I. Textbook

A. The textbook for this course is:

Roark, et. al., The American Promise

B. You are expected to know the material in the text.

C. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

are also required reading.

II. Attendance

A. Attendance will be taken and recorded.

B. Good attendance is encouraged because it tends to improve

one's performance on tests.

C. You are responsible for all information discussed in class.

D. Students are expected to be on time and to conduct

themselves with decorum and courtesy in the classroom.

III. Advisement:

A. Office: 204 Rogers-Stout

B. Office Hours: MWF 9:10-12:30, and by appointment, 439-6698

e-mail: Schmittd@etsu.edu

IV. Projects

A. Each student will be expected to complete two projects

during the semester. A list of acceptable projects and

details about requirements will be distributed in class.

B. Students may substitute projects of their own design if

prior approval is secured from the instructor.

V. Tests

A. Tests will be combinations of essay, multiple choice, and

identifications. Spelling and grammar at a college level

is expected.

B. The schedule of test dates and assigned reading will be

announced in class.

C. All make-ups will be given on the last day of the semester.

D. Unannounced quizzes may be given at any time.

VI. Grading Scale:

A : 92.0-100
A-: 90.0-91.9
B+: 88.0-89.9
B : 82.0-87.9
B-: 80.0-81.9
C+: 78.0-79.9
C : 72.0-77.9
C-: 70.0-71.9
D+: 68.0-69.9
D : 60.0-67.0
F : -59.9

The final grade will be determined by using the formula:

Test scores - 50%

Projects - 35%

Class Participation - 15%

VII. If there is any student in this class who has need for

test-taking or notetaking accommodation, please feel free

to come and discuss this with me.

1. Construct a Family Tree

1) Give a chart of ancestors going back at least 5 generations.

2) Include a bibliography of sources used to find or document entries.

3) Give a report of at least one personal interview with an elderly family member.

4) Include at least one story of historical interest about your family.

2. Visit a Local Historical Site

1) Give a brief description of the site.

2) Summarize the historical significance of the site.

3) Evaluate the site from the perspective of a professional historian.

a) Is it historically accurate?

b) Does it convey the right history to the visitor?

c) What improvements could be made in it?

4) Evaluate the site from the perspective of a casual visitor.

a) Is the site fun or interesting?

b) Is the site user-friendly?

c) What improvements could be made in it?

3. Critically Review an Historical Novel

1) In consultation with the instructor choose a novel set in the proper time frame.

2) Briefly summarize the historical context of the novel.

3) Evaluate the historical "accuracy" of the novel's setting.

4) Critique the novel for literary value.

4. Conduct an Oral History Project on Cultural Diversity.

1) Choose a topic dealing with a culture other than your own.

2) Plan and carry out a series of interviews which will give you personal insight into the

topic.

3) Prepare a written report of your findings.

5. Critically Review a Group of Movies Dealing with a Particular Historical Period or Event.

1) Refer to separate hand-out.

The student will prepare a review which includes an analysis of a movie chosen from the first column of the list AND an analysis of and comparison to one of the movies from the corresponding second column. The entire report should be at least 4-5 typewritten pages. No more than two students will be allowed to choose a particular movie, so register your selection as soon as possible. Some of the videos may be difficult to obtain, so be sure you can complete the project before you begin. Due dates will be the same as for book reviews.

1) Historical Context

1) What is the context of the story?

2) How accurate is the context to the "facts" of history?

3) Are there any major distortions of fact?

4) Is the story historically plausible?

2) Historical Issues

1) What are the issues involved in the story?

2) How does the movie deal with minorities, women, Blacks, Indians, Immigrants, etc.?

3) How does the movie deal with "modern issues" such as the environment, drugs,

abortion, civil rights, etc.

4) How germane are the issues to the plot line?

3) Production Values

1) How realistic are the sets, costumes, locations, etc.?

2) How does the acting, lighting, sound, etc. add or detract from the story?

3) When was the movie made and by whom?

4) Were any professional historians involved in the production?

4) Entertainment Values

1) Was the movie entertaining? Why or why not?

2) Do you thing the audience at the time of its release would have found it entertaining?

Why or why not?

3) How does it compare to other movies set in the same time period?

5) Personal Reactions

MOVIE A	MOVIE B	COLUMN B
Last of the Mohicans (1992)	The Iroquois Trail (1950)	Last of the Mohicans (1921)
1.	Northwest Passage (1940)	Last of the Mohicans (1936)
2.	Last of the Mohicans (1921)
	Last of the Mohicans (1936)
The Crucible (1996)	Three Sovereigns for Sarah (1985)	The Crucible (Fr 1956)
1.	Salem Witch Trials (A&E)	Maid of Salem (1937)
2.	The Crucible (Fr 1956)
	Maid of Salem (1937)
Elizabeth (1998)	Elizabeth R (1971)
1.	The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
2.	The Virgin Queen (1955)
	Young Bess (1953)
Amistad (1997)	Tamango (Fr 1957)
1.	Slave Ship (1937)
2.	Ship of Slaves: The Middle Passage (A&E)
Uncle Tom's Cabin (1987)	Solomon Northrup's Odyssey (1984)
1.	Beloved (1998)
2.	Roots (vols. 4 & 5)
Gettysburg (1993)	The Red Badge of Courage (1974)
1.	The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
2.	The Horse Soldiers (1959)
	The Man from Dakota (1940)
Andersonville (1996)	Friendly Persuasion (1975)
1.	Friendly Persuasion (1956)
2.	Shenandoah (1965)
	Kansas Raiders (1950)
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale (1994)	Plymouth Adventure (1952)
1.	Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure (1978)
2.	The Courtship of Miles Standish (1923)
Jeremiah Johnson (1976)	How the West Was Won (1962)
1.	Time Machine: The Mountain Men (A&E)
2.	The Mountain Men (1980)
1942: Conquest of Paradise (1992)	Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)
1.	Christopher Columbus (Br 1949)
2.
Gore Vidal's Lincoln (1988)	Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)
1.	Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
2.	Abraham Lincoln (1930)
Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery (1997)	The Far Horizons (1955)
1.	Old Louisiana (1938)
2.
Pocahontas (1995)	Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953)
1.	Jamestown Rediscovery: A World Uncovered (A&E)
2.	The Black Robe (1991)
	Jamestown (1923)
Jefferson in Paris (1995)	Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (2000)
1.	Thomas Jefferson: A View from the Mountain (A&E)
2.	1776 (1972)
	Alexander Hamilton (1931)
The Patriot (2000)	The Devil's Disciple (Br 1959)
1.	The Howards of Virginia (1940)
2.	America (1924)
The Patriot (2000)	Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
1.	Mary Silliman's War (1994)
2.	The Scarlet Coat (1955)
April Morning (1988)	Johnny Tremain (1957)
1.	Revolution (1985)
2.	The Bastard (1978)
The Scarlet Letter (1995)	The Scarlet Letter (1926)
1.	The Scarlet Letter (1934)
2.	The Scarlet Letter (Ger 1973)
Beloved (1998)	Uncle Tom's Cabin (1987)
1.	A Woman Called Moses (1978)
2.	Roots (vols. 4 & 5)
The Black Robe (1991)	Unconquered (1947)
1.	Allegheny Uprising (1939)
2.	Hiawatha (1952)
The Seekers (1979)	Lydia Bailey (1952)
1.	Magnificent Doll (1946)
2.	Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942)
	Old Ironsides (1926)
Glory (1989)	Frederick Douglas: When the Lion Wrote History (PBS)
1.	The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
2.	The Red Badge of Courage (1974)
	The Littlest Rebel (1935)
The American Experience: John Brown's Holy War (PBS)	Seven Angry Men (1955)
1.	Santa Fe Trail (1940)
2.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1985)	The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1968)
1.	Huckleberry Finn (1931)
2.	Huckleberry Finn (1939)
Little Women (1994)	Little Women (1933)
1.	Little Women (1949)
2.
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987)	The Alamo (1960)
1.	The Last Command (1955)
2.	Man of Conquest (1939)
George Washington: The Forging of a Nation (1986)	The Crossing (1999)
1.	The Rebels (1979)
2.	Washington at Valley Forge (1914)
Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad (1994)	A Woman Called Moses (1978)
1.	The Underground Railroad (1999)
2.
The Buccaneer (1958)	The Gorgeous Hussy (1936)
1.	The President's Lady (1953)
2.	The Buccaneer (1938)