PRESENTATION COLLEGE

 

THE AMERICAN WEST (HS353)

Three Semester Hours

Fall 2008

MAIN 205 MWF 1:00-1:50 pm

 

Welcoming people of all faiths, Presentation College challenges learners toward academic excellence and, in the Catholic tradition, the development of the whole person.

 

Instructor:                  Dr. Brad Tennant, Assistant Professor, Department of Arts & Sciences

Office Hours:             C334  MWF 11:00-11:50 am; TR 8:00-11:50 am or by appointment.

                                    (605) 229-8577 or 1-800-437-6060 ext 577

                                    E-mail: Brad.Tennant@presentation.edu

 

Texts/Supplementary Readings:

 

The Soul of the Indian by Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa)

Lord Grizzly by Frederick Manfred

The Oxbow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark

 

American West

http://www.linecamp.com/museums/americanwest/

Readings found at this site include the following:

  • Mountain men, trappers, and fur traders
  • Go west young man go west
  • United States Cavalry and the Indians
  • Great Gateway to the West
  • Gunslingers, Lawmen, and Outlaws
  • Trails, Mountain Passes, and Forts
  • Women Who Tamed the West
  • Stagecoach Lines and The Pony Express
  • Railroads Expanding the West

 

Artists and Explorers

http://monet.unk.edu/mona/sitemap.html

 

The West

http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/program/

  • People
  • Places
  • Events

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Description:

            The American West (HS353) focuses on the history, geography, people, art, and literature of the American West. By using art and literature, students examine the geography of the United States west of the Mississippi River, the Indian nations of the region, and the exploration and settlement of the region by a variety of cultural and ethnic groups such as early French, Spanish, and American explorers as well as Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, and Chinese.   Particular emphasis is placed on the events of the nineteenth century in connection to United States history.  The American West fulfills the requirements for a social science/human culture core elective and a cultural diversity elective.

 

Presentation College General Education Course Goals and Outcomes for HS353:

 

Goals

Outcomes

1. Graduates will read with understanding and think critically.

1.a.  Read and analyze a short written work concerning a topic of interest.

1.b.  Demonstrate the critical thinking skills of comprehension, understanding, analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation that pertain to general academic disciplines.

2. Graduates will express themselves clearly, correctly, and succinctly in writing.

2.d. Compose a research-based essay correctly using multiple resource types.

5. Graduates will develop a critical awareness of the diversity of human cultures found in the historical or contemporary world.

5.a. Analyze historical events from a multi-cultural perspective.

5.b. Articulate interrelationships of individuals, societies, and historical/cultural context.

5.c. Comprehend the diversity of perspectives among people of differing religious beliefs, backgrounds, races, genders, ages, sexual orientations, physical capabilities, and ethnicities.

5.d. Demonstrate reading and critical thinking skills in the context of the social sciences.

7. Graduates will understand and appreciate the range and/or depth of creative achievement in human thought and works, as found in the traditional humanities disciplines.

7.b.  Demonstrate competence in contextualizing creative works and ideas.

7.c. Demonstrate reading and critical thinking skills in the context of the Humanities.

9. Graduates will show proficiency in the use of technology.

9.a. Use the computer as a word processing tool.

9.b. Use the Internet as a research tool.

 

 

 

 

 

Specific Instructor Objectives:

  1. To understand the geographic regions that make-up the American West;
  2. To understand how specific individuals contributed to the history of the West and American history as a whole;
  3. To appreciate the cultural diversity of the West; and
  4. To appreciate how the West has been portrayed in art, literature, and film.

 

Instructional Techniques:

            Although the class will be lecture-based, it is my hope that the class size and readings will promote a great deal of discussion.  In addition, student presentations and audio-visual materials will be used.

 

ADA Statement:

            Presentation College is committed to ensuring equal learning opportunities for all students and provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with the College’s procedures.  If you are a student requiring accommodations or services, please contact the Office of Disability Services, Main Building Room 365 – phone (605) 229-8438 or

1-800-437-6060, Ext. 438.

 

Assessment and Grading:

            Students should be familiar with Presentation College’s policies regarding academic integrity.  These are found in the college catalog under “Academic Policies.”

            Student assessment will be based on the following:

                        Three exams (50 points each)                                                   =          150

                        Three quizzes over the assigned readings (30 points each)          =            90

                        One presentation (30 points)                                                     =            30

                                                                                                                                    270

 

EXAMS will be essay.  You will be given your choice of five out of eight possible essays.  Each essay will be valued at 0/3/5/8/10 points.

QUIZZES will be essay.  You will be given your choice of three out of five possible essays based on the readings.  Each essay will be valued at 0/3/5/8/10 points.

The PRESENTATION will feature an artist whose work depicts the American West.  At least six of the artist’s works must be included in the presentation.  The presentation will be worth up to 30 points.

 

            The grading scale listed below will be used based on the highest total number of points received by any one student in the class.

            96% and above                        =          A

            90-95%                                   =          A-

            87-89%                                   =          B+

            83-86%                                   =          B

            80-82%                                   =          B-

            70-79%                                   =          C

            60-69%                                   =          D

            59% and below                        =          Failing

 

The following rubric will be used for assessing the examinations, quizzes, and presentation:

  • Advanced (10 points): Student includes accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context with virtually no significant mistakes.
  • Above Average (8 points): Student uses relevant and accurate information but either has minor mistakes or lacks specifics.
  • Average (5 points): Student provides a general understanding of the topic but is limited in specifics or contains a significant mistake.
  • Below Average (3 points): Student demonstrates a vague or poorly developed understanding of the topic with several significant mistakes.
  • Unsatisfactory (0 points): Student does not demonstrate any accurate or specific information in the appropriate historical context.

Attendance:

            As stated in the Presentation College catalog, “Each student is expected to attend every class session and be on time.  If for any reason a student must be absent from class, the responsibility of making up work rests entirely upon the student.”

--- Topics covered will include a great deal of information NOT included in the readings.

--- Students are expected to contact the instructor as soon as possible (in advance when possible) if an absence will result in missing an exam.  I despise make-up tests.  Furthermore, I do not give "incompletes.”

--- All weather-related closings are the decision of the administration.  Local radio and television stations will announce these.

 

 

 

WEEKLY TOPICS, READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND SPECIAL DATES

 

Aug. 27/29                   -           Course Introduction; Images of the West

Sept. 1/3/5                   -           Sept. 1st - NO CLASS (Labor Day); Sept. 5th – NO CLASS

                                    Geography of the West

Sept. 8/10/12               -           Explorers of the West

Sept. 15/17/19             -           Explorers continued.

Sept. 22/24/26             -           TEST #1; Native Peoples of the West

Sept. 29/Oct.1/3          -           The Soul of the Indian; Quiz #1

Oct. 6/8/10                  -           Early Fur Trade/Mountain Men

Oct. 13/15/17             -           Oct. 13th – NO CLASS (Native American Day); Lord Grizzly

Oct. 20/22/24              -           QUIZ #2; Early 19th Century Indian-White Conflicts;

Oct. 27/29/31              -           TEST #2; Art of the West

Nov. 3/5/7                   -           PRESENTATIONS: ARTISTS OF THE WEST

Nov. 10/12/14             -           Literature of the West; The Oxbow Incident

Nov. 17/19/21             -           Quiz #3; Gold Rushes

Nov. 24/26/28             -           Nov. 26th and 28th – NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Break)

Dec. 1/3/5                    -           Pioneer Life

Dec. 10-12 (WRF)      -           Finals Week/TEST #3 TBA