Kay Branagan  

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

An introductory course that will provide students with an understanding of continuity and change within the African-American experience.  Students will explore key political and cultural events and ideas in the United States within the framework of American History.  Class, gender, caste, and sexual orientation issues are integrated throughout the course work.  At the same time 'race' is integrated into all facets of American life, methodologies, organizing chronologies, and theoretical orientations will be specific to Africana Studies within the context of United States History from 1500 BCE to the present.  The course will focus on reading and discussion of assigned books and articles.  Students are expected to take an active part in class discussion and should therefore keep up to date with the reading assignments.

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS:

1.  Through the study of the African-American experience, students will be encouraged to recognize and appreciate the diverse strands that make up the American historical experience.
2. The readings will not only impart information but will also precipitate in the student an awareness of the complex and changing character of the African-American experience-its origins, development, and future challenges.
3. Students will confront the pain, violence, and various oppressions of our American past without turning groups into victims and demons.
4. Students will understand the varieties of evidence that can be used in constructing interpretations of the past -- literary and historical, visual and textual.
5. Students will acknowledge their own place in history and their responsibility to shape the history of their time.

EXPECTATIONS:

Regular attendance is essential for doing well in the course.  No more than (2) unexcused absences are allowed without penalty.  I am very sticky about this!!!  Please supply official excuses in writing.  (Penalty means a LOWERED grade.)  Please Note:  Leaving class early or arriving more than 5 minutes late without a legitimate excuse constitutes an absence.

SYLLABUS

These films, documentaries, and slides were previewed, evaluated, and selected for class viewing in order to expand upon the materials being presented and to allow the students to understand the impact of political and economic policies on individual people from the region who are unable to speak for themselves.  Participating students who find these films etc. to be objectionable are not required to attend the viewing and will be given an alternative assignment.

PLAGIARY:

Plagiary is using the words and/or phrases of others and failing to credit them in your writings.  Direct quotes and paraphrasing the ideas of others MUST be footnoted.  The sources for more general ideas MUST be noted in a bibliography.  Plagiary is also copying, in whole or in part, a paper off the Internet or handing in a paper written, in whole or in part by another student.  Plagiary will result in an 'E' grade as well as an additional assignment.  [Sorry, being 'stressed' is NOT an excuse for cheating!!]

ADDENDA:

Any changes made in the requirements of the course i.e., writing assignments, and/or evaluation criteria, will be made known to participating students through verbal announcements in class and distributed addenda.