Declassified December 19, 2003

Sean Duffy
Soc. Sciences Rm. 124A
seduffy@u.arizona.edu
621-1586

US Hist 1945 to Present

Grading:
Participation 25%
Mid-term 15 %
Final Exam 25%
Book Reviews 20%
Declassified Documents Presentation 15%

Participation: You are expected to have completed the assigned readings before class meets. Participation is based on your willingness or ability to interact with your fellow students in our (almost) daily discussion activities. Although discussion and in-class activities are the prime consideration, you may also get in-class writing assignments. Participation activities will include group exercises and role-playing. Your interaction with your fellow students, in particular assignments, is as critical as answering questions in discussion.

Final Exam/Midterm: these tests will have a strong emphasis on essay writing. Key elements of a good historical essay include structural (intro, good topic sentences) and thematic (strong thesis, historical background ). I will hand out several possible essay questions in advance; you will choose 1-2 for each exam. In addition, there will be a short identification/short answer section. The tests are not cumulative. Make-up exams will only be given under extreme documented conditions.

Book Review: From the attached list, you will choose one book to read and analyze in a 5-6 page paper due the last week of class. You will be given a more detailed guide the first week. By the fourth week of class, you will choose one book of the list; only one book for each student. If you are thoroughly interested in a book not on the list, you can meet with me to plead your case.

Declassified Documents Presentation: Based on the series of declassified documents you chose (from the various themes/nations I will choose for a later class period), you will discuss the documents, in a five minute presentation to the class. From these primary sources, you will analyze the issues involved in the documents.

DRC: Students who require accommodations to participate fully in this course should register with the Disability Resource Center and contact me as soon as possible to discuss access issues. Information about the DRC can be found at www.drc.arizona.edu.

Important Class Dates:

Class Fourteen: Midterm

Class Twenty-two Student declassified documents presentation

Class Twenty-eight Book Reviews due

Class Twenty-nine Final Exam

Rules:

You are all adults so the following should be unnecessary.

Disruptive behavior is not tolerated in class. Please remember to turn off cell phones, pagers, etc. Snacks and drinks are acceptable; meals are not. Read the Wildcat on your own time. If you must arrive late once or twice, please sit yourself in the most unobtrusive manner possible.

Attendance is MANDATORY!! You have one free absence. After this, each additional undocumented, unexcused absences will result in a full letter grade reduction on your final grade.

Finally, as we may have discussions on controversial or heated topics, I ask that we treat each other respectfully in class.