Download the Course Description and Schedule for 2012 (PDF 90 KB)

Week 1
Lecture Topic: Course Introduction, syllabus, questionnaire, and writing sample
Reading for week 2: ‘The First Americans,’ pages 4-7.

Week 2
Lecture Topic: 1600-1800, Colonial Life and American Independence
Test on ‘The First Americans,’ pages 4-7
Reading for week 3: ‘Colonial Life in America,’ pages 20-23

Week 3
Lecture Topic: The Early 1800s, Westward Expansion and Industrialization
Test on ‘Colonial Life in America,’ pages 20-23
Reading for week 4: ‘West to the Pacific,’ pages 40-43

Week 4
Lecture Topic: 1860-1870, Civil War and Reconstruction
Test on ‘West to the Pacific,’ pages 40-43
Reading for week 5: ‘Reconstruction, ’ pages 54-57

Week 5
Lecture Topic: The Late 1800s, Assimilation and Immigration
Test on ‘Reconstruction, ’ pages 54-57
Reading for week 6: ‘The Amerindians’ Last Stand,’ pages 66-71

Week 6
Lecture Topic: The 1920s and 1930s, Boom and Bust
Test on ‘The Amerindians’ Last Stand,’ pages 66-71
Reading for week 7: ‘Crash and Depression,’ pages 96-99

Week 7
Lecture Topic: The 1940s and 1950s, Hot and Cold Wars
Test on ‘Crash and Depression,’ pages 96-99
Reading for week 8: ‘Cold War and Korea,’ pages 116-119

Week 8
Lecture Topic: The 1960s and 1970s, Changing Times
Test on ‘Cold War and Korea,’ pages 116-119
Reading for week 9: ‘Black Americans,’ pages 112-115

Week 9
Special Lecture Topic: Contemporary America, 1980-2000
Test on ‘Black Americans,’ pages 112-115
Reading for week 10: ‘An End to the Cold War?’ pages 132-35
Workshop on final exam preparation

Week 10
Special Lecture Topic: Contemporary America, 1980-2000
Reading Test on ‘An End to the Cold War?’
Workshop on final exam preparation

Week 11
Special Lecture Topic: Contemporary America, 1980-2000
Make-up Test: Write or Re-write one in-class test from weeks 2-10

Week 12
Special Lecture Topic: Contemporary America, 1980-2000
Listening Test: VOA Special English Program
Workshop on final exam preparation

Week 13
Special Lecture Topic: Contemporary America, 1980-2000
Workshop on final exam preparation. Essay draft, outline and source list due

Week 14
Special Lecture Topic: Contemporary America, 1980-2000
Workshop on final exam preparation

Week 15
Final Exam