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History 445 is a thematic and chronological examination of California history from late 18th century to the present. In this course we will address the emergence of California as a major player in the nation’s social, cultural, political, and economic landscape. Organized around the concept of the “California Dream,” we will explore the Spanish and Mexican origins of California, the significance of the Gold Rush, California’s integration into the national market economy, ethnic diversity and conflict, progressive-era politics and reform, the battle over water and the environment, significance of Hollywood, the wonderfully turbulent 1960s, and the rise of California on the contemporary cultural and political scene.
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Kirse Granat May, Golden State, Golden Youth |
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Additional readings and documents will be available on Blackboard.
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Grades will be based on one midterm exam, a 7-8 page primary source research paper, class participation, and a final exam. The exams are essay in form. Class participation includes classroom discussions and activities as well as attendance.
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Midterm: 25%
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Paper:
30%
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Final: 35%
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Class Participation: 10% |
Student Learning Goals:
1. Students will understand and analyze the major themes and issues in California History and the historical forces that shaped them.
2. Students will investigate the racial and cultural diversity of California and how this has shaped California history.
3. Students will explore and critically analyze both primary and secondary source material.
4. Students will probe the nature of historical interpretation.
5. Students will undertake historical research using primary source material and improve writing skills.
A brief note on grades:
A student will earn an “A” for only excellent and outstanding work.
A “B” represents very good work, which means more than just doing the
job. A “C” is given to those
who demonstrate adequate competence and satisfactory completion of assignments.
“D” work is that which fails to demonstrate competence and/or fails
to fully complete the assignment. I
don’t think I need to explain the meaning of an “F” to you. Finally, I
always assume that each student puts his or her full effort into an assignment,
so please don’t try to make a case for a higher grade based on how much time
and effort you put into an assignment. I
can only grade performance not effort.
Please
be aware that the major themes and ideas that comprise my exams are generally
drawn from my lectures so attendance is critical if you wish to do well in this
course. Readings,
both from the text and the other assigned books, are not extra or optional
assignments. The readings complement, but do not replace, my lectures and are
there to help you better understand major themes and issues raised in class. One key to success in this course is to keep up with the reading
assignments.
SDSU Academic Honesty Policy:
Institutions of
higher education are founded to impart knowledge, seek truth, and encourage
one’s development for the good of society. University students shall thus be
intellectually and morally obliged to pursue their course of studies with
honesty and integrity. Therefore, in preparing and submitting materials for
academic courses and in taking examinations, a student shall not yield to
cheating or plagiarism, which not only violate academic standards but also make
the offender liable to penalties explicit in Title 5.
Cheating
shall be defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for
academic work by the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Examples
of cheating include, but are not limited to (a) copying, in part or in whole,
from another’s test or other examination; (b) discussing answers or ideas
relating to the answers on a test or other examination without the permission of
the instructor; (c) obtaining copies of a test, an examination, or other course
material without the permission of the instructor; (d) using notes, cheat
sheets, or other devices considered inappropriate under the prescribed testing
condition; (e) collaborating with another or others in work to be presented
without the permission of the instructor; (f) falsifying records, laboratory
work, or other course data; (g) submitting work previously presented in another
course, if contrary to the rules of the course; (h) altering or interfering with
the grading procedures; (i) plagiarizing, as defined; and (j) knowingly and
intentionally assisting another student in any of the above.
Plagiarism shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or
specific substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise
obtained, and submitting same to the University as one’s own work to fulfill
academic requirements without giving credit to the appropriate source.
Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work, either in
part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas,
statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation
marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence,
or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another;
(e) submitting another person’s artistic works, such as musical compositions,
photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f) submitting as one’s own
work papers purchased from research companies. Those guilty of committing
plagiarism or cheating will receive an F for both the assignment and the entire
course.
“Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Blackboard's Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way that no identifying information about you is included. Another option is that you may request, in writing, that your papers not be submitted to Turnitin.com. However, if you choose this option you will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are your original work and do not include any plagiarized material.”
Disabilities and Special Needs:
I am happy to accommodate any student with a special need or disability but in order to help you effectively I need to be notified of this need early in the first two weeks of class. You may contact Student Disability Services for documentation/assessment. You do have the right to privacy with regards to your special needs, and to simply provide me with the documentation from SDS stating which accommodations you would need. For directions on how to receive accommodations, call SDS at (619)594-6473 or consult: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/sdsu
Class Etiquette: Please arrive on time and do not leave before the end of class unless you inform me prior to class. Also, please be sure cell phones are off or on silent. This includes no text messaging while in class. Finally, laptops can only be used to take notes.
