Media darlings and political pundits in the United States have bestowed a label on the era from 1900 to 1999:… "the American century".  One of our central goals in History 112 is to critically evaluate this catchy - yet ethnocentric - label.  Be prepared to chew on questions such as the following in History 112:  Has the twentieth century been OURS?  What do we mean by "American"?  Where does the United States fit within the wider world during the last century?
Was the twentieth century good for you?  Was it good for all Americans?  What about the effects of race?  Of gender?  Of wealth and power?

This course focuses on major social, cultural, economic, and political developments in the United States during the twentieth century.  In this class, we will pay particular attention to the roles of major institutions, social movements, and changing racial and gender ideologies in the shaping of US society.  By the end of the semester, students should have acquired a solid understanding of United States history during the twentieth century, as well as the ability to think critically and construct their own arguments about controversial issues raised in this class.

Required Reading:
Howard Zinn, The Twentieth Century: A People's History (revised and updated ed., 1998)
James West Davidson and Mark Hamilton Lytle, After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection,
Vol. II  (4^th ed., 2000)
Robin D. G. Kelley, Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class (1996)
Supplemental Course Readings may also be required.


Course Requirements:
All students are expected to attend course meetings and to complete all reading assignments by Friday during the week that they are due.  In this course, the assignments will be as follows:

1. attendance and participation (not worth a specific amount of points, but could be used to raise borderline grades at the end of the semester; i.e. 89.3% could be raised to an A grade with good attendance and participation)
   
2. two mid-term examinations (each worth 150 points)
   
3. several brief essays (each worth 50 points)
   
4. American culture review (worth 50 points)
   
5. final examination (worth 150 points)
   
6. additional assignments announced over the course of the semester (relative worth TBA)
   

1. Unless the professor announces otherwise, all reading assignments should be completed during the week for which they are scheduled. (i.e. At the very latest, the first week's readings should be completed before class on Friday, August 17.)
   
2. Late Work/Make-up Exam Policy: Make-up exams must be discussed with the professor prior to the scheduled date of the exam.  Late work is not acceptable and will not be permitted except in the most dire of circumstances.  In case of an emergency, such as illness, you must contact the professor as soon as possible to make special arrangements.  The professor reserves the right to decide whether individual student circumstances warrant these special arrangements.
   
3. Grading Policy:  Students must complete all work in order to pass this course.  Your work will not be graded on a class curve.  However, the professor will take improvement into account when evaluating your final grade in the course.  MJC does not recognize a +/- system.
   

4. Academic Honesty Policy: Cheating and plagiarism are not permitted!  Any evidence of cheating or plagiarism (presenting another person/ text's work as if it were your own) will be treated harshly.  Don't do it.  My best advice to you here is to be certain that you acknowledge your source carefully and consistently in all of your written work.
   

5. Withdrawal/Drop Policy:  The professor will not drop students who are not attending this course.  Therefore, if a student wants to be dropped  from the course, it is the student's responsibility to withdraw by the  appropriate campus deadlines.  See schedule for drop deadlines.
   

6. Non-discrimination Policy:  Modesto Junior College is designed to be a safe, comfortable environment for all members of the campus community.  Therefore, it is the policy of MJC to not discriminate on the basis of "…ethnic group identification, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, color, physical or mental disability…", etc.  Discriminatory behavior of any kind will not be tolerated in History 112.