AMS 151 Section 001: World, Nation, Regions
Spring, 2011
3 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Edward Tang
Core Designation: Humanities
MW, 11:00am-12:30pm
or by appt.
This course offers a broad introductory survey of American culture and its formation through global, national, and regional influences. First, we examine how America originated from wider exchanges with the world (early explorations, immigration), as well as how the United States continues to influence global markets, events, and other cultures. In turn, we consider how the rest of the world adapts to or even resists American political, economic, and cultural dominance. Second, the class looks at how the United States became a dominant power in the world through its development from a rural to urban nation. Third, we evaluate how the South in particular developed and became transformed by interactions with the world at large. This course is team-taught by several of the AMS faculty with lectures that focus on film, music, literature, art, sports, and other cultural artifacts.
Learning Objectives & Expected Outcomes: This course is designed to introduce students to the cultural interrelationships that exist among the world at large, the United States, and particular regions within the U.S. over a broad span of time. By semester’s end, students should be able to comprehend the overlapping themes and issues that define the making of American culture from global, national, and regional perspectives through a wide array of cultural artifacts.
Required texts (available at the Supe Store):
1) Bharati Mukherjee, Jasmine.
2) Erik Larsen, The Devil in the White City.
3) Selected articles (available on e-learning):
§ William M. Adler, “A Job on the Line.”
§ Steve Striffler, “We’re All Mexican Here.”
§ David M. Reimers, “Asian Immigrants in the South.”
§ James C. Cobb, “Beyond the ‘Y’all Wall’.”
Required Film Screenings:
1) “Latin Music U.S.A.” 3) “Good Rockin’ Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records”
2) “New York City – The 1920s” 4) “Mississippi Masala” (outside class screening TBA)
1) Three (3) in-class exams (20% each / 60% total):
Each 50-minute exam will consist of approximately 100 questions. Most of them will be multiple choice questions while a few will be True/False questions. The exams will test students’ knowledge about the lectures, course reading material, and film screenings. The exam schedule is included in the syllabus below.
2) Three (3) in-class writing exercises (20%):
Throughout the semester, students will have in-class writing exercises that address topics common to several different lectures. These writing assignments will test for student comprehension of the lecture material. They will be evaluated by letter grades. Students who miss a particular citizenship opportunity will get an “F” for that day’s assignment unless they have documented evidence of their absence. Make-ups will be given at the discretion of the instructor and/or the GTAs.
3) Final Comprehensive Exam (20%):
The final exam will cover the course material for the entire semester and will be similar in structure to the regularly scheduled in-class exams. The final exam will be on TUESDAY, MAY 4, 11:30am-2:00pm.
98-100 A+ 89-88 B+ 79-78 C+ 69-68 D+
97-92 A 87-82 B 77-72 C 67-62 D
91-90 A- 81-80 B- 71-70 C- 61-60 D-
Any exam missed during the semester can be made up only at the AMS Departmental Make-Up Day on Tuesday, April 20 at 3:30pm (room assignment TBD).
Regular attendance for this course is mandatory. Consistent class attendance only helps student learning and performance on exams and other assignments. Granted, students may have to miss class for reasons of personal or family health matters, or other situations that may arise when students have to miss class. It is, however, the sole discretion of the instructor and/or the GTAs to decide what constitutes a valid absence. Students are allowed up to five (5) unexcused absences for the semester. The final course grade will be lowered one half of a grade level (i.e., a “B+” becomes a “B”) for each unexcused absence afterward. Thus, it is entirely possible to fail this course based solely on lack of attendance. The number of excused absences may be exceeded due to extraordinary circumstances such as medical reasons (these absences must have proper documentation). What should be kept in mind is that these set limits are not devised to punish individual students, but to protect the majority of those who make a continual good faith effort throughout the semester.
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
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