PREREQUISITES:
There are no prerequisites for this course, nor does it require any previous knowledge of American history, although most students who take the course have some background in the subject. I do expect a commitment to the course and a basic, working knowledge of major American governmental institutions (e.g., Congress and the Supreme Court).

A CAVEAT CONCERNING COMPUTERS:
Many of the required readings for the course are only available online, and I plan to schedule several online discussions during the semester. If gaining access to the Internet is a problem for you, you should find another class to take as soon as possible.

REQUIRED READINGS:

• James W. Davidson, et al., Nation of Nations, concise ed., vol. 2.
• Thomas Bell, Out of This Furnace.
• Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
I expect students to attend each class and to prepare themselves by carefully reading the material assigned for that day. Although much of the class consists of lectures, I have also scheduled many discussion sessions during the semester, and I strongly encourage student comments and questions at any time. If you are puzzled about something, it is likely that others are too.

EVALUATIONS:
The final grade for the course will be based on student performance on a variety of assignments, including:
 

QUIZZES:
During the early part of the term, seven brief quizzes will be administered on the dates listed on the schedule below. Scheduled quizzes will generally be given during the first ten minutes of class and may be based on any course material covered since the previous quiz, including lectures, discussions, films, and readings. Only the five highest scores will be used to determine the quiz component of the course grade. Since everyone is allowed to drop two quiz grades, missed quizzes cannot be made up.

EXAMINATIONS:
Three examinations will be administered on the dates listed on the schedule below. Examinations will cover all the material from the course, including lectures, discussions, films, and readings. They can be made up only if the absence is due to serious illness, death in the immediate family, or participation in an approved university activity. Arrangements for make-up exams should be completed before (when that is impossible) or immediately following the missed examination.

PAPERS:
Each student is required to complete a short essay (ca. 3 pages, double-spaced or approximately 750 words). Although I strongly prefer that these be typed, I will also accept handwritten papers, provided they are legibly printed, doubled-spaced, and of proper length. Please include a cover sheet and staple together in the upper left hand corner. Sign-up sheets listing general topics and paper due dates will be circulated once course enrollments have stabilized. The specific writing assignment will be passed out a week before it is due. Additional research or reading are not required to complete this assignment, but careful thought, synthesis, and writing are. The grade for the paper will be based on presentation and content. Those who desire to improve their grade may submit a substantially revised edition of their paper within two weeks after the first version has been graded and returned. The original paper should be stapled together with the revised edition. Students who have special difficulty with writing are encouraged to use the services of the Writing Center, 205 Williams Hall, 231-5436.

ATTENDANCE AND HOMEWORK:
To reward class attendance, preparation, and participation, I will occasionally take roll, give unscheduled quizzes, and/or pass out short homework assignments. There are also a number of homework assignments associated with the online modules we will be using with this course. In most cases these will not be individually graded, but their successful completion will count toward the attendance and homework component of the final course grade. Unscheduled quizzes cannot be made-up, and homework assignments must be turned in during class on the due date to receive credit.

HONOR CODE:
Students are expected to adhere to the Virginia Tech Honor Code on all assignments for this course. I don't mind if you consult with your classmates for homework and paper assignments, but any work you turn in should ultimately represent your own thoughts and own words.

A PERSONAL NOTE:
I am here to help you learn. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or difficulties related to this course (or even if you just want to talk about the issues it raises). I know that approaching a professor can be intimidating, but I want to assure you that I welcome meeting with students and I do everything possible to make myself accessible throughout the term.

SCHEDULE:
Subject to change as necessary (any changes will be announced in class and posted on the class homepage). Reading assignments are to be completed by the time of class on the day they are listed below.