MT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Mexican American History
Course number: HST 40
Class Meetings: W 6:30pm - 9:40pm
Session: Fall 2015
Dates: 08/26/2015-12/9/2015
Ticket: 20725
Location: 26D-2421
Instructor Name: Todd Menzing
Email Address: tmenzing@mtsac.edu
MtSAC Portal – you can find course materials on Course Studio
and or at
Website: http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Mexican American History
Course Description:
Survey of Mexican-American history in the U.S. from the Pre-Columbian period to the present.
Emphasis on Mexican-American contributions to the political, social, economic, and cultural
development of the U.S. Will also examine the relationship of Mexican-Americans to other cultural
groups.
Course Length: 16 Weeks
Anticipated Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Change: Students will be able to identify and evaluate major agents of change/reform in
American History effecting Mexican Americans
General Education Outcome: Area C. Students completing an assignment in Humanities Area C
will be able to identify the influence of culture on human expression
General Education Outcome: Area C (Arts). Students completing an assignment in Area C (Arts)
courses will be able to analyze modes of artistic expression.
Institutional influence: Students will be able to identify through analysis the role of institutions-religious, political, economic, social, educational, etc.) in the development of Mexican American
culture.
Students will also be able to
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Examine the effects of European colonization on Native Peoples.
Analyze the effects of being a colony on early Spanish settlement.
Articulate the changing terms of Mexican and American cultures and societies.
Examine the impact of the U.S. Mexican War on the Mexican peoples of the Southwest.
Determine the patterns that led to the Mexican migration to the Southwest during the “Porfiriato.”
Analyze the impact of the Mexican Revolution on Mexican Americans.
Explore the history of Mexican American life and culture during the Great Depression, World
War II and the 1950-1960s “Bracero program”
Examine the rise of “Chicanismo” in Mexican American culture.
Explore contemporary issues relating to Mexican American culture and political identity.
To question "history" in order to understand that history emanates from subjective positions that
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shape the stories that are told, presented, or remembered.
To explore how we construct our knowledge of the world from our diverse experiences and
backgrounds within Mexican American culture.
Articulate the goals, research methodologies, and issues common to most social and behavioral
scientists.
Required Texts (available in the bookstore)
Gonzales, Mexicanos ISBN: 978-0-253-221-4
Cisneros, House on Mango Street ISBN: 978-0679734772
Other Readings: downloadable documents (Blackboard)
Method of Instruction: Lecture/Online
Estimated Homework Hours: 4-5
Technology Needed: Access to a computer, word processing program, disks, and printer
Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
89-80
79-70
69-60
59 or below
Process for Evaluation:
4 EXAMS (16% ea.)
64%
Film Review
10%
Final Exam
16%
Essay ……………………... 10%
100%
Exams: Exams are multiple-choice. Each respective exam deals with information up to end of
the week in which the exam is scheduled. Exam 1, for example, covers all material through
week 3. Exam 2 will cover all material through week 6, etc. Each respective exam is made up
of 50 questions. Students will have one hour to take the respective exams. Please bring a
Scantron form #882 and #2 pencil
Final Exam: Final Exam is comprehensive and will consist of 100 questions.
Film Review: In addition to your essay writing assignment on The House on Mango Street, I would
like you to choose one of the following films to review. You will have to acquire the film on your
own through your college or public library, Netflix, internet search or some other venue (perhaps
even Amazon.com purchase). You can research the respective film titles on www.imdb.com (just
type in the name of the respective film into the search box) in order to determine which film interests
you most. Your film review should be at least two pages in length (double spaced and typed). I do
not want a simple summary of the film, but rather your reaction to the story in terms of such themes
as immigration, assimilation, work, poverty, resistance to exploitation, family, gender identity, middle
class success, etc. These films are meant to inspire you at some level. Your essay should be
thoughtful, but you should also, along with your reading of The House on Mango Street, enjoy this
project!
 Salt of the Earth (1954) – this film is available online – I will post it in the Learning Block
 Zoot Suit (1981)
 The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
 Stand and Deliver (1988)
 My Family (1995)
 Lone Star (1996)
 Selena (1997)
 La Ciudad (1998)
 Bread and Roses (2002)
 How the Garcia Girls Spent their Summer (2005)
 Quinceañera (2006)
 Under the Same Moon (2007)
 A Better Life (2011)
The film review, along with the essay, will be submitted to www.turnitin.com (see below). Please
submit the two assignments as one document (essay first, then film review)
Essay
This essay is based on the Sandra Cisneros collection of short, interconnected stories House on
Mango Street. You should focus your discussion of the stories on common themes such as
patriarchy, gender identity, racism (both subtle and overt), poverty (and how family love helps people
cope with it), relationships, working class day to day struggles, notions of middle class “success,” as
well as common cultural expressions such as religion, food, dress, humor, etc. One way to approach
the essay would be to choose three of these themes and then discuss them in turn with relation to the
respective characters among the various stories. Your essay should be 4-5 pages in length, doublespaced and typed – the MAIN thing to keep in mind is that you must demonstrate that you read these
stories. Your reaction to the various stories is welcomed.
The essay must be submitted to www.turnitin.com by June, 10 at 11:55 PM
User ID: 9592119
Password: Essay
Students should go to the website and register early. Please include your film review with your essay
as a single document (first the essay, then the film-review). Any questions should be raised during
one of the in-class sessions. The password is case-sensitive.
Late papers will not be accepted!
Grading Policy: Grades are non-negotiable. I do not give grades, students earn them. I do not “round
up” scores. Students must accept, for example, that a grade of 79.99% is a “C” grade. I only change
grades if I make a mathematical/clerical error --- I will absolutely never change a student’s grade for any
other reason.
Please note that this is not a straight-point grading system. The respective graded categories are
weighted. The Blackboard gradebook is correct.
Academic Dishonesty: Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty
while pursuing their studies at Mt San Antonio College. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited
to: plagiarism and cheating, misuse of academic resources or facilities, and misuse of computer software,
data, equipment or networks.
Plagiarism is the use (copying) of another person’s ideas, words, visual images, or audio samples,
presented in a manner that makes the work appear to be the student’s original creation. All work that is
not the student’s original creation, or any idea or fact that is not “common knowledge,” must be
documented properly to avoid even accidental infractions of the honor code.
Cheating is to gain an unfair advantage on a grade by deception, fraud, or breaking the rules set forth by
the instructor of the class. Cheating may include but is not limited to: copying the work of others; using
notes or other materials when unauthorized; communicating to others during an exam; and any other
unfair advantage as determined by the instructor.
Students who cheat and/or plagiarize will receive a failing grade for the exam or essay that they cheated
on or plagiarized (absolutely and without question). Also, students who violate the terms of academic
honesty will have an Academic Dishonesty Report filed with the Dean’s Office.
Grading Criteria for the Essay Assignment:
"A" range work is:
Outstanding achievement; significantly exceeds standards. Unique topic or unique treatment of topic;
takes risks with content; fresh approach. Sophisticated/exceptional use of examples. Original and "fluid"
organization; all sentences and paragraphs contribute; sophisticated transitions between paragraphs.
Integration of quotations and citations is sophisticated and highlights the author's argument. Confidence
in use of standard English; language reflects a practiced and/or refined understanding of syntax and usage.
Sentences vary in structure; very few if any mechanical errors.
"B" range work is:
Commendable achievement; exceeds minimum standards. Specific, original focus; content well-handled.
Significance of content is clearly conveyed; good use of examples; sufficient support exists in all key
areas. Has effective shape (organization); effective pacing between sentences or paragraphs. Quotations
and citations are integrated into argument to enhance the flow of ideas. Have competent transitions
between all sentences and paragraphs. Conveys a strong understanding of standard English; the writer is
clear in his/her attempt to articulate main points, but may demonstrate moments of "flat" or unrefined
language. The work contains very few mechanical errors.
"C" range work is:
Acceptable achievement; meets minimum standards for course. Retains over-all focus; generally solid
command of subject matter. Subject matter well explored but may show signs of under-development.
Significance is understood; competent use of examples. Structure is solid, but an occasional sentence or
paragraph may lack focus. Quotations and citations are integrated into argument and references are
provided. Transitions between paragraphs occur but may lack originality. Competent use of language;
sentences are solid but may lack development, refinement, style. Occasional minor mechanical errors may
occur, but do not impede clear understanding of material. The work contains few serious grammatical or
spelling errors.
"D" range work is:
Marginal in achievement; it fails to not meet minimum standards. Significance of content is unclear.
Some ideas may lack support, elaboration. Lacks sufficient examples or relevance of examples may be
unclear. Support material may not be clearly incorporated into argument. Expression is occasionally
awkward (problematic sentence structure). Mechanical errors may at times impede clear understanding of
material. May have a few serious mechanical errors.
“F" range work:
Ignores assignment. Lacks significance. Lacks coherence. Lacks focus. Difficult to follow due to
awkward sentence or paragraph development. Mechanical errors impede understanding. Problems with
writing at the college level. Any work that is plagiarized.
Personal Responsibility
Hst 40 is a transferable course within both the CSU and UC college systems. This course is a universitylevel survey of Latin American history. If students are not prepared to engage the course at this level
they should consider dropping the course.
Students are not allowed to record lectures, films, multimedia presentations, or class
discussions on any portable electronic devices unless it is required according to the
guidelines established by the Office for Students with Disabilities and only with the
advance written consent of the Instructor. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO
THIS POLICY.
Course Requirements
NOTE: If you are no longer participating in the class it is your responsibility to drop or withdraw
yourself from the course. It is not the instructor’s responsibility to drop students who are no longer
participating in the class.
Homework and late assignments: students must keep pace with the reading schedule
Extra Credit Assignments: There is no extra credit
Students with documented disabilities: Students must report your requests for reasonable
accommodations to the instructor on the first day of class. Any student with a documented disability will
be accommodated.
DSP&S is located in the Student Services Building (9B), lower level closest to the west
entrance. You may contact us at (909) 274-4290 (Voice) or 909-895-6634 (Video Phone for
American Sign Language users).
Weekly Outline/Reading Schedule: The title of each week’s discussion matches that of each respective
chapter in the Gonzales text. Students are to read 1 chapter per week, sometimes one chapter for two
weeks, in addition to Cisneros (which you may read at your own pace). Students are also to view the any
and all video episodes listed that I may attach to the Blackboard course Learning Blocks. Additional
readings may also be attached to the respective Learning Blocks. The readings and viewing schedule may
change slightly as we move through the semester (some films may be viewed in class)
Week 1 (8/26) Spanish and Native Americans, Prehistory-1521
READ: Gonzales, chapter 1
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 2 (9/2) The Spanish Frontier, 1521-1821
READ: Gonzales, chapter 2
View: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 3 (9/9) *****EXAM #1*****
Week 4 (9/16) The Mexican Far North, 1821-1848
READ: Gonzales, chapter 3
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 5 (9/23) The American Southwest, 1848-1900
READ: Gonzales, chapter 4
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 6 (9/30) *****EXAM 2*****
Week 7 (10/7) The Depression, 1930-1940
READ: Gonzales, chapter 6
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 8 (10/14) The Great Migration, 1900-1930
READ: Gonzales, chapter 5
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 9 (10/21) *****Exam 3*****
Week 10 (10/28) The Second World War and its Aftermath
READ: Gonzales, chapter 7
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 11 (11/4) The Chicano Movement
READ: Gonzales, chapter 8
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 12 (11/11) *****Exam 4*****
Week 13 (11/18) Goodbye to Atzlan – part 1
READ: Gonzales, chapter 9,
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 14 (11/25) Goodbye to Atzlan – part 2 & The Hispanic Challenge – part 1
READ: Gonzales, chapters 9 &10
VIEW: see http://saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/
Week 15 (12/2) The Hispanic Challenge – part 2
Read: Gonzales, chapter 10,
View: Morristown: In the Air and Sun (in class)
Week 16 (12/9) Final Exam - Wednesday, 12/9, 7:30-10:00 PM
*****Final Exam *****
ESSAY DUE (Turnitin.com – Due 12/13)