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Professor M. Carreon
Office: A 201C
Hours: Never on Fridays
M-Th @ 7:30 -8:00 a.m.
MW @ 11:15-12:30
Fall Semester 2010
Email: mcarreon@riohondo.edu
Website: http//faculty.riohondo.edu/mcarreon
This course provides an interdisciplinary presentation of vital artistic, literary, architectural, musical, political, religious and historical movements within Mexico spanning from pre-Cortesian to contemporary times. This course is designed for students who wish to further their understanding of major Mexican cultural and historical developments
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Students will become familiar with the historical, political and social background that forms the foundations for Mexican
Culture in general.
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Students will be able to identify the major historical, literary, social and political figures that have played a role in the development of Mexican Culture.
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Students will develop a better understanding and an increased awareness of what is Mexican Culture.
Students, individually or in groups, will develop an organized class presentation that includes informative visuals on one notable historical event in Mexican history between 1810 and 1910. The oral presentation must include determined causes, the role played by major historical figures, and significant results of the event selected.
Main Text: “Introduction to Mexican Culture” 2010 Edition, by Martha.Carreon
Recommended: “The Course of Mexican History” by Michael C. Meyer, latest edition
Other references, both text and video, will also be assigned throughout the course .
Attendance is mandatory and taken daily. Prolonged illness or absences requires written excuse from a doctor or other authority.
Professor reserves the right to drop a student if there are more than 3 absences. The student may or may not be allowed to reinstate in the class. Tardiness disrupts the entire class; please make it a point to arrive on time. Getting to class after attendance has been taken often results in an absence. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have been noted. Only official withdrawals will be honored. Do not leave early unless arrangements have been made with the professor. Also, please turn off cell phones. Do not leave to answer your calls. It is rude and disruptive to the class. Please be prepared for class, bring your textbook, paper and writing instruments to every class session.
Any student who may need special accommodations in this class is encouraged to contact the Disabled Students Program and

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Services office as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely manner. The office is located in room S205.
There will be three non-cumulative midterms, one slide identification test on Pre-Colombian material for the first midterm and a few quizzes as needed. Midterms will normally consist of multiple choice questions and short essays. Purchase BLUE PARscore
Mini Blue Book SCANTRONS (essay sheet attached) to be used throughout the semester for Midterm exams.
If an extreme emergency prevents a student from taking an exam on the day that it is scheduled, arrangements must be made to take it within 3 days, prior to the next class session. You may not use a class session to make up exams. Documentation of the emergency must be provided or there will be no make-up exam offered. Please keep track of your grades. If there are discrepancies with the professor, these must be resolved immediately after each exam is returned. Important: Homework assignments will not be accepted late.
Study guides for each midterm, which include vocabulary words to be learned, are available on my Rio Hondo College website.
(See above). I recommend downloading each of the study guides a few weeks before each of the midterms. Bring them to class to be sure all questions are clear and the necessary vocabulary is understood. Also on the web site are the pre-Colombian art pictures that you will need to be able to identify on that slide test that will be given on the first midterm. You can download these and make flash cards by printing them as “hand-outs” 6 or 9 on a page.
Participation in class discussions during the course is a vital part of your learning experience. Group activities several times during the course will also take place in which participation will be noted and graded. Specifically, group work on historical events or other activities where group orals need to be given are especially important as learning outcomes.
There are selected videos in the library that will expand your knowledge of the material being covered in each exam. (See my website) They must be viewed in the library and you are allowed one video per midterm exam for extra credit. (No more than 3 videos) The videos must relate to the exam that will be given. The librarian will sign a slip indicating that you watched the video.
Using only the back of that slip, write your commentaries regarding the video, especially how it relates to class and what you learned from it. Videos are 5 points each. The grade for the video will be added to your midterm score and thus MUST BE
TURNED IN WITH YOUR EXAM. NO LATE PAPERS .
The class is divided into 3 sections: Mesoamerica, Historical Aspects, Contemporary times. In order to expand your knowledge, especially on the material to be covered on a midterm exam, a short 3-4 pages typed internet research report is due 2 weeks before a midterm. One of the 3 sections will be assigned to you from your text where you can select a topic from within that section. (This will be done the first week of class). No one can use the same topic. The due dates will vary depending on the section selected.
At some point during class (see the class overview for specific dates) you will be sharing your paper and your knowledge during class in group work. Your internet research should also involve critical thinking of those issues, personal opinions and reactions to the materials discussed in class. Your presentation will be informal, from 3-5 minutes. Be prepared! These group presentation dates cannot be postponed or changed. If you are not prepared you will lose 25 points for the sharing aspect.
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Please make your topics as focused as possible. Remember you only have 3-4 pages.
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Use at least 3 websites to put your paper together. (Please do not use Wickopedia or other encyclopedia sources.) A list of the 3 web sites you visited must be included with the paper and cited correctly on a separate Bibliography page with a short evaluative paragraph explaining why you choose that website for your information. Remember: The topics must match material that will be on the specific midterm. Be sure to give the title and author of the articles you selected.
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Papers submitted must be typed in Roman type 12 inch font, double spaced and stapled. Please be sure to label your

3 report with your name, class time and days and the midterm exam that it reflects. No late papers will be accepted after due dates.
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Points given will be based on completeness, research, focused content, and correct form. YOU MAY NOT USE YOUR
TEXT AS A RESEARCH SOURCE.
(Points will be deducted if you do so).
WRITTEN GRADE RUBRIC
Your grade will be based on the following rubric:
RUBRIC 25 points
Completeness
3-4 pages in length with introduction & conclusion. Has some critical thinking.
20 points
2-3 pages with vague introduction & some conclusion
Research
Content
Used 3 credible & correctly cited internet sources, giving annotated commentary on why they were selected and what they contain.
Topic is specific and narrow in focus. Stuck to topic, covered content well.
Used 2 credible & correctly cited sources.
No annotations or comments regarding sources.
Somewhat specific focus but repetitive or wandered from topic once in a while or topic too broad in scope.
15 points 5 points
Less than 2 pages
Incomplete introduction or conclusion
Less than 1 page No introduction or conclusion
Used less than 2 sources &/or sources not correctly cited
Used no internet sources. No bibiliography page included.
Not specific in focus but held one topic.
Could have included more content for topic
Very broad and general. Repetitive and not additional info from class text available.
Form
Double spaced & typed in 12 inch font, no major spelling or grammatical errors. Stapled. Has full name, class time & days labeled.
Double spaced & typed. Has minimum spelling & grammatical errors. Stapled & correctly labeled.
Double spaced, typed with several spelling & grammar errors.
Stapled and labeled correctly.
Double spaced, typed but many spelling & grammatical errors.
Not stapled or labeled correctly.
Please use the following chart to keep track of your grades. Any changes will only be made after each exam if necessary.
Grading scale used is 10 %.
Quiz #1
Quiz #2
Quiz #3
Slide test
Midterm 1
Midterm 2
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
Midterm 3 _________
Internet Rpt _________
Participation _________
Participation
Attendance
_________
_________

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The following is a general, but flexible, schedule of class lectures and discussions. Instructor may make changes as class progresses. Read your text according to class topics listed and dates of those topics. Please read your assignments prior to coming to class. Always bring your textbook to class, as well as materials to take notes. Internet research papers are divided into three dates and different students will be responsible on those dates to present their papers to the class in group sessions.
WEEK
ASSIGNMENT
Week 1
M/W August 23 & 25
T/TH August 24 & 26
CLASS TOPIC
Mesoamerica
The study of Mesoamerica including time horizons,
Week 2
M/W August 30 & Sept 1
T/Th August 31 & Sept 2 regions and characteristics.
Pre-Classical Period: Olmec and
Tlatilco
Review of Mesoamerica, Pre-classical era.
Week 3
M – Holiday Sept 6
W – Sept 8
T/TH Sept 7 & 9
Social, religious, and artistic background of the
Tlatilco and Olmec civilizations
Classical Period: Teotihuacan,
Totonac, Zapotec & Western
Emphasis on Mesoamericans residing in the Central
Plateau and Gulf areas, as well as archeological regions of Oaxaca and the Western States of Mexico
Classical Period: Maya FIRST INTERNET Week 4
M/W Sept 13 & 15
T/TH Sept 14 & 16
Week 5
M/W Sept 20 & 22
T/TH Sept 21 & 23
Besides the general Maya background, various archeological sites will be studied in the Maya area, such as Uxmal, Bonampak, and Palenque
Historical Period
Review of Historical period civilizations such as
Huastec, Mixtecs, Toltec and Maya-Toltecs. Covering
RESEARCH PAPER IS
DUE
Prepare for midterm I also Aztec social, political, religious, artistic, and

Week 6
M/W Sept 27 & 29
T/TH Sept 28 & 30
Week 7
M/W Oct 4 & 6
T/TH Oct 5 & 7
Week 8
M/W Oct 11 & 13
T /TH Oct 12 & 14
Week 9
M/W Oct 18 & 20
T/TH Oct 19 & 21
Week 10
M/W Oct 25 & 27
T/TH Oct 26 & 28
Week 11
M/W Nov 1 & 3
T/TH Nov 2 & 4
Week 12
M/W Nov 8 & 10
T/TH Nov 9 & 11
5 economic development in the Central Plateau.
MIDTERM ONE
Expect slide identification
Midterm will cover all of the Mesoamerican groups.
Know their regions, main ceremonial centers, and artistic contributions.
Conquest and Life in New Spain
With the arrival of Cortes, the clash of two cultures:
Indigenous and Spanish is main topic. The social, political, and economic aspects of the Colonial Period will be emphasized
Colonial Period
The role of Catholicism and its influence on Mexican culture including Colonial architecture.
Extra credit video is due with
Midterm I
Overview of Historical Events:
Discussion of the causes, results and main figures in
Mexico’s major historical events that formed Mexico as a nation.
Mexican Revolution
SECOND INTERNET
RESEARCH PAPER IS
DUE
Major causes leading up to the Mexican Revolution of
1819 and men involved in this event. Contemporary
Mexican government will also be discussed. .
MIDTERM TWO
EXAM will cover the social, political, economic and religious aspects of the Colonial period. Also the role of the Church, colonial architectural styles, Mexican literature and the major historical events from
Independence to the Mexican Revolution .
Muralist and Contemporary t e r s i n
P a
The portrayal of the Mexican History by the major muralists: Orozco, Siquieros and Rivera. Also noting contributions of Kahlo and Posada.
Prepare for Midterm II.
Extra Credit video due with
Midterm II

Week 13
M/W Nov 15 & 17
T/TH Nov 16 & 18
Week 14
M/W Nov 22 & 24
T Nov 23
Th Holiday, Nov 25
Overview of Mexican Literature
Major literary figures and stages of Mexican literature in a historical overview. Legends and Folk art will also be reviewed.
Values and tradition
Exploring traditional “Mexican” values such as rites of passage, family traditions, male and female roles and religious beliefs.
Curanderismo
Popular Folk curing practices
Mexican Music and Dance
Overview of Corridos and other songs and dances of
Mexico that have influenced its culture
THIRD INTERNET
RESEARCH PAPER IS
DUE
Week 15
M/W Nov 29 & Dec 1
T/TH Nov 30 & Dec 2
Week 16
Finals
Thank you for selecting this class.
Extra Credit video due with
Final
Closure – Class potluck party
MW 8:05 class takes final on 8:05 - 10:05
December 8
MW 9:40 class takes final on 9:40 –11:40
December 6
Tth 9:40 class takes final on 9:40 –11:40
December 7
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