A200, History of American Capitalisms, Fall 2019

CLASS PARTICIPATION.  The success of this course depends on your regular attendance and your active participation.  Attending every class is thus absolutely mandatory.  Prior to attending each lecture class, you must print out and complete the corresponding one-page reaction sheet found on the course syllabus.  This reaction sheet will help you prepare for each class, and will also facilitate an in-class writing exercise in each class.  These assignments will not be formally graded, except that failure to demonstrate either completion of assigned reading or in-class writing will be penalized as the equivalent of an absence.

If you must be absent at some point, you should have the courtesy to alert the professor beforehand for any such absence to be excused.  After one grace absence in case of unexpected emergencies, unexcused absences will result in steep penalties.  (Chronic absences will result in failure.)

Also important to the success of this class is participation in discussion, as this course will be run half-lecture and half-seminar.  Respectful, informed, and constructive participation in discussion will be rewarded.  However, since the course is meant to be a lecture course rather than a seminar, not participating in discussion will not be penalized.

READING ASSIGNMENTS.  Weekly reading will generally involve a blend of “primary” documents produced by people in the past, and “secondary” readings written by historians.  Links to these documents and readings can be found in the course syllabus, from where you can print them out.  Be sure to bring print-outs of the primary source documents with you to class; you do not need to print out the secondary readings.  Other materials will be supplied as in-class handouts.

For general tips on interpreting primary documents and evaluating secondary readings, see the following two guidelines:  Strategies for Interpreting Primary Documents and Strategies for Evaluating Secondary Readings.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS. There will be four written papers, each posted ahead of time on the course website, from where you can print them out.  (There will be in-class writing exercises, but no in-class examinations.)  The papers will be five pages each, one functioning as a take-home final examination, with each counting approximately 20% toward your final grade.  Improvement over the course of the semester will be rewarded, with respect to both reaction sheets and writing assignments.  Unreliable attendance will be significantly penalized, as explained above.  All of these assignments will be posted ahead of time on the course syllabus, from where you can print them out.

Papers are due at the beginning of the class period; the take-home final examination shall be due by the end of the assigned exam period.  These papers and exam should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins in a readable (10, 11, or 12 point) font, and stapled (no folders), with your name (but never your student identification number), course number and title, date, and paper title at the top of the first page.

Plagiarism will result in failure of and ejection from the class, and will become a permanent part of the student’s transcript and academic record.  Writing must be original, and all quotations, derivative ideas and uncommon facts must be duly footnoted.  See “Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It” from Writing Tutorial Services.  For student responsibilities and university procedures related to academic misconduct, see the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.

For general assistance with writing papers or other study skills, you are encouraged to visit Writing Tutorial Services (Wells Library Learning Commons), one of the Academic Support Centers (in Briscoe, Forest, and Teter), or the Student Academic Center (408 N. Union Street, Suite 300).

For specific guidelines on how to write thesis statements, how to write topic sentences and organize paragraphs, and how to use evidence, see the various “WTS Writing Guides” produced by Writing Tutorial Services.

ASSISTANCE.  If at any time during the semester you have questions about the course website, lecture material, reading material, writing assignments, or your performance in this class, please feel free to speak to the professor before or after class, during office hours, via email, or at an appointment.

If you have a disability or learning disability, please provide the professor with official written notification from Office of Disability Services for Students (Wells Library Suite W302) as soon as possible so that any necessary accommodations can be made.

International students may find resources at the Office of International Services (Poplars 221, 400 E. Seventh Street).

CLASSROOM PROTOCOLS.  Please turn off all cell phones prior to entering the classroom.  Laptops are welcome, for note-taking purposes only.