LS 106 Race, Culture and American Society
Spring 2010
Instructor: Dr. Ivory L. Lyons
Meeting Times: T, Th 1:10 – 2:25
Meeting Place: T & H 100
Home: 2333 S. Arch Ave., Alliance
Office: Keener House 1
Office Phone: (330) 823-2469
Home Phone: (330) 823-6773
Email: lyonsil@muc.edu, ivory_lyons@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 - 9:30 am and from 2:00 - 3:00 pm in
Campus Grounds. You can also make an appointment to meet with me or you can drop by
my office anytime. You can also meet me "outside" of the office on campus in a more
casual atmosphere.
Course Objectives
LS106—Race, Culture and American Society is a course designed to introduce the student
to the multicultural and ethnic diversity in the United States. The course will enable the
student to understand the complexities of the issues surrounding multiculturalism. The
course will examine works of history, ethnography, sociology, autobiography, and literature
through films, videos, and various other forms of media as well as printed media. Although
there are several approaches to multiculturalism the course will focus on the experiences of
African Americans, Latinas/Latinos, Women LGBT and people with disabilities. The course
will also examine issues of class and power.
Texts:
The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex and Gender,
Social Class, Sexual Orientation and Disability by Karen Rosenblum and ToniMichelle C. Travis.
Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama
by Tim Wise
The Trouble With Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity and Ignore Inequality
by Walter Benn Michaels
Policies:
Attendance: Those who attend all classes generally perform well. Those who do not
generally do not do very well. Each student will be allowed 2 absences (excused or
unexcused). If a student is absent more than 2 times he or she will lose 10 points for each
absence (excused or unexcused). More than 7 absences may result in a failing grade for
the class.
For any medical or emergency extended absences you must have a written excuse from the
dean of students’ office.
Academic Honesty: It is expected that you will do you own work and will cite all sources
used for your paper or presentation. Any student caught submitting someone else’s work
as his or her own will be in jeopardy of failing the class. See MUC Catalogue for further
details.
Cell Phones: All cell phones shall be in silent or vibration mode. Any interruption caused by
the cell phone or by anyone using a cell phone will be handled accordingly: 1 st time –
warning; 2nd time – treats for the class by the offending student; 3rd time – cell phone and
Purple Plus card will be confiscated and given to the dean of students. The offending
student has to have met with the dean of students before he or she is allowed to reenter the
class.
Assignments
MLK Day Program. You are required to attend one of the events in this program and write
a 2-3 page reflection relating the session you attended to the class. This assignment is
worth 50 points and takes place between January 14th and January 18th. Exact times and
places are linked.
Identity Essay
In this essay you are to answer the questions "Who am I?" It is due February 25th. This
assignment is worth 50 points.
Service Learning Project
Each student is required to participate in 20 hours of service learning project of some type.
This assignment is worth 100 points and it is due before the end of classes. You will have 7
options available to you.
Out of Class Experience
You are required to attend an event of a cultural nature. It can be a visit to a museum, a
lecture, a program, a masjid, a church, a synagogue or temple either on campus or off
campus. You are to write a 2 page summary of your experience. This assignment is worth
50 points and is due before the end of classes.
Group Presentations
Group Presentation Form
Every student is expected to be a part of a group. Your presentation is to be at least 20
minutes long. This assignment is worth 100 points.
Submissions: All of the assignments unless otherwise stated will be put in the drop box
through ANGEL in Microsoft Word (RTF or TXT) format on or before the due date. Papers
deposited after the date may or may not be accepted. If they are graded, they will be
reduced by one full letter grade.
Attached are grading standards for writing.
Town Meeting
Each student will participate in a Town Meeting in which a video will be evaluated. More
information will be provided as the semester progresses. This assignment is worth 50
points.
Extra Credit
There may be extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. Each extra credit
assignment will be worth no more than 10 points unless otherwise designated. In order to
get extra credit the student must do all of the regular assignments.
Three Exams worth 100 points each.
Note: If you are a student with a documented disability who will require accommodations in
this course, please register with the Karen Saracusa, Director of Disability Support
Services, in Room 113 Hoover-Price Campus Center, ext. 7372, for assistance in
developing a plan to address your academic needs.
Grade Ranges in Percentages minimum
A
94
A- 90
B+ 87
B 84
B- 80
C+ 77
C 74
C- 70
D+ 67
D 63
F < 63
January 12
Introduction: Syllabus, course expectations
Race
Presentation group selection and meeting
Why groups
The Rest of the World on Racism and on Sexism
Reading assignments:
Meaning of Difference, Framework essay, pp. 2-29
[Framework]
[First Vocabulary]
Internet: http://www.uio.no/~geirthe/Ethnicity.html
Cultural Competence
Course Vocabulary
January 19
Video: Ethnic Notions
Amanda Espenschied-Rielly to discuss Service Learning opportunities
Reading assignments:
Meaning of Difference, Framework essay, pp. 194-218; Readings 1, 8;
Commentary on the Old Testament, pp. 95-101;
The Hydropathic Encyclopedia: A System of Hydropathy and Hygiene, pp. 290-294.
January 26
Class
[Classism]
Social Dominance Theory
Reading assignments: Barack, pp. 7-17
Meaning of Difference, Framework essay, pp. 334-350; Readings 13-16.
February 3
Power/Identity/Privilege
Reading Assignments:
Barack, pp. 18-56; 57–83; Trouble With Diversity, Introduction, Chapter 1.
Meaning of Difference, Framework essay, pp. 468-475; Reading 46;
Activity: Monopoly
Feb. 9 – Special viewing
Group Meetings
February 16
African Americans
[Group Presentation]
Reading assignments:
Barack, pp. 84-111; 112-149; Trouble, Ch. 2.
Meaning of Difference, Readings 2-3.
February 23
Exam 1 (2/23)
Latinas/Latinos [Nations]
[Group Presentation]
Required assignments:
Trouble, Chs. 3, 4;
Meaning of Difference, Reading 7, 24, 47.
Identity Essay due 2/25
March 2
Latinas/Latinos continued
March 7-14
Spring Break
March 16
Gender [Vocabulary 2]
Women in Time
[Group Presentation]
Required assignments:
Trouble, Ch. 5;
Meaning of Difference, Readings 10, 20, 31, 32;
March 23
Gender continued
Exam 2 (3/25)
March 30
Sexual Orientation [Vocabulary 3]
[Group Presentation]
Required assignments:
Trouble, Ch. 6.
Meaning of Difference, Reading 17-19, 35;
April 6
Disabilities [Group Presentation]
Required assignments:
Meaning of Difference, Readings 21, 40-42, 44.
April 13
Disabilities continued
Exam 3 (4/15)
April 20
Scholar’s Day
April 22
Town Hall Preparations
Service Learning papers due on 4/26
April 30 (8-11am)
Town Hall Meeting
Group Lists
African American
Josh Bonnett
Jesse Schilling
Matt McCraith*
Denny Distelrath
Sexual Orientation
Michelle Miller
Amanda Gibson
Taylor Curry
Cayla Ovalle
Latina/Latino
Jacob Freeman
Wes Ryder
Megan Jordan
Billy Helbley
Lydia Gonzalez
Gender
Kelly Evans
Julie Radigan
Maggie Sell
Kensie Kimble
Dana Forgione
Disabilities
Brooke Akins
Megan Kiper
Amy Tropiano
Ryan Sigler
Lucy Gotch
Amber Jaeb