Humanities/Honors 152-02: Cultures of America
Fall Semester, 2014
M-W-F 10:00-10:50 AM
Instructor: Dr. Michael Johmann
Telephone: 852-6230 (office) or 459-2449 (cell)
E-mail: [email protected]
Office: Bingham 302D
Office Hours: M-W-F 10:50-11:20 AM
Required Texts:
Baym, Nina [editor]. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter
Eighth Edition.
Course Goals: An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the arts and humanities in
contemporary American culture emphasizing the convergence of European, African,
Hispanic, Asian and indigenous cultures as well as the distinguishing characteristics of
each culture as revealed in such fields as literature, philosophy, religion and popular
entertainment. The course is designed to help students: (1) recognize that social and
cultural systems develop out of adaptation to environmental and historical circumstances;
(2) understand the ways in which race, ethnicity, and/or gender are socially constructed;
(3) explore how different cultures may hold different views of the same issues; (4) and
learn how to employ critical thinking to evaluate pertinent information and assertions for
relevance, bias, stereotyping, manipulation and completeness. The theme of the course
will be based on the question posed by the eighteenth century French-American author J.
Hector St. John de Crevecoeur: “What is an American?” Throughout the semester we
will explore a variety of texts, films, music and other media in American culture that
represents an evolving dialogue on this question and examine the values and beliefs that
have in the past and continue in the present to shape this most basic of civic debates.
Required Assignments: in-class reading quizzes (20%); 2 essays of 4-5 pages
summarizing and critiquing a scholarly article on one or more of the works we are
discussing (20% each); 1 analytical research essay of 6-8 pages (20%); final exam (20%)
Grades: All essays and exams will receive letter grades according to the normal scale:
A+, A, A-, B+, B, etc.. Quizzes will be scored on a 5 point scale. In order to determine
final grades, letter grades will be converted to a numerical value as follows: A+ (98),
A(95), A- (92), B(85), C(75), D(65), F(55). Final grades will be calculated using the
same values.
Grading Standards: An “A” paper is one of outstanding content and is one almost
entirely free of spelling errors and problems with grammar. A “B” paper is truly aboveaverage in its content and organization and has relatively few problems with grammar
and spelling. A “C” paper fulfills the requirements of the assignment but suffers from
various problems in content, organization and the use of evidence. No essay with more
than 5 spelling errors can receive a grade above a “C”. A “D” paper suffers from
numerous problems with grammar and spelling and has great difficulty arguing a
consistent thesis. An “F” paper fails to meet even the minimum standards for the
assignment. No essay with more than 10 spelling errors can receive above an “F”.
Humanities Outcomes and Assessments
The following are general Identified Learning Outcomes for U of L Arts and
Humanities courses, with a description of how this class meets each outcome, and
how those outcomes will be assessed:
1. Outcome: Communicate an understanding of vocabulary, concepts,
materials, techniques and methods of intellectual inquiry within the arts and/or
humanities.
In this class, students will express this understanding by describing and
analyzing cultural texts using a critical apparatus with terminology and
associated concepts relevant to the type of text.
Assessment: through the examinations and essays, as well as quizzes and
discussions.
2. Outcome: Describe and evaluate texts using primary and secondary
materials.
In this class, students will demonstrate these skills by articulating critical
responses to cultural texts through recognition of formal and thematic
structures.
Assessment: through the essays as well as exams, which emphasize analysis
and the use of appropriate vocabulary and concepts.
3. Outcome: analyze and synthesize texts, recognizing the diversity of cultures
and historical contexts.
In this class, students will accomplish these goals by critically engaging with
cultural texts from differing cultural and historical contexts.
Assessment: through exams, quizzes and writing assignments.
Cultural Diversity Outcomes and Assessments
1. Outcome: recognize that social and cultural systems develop out of
adaptation to environmental and historical circumstances.
In this class, students will show this recognition by integrating textual analyis
with historical context.
Assessment: through examinations and essays, as well as quizzes and
discussion
2. Outcome: communicate an understanding of the ways in which race,
ethnicity, and/or gender are socially constructed.
In this class, students will express this understanding by describing and
critiquing the development of American culture in terms of its racial, ethnic
and gendered components.
Assessment: through examinations, essays, quizzes and discussion.
3. Outcome: Communicate an understanding that different cultures may hold
different views of the same issues.
In this class, students will express this understanding by investigating key
themes and issues as they are expressed in the cultural texts of differing
cultures.
Assessment: through examinations, essays, quizzes and discussion.
4. Outcome: Evaluate pertinent information and assertions for relevance, bias,
stereotyping, manipulation and completeness.
In this class, students will demonstrate these skills by analyzing sources from
a variety of critical perspectives.
Assessment: through examinations, essays, quizzes and discussions.
Plagiarism is a serious breach of ethics according to university regulations and will not be
tolerated in this class. Students are expected to turn in original essays of their own
composition for all out-of-class assignments, reflecting their own insight, examination of
texts and scholarly research. While students are encouraged to read and make use of any
number of academic sources as part of the writing process, the finished essay must be
original. Under no circumstances can papers be bought, borrowed or downloaded from
other students, fraternity files or the internet. Please be careful to cite all resources
quoted, paraphrased or summarized in the body of the paper and provide a “Works Cited”
page at the conclusion of your paper.
ALL PAPERS ARE TO BE TURNED IN ON THE ASSIGNED DAY. Late papers
will be penalized one letter grade per class period. No rewrites will be allowed, although
early drafts are encouraged. Quizzes will not be announced in advance and must be taken
during class. The lowest quiz score may be dropped at the end of the semester. Failure
to turn in an assignment will result in a score of zero. No one may pass the course
without completing the exam and all out-of-class assignments.
Students may be excused from class and may take a make-up quiz for that day if
attending a university sanctioned event or activity. A university sanctioned event or
activity shall be one in which a student represents the university to external
constituencies in academic or extra-curricular activities. These include but are not
limited to student government congresses, intercollegiate athletic and debate contests,
music competitions, academic meetings and conferences.
The University of Louisville is committed to providing access to programs and services
for qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a disability and require
accommodation to participate and complete requirements for this class, notify me
immediately and contact the Disability Resource Center (852-6938) for verification of
eligibility and determination of specific accommodations.
The syllabus and daily schedule are subject to change according to the discretion of the
professor in order to meet learning objectives, compensate for missed classes due to
weather, etc.. Students will be notified in writing as soon as possible when any
substantive change takes place.
Daily Reading Schedule:
M 8/25 Introduction; “I Believe in America” The Godfather
W 8/27 All selections from the Letters of Christopher Columbus; The Godfather
F 8/29 Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation; Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”;
The Godfather
M 9/1 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
W 9/3 Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation; Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”;
The Godfather
F 9/5 Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation; Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”;
The Godfather
M 9/8
Franklin, The Autobiography
W 9/10 Franklin, The Autobiography
F 9/12 Crevecoeur, Letters, “Letter III. What Is an American?”
M 9/15 Crevecoeur, Letters, “Letter III. What Is an American?”
W 9/17 Jefferson, all selections [including handouts]
F 9/19 Jefferson, all selections [including handouts]
M 9/22 Emerson, “The American Scholar” and “Self-Reliance”
W 9/24 Emerson, above selections; Film: Last of the Mohicans [View on Netflix or
from Reserve at Ekstrom]
F 9/26 Film: Last of the Mohicans
M 9/29 Film: Last of the Mohicans
W 10/1 William Apess, “An Indian’s Looking-Glass for the White Man”; “Memorial of
the Cherokee Citizens” ESSAY ONE DUE IN CLASS
F 10/3 William Apess, “An Indian’s Looking-Glass”; “Memorial of the Cherokee
Citizens”
M 10/6 Mid-Term Holiday
W 10/8 Zitkala Sa, all selections; Leslie Marmon Silko, “Lullaby”
F 10/10 Zitkala Sa, all selections; Leslie Marmon Silko, “Lullaby”
M 10/13 Phillis Wheatley, poems; Frederick Douglass, Narrative
W 10/15 PhillisWheatley, poems; Frederick Douglass, Narrative
F 10/17 Booker T. Washington, all selections; W. E. B. Du Bois, all selections
M 10/20 Booker T. Washington; W. E. B. Du Bois
W 10/22 Claude McKay, poems; Langston Hughes, poems; Countee Cullen, poems;
Zora Neale Hurston, all selections
F 10/24 Claude McKay, poems; Langston Hughes, poems; Countee Cullen, poems;
Zora Neale Hurston, all selections; Film: Jazz
M 10/27 Film: Jazz
W 10/29 Charlotte Perkins Gilman, “The Yellow Wallpaper”
F 10/31 Sui Sin Far, “Mrs. Spring Fragrance”; ESSAY II DUE IN CLASS
M 11/3 Gloria Anzaldua, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”; Film: The Godfather II
W 11/5
Film: The Godfather II
F 11/7 Henry David Thoreau, selections from Walden
M 11/10 Thoreau, selections from Walden and “Civil Disobedience”
W 11/12
Rebecca Harding Davis, “Life in the Iron Mills”
F 11/14
F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Winter Dreams”; Film: Modern Times
M 11/17
Film: The Grapes of Wrath
W 11/19
Film: The Grapes of Wrath
F 11/21 Television Show Episode from The Twilight Zone
M 11/24 Allen Ginsberg, “Howl” and “A Supermarket in California”; Film:
Woodstock
W 11/26
THANKSGIVING BREAK
F 11/28 THANKSGIVING BREAK
M 12/1
Film: Woodstock
W 12/3
CLASS
Flannery O’Connor, “Good Country People”; ESSAY THREE DUE IN
F 12/5
Thomas Merton, “Rain and the Rhinoceros” [handout]
M 12/8
FINAL EXAM DUE IN CLASS