Discipline/Program: History
Course Title: History 2328: Introduction to Mexican American History
Course Rubric and Number: HIST 2381
Semester with Course Reference Number (CRN): Fall 2013 Semester, CRN 36552
Course Location/Times: Dual Credit at Raul Yzaguirre School for Success.
Days: Thursdays 4 pm-7 pm room# 128
Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 3 Hours
Course Contact Hours: 48 Contact Hours
Course Continuing Education Units (CEU): 0
Course Length (number of weeks): 12 WEEKS
Type of Instruction: Lecture
Instructor Contact Information:
Name: Mr. Wilson Juárez Email: juarezw@tejanocenter.org
Office: By Appointment Only
2950 Broadway St. Houston, TX 77017. Office number# 128 Please email me to schedule an
appointment.
Cellular Number (713) 640- 3790
HCC Email Address: eagle online email anytime
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Course Prerequisites: Must be placed into college level reading and college level writing.
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Course Goal: Students will evaluate historical developments in an essay.
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Program Learning Outcomes (PLO):
1. Students will evaluate historical developments in an essay.
2. Students will analyze historical evidence by writing an analytical essay.
3. Students will read primary source documents
4. Students will identify proper academic and history databases.
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Student Learning objectives (SLO):
The student will develop an understanding of:
1). the innovations in engineering and mathematics of native populations before the arrival of
Europeans to the Americas. Students will understand the trading and commerce conducted
during the pre-Columbian era, the Mayan Calendar, skills in astronomy and mathematics,
buildings, irrigation canals.
2) major historical eras in Mexican-American history;
3) the effects of Mexican-American social and political thought;
4) Mexican-American historical literature, pop culture, and folk culture;
5) Mexican-Americans within the broader context of the U.S-Mexico War, the Chicano Civil
Rights Movement, and national identity.
6) Mexican American women within each major historical era and movement.
7) How Mexican-Americans have effected US history and how US history has affected MexicanAmericans.
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SCANS Skills:
Texas Colleges must demonstrate that the Basic Intellectual Core Competencies are incorporated
into all Core courses. This course addresses the competencies in the following ways:
Reading: The Textbook, alternative web sites, and the readers will provide the basis for Section
Exams, Chapter Essays, and the Final Exam.
Writing: Students will write all responses to their selected Chapter Essays, and will conduct most
communication with the instructor through the typewritten word. Students will write two
historical research papers and answer essay questions.
Speaking: Students may phone and email the instructor for supplemental information or
clarification of assignments as needed. Students working in collaboration with other students on
chapter assignments will have the opportunity to develop their speaking proficiency.
Listening: Students working in collaboration with other students on chapter assignments will
have the opportunity to develop and practice their listening skills. Students will also practice
critical listening from audio and video materials.
Critical Thinking: Many of the Chapter Essays and essay questions on the Final Exam will
contain questions and problems that will require higher-level, “critical” thinking skills to solve
successfully.
Computer Literacy: Web-based courses such as this one require significant computer literacy
from the students, who must be proficient at navigating the web, sending and receiving Email,
participating in threaded discussions, and using online testing procedures.
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Student Classroom Behavior: The ability to learn is lessened when students engage in
inappropriate classroom behavior, distracting others; such behaviors are a violation of the
Houston Community College (HCC) Code of Conduct. When disruptive activity occurs, the
instructor has the authority to determine classroom-seating patterns and to request that the
student leave the classroom for the remainder of the class. One-day suspensions are reported to
appropriate departmental, collegiate, and Student Services personnel.
Discussion and Attendance: Discussion is an important component of your grade. In
order to participate in discussion, attendance is required. Excused absences include verifiable
illness, death/serious illness of immediate family member, injury, religious observance, and jury
duty. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor one week in advance of any
absences due to jury duty, religious observance, or participation in officially approved campus
activities.
Grading:
Discussion & Participation: 20%
Essay 1 (midterm): 25% Essay 2 (Final Exam): 25%
3 written responses from assigned article and textbook chapter readings: 30%
HCC Grading Scale:
A: 90-100
B:80-89
C: 70-79
D:60-69
F:59 and below
Course/Grade Rubric:
All writing assignments and the final exam are evaluated using this rubric scale. Review it
regularly when you have a question concerning your grade/score.
The grade of A (100-90) reflects excellence. The A work offers a well-focused and organized
discussion to the instructor’s assignment. It reflects critical use of all relevant materials, and
demonstrates effective and formal writing requirements. The A work must demonstrate
outstanding efforts to identify and use varied and pertinent evidence from all available sources,
to employ those materials critically in the text of the papers, and to provide error-free citations
of those resources. “A” work is submitted via eagle online prior or on the posted due date.
The grade of B (89-80) reflects work beyond satisfactory, and indicates the work was completed
in an appropriate competent manner. It demonstrates a strong attempt at original and critical
analysis, writing, and research. B work exceeds satisfactory efforts to identify varied and
pertinent evidence from all available sources. The B paper may contain a number of minor errors
of grammar or citations, and its thesis or its conclusions may be underdeveloped or too weakly
supported. “B” work is submitted via eagle online prior or on the posted due date.
The Grade of C (79-70) reflects work that is done in a satisfactory or appropriate manner. It
represents the average work expected for a university course. In order to obtain a C grade, the
student’s work must adhere to all of the assignment’s minimum requirements but limited to page/
word requirements, number of sources, types of sources, and proper documentation and citation
method. The C work is organized around a central theme with arguments supported by relevant
examples from the available sources. The work is structured into correctly written paragraphs
and sentences. Although fulfilling the assignments, the C work may exhibit one or more
weaknesses including, but not limited to errors of punctuation and grammar, imprecise or
incorrect word use, inaccurate or uncritical use of materials, occasional inconsistency of
organization or development, and lack direct relevance of the selected research materials to the
topic. “C” work is submitted via eagle online prior or on the posted due date.
The Grade of D (69-60) reflects work that may have a poorly defined topic or thesis. It lacks
clear focus and organization, and contains unsupported generalizations and/or conclusions.
Research support (citations) is inadequate, not clearly relevant, or improperly documented. A
less-than-minimal research effort is evident. D work fails to obtain the required page or word
minimum requirement. The D work may also suffer from numerous or major formal writing
errors. The D paper fails to adhere to any of the assignment’s minimum requirements. “D” work
is submitted via eagle online prior or on the posted due date.
The Grade of F (59-0) indicates that the work is not relevant to the assignment and the topic and
thesis are poorly defined. The work may display inadequate organization or development,
unsupported generalization, and nonstandard formal features (including language usage, sentence
structure, and paragraphing). Research support (citations) is absent, or irrelevant to the
assignment. “F” work is submitted via eagle online prior or on the posted due date.
Instructor Grading Criteria.
The lowest grade is not dropped.
Late Assignments: Late Assignments are not accepted.
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The correct history writing style is the Chicago writing format. If you are not familiar with it, go
to the HCCS homepage, click on libraries, click on “learn how to”, click on “Chicago.” An
example paper is available for viewing.
MLA or APA are not accepted styles/formats. These writing styles are required for English and
Psychology classes.
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Right to Modify the Syllabus:
“This syllabus is meant as a guide and is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. If
there are any changes made, the student will be notified in a timely manner.”
Required Texts:
Acuña, Rodolfo. Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, 6th ed., (Longman Press)
9783021427380
Ruiz, Vicki. Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California
Food Processing Industry: 1930-1950 (University of New Mexico Press) 9780826309884
Websites:
Pew Hispanic Center
http://pewhispanic.org/
Documents:
Various primary source documents and other
readings located in the
EAGLE ONLINE
Websites:
Mexican- American Studies Center
http://m.se.hccs.edu/Users/james.rossnazzal/web/index.php?p=Mexican-AmericanStudiesCenter
The National Security Archives-The George Washington University
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/
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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. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the
disability services office. The counselor for Southeast College can be reached at 713 718-7218.
Academic Honesty
The Houston Community College expects all students to do
their own work, as stated in the Code of Academic Honesty. Instructors will show evidence of
plagiarism or other forms of cheating, and report the student's name to the College. In the case
of any form of cheating, including plagiarism you will receive an F in the course.
Final Examination Policies
Final exams may be offered only during finals week. No exams of any kind are allowed
during the last week of classes. Questions should be addressed to the chair of the History
Department or Associate Dean.
Students with a suggestion or complaint should
first visit the instructor, then the course supervisor, and then the department chair.
Complaints must be made within six months of the incident.
Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment subverts the mission of HCC and threatens the well-being of
students, faculty, and staff. All members of the HCC 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 HCC
Comprehensive Guide on Sexual Harassment for assistance, definitions, and the full
college policy.
Reacting Safely to Severe Weather
In severe weather, class members should seek appropriate shelter immediately, leaving the
classroom if necessary. Class will continue if possible when the event is over. For more
information please visit the Public Safety web site and tune to a local public weather broadcast.
SCHEDULE
Week of September 12 – Introduction to Dual Credit course
September 12: Syllabus Review & Initial Topic Assessment
Jules R. Benjamin, Chapter 1 – “Study Assignments in History Courses”
in A Student’s Guide to History.
Week 2 -September 19- Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 1 of Occupied America
Week 3- September 26- : Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 2 of Occupied America
-Assigned reading essays and primary source documents
Documentary: “The West” (part 1, segment on “Mesa Verde”)
Week 4- October 3: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 3 of Occupied America
-assigned reading essays and primary source documents
Documentary: “More Than Bows and Arrows” (segment)
Week 5- October 10: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 4 of Occupied America
Documentary: “The San Patricios” (segment)
*Essay 1 – due October 24, 2013
Week 6-October 17: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 5 of Occupied America
Assigned reading essays and primary source documents
Documentary: “Remembering the Alamo” (segment)
Week 7- October 24: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 6 and Ch. 7 of Occupied America and Vicky Ruiz
Ch. 1 of Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California
Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950.
Assigned reading essays and primary source documents
Documentary: “The Border: Unfinished Business”
*Essay 1 due exam
Week 8-October 31: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 8 of Occupied America and Vicky Ruiz Ch. 2 of
Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California Food
Processing Industry, 1930-1950.
-Assigned essay readings and primary source documents
Week 9-November 7: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 9 of Occupied America and Vicky Ruiz Ch. 3 of
Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California Food
Processing Industry, 1930-1950.
-Assigned essay readings and primary source documents
Week 10-November 14: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 10 and 11 of Occupied America and Vicky Ruiz
Ch. 4 of Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California
Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950.
-Assigned essays and primary source documents
Week 11-November 21: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 12 and Ch. 13 of Occupied America and Vicky Ruiz
Ch. 5 of Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California
Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950.
Documentary: “Méndez v. Westminster: For all the children”
Week 12-December 5: Rodolfo Acuña Ch. 14 and 15 of Occupied America and Vicky Ruiz
Ch. 6 of Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California
Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950.
Week 13:
December 12: Final Essay Exam due December 16, 2013