Monmouth College
Department of History
Spring 2010
Dr. Stacy A. Cordery
Wallace Hall L-6
457-2372
Office Hours: MWF 9:00-10:00 a.m and MF noon to 1:00 p.m.
You will write four, four-page, double-spaced papers. The papers will center on a theme connected to gender, a theme that you see running through each of the films in that quarter of the class. You do not have to summarize the film--you may assume that I've seen it. Each paper must consider both men and women--in other words, you cannot write only about women and gender as you cover the three films. Different themes will emerge as we discuss these films. Sharing your ideas and listening to other students' ideas will help you formulate your own theme. Bear in mind that this is a History class, and so we're interested in change over time. If gender is a social construct, then it is logical that changes in society will be reflected in changing gender norms. The films are meant to be studied by era. Your papers should explain change in the era(s) in that quarter of the class. I am happy to look over drafts of your papers, but do, please give them to me with ample time to consider them and return them for you to make corrections.
Paper due dates are indicated below. Make sure that you keep a copy of your papers until you have received a grade for the class. Each paper is worth 50 points. The class is worth a total of 200 points. Since your grade is based wholly on your papers, you may want to show me a draft of them or take a draft to the Mellinger Center so that your grammar and syntax are as close to perfect as possible. Points will be taken off for poor grammar and other errors, so proofread your work.
- All papers are due in class. Please print out a copy and bring it to me. LATE PAPERS WILL DROP ONE GRADE FOR EACH DAY LATE. If your paper is late, you should e-mail it to me, but don't consider that I've received it until I write you back to state that I have it.
PLAGIARISM POLICY: I follow strictly the Monmouth College policy on plagiarism. If you plagiarize on a paper in my class, you will be docked one grade. If you plagiarize a second time, I will file a report with the VPAA, Dean Jane Jakoubek, and it will stay in your file until you graduate. See me if you have any questions, either about the definition of plagiarism or about the plagiarism policy. If you have plagiarized in a prior class with me, and you plagiarize in this course, I will consider the plagiarism in this course to be a second case of plagiarism and will treat it as above. Don't put your papers off until the last minute, and don't even think about copying papers from websites about these films. You don't want the F in your gpa and you really don't want the F in a folder in the Dean's office.
Attendance is mandatory. If an absence is to be excused, it MUST be cleared with me in advance. An unexcused absence is one that is not cleared with me in advance and one that does not conform to the campus definition of excused absences. If you miss a film, for any reason, you must write me a one-page, single-spaced summary of the film, due in class the Tuesday following the absence. If you have missed three movies, pick up a drop form and bring it by my office for my signature. That means you must check your schedule now, for any conflicts--even excused absences. If you have to miss three weeks of class, you should not be in this course.
- If you habitually come to class late, I will ask you to drop. It's a major disturbance when someone enters the classroom late while the rest of us are trying to concentrate on the film.
- Turn your cell phones off before the start of class, please.
- Try not to exit to use the bathroom during a film.
- Food and drink are not allowed in the Barnes Electronic Classroom.
These are all full-length movies. With a short historical introduction and discussion afterwards, count on the full three hours for each class meeting. This is a credit-bearing course. It has more claim on your time than any social organization.
The class will meet once a week, on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Hewes Library Electronic Classroom. After a brief introduction, the movie scheduled for that week will be shown.
Course Schedule
The Unsettling
Aspects of the Great Depression
Americans Respond to Wars
Before the
Modern Women's Liberation Movement
Troubles at the
End of the Century
MONDAY, 26 APRIL: FOURTH PAPER DUE BY 5:00 P.M.--under my office door or e-mailed. If you miss the last class, your summary paper is due at the same time. Please staple them together. If you email your paper and you don't hear back from me with a confirmation, then I didn't get it.
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