ATL 150
Section 19
Instructor:
Writing: The Evolution of American Thought
Spring 1994
Hal M. Friedman
Class Period: Monday's, 10:20-12:10 in 109 Ernst Bessey Hall; Wednesday's
and Thursday's, 11:30-12:20 in 115 Ernst Bessey Hall.
Office Hours: Monday's and Wednesday's, 12:30-1:30 in 185 Ernst Bessey
Hall, 353-8141 or by appointment. The instructor also can be reached by leaving a message with
the Department of American Thought and Language, 229 Ernst Bessey Hall, 517-355-2400.
Course Purpose:
ATL 150 is a reading/writing course. It is designed to teach 1st year college students the
basic skills in analytical reading and writing as a preparation for their collegiate and professional
careers. It is a 15 week course which emphasizes critical and analytical reading as a preparation
for in-class and out-of-class writing assignments. These writing assignments in turn will help
prepare the student for future coursework at Michigan State University.
The course is based on research findings which indicate that good writers are also good
readers. The readings will be used not just to introduce the student to critical reading, but should
also help the student focus her or his thoughts and trigger ideas about various writing topics.
Reading and writing will be treated as a process in this course. Although the mechanical
aspects of writing, such as grammar and punctuation, will become especially important in the
final drafts of the papers, mechanics will not be emphasized in the initial drafts of the writing
assignments. Instead, students will be urged in the first stages of each paper (the Discovery
Phase) to focus on a topic and to think and write about that topic in any way which helps them
produce a rough draft. In the next stage of the writing process (the Shaping Phase), students will
focus on the meaning of their papers, the major points, the clarity, and other students' perceptions
of their revised draft. In the final stage (the Finishing Phase), students will then focus on
polishing the meaning, syntax, and grammar of their papers.
Given this process, much of this course is based on collaborative reading. To be sure, the
instructor will read a great deal of the written material, but an emphasis will be placed on
students' reading and critiquing each others' work. Class sessions will be based largely on short
writing assignments and group activities geared toward introducing the students to critical
reading strategies, and collaboration in shaping and revising the assigned papers.
Course Themes:
This course emphasizes the evolution of American Thought and Language represented in
the History of American Foreign Relations from 1607 to the present. This medium will be used
to teach critical reading and writing skills. Covering the entire sweep of American interaction
with other nations and cultures, the reading and writing assignments will emphasize exploring
the role of the frontier in American thought and culture; the continuing American search for a
mission in the modern world; and the role which conceptions of race, ethnicity, and gender have
played in American thought, culture, and foreign relations. By "foreign relations," the instructor
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does not mean to emphasize government-to-government relations at the expense of various forms
of social history. As broad a coverage of interaction between people and cultures as possible
will be the focus of the course (i.e., diplomatic-political relations, economic intercourse,
American attitudes toward war and military service, emigration, etc.).
More importantly, these themes will be the basis for readings which will be used to teach
analytical reading and writing skills. Primary and secondary historical material, as well as media
presentations, will be employed to teach about formulating a thesis, developing evidence to
support that thesis, and becoming aware of different voices and audiences for whom authors'
compose critical pieces of writing. Specifically, these readings will consist of analyzing
historical speeches and documents as written works.
Reading Assignments:
ALL reading assignments must be completed BEFORE the weekly class sessions. This
will improve your understanding of the lectures, facilitate class discussions, and stimulate
questions about the material and your own writing assignments. All texts are available at Ned's
Bookstore, located on East Grand River Avenue across the street from the MSU Student Union.
The required texts are:
Writing Text: Tony Fulwiler, College Writing: A Personal Approach to Academic
Writing (Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Boynton/Cook Publishers, 1991).
Documentary Texts: Thomas G. Paterson, ed., Major Problems in American Foreign
Policy, Volume 1: To 1914 and Volume 2: Since 1914 (Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Heath
and Company, 1989).
General Texts: Thomas G. Paterson, J. Garry Clifford, and Kenneth J. Hagan, American
Foreign Policy, A History: Volume 1: To 1914 and Volume 2: Since 1900 (Lexington,
Massachusetts: D.C. Heath and Company, 1991).
Supplementary Text: Philip J. Caputo, A Rumor of War (New York: Ballantine Books,
1978).
Writing Assignments:
There will be five types of writing assignments during the class:
1. Five one-page analytical papers on major historical documents dealing with American
foreign policy. The emphasis in these assignments will be to analyze the thesis, evidence, and
voice for each document, given the historical context of the time.
2. One three-page critical review of a scholarly journal article that treats a topic of the
history of American foreign relations (as it is broadly defined on page two of this syllabus). The
journal article can be chosen from the list of journals provided on the following page but must be
approved by the instructor.
3. Three two-page papers analyzing films as cultural documents. The films will deal
with problems ensuing from two or more cultures interacting at various points in American
history. Students will be required to write analytical papers that deal with the films' main points,
evidence, and intended audience.
4. One five-page critical review of a book-length autobiography or memoir, approved by
the instructor, which deals with some aspect of the history of American foreign relations. This
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assignment need not be limited to a work by a major figure or policymaker, but by anyone who
experienced or took part in a war, an international cultural or economic exchange, emigration, or
overseas travel and exploration. This paper will count for two grades since the student will be
required to turn in one draft and then revise the paper for a second reading.
5. One blue-book essay examination of A Rumor of War. The essay examination will
test the student's ability to apply critical analysis and writing in a compressed period of time,
simulating testing conditions in future courses at Michigan State University.
Each paper assignment will be graded on the clarity of the thesis, the quality of the evidence,
topical development, conciseness, the quality of analysis, the ability to set the historical context,
and mechanical factors.
*****All writing assignments must be completed in order to receive a passing grade and the use
of computer word processors is required of all students. Late papers will be reduced by 1/2 a
letter grade in order to be fair to those students who completed the assignments on time.*****
LIST OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
Agricultural History
Air Power History
American Historical Review
American Indian Quarterly
American Jewish Historical Review
American Journal of Legal History
American Literature
American Neptune
American Poetry Review
American Quarterly
Business History Review
Catholic Historical Review
Church History
Civil War History
Diplomatic History
Historian
International History Review
Intelligence and National Security
Journal of American Culture
Journal of American-East Asian Relations
Journal of American History
Journal of American Studies
Journal of Contemporary History
Journal of Economic History
Journal of Military History
Journal of Negro History
Journal of Pacific History
Journal of Social History
Journal of Southern History
Journal of Strategic Studies
Journal of the West
Labor History
Michigan Historical Review
Michigan History
Military Review
Naval History
Naval War College Review
The Old Northwest
Pacific Historical Review
Pacific Northwest Quarterly
Parameters
William and Mary Quarterly
Western Historical Quarterly
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Evaluation and Grading Standards:
Final grades for the course will be determined in the following manner:
Documentary Analysis Papers:
5 @ 20 pts. = 100 pts. = 10%
Journal Article Analysis Papers:
1 @ 100 pts. = 100 pts. =
10%
Film Critiques:
3 @ 50 pts. = 150 pts. = 15%
Critical Book Review
1st draft:
= 100 pts. = 10%
2nd draft:
= 200 pts.
= 20%
Blue Book Examination:
= 200 pts.
= 20%
Class Attendance, Participation, and Quizzes:
= 150 pts.
= 15%
Final Grade:
1000 pts. = 100%
**** Approximate Grading Scale:
4.0
=
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.0
1,000-950
=
949-875
=
874-825
=
824-775
=
774-725
=
724-675
=
674-625
=
624-0
Attendance and Participation:
Attendance is absolutely required for this course. The teaching of the reading/writing
process is an effort in which the instructor can initially teach and guide, but individual
development is at the initiative of the student. The course is based on in-class
group/collaborative learning and students who are late, absent, or non-participative will not
obtain the same benefits from these activities. Students should be fully prepared to participate in
classroom activities.
To provide the incentive for attendance and participation, 15% of the final grade (150
points) will be based on daily attendance. Some portion of these points will be awarded on the
basis of in-class quizzes which will be announced by the instructor. The majority of the 150
points will be derived from daily attendance at lectures, class discussions, film presentations,
library and writing labs, and student-instructor conferences. Daily sign-in sheets will be
provided by the instructor for students to record their own attendance and students are expected
to take the individual initiative with this daily activity. ****Three unexcused absences will
count as five points lost from the final grade!****
Writing Support System:
A significant advantage of the ATL Program is that it has a built-in writing support
system for students. The Writing Center at 140 Brody
Complex is designed to help students brainstorm ideas, focus thoughts, and revise drafts of
papers through a variety of techniques and processes.
Graduate students and Undergraduate Writing Consultants (UWCs) are on staff at the Center and
can work with students throughout the semester. Hours for the center are Sunday-Thursday, 1-9
PM and appointments can be made by calling 336-3610.
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Required Materials:
A three ring binder with loose-leaf paper; a double-pocketed folder for storing notes,
drafts, and revisions of papers; a Roget's Thesaurus; and a pocket dictionary are required in
addition to the texts. Students should bring these materials to class on a regular basis.
Weekly Class Schedule
January 12th:
Course Introduction, Objectives, and Policies.
January 13th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Indentifying a Thesis and Argument
Writing Text Reading Assignment: Tony Fulwiler, College Writing : A Personal Approach to
Academic Writing, 3-10, 101-111. Also, read Fulwiler, 189-193 on "writing with computers."
Lecture Topic: "American Foreign Relations from 1607-1789: The Beginnings of an American
Identity."
General Text Reading Assignment: Paterson, Clifford, Hagan, American Foreign Policy: A
History, Vol. 1, 3-37.
January 17th:
Computer Lab instruction. Location to be announced.
January 19th:
Class Discussion on Documentary Analysis.
Documentary Text Reading Assignment: Paterson, Major Problems in American Foreign
Policy, Vol. 1, To 1914, 28-29, 38-41, and 42-45.
January 20th:
Writing Lab. Writing the 1st Documentary Analysis Paper. ***Paper due in class on January
24th!
January 24th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Organizing Information and Taking Notes
Writing Text Reading Assignment: Fulwiler, College Writing, 32-49.
Lecture Topic: "The Formulation of a National Foreign Relations 'Culture', 1789-1815."
General Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Clifford, Hagan, American Foreign Policy,
Vol. 1, 39-77.
January 26th:
Class Discussion on Documentary Analysis.
Documentary Text Reading Assignment: Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 1,
74-77, 109-111, and 135-136.
January 27th:
Writing Lab on 2nd Documentary Analysis Paper.
***Paper due in class, January 31st!
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January 31st:
Weekly Writing Objective: Introduction to Peer Group Editing. See film Beginning Writing
Groups.
Writing about Conflict and Disagreement.
Documentary Text Reading Assignment: Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 1,
66-70.
February 2nd:
Writing Lab on 3rd Documentary Analysis Paper.
February 3rd:
Practicing Group Editing through Documentary Analysis.
***3rd Documentary Analysis Paper due in class, February 7th!
February 7th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Generating Ideas
Writing Text Reading Assignment: Fulwiller, College Writing, 20-31.
Supplementary Reading Assignment: Choose one historical essay from Chapters 1-5 of the
Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 1 text. Then begin to use one of the writing strategies discussed
in Fulwiler to analyze and take notes on the essay.
February 9th:
Using the writing strategies introduced in the Fulwiler text, write about the ideas and thoughts
concerning American society and culture which your essay provokes.
February 10th:
Writing Lab on Essay Analysis Papers.
***Essay Analysis Papers due on February 14th!
February 14th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Defining Voice and Audience
Writing Text Reading Assignment: Fulwiler, College Writing, 53-61, 90-100.
Lecture Topic: "American Continental Expansion and Imperialism,
1815-1848."
General Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Clifford, Hagan, American Foreign Policy,
Vol. 1, 81-119.
February 16th:
Class Discussion on Documentary Analysis.
Documentary Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 1, 184-185, 209213, 255-256, and 263-265.
February 17th:
Writing Lab on Final Documentary Analysis Paper.
***Paper due on February 21st!
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February 21st:
Weekly Writing Objective: Researching Library Materials
Writing Text Reading Assignment: Fulwiler, College Writing, 135-150.
Lecture Topic: "The Elements of a Scholarly Research Paper and the Journal Article Analysis
Paper."
February 23rd:
Library Lab instruction. Presentation by Mr. Michael Unsworth on library resources. Choosing
the journal article.
February 24th:
Reading/Writing Lab on journal article analysis.
February 28th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Using and Documenting Sources
Writing Text Reading Assignment: Fulwiler, College Writing, 151-176.
Instructor-Student Conferences on the article analysis paper.
March 2nd:
Instructor-Student Conferences continued.
March 3rd:
Peer Editing article analysis papers.
***Journal Article Analysis Papers due in the instructor's mailbox in 229 Bessey Hall by 5PM,
March 4th!
March 7th-March 11th:
Spring Break, no class!
March 14th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Reading and Analyzing Cultural Texts through Film
Lecture Topic: Writing about Film as Historical and Cultural Narrative and an introduction to
the Film Analysis Paper assignments.
Begin viewing the film Black Robe.
March 16th:
Concluding the film Black Robe.
March 17th:
Class Discussion of the film and writing lab for the 1st Film Analysis Paper.
***Paper due in class on March 21st!
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March 21st:
Weekly Writing Objective: Domestic and World Crises
Lecture Topic: "The Age of the American Civil War, 1848-1865."
General Text Reading Assignment: Paterson, Clifford, Hagan, American Foreign Policy, Vol. 1,
121-148.
Begin viewing the film Glory.
March 23rd:
Conclude viewing the film Glory.
March 24th:
Class Discussion on the film and the 2nd Film Analysis Paper.
***Paper due in class on March 28th!
March 28th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Cultural Pluralism
Lecture Topic: "American Imperialism Revisited, 1865-1914."
General Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Clifford, Hagan, American Foreign Policy,
Vol. 1, 187-251.
Documentary Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 1, 340-343, 345350, 353, 382-391, 416-420, 461, 503-512.
Begin viewing film This Bloody, Blundering Business.
March 30th:
Conclude viewing This Bloody, Blundering Business.
March 31st:
Class Discussion of the film and the 3rd Film Analysis Paper.
***Paper due in class on April 4th!
April 4th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Writing about Autobiography and Memoir in the early to midtwentieth century.
Lecture Topic: "American Foreign Relations from 1914-1945."
General Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Clifford, Hagan, American Foreign Policy,
Vol. 2, 257-422.
Documentary Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 2, 51-57, 73-80,
109-116, 119-121, 125-126, 179-188, and 236-45.
April 6th:
Writing Autobiographies and Memoirs. In-Class Conferences on the 1st Draft Paper.
April 7th:
Class Conferences/Writing Lab for the 1st draft of the paper continued.
***1st draft due in class on April 11th!
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April 11th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Drafting and Revising a Paper
Writing Text Reading Assignment: Fulwiler, College Writing, 123-132.
Writing Lab on revising the 2nd Draft Paper.
April 13th:
Instructor-Student Conferences on the 2nd Draft Paper.
April 14th:
Instructor-Student Conferences continued.
***2nd Draft due in class on April 18th!
April 18th:
Weekly Writing Objective: Myths and Realities, Continuity and Change in American Thought
and Language.
Lecture Topic: "American Foreign Relations during the Cold War, 1945-1991."
General Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Clifford, Hagan, American Foreign Policy,
Vol. 2, 429-465, 519-563, and 617-671.
Documentary Text Reading Assignment: Read Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 2, 284-288, 297305, 568-570, 571-576, 581-582, and 674-684.
April 20th:
Read Reginald Horsman, "Anglo-Saxon Racism," in Paterson, Major Problems, Vol. 1, 266-276
and "Handout" for today. Class Discussion on these documents.
Supplementary Reading Text: Philip J. Caputo, A Rumor of War and Caputo, "War Torn," New
York Times Magazine, February 24, 1991.
***Begin reading Caputo assignments for the final examination on May 4th!
April 21st:
Analyzing a ballad as a historical and cultural document. Billy Joel's "Goodbye Saigon."
April 25th
Weekly Writing Objective: Writing Essay Examinations. The differences and difficulties about
writing 50 minute blue-book essays.
April 27th:
Practice essay exam #1.
April 28th:
Practice essay exam #2.
May 4th:
***Final Examination from 3-5 PM in 115 Ernst Bessey Hall! Please bring a blue-book/books
and a pen to class!***
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