Johnson State College
External Degree Program
SOC-4730-JX01 TS: America in the 1960s: Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll
Syllabus – Spring 2015
Instructor: Karen Madden, 635-1438, or karen.madden@jsc.edu
Dates: Saturdays, 2/7, 3/7, 4/11, 5/2
Time: 8:30 am to 5 pm
Location: CCV in Winooski, Room 204 (Directions found at www.ccv.edu)
Attendance Policy: Please note that attendance is mandatory at all class meetings. Please do not
register for this course unless you can attend all classes for the full day. If you miss a session,
contact your advisor immediately.
Parking: Parking is limited at the CCV Winooski center but is available in the city’s nearby
parking garage. Students registered for classes taking place at the Winooski campus can
purchase parking passes. Do not park in the small parking lot for visitors and faculty beside the
building. You will be towed. For information about purchasing a parking pass please visit
http://www.ccv.edu/locations/winooski/parking/index.html or call 802-654-0505.
ADA Statement: Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in
this class are encouraged to contact JSC’s Learning Specialist in Academic Services, as soon as
possible to ensure that accommodations, if needed, are implemented in a timely fashion. Please
call 802-635-1264 or email Richard.Simmons@jsc.edu.
Academic Honesty: (from JSC Catalog) Students are expected to conform to the highest
standards of academic honesty in all of their academic work at Johnson State College. Academic
dishonesty in any form is prohibited and unacceptable. Acts of dishonesty for which a student
may be disciplined include, but are not limited to, receiving or providing unauthorized assistance
on an examination and plagiarizing the work of others in writing assignments. The American
Heritage Dictionary defines plagiarism in the following way: “To steal or use (the ideas or
writings of another) as one’s own.” Students are responsible for knowing what specific acts
constitute plagiarism; if students are uncertain as to whether a particular act constitutes
plagiarism, they should consult with their instructors before turning in assigned work.
Cancellation Policy: If a class meeting must be cancelled, you will be notified through your JSC
email account, Moodle and/or the JSC course cancellation board on the portal. Please check for
class cancellations before leaving home for your class.
Texts: Texts are available through the JSC bookstore. Call 802-635-2503 or go to
www.jsc.bkstr.com.
Required Reading:
Terry H. Anderson, The Sixties, Pearson Publishing Company, 2012, ISBN #9780205258987
Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi, Delta Publishing, 2012, ISBN#0385337817
Course Description:
The 1960s remain one of the most contested decades in recent American History. Many look
fondly back to the 1960s as a lost moment of opportunity and possibility when a new, better
America seemed possible. Others view the decade as a horrible detour from the traditions of
America’s past. Over the course of the semester we will explore the social, political and cultural
issues with the hope that a more nuanced picture will emerge.
Students play a central role in this process and the success of this course depends on your active
participation. What happens in our class meetings cannot be replicated later, so when you miss a
class you miss the opportunity to learn and contribute to the learning of others. Class
participation includes coming to class prepared to participate on a regular basis and participating
in class in ways that are productive for the class as a whole.
Course Objectives:
1. Students will explore the significant political, foreign policy, social, and cultural events
of the 1960s.
2. Students will examine the social movements that impacted Americans in the 1960s.
3. Students will make connections between the political and social milieu of the 1960s and
today.
4. Students will increase their knowledge of primary documents.
5. Students will refine their research and writing skills.
Assessment Criteria:
Weekly Current Events Discussion: Students will be expected to bring an article from a
current newspaper that aligns with the weekly topic of discussion. These articles will provide the
foundation for discussions that will connect events of the 1960s to today. (10 points each)
Final Project: Students will complete a final research project. This project can be an 8-10 page
research paper, a website, a power point presentation, or another type of project approved by
instructor.
Grading:
Four current events, 10 points each
Mid-Term Exam, 100 points
Final Projects/presentation,
Total
A=180-200 points
B=160-179 points
C=140-159 points
D=120-139 points
F=100 points or less
40 points
100 points
60 points
200 points
Course Outline
Class #1: February 7
Read: Anderson, Introduction and Chapter 1
Read: Moody, Chapters 1-9
In class-listen to music from Woodstock, review primary documents
In class view: "Making Sense of the Sixties: Seeds of the Sixties" and Eyes on the Prize:
Awakenings”
Week #2: March 7
Read: Anderson, Read: Chapters 2 & 3
Read: Moody, Chapters 10-21
In class: review primary documents
In class view: “Far From Heaven”
Week #3: April 11
Read: Anderson, Chapters 4 & 5
Read: Moody, Chapters 22-26
In class: review primary documents
In class view: “Two Days in October”
Week #4: May 2
Read: Anderson, Chapters 6 & 7 and Legacies
Read: Moody, Chapters 27-30
In class view: “The Help”