Chabot College
November 1993
Replaced Fall 2006 with Humn 65
Course Outline for Humanities 10
THE AMERICAN STYLE
Catalog Description:
10 - The American Style
3 units
Humanities of the United States. Major works of literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, films,
music, philosophy, science, religion and political and social institutions. Particular attention to values
and meanings that reflect the American cultural experience. 3 hours.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should:
1. have developed skills in reading and writing;
2. be better able to distinguish what is primarily national within himself/herself from what is individual;
3. be better equipped to reach personal goals by understanding both himself/herself and his/her
country;
4. be more knowledgeable of how to be a better citizen.
Course Content:
1. Literature of the United States. Close examination and analysis of selected works of literature in
the forms of the novel, lyric poetry and drama drawn from the 19th and 20th centuries
2. Visual Arts of the United States. Analysis and appreciation of major works of painting, sculpture,
architecture, etc., with the purpose of developing the tools for aesthetic and expressive
appreciation of American art. Thirty-five millimeter slides will be used and will concentrate on
works drawn from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
3. Philosophy and science of the United States. Selected philosophical works from W. James,
Emerson, John Dewey, Santayanna and others will be examined and analyzed to develop a good
understanding of how philosophical ideas shaped the american character and society.
4. Film and music of the United States. Films such as Citizen Kane and westerns will be viewed and
discussed to determine how they reflect and symbolize American social and ethical values.
5. Political and social institutions of the United States. Documents such as the Declaration of
Independence, the Bill of Rights and concepts such as the sovereignty of the people, public
opinion, etc., will be closely examined to determine their meaning in the context of American
society.
Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture, class inquiry, occasional papers
2. Discussion
3. Field trips
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Paper
Class participation
Reading
Quizzes and examination
Textbook(s) Typical:
Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville, Vintage
Special Student Material:
None
CM:kh Hum10 Revised: 11/8/93