History 55 – American Women’s History

Course Overview

This course is designed to provide you with a chronological overview of American Women’s History from the colonial period to the late twentieth century. We will be reading secondary sources (scholarly articles) and primary sources (diaries, letters, laws, oral histories). We will also look at the changing image of women in cartoons, paintings and government publications.

“Women” is not a homogenous group. This course is designed to introduce you to the factors which unite and divide women, including race, class, education, political views, and life choices. Yet one could not teach a “women’s history” course unless women – across race, class and even time – have something in common. This course will invite us to ask what those commonalities might be.

Some questions to think about:

What experiences do women share that have made their history different from men’s? In what ways is women’s history the same as men’s history or “national” history? How has history affected women and how have women affected history? How has the study of women affected history? Is there a difference between what women did and what we know they did based on the records they left? Does understanding what happens to women help us understand better what happens to men, or the nation as a whole? We will be studying history at two levels – what happened and how we know what happened. We will also be answering questions on two levels – what impact did an event have on women and what impact did women’s actions or reactions have on society as a whole?

Most of the questions we will ask about women in history could also be asked about men. How come men do not consider it discrimination that there is a women’s history course and no men’s history course? We will also briefly consider American women in an international context.

Work Requirements

Analysis Papers (30%): Each student will be required to write two 5-6 page papers. Papers will be due Tuesday, September 26 and Tuesday, November 14.

Weekly Quizzes (25%): There will be quizzes every week, based on the questions handed out for discussion. Each quiz will have two sections. Part I will require knowledge of the historical period being covered that week, based primarily on the DuBois and Dumenil main chapters. This is to ensure that history majors and non-history majors alike are keeping up with the chronological progression of the class. The second section will always be based on the other materials for the week and will require understanding of the concepts presented in the reading.

Midterm Exam (15%): This will occur on Tuesday, October 3 in class. It will consist of short answer and essay questions.

Final Exam (20%): The final exam will be held on Tuesday, December 12 at 6 pm. It will consist of short answer and essay questions, and will be cumulative. If you have two other exams on that day, you have the right to have one exam rescheduled. You must contact me by the last day of class if you wish to reschedule the exam.

Class Participation (10%): Your class participation grade will be based on your verbal participation in class (i.e. were you there asking questions, answering questions, bringing up topics to discuss, making connections across the readings?). I recognize that some people find it difficult to talk in class, but speaking up is a requirement. This course requires you to think about difficult and complex issues. You are expected to take risks in expressing your opinion about the material and to back up your comments with material from the texts. You are asked to be thoughtful speakers and listeners.

Please note that class participation requires attendance. Regular attendance will be crucial to your success in this class since we will cover a great deal of material each class, some of which will not be in the book. I strongly suggest that you find a friend with notes should you need to miss class or you contact me by phone or e-mail. You cannot make up class participation points or quizzes, but you can have one unexpected absences without any effect on your grade. Please contact me as soon as possible if you are ill, have an excused absence due to sports or other activities, or will need to miss class for some other reason. You are responsible for all work done in or assigned in class, regardless of the reason for your absence.

Required Texts

1) Ellen Carol DuBois and Lynn Dumenil, Through Women’s Eyes: An American History with Documents (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2005).

2) Linda K. Kerber and Jane Sherron De Hart, eds., Women's America: Refocusing the Past, 6th edition (NY: Oxford University Press, 2004).

Cheating: Just in case anyone was wondering, if I find you cheating on an exam, you will fail the course and will be reported to the Dean, who may impose other sanctions. Please do not try it.

Plagiarism: Intentionally or unintentionally representing another’s work as your own is plagiarism. This includes failure to provide a citation for any passages taken directly from a text AND for any ideas you have drawn from a text. We will go over citation in class, and you are always welcome to ask general or specific questions. You should also read the definitions in the student handbook.
Please be aware that I take plagiarism very seriously and lack of citations will reflect negatively in your grade. Turning in someone else’s essay or using significant sections of someone else’s work (including websites) without attribution will result in a ZERO (not just failure) of the assignment. A second offense will mean failure of the course. First and second offenses will be reported to the Dean.
Failure to reference the text when you are discussing material taken from it is a less serious but still problematic form of plagiarism (or laziness). A first instance of this form of plagiarism will require you to rewrite the paper with proper citation in order to receive lowered credit for the work. If you provide inadequate citation a second time, you will receive a zero on the assignment. A third offense will mean failing the course. Second and third offenses will be reported to the Dean.

Late work: In order to do well in this course you must keep up with the readings and assignments. This includes getting your work in on time. Late assignments will be penalized one full letter grade for each day they are late (including weekends). Assignments turned in the same day they are due, but after I have collected them in class, will also be penalized one half grade. I will consider exceptions to this rule ONLY IF you have contacted me in advance or if you are physically unable to attend class with a verified illness. Please consider your schedule early in the course and contact me with any expected problems.

Incompletes: Incompletes will not be granted in this course unless there are extenuating circumstances and you have talked to me before the final exam.

IRS Clause: You are responsible for keeping copies of every thing you turn in to me, just in case I lose them. You are also responsible for keeping the materials I return to you until you get your final grade; otherwise we will not be able to recreate your grade in case of computer meltdown. Think of this as practice for filing complicated tax returns. If the IRS loses your materials, you either have copies or you pay big fines.

Students with Disabilities or Other Concerns not Addressed Thus Far: I will be happy to make whatever accommodations students with disabilities arrange with the Office of Academic Advisement. Please come talk to me about these arrangements. Students with any other concerns – shyness, full time job, starting quarterback position on the football team, etcetera – should also feel free to talk to me about how these issues might impact your participation in the course. I will work with you to help you succeed in this course, although ultimately the responsibility lies with you to balance your schedule and needs.

Reading Schedule

Please note that all reading should be completed prior to class. I reserve the right to make changes to this schedule and you are required to find out about and adhere to changes, even if you miss the class in which they are announced. Be sure you have the phone number of a friend in the course, or you are welcome to call or e-mail me to discuss a missed class.