Monmouth College
History 370
Spring 2006

Dr. Stacy A. Cordery Office Hours:  Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00 a.m-12:30 p.m..
Wallace Hall L-6  
457-2372 e-mail:  stacy

Course Description and Goals:

bulletThis course surveys women’s historical experiences in the United States from the American Revolution to the present. It is intended to introduce you to the methodology of women’s history in addition to exploring the often hidden and forgotten gender dimensions of the American past. One major goal of this course, therefore, is to present women’s history both as an integral part of United States history and as a unique subject of historical investigation.
 
bulletAs in every other liberal arts class, this one should also sharpen your analytical skills, critical thinking skills, writing ability, and reading comprehension.
 
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Another goal of this class is simply to teach you about the ways women—many different types of women--have made history in the United States. 
 

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Learning is accomplished in several ways.  Chief among them are listening to our foremothers and listening to ourselves.  Because this is a history class, we will also listen to historians whose job it is both to create the historical record and to help us critically analyze it. 

Discussion Reminders: 

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Good class discussion involves several crucial elements:

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an open and tolerant mind,

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a mouth that engages after the brain,

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the desire to learn,

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cheerful and respectful discussants,

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the ability to allow others to make their points without interruption,

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and the knowledge that discussion involves all members of the class (so please don’t direct your comments and questions only to the professor).

Books:

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Nancy Cott, No Small Courage  (our textbook)

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Deborah Gray White, Ar'n't I a Woman?

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Suellen Hoy, Chasing Dirt

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Olive Anderson, An American Girl and Her Four Years in a Boy's College

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Beth Bailey, From Front Porch to Back Seat

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Ruth Rosen, The World Split Open

Class attendance:

Class attendance is a course expectation. On the third absence of the semester I will invoke the no-cut policy.  The fourth absence will result in a failing grade for the course. If you must be absent, see me before you miss the class; only then will it be an excused absence. You are responsible for material missed during your absences. Clearly, in a seminar wherein a percentage of your grade is based on discussion, class attendance is crucial.

Assignments:

Click on the links below for assignments.

Academic Dishonesty Policy:

I follow the Monmouth College academic dishonesty policy strictly.  If you plagiarize in this class it may mean a failing grade for the assignment or for the course.  It may also mean academic dismissal.  Please see me if you have any questions at all.

Class Calendar:

Week 1

17 January

19 January

What is Women’s History?

Discussion:  pp. 131-157, Cott:  The American Revolution
 => in-class document assignment

Week 2

 

24 January
 

26 January

Discussion:  pp. 157 -161, & 179-187 Cott:  Politics & Courtship in the Early National Period
 
Discussion:  pp.  187-200: Cott  Education & Work in the Early National Period

=> Sarah Josepha Hale
=> Godey's Lady's Book online
=> Harriet Beecher Stowe
=> The Beecher family
 

Week 3

 

31 January



 

2 February

Discussion:  pp. 214-242  Cott:  The Cult of True Womanhood and Where it Went
=> The Cult of True Womanhood--read this before class today
=> Declaration of Sentiments--read this before class today
=> Lucretia Mott
=> Charlotte Forten
Student teaching over following pages: 242-288
 

Week 4

 

7 February
 

9 February

Discussion:  Ar'n't I a Woman?
    =>Ar'n't I a Woman? assignment due in class today

Discussion:  Ar'n't I a Woman?
 

Week 5

 

14 February
 

16 February

Discussion:  pp. 303-327 & 339-352, Cott 
   => quiz over terms and concepts today             

Discussion:  Chasing Dirt, Chapter 3
 

Week 6

21 February

23 February

Discussion:  Chasing Dirt, Chapter 4

Discussion:  pp. 353-357 and 375-405, Cott
 

Week 7

28 February

2 March

3 March, Friday

Discussion:  Chasing Dirt, Chapter 5

Student workday on Women Today project

  =>Chasing Dirt assignment due today by 5:00 p.m.  Please put it under my door, or in my mailbox in the xerox room, or in the gray hanging file outside my office door.  Don't forget to attach your newspaper articles!
 

Week 8

7 March
9 March

Spring break
Spring break
 

Week 9

 

14 March

16 March

Discussion:  An American Girl and Her Four Years in a Boy's College

Discussion:  An American Girl and Her Four Years in a Boy's College
 

Week 10:

21 March

23 March

 Discussion:  pp. 405-446, Cott 

Discussion:  pp. 446-472, Cott
  => American Girl assignment due today in class
 

Week 11

28 March

30 March
 

Discussion:  From Front Porch to Back Seat, 1-118, and 141-143

Discussion:  pp. 473-491, Cott
    => and brief in-class film:  The Hidden Army
 

Week 12

 

4 April

6 April

Discussion:  pp. 491-506, Cott

Discussion:  Chasing Dirt, Chapter 6
 

Week 13

11 April

13 April

Discussion:  The World Split Open, Part I

=> film:  "Miss America"
   => From Front Porch to Back Seat paper due in class
 

Week 14

18 April

20 April

Discussion:  The World Split Open, Part II

=> film:  "The Pill"
 
Week 15 25 April

27 April

Founder's Day:  no class

Discussion:  The World Split Open, Parts III and IV
     => film paper due in class
 

Week 16

2 May

4 May

Discussion:  feminism documents

Discussion:  feminism documents
 

Final exam

8 May, 8:00 a.m.

  Women Today

Grading Policy:

1. The opportunities for influencing your grade consist of the following points:

bulletOverall class discussion: 100 points
bulletAr'n't I a Woman?:  100 points
bullet Chasing Dirt:  50 points
bulletAmerican Girl :  50 points
bulletFrom Front Porch to Back Seat:  50 points
bulletFilm paper: 25 points
bulletFeminism documents:  50 points
bulletWomen Today:  100 points

2. Late assignments of any sort will not be accepted without a prior excuse.  Anything late for any unexcused reason will earn a zero.

4. Expect pop quizzes over the reading. The point value of the course will be adjusted upward accordingly.

5.  I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus--but only after discussing the proposed changes with the class first.

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