AMH 4930: Cold War America

ASSIGNMENTS

(Note: Some changes MAY be made to this as the semester progresses, so be sure to check it each week.)

Popular Periodicals Presentation Assignment (DUE 1/9):

Go the library. Find in the stacks (or on microfilm) any popular periodical published during the Cold War (such as Reader’s Digest, Time, Life, Look, U.S. News and World Report, etc.) Browse through the publication, and choose one article that deals in any way with the Cold War, communism, etc. Then do the following:

1. Make 35 copies of at least the first page of the article to share with everyone in the class.

2. Present the article to the class on 1/19: In class, you will:

hand-out to your classmates copies of your article

briefly summarize what it says

explain why you think it is interesting, and what you think the significance/meaning of this source is, particularly what it suggests about the Cold War

you should only spend a couple of minutes (2-3), so be brief!

3. You also should hand in to me a 1-2 page explanation of the above, and a copy of the source.

Daily Journal/Homework Assignments (DUE 5/1):

For this class, you must keep a “journal” that records your thoughts, reflections, and ideas as you read, listen to, and view the various primary sources from the class. The journal must be some form of bound notebook with lined paper.

For every reading assignment, you should make an entry in your journal (and date that entry). For each assignment, you should answer this question: “What does this source (or these sources) tell us about the Cold War?” You can answer this question any way you like: by writing a long paragraph on one particular idea that strikes you; by listing key points or ideas; by constructing a table, etc. Anything that helps you analyze the source and reach conclusions about its meaning. You may find it helpful to consider the questions outlined on the Primary Source Worksheet and Photo Analysis Worksheet.

On occasion, I will assign specific questions for you to answer or tasks to complete in your journal. These will be announced in class. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. I will also post announcements on the course web site.

Please keep in mind the following:

Be sure to do your assignments every day there is reading. Although the journal itself is due at the end of the semester, I will periodically check to make sure you have completed the assignment for the day.

Bring your journal to class for every meeting, even if there is no assignment due that day. (There will occasionally be in-class writing, and you should use the journal to take notes.)

Be prepared to share what you wrote. Periodically, I will call on you to share your entry with the class.

Don’t forget to date each entry.

Please write legibly. If I can’t read it, I can’t grade it.

Essay Assignments

For this class, you will write three essays, of roughly 4-5 pages each. The essays are on topics of your own choosing, but they must use sources from the class. Your essays should develop a thesis arising from your analysis of the source(s), and you should use quotations from the source(s) to support your argument. The following rules apply:

a. Everyone must write on the Cuban Missile Crisis, using the Kennedy Tapes. The particular focus of this essay is up to you.

b. One of your essays may be on a film.

c. You should email me your proposed topic and provisional thesis at least one week before you hand in your paper, to get comments and suggestions.

d. For formatting and style, you must follow the Essay Guidelines posted on the course website.

Due dates:

You may turn your essays in at any time, subject to the following restrictions:

a. One of your essays must be turned in on or before spring break (2/28).

b. The essay on the Cuban Missile Crisis is due on or before 4/1.

c. Your last essay must be turned in on or before 5/1.

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