American
Studies 450
American Studies Senior Seminar
Dr. John Todd Coke
Office: Pawling Hall 114 (ex. 8127)
Hours: 12-1 MWF or by appointment
AMS 450 is a weekly seminar offering a capstone review of
American cultural history, with a special emphasis on twentieth century American
culture. The course is a requirement for graduating American Studies majors and
is structured to prepare these students for their comprehensive oral exams. But
the seminar should also allow non-majors to understand more clearly how their
own area of interest fits into the larger context of America’s cultural past.
Policies and Requirements:
Attendance: This seminar involves discussions and quizzes
based on weekly reading and research assignments. Because the class meets only
once a week, regular attendance is essential. You will be allowed to miss only
one class during the semester. More than one absence will lower your class
standing by a letter-grade.
Research Assignments and Weekly Quizzes:
There will be reading and research assignments each week.
You should arrive in class having completed your weekly assignment and prepared
to be questioned and tested on the material. Failure to prepare for class will
be treated as a class absence.
Independent Project:
Each student will be required to complete an independent
research project on an aspect of American culture to be chosen in consultation
with the professor. The project will involve periodic reports to the class, a
classroom presentation and a 15-page paper, to be submitted at the end of the
semester. Students are encouraged to pursue a topic of special interest to them.
For some topic suggestions, click here.
Grading:
One half of your grade will be based on your classroom
performance, which will include assessments of your mastery of the reading and
research material based on your classroom participation and performance on the
weekly quizzes. The other half of your grade will be based on an assessment of
your work on the independent research project.
Required Texts:
The primary text for this course is Deglar’s Out of
Our Past. You will also need a basic history of America and a basic survey
of American Literature. For American history, I recommend either A Brief
Synopsis of American History by Sellers and May or A Pocket History of
The United States by Nevins and Commanger. But any decent, brief survey will
do. For American Literature, you can either buy the McMillan text I use in
English 318 and 320 or get most of the readings from my web-text on line at http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/coke/318text.htm.
Schedule of Assignments:
Week 1
Orientation
Hand out Weekly Assignment 1
Week 2
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 1
Discuss Weekly Assignment 1
Hand out Weekly Assignment 2:
The Era of Imperialism
Week 3
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 2
Discuss Weekly Assignment 2
Hand out Weekly Assignment 3:
The Era of World War I
Week 4
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 3
Discuss Weekly Assignment 3
Hand out Weekly Assignment 4
Week 5
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 4
Discuss Weekly Assignment 4
Hand out Weekly Assignment 5
Week 6
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 5
Discuss Weekly Assignment 5
Hand out Weekly Assignment 6
Week 7
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 6
Discuss Weekly Assignment 6
Hand out Weekly Assignment 7
Week 8
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 7
Discuss Weekly Assignment 7
Hand out Weekly Assignment 8
Week 9
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 8
Discuss Weekly Assignment 8
Hand out Weekly Assignment 9
Week 10
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 9
Discuss Weekly Assignment 9
Hand out Weekly Assignment 10
Week 11
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 10
Discuss Weekly Assignment 10
Hand out Weekly Assignment 11: TBA
Week 12
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 11
Discuss Weekly Assignment 11
Hand out Weekly Assignment 12: TBA
Project Presentations
Week 13
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 12
Discuss Weekly Assignment 12
Hand out Weekly Assignment 13: TBA
Project Presentations
Week 14
Review History of American Culture
Quiz on Assignment 13
Discuss Weekly Assignment 13
Hand out Weekly Assignment 14: TBA
Project Presentations
Week 15 Project Presentations