HIS 101: GENERATION Y: HISTORY OF YOUR WORLD
Dual Credit
Morehead State University/Montgomery County High School
Mr. Jon Mansfield
jon.mansfield@montgomery.kyschools.us
Fall 2011; Wednesday 4:00-6:30 MCHS Room 245
Required Reading
1. Brands, H.W. American Dreams: The United States Since 1945
2. Watson, Bruce. Freedom Summer
3. Walter, Jess. Every Knee Shall Bow
Course Description: HIS 101 is an entry level course using historical and literary texts and
multimedia approaches to familiarize students with the nation’s social, political, economic, and
cultural development HIS 101 is designed to examine recent American history from a
multicultural perspective, reflecting the nation’s rich ethnic, spiritual, and occupational
diversity. Throughout the course we will use a broad variety of film, documentary, TV
programs, audio music clips, and website explorations.
Reading is imperative for this class: Class time will not necessarily cover the basic information
in the text. Rather, we will explore certain areas in greater depth or learn about events or
people not covered by the text. For a passing grade, you will need to do both the reading and
take good class notes. See me at the beginning of our term if you have any concerns about note
taking. I will be happy to assist you.
Grading: You are working toward a total grade of 1000 points. You will write a brief reaction
paper to two assigned books and to two films that will be viewed in class. Each reaction paper
is worth up to 50 points for a total of 200 points. We will have quizzes at the beginning of class
on that week’s textbook reading assignment. Each quiz will consist of ten multiple choice
questions. The lowest score will be dropped. These quizzes will be worth a total of 300 points.
The weekly quizzes are designed to keep you current with the textbook reading and to give you
constant feedback on your progress in the course. You will also have a midterm exam (250
points) and a final exam (250 points) based on the course lectures. Final grade computation:
900-1000=A; 800-899=B; 700-799=C; 600-699=D, below 600=E.
Bonus Assignment: Students have the option of making a presentation on a significant postWorld War II event in United States history. I am looking for events that are not covered in any
detail in either the textbook readings or in the lectures. This presentation should last about ten
minutes and may include any supplemental materials (i.e PowerPoint slides, very brief video
clips) that the student deems appropriate. The presentation may earn up to 50 bonus points.
Students may choose their own event (to be approved by the instructor), or may select from
the following events on a “first-come, first serve” basis.”
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Execution of the Rosenbergs
Development of polio vaccine
Murder of Emmitt Till
U-2 incident
Apollo 11 moon landings
Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination
My Lai massacre
Robert F. Kennedy assassination
Chappaquiddick incident
Stonewall riot
Jonestown massacre
Three Mile Island incident
Mount St. Helen’s eruption
Challenger space shuttle explosion
Rodney King trial and riots
O.J. Simpson trial
Human Genome Project
Hurricane Katrina
Attendance: Attendance for each class meeting is required. You are permitted one absence.
Each absence beyond that will result in a 50 point deduction from your final grade.
Academic honesty: Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism or helping others to commit these acts will
not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty will result in severe disciplinary action including, but not
limited to, failure of the student assessment item or course, and/or dismissal from the course.
Copying information from the Internet is plagiarism if appropriate credit is not given. Reaction
papers found to be plagiarized will receive a zero. If you are unsure what constitutes
academic dishonesty, see
www.moreheadstate.edu/files/units/dsl/eaglehandbook/studenthandbook2008-2009.pdf
Policy for Accommodating Students with Disabilities: Professional staff from MSU Academic
Services Center (ASC) coordinates efforts to address accessibility needs and class
accommodations with instructors of students who have learning or physical disabilities. Faculty
will cooperate with the ASC staff to accommodate the needs of students taking departmental
courses.
Class Outline:
August 24:
Introduction and overview
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Begin reading Freedom Summer
August 31
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 1: Last One Standing
Lecture: (A) The Bomb (B) Wild about Harry: Truman and the Cold War
September 7
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 2: The War that Never Ended
Lecture: Age of Anxiety
Film: Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
September 14
Movie Review Due
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 3: Agnostics and Believers
Lecture: (A) Tailgunner Joe (B) The Feminine Mystique
September 21
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 4: The Golden Age of the Middle Class
Lecture: (A) The Vast Wasteland (B) Little Rock
September 28
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 5: Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight
Lecture: Camelot
October 5
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 6: Paved With Good Intentions
Lecture: (A) Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll (B) The Whole World is Watching
October 12
MIDTERM EXAM
October 19
Book review (Freedom Summer) due
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 7: The Triumph of Cynicism
Lecture: I Am Not a Crook
Film: The Weather Underground
Begin reading Every Knee Shall Bow
October 26
Movie review due
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 9: South by Southwest
Lecture: (A) Hostages in Iran (B) Rawhide Down
November 2
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Quiz over Brands, Chapter 12: The Good Old Bad Old Days
Lecture: (A) Iran-Contra (B) Columbine
November 9
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 13: Culture Clash
Lecture: (A) The Meaning of “Is” (B) Waco and Oklahoma City
November 16
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 14: Blowback
Lecture: 9/11
November 23: No class meeting
November 30
Quiz over Brands, Chapter 15: Still Dreaming
Lecture: The Supremes – Landmark Decisions since 1945
December 7
Book Review (Every Knee Shall Bow) due
Bonus Presentations
December 14
FINAL EXAM
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