COURSE ORGANIZATION
In the infinite wisdom of UT scheduling, our first class meets on a Wednesday. This means that your discussion sections meet for the first time following our second meeting, a Monday. In general, our lecture schedule reflects this subversion of the traditional week– ie, I will be lecturing on Wednesdays and Mondays on the topics you will be meeting with your discussion sections between Monday and Wednesday.
TECHNOLOGY
We are going to experiment this semester with using both face-to-face and online lectures, in addition to your discussion sections. Students are responsible for the content of all of the lectures. Online lectures will be posted both on the course website and on iTunes U, where you can subscribe to the podcast and have them delivered directly to you local copy of itunes. Live lectures will not be recorded.
READINGS
Textbook: Mark Burkholder and Lyman Johnson, Colonial Latin America, 6th Ed. (Oxford University Press, 2007).
This is your only required text purchase. There will be voluminous readings posted to the course website.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING
Reading. Each week’s assigned readings must be completed before your discussion section meeting.
history255/contact Form. 5 pts. Each student must fill out the contact information here before their first section meeting.
Participation. 45 pts. Learning is an interactive process that requires your participation! Twenty-five percent of your grade will be derived from participating in your discussion sections. At the beginning of each discussion section, each student will perform a 5-10min guided writing exercise that will be graded on a scale of 0-1-2. The guided writings will test your reading comprehension for that week’s history255/assignments. Your best 10 papers will be averaged for your participation grade. 20 points are available through the weekly writing, and 25 points at the discretion of your section leader based on participation in the discussion.
Exams. 100 pts. There will be two exams (a mid-term and a final), each of which will count for 50 pts each of your final grade.
Paper. 50 pts. Each student will write a critical review of the film, La Otra Conquista, that will include the use and analysis of two primary and one secondary source from course readings. Fuller instructions will be provided later. DUE DATE = November 1.
Attendance. Attendance is required in the discussion sections.
Total points available: 200.
OTHER COURSE POLICIES
Please Note: If any special accommodations are needed to complete the course requirements, please come see me at the beginning of the semester. No make-up exams or incompletes will be given without documentation.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism occurs when someone knowingly or unknowingly presents the words or ides of another persona has his or her own. Any work turned in for this class must meet University standards for academic honesty. Any students unsure about how to apply these rules are urged to consult with me prior to turning in any written work.
Deadlines: history255/assignments that are due in class must be turned in at the start of class. Late submissions will not be accepted without documentation of family or medical emergencies. If you anticipate problems, please history255/contact me before the assignment is due, not after!
Problems and Questions: If you have questions or problems related to grades, history255/assignments, class policies and the like, please ask your TA/Discussion Section Leader first.