams will test your knowledge of the major developments covered in lectures, readings, and discussion sections. Each exam will include an "objective" portion that will test your knowledge of the readings and major developments addressed in the course. (This will not cover "trivia" or minor details, but will instead address basic information emphasized in the course. Past experience has shown that students who attend lecture regularly and complete the reading excel on this.) The exams are not cumulative (but the writing assignments are).
Essays:
If you looked at the grade breakdown, you probably noticed
that more than half of your course grade is based on the essay
assignments. This reflects the
emphasis in History 2020 on the importance of writing to historians. Although many students associate
writing with English classes, good writing is not the exclusive province of
English majors. It is a skill
sorely needed in the professional world and it is an essential part of the
historian's craft. History 2020,
therefore, places great emphasis on writing. You will be asked to write three original essays on
important historical themes using the course readings. In your essays you should develop an
argument that includes a strong
thesis statement supported by evidence.
Announcements and Online
Syllabus:
Please note the announcements page online: here I will post any announcements made in class.
Miscellaneous:
1.
Please arrive on time for class.
2.
No late work! Please read
and take note of the late policy posted on the essay guidelines.
3.
Please do not cheat or plagiarize. All cases will be prosecuted to the fullest,
according to FAU policy.
4. If you miss class, check the announcements page online to find
out if you missed any class news.
5. Questions are encouraged. If you do not hear or do not understand
something that is said during lecture, please interrupt me.
6. Feel free to visit me during office
hours: I am here to help.
Return to K.
Osgood’s Home Page