Syllabus

016:012:009: The American West and the Historical Imagination
2:30-3:45 T/TR; SH 51
Spring 2010; University of Iowa

Instructor Dennis Kuhnel Phone (620) 694-7798
Office SH303 E-mail dennis-kuhnel@uiowa.edu
Office Hours Tuesday/Thursday 1:00-2:30 P.M.

Coordinator Prof. Paula Michaels Phone 5-2287
Office SH160 E-mail paula-michaels@uiowa.edu

DEO Prof. Colin Gordon Phone 5-2299
Office SH280 E-mail colin-gordon@uiowa.edu

Texts (Available for Purchase at University of Iowa Book Store, All Prices are List Prices):
Willa Cather, The Professor’s House. (ISBN-13: 978-1-4495-3023-5, $4.95)
Pete Dexter, Deadwood. (ISBN-13: 978-1-4000-7971-1, $15.95)
David Lavender, Bent’s Fort. (ISBN-13: 978-0-8032-5753-5, $21.95)
Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men. (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-38713-4, $15.00)
Patrick McGree, From Shane to Kill Bill: Rethinking the Western. (ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3965-6, $34.95)
Richard White, “‘It’s Your Misfortune and None of My Own’: A New History of the American West.” (ISBN-13: 978-0806125671 $32.95)
Description:
A noted historian once wrote that "the West has been America's most strongly imagined region.” This course, which fulfills the CLAS GER for Historical Perspectives, will examine the West as an historic and imagined place in both North America and Europe, often stressing the influence of popular culture on understandings of the region. This course will think critically about history by studying secondary sources, historical novels and film. Historical topics include: the migrations and meeting of all peoples in the West; saloons and prostitution; violence; changing eco-systems; the fur trade; transportation; ranching and farming; ethnicity and race; political reform; and modern Western life.
Goals of Course:
CONTENT AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH
• Students will understand aspects of the history of the American West and how it has been imagined.
• Students will comprehend change and continuity in history.
• Students will improve their ability to evaluate evidence using the tools of historical investigation.
• Students will gain experience and improve their skills in generalizing, explaining, and interpreting historical change.
• Students will gain deeper understanding of the complex issues history and culture through dispassionate inquiry and study, including completing assigned course readings and participating in class discussions.
• Students will utilize dispositions of mind involved in critical thinking, such as questioning assumptions, looking for alternative explanations and analyzing evidence.
Requirements:

Reading: Readings will be assigned regularly from required texts and other sources in class and by email. It is expected that you complete each reading assignment and come to class prepared to discuss it.
Participation (20%): Many of the intended educational benefits of this class are contingent upon the participation of everyone. I expect you to be an active, contributing member in class discussions, exercises and projects. At the end of the semester I will give each student a “participation” grade based upon my assessment of that student’s overall performance and contribution to our class. Attendance alone will not earn you participation marks, even if you come to every class. Positive participation involves completing assigned reading assignments, being prepared for class, asking and answering questions, sharing relevant ideas and opinions, staying on track in small group activities, and making a genuine effort to support your classmates. Another way to contribute to our class discussion will be for you to post comments or questions about the assigned reading to our class blog: http://americanwestimagination.blogspot.com. You will lose marks for negative participation, including but not limited to: showing up late, chatting during class, answering cell phones, doing other homework, reading the newspaper and etc. At the end of the semester, you will complete a self-assessment of your participation performance throughout the semester. I will take into consideration your self-assessment when I evaluate your performance at the end of the semester.
Written Assignments (35%)
In addition to expanding your factual knowledge, this course will develop your critical thinking and persuasive writing skills. You will be assessing historians’ interpretations of trends, events, and ideas, as well as presenting your own, for which analytical reading and writing skills are essential. To this end, you will write one 4-5 page essay worth 20% of your grade. Additionally, you will write one 4 page “film script” interpreting a historical era or event studied in class worth 15% of your grade. I will explain more about each writing assignment in class.
Exams (45%)
There will be one mid-term and one final exam in this course. Both exams will be essay format. The final exam will be partly comprehensive and based upon material from the entire semester.
Evaluation
Feel free to approach me after class or set up an appointment with me if you ever have any questions or concerns about the grade you have received.
Participation (20%) Your participation will be assessed throughout the semester.
Film Script (15%)
Paper(20%)
Midterm (20%)
Final (25%)

For each assigned test and paper assignment I will explain in-depth during class requirements and expectations and distribute handouts on the subjects with topic and etc.

Standard grade rubric:
A+ 97-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69
A 93-96 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
A- 90-92 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62
F=below 60

An A grade demonstrates exceptional work that goes beyond mere recitation of content encountered in the class. A student who earns an A synthesizes concepts learned throughout the course of the semester in a way that produces a unique and insightful perspective on the period and the subject at hand. Papers submitted by this student will display nearly perfect grammar, spelling, and composition skills, as well as creative thinking and a firm, thorough grasp of the material. Tests display a deep understanding of the issues involved and will demonstrate an ability to organize and synthesize ideas. To achieve an A, students must consistently attend class and demonstrate preparedness. An A+ is given only in extraordinary circumstances.

A B grade demonstrates consistent work that rises above the level of mere competence in the field. B work reaches beyond the recitation of facts and names, and attempts to analyze and think critically. Papers often contain modest grammatical, spelling, or composition errors, but reflect the standard rules of organization and argumentation. Assignments and tests will contain few if any factual errors, and the interpretation of materials will be accurate. Students who achieve B-level work consistently attend class and demonstrate preparedness.

A C grade demonstrates a basic level of competence with the materials presented in class. C work demonstrates some lack of comprehension or synthesis of the material. Coursework rarely go beyond the recitation of facts and names, and shows little evidence of critical thinking. Papers often contain errors in grammar, spelling, and composition, as well as flaws in organization or argumentation. Assignments and tests will be marred by factual errors or inaccurate interpretation. Irregular attendance often results in C-level work.

A D grade does not meet basic standards of competency in class. D-level work shows incomprehension of the course content and falls short of expectations for college-level coursework. A significant number of absences and a failure to complete assignments often results in substandard work. D-level work shows no mastery or even familiarity with the assigned readings or other course content.

Course Schedule:

Topic/Readings

January 19 Course Introduction.
January 21 White, 1-54, The Early West.
January 26 Lavender, 1-75, Roots of the Fur Trade.
January 28 Lavender, 76-152, The Santa Fe Trail.
February 2 Lavender, 153-217 , Indians and the Fur Trade.
February 4 Lavender, 218-289, Remembering the Fur Trade.
February 9 Lavender, 289-END
February 11 Class Discussion, No Reading Assignment
February 16 White, 55- 118, Settling the West. PAPER DUE
February 18 McGee, 1-68, Remembering the West in Film and Writing.
February 23 McGee, 69-133, Social Contexts of Western Myth-Making.
February 25 McGee, 134-End.
February 29 Dexter, 1-50, Gold Rushes and the West.
February 31 Dexter, 50-97, Deadwood and Mining Camp Social Dynamics.
March 2 Dexter, 98-End, Remembering Deadwood.
March 4 White, 118-150. The Vanishing Frontier.
March 9 Review, No Reading Assignment
March 11 Midterm
SPRING BREAK
March 23 White, 179-225. The Vanishing Frontier Cont.
March 25 Cather, 1-50, The Academic West.
March 30 Cather, 50-100 , History of Early Archaeology in the West.
April 1 Cather, 100- End. Museums and the West.
April 6 White, 613-633. The Mythical West.
April 8 Article Handout
April 13 Article Handout
April 15 McCarthy, 1-50. The Modern West.
April 20, McCarthy, 51-100
April 22 McCarthy 101-150.
April 27 McCarthy 51-200.
April 29 McCarthy 201-250. Is the Mythical West Still Alive or Lost?
May 4 White, 541-612. The West Reconsidered.
May 6 Review
FINAL

Resources:
Administrative Home
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course and governs matters such as the add/drop deadlines, the second-grade-only option, and other related issues. Different colleges may have different policies. Questions may be addressed to 120 Schaeffer Hall, or see the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.

Electronic Communication
University policy specifies that students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to their University of Iowa e-mail address (@uiowa.edu). Faculty and students should use this account for correspondences. (Operations Manual, III.15.2. Scroll down to k.11.)

Accommodations for Disabilities
A student seeking academic accommodations should first register with Student Disability Services and then meet privately with the course instructor to make particular arrangements. See www.uiowa.edu/~sds/ for more information.

Academic Fraud
Plagiarism and any other activities when students present work that is not their own are academic fraud. Academic fraud is a serious matter and is reported to the departmental DEO and to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum. Instructors and DEOs decide on appropriate consequences at the departmental level while the Associate Dean enforces additional consequences at the collegiate level. See the CLAS Academic Fraud section of the Student Academic Handbook.

Making a Suggestion or Complaint
Students with a suggestion or complaint should first visit the instructor, then the course supervisor, and then the departmental DEO. Complaints must be made within six months of the incident. See the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.

Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. All members of the UI community have a responsibility to uphold this mission and to contribute to a safe environment that enhances learning. Incidents of sexual harassment should be reported immediately. See the UI Comprehensive Guide on Sexual Harassment for assistance, definitions, and the full University policy.

Reacting Safely to Severe Weather
In severe weather, class members should seek appropriate shelter immediately, leaving the classroom if necessary. The class will continue if possible when the event is over. For more information on Hawk Alert and the siren warning system, visit the Public Safety web site.