American Studies Syllabus

Prologue: American Voices and 1st Unit: Origins of an American Identity

Fall, 1999
Mrs. Maffetone/Mr. Swirbul

* Note: Work is due on the dates indicated below.
**Also Note: The phrase "American Studies" means classes will meet together in Leggett 111.

Week of September 6 - Prologue: American Voices

Wed/Thur. - Discussion of summer readings: Bread Givers and Dreaming in Cuban
Fri. 9/10 - American Studies (30-30-30): Introduction to course

Week of September 13 - American Voices

Mon. 9/13 - American Studies (30-30-30): Continue discussion of summer readings; Textbook search homework due; introduction to film Avalon (first 25 minutes)
Tues. 9/14 - American Studies: Avalon (finish)
Wed/Thur. - History: discussion of film; reading TEA - English: Elements of Literature text, pp. 1-18; discuss summer reading
Fri. 9/17 - American Studies: Talk to Me: Americans in Conversation video & discussion; Assign summer reading paper

Week of September 20 - American Voices & Unit I: Origins of an American Identity

Mon. 9/20 - Yom Kippur - No School
Tues. 9/21 - History: The Fire Next Time discussion English: text, pp. 68-73
Wed/Thur. - History: History: Norton, pp. 49-55 English: discussion of Crucible (Note: begin Scarlet Letter Chapters 1-4 due Mon.)
Fri. 9/24 - American Studies(30-30-30): Puritan art video; tombstone rubbings; History & English: summer reading paper due

Week of September 27 - Ori~ins of an American Identity

Mon. 9/27 - History: Norton, pp. 55-58; prep trip English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 1-4
Tues. 9/28 - American Studies NYC trip: Walking tour of immigrant NY 8 Tenement Museum
Wed/Thur. - History: Norton, pp. 80-88 English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 5 & 6
Fri. 10/1 - American Studies: film study of The Crucible and The Front; Quiz on Scarlet Letter, Chapters 1-6

Week of October 4 - Origins

Mon. 10/4 -History: Norton, pp. 119-126 English: Scallet Letter, Chapters 7 & 8
Tues. 10/5 -History: Norton, pp. 126-134 English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 9, 10 & 11
Wed/Thur. -History: Norton, pp. 134-142 English: Scarlet Letter. Chapter 12 & catch up with reading
Fri. 10/8 -History: Norton, pp. 145-153 English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 13 & 14

Week of October 11 - Origins

Mon. 10/11 - History: Norton, pp. 153-158 ("The Long Struggle in the North") English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 15, 16 & 17
Tue. 10/12 - American Studies (30-30-30): History: Elements of Literature, pp. 1 14-123 English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 18 & 19
Wed/Thur. - History: Lecture: military history of the Revolution; Norton, pp. 171-178 ("Emancipation & Growth of Racism") English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 20, 21 & 22
Fri. 10/15 - American Studies: History: Norton, pp. 178-182 ("Designing Republican Governments") English: Scarlet Letter, Chapters 23 & 24 Together: Revolutionary art video

Week of October 18

Mon. 10/18 - History: review English: Quote TEST
Tues. 10/19 - History: TEST English: no homework

Scarlet Letter paper due Tuesday, October 26.

Unit II: In Search of a National Identity:
Nationalism and Romanticism

Week of October 18

Mon. 10/18 - TEST on The Scarlet Letter
Tues. 10/19 - TEST on the Puritans & American Revolution
Wed./Thu. - History: Lecture on Critical Era (1783-1787) English: Elements, pp. 84-96: Pen Franklin & Age of Reason
Fri. 10/22 - American Studies (30-30-30) History: Norton, pp. 190-196: "From Crisis to Constitution" & "Opposition and Ratification" English: Elements, pp 137-150: Introduction to Romanticism

Week of October 25

Mon.10/25 - History: Constitution worksheet & Norton. pp. 199-203: Chapter 8 Intro & "Building a Workable Government'' English: Elements. pp. 152-165: Washington Irving - "Rip Van Winkle"
Tue. 10/26 - History. Norton. pp. 203-208: "Domestic Policy Under Washington and Hamilton" English: Elements, pp. 169-177: Poetry - Bryant & Longfellow; Scarlet Letter essay due
Wed./Thu. - History Norton: pp 209-216 "Partisan Politics and Foreign Policy" & "John Adams and Political Dissent:" English Elements, pp 206-214 Introduction to the American Renaissance
Fri. 10/29 - American Studies History The American Spirit document book. pp 174-179: read sections entitled Alexander; Hamilton vs. Thomas Jefferson on Popular Rule·' "The Clash Over States Rights" and "The Spectrum of Disagreement" English: Edgar Allan Poe - "The Black Cat" - Xerox

Week of November 1

Mon. 11/1 - History Norton pp 225-232 Intro to Chapter 9 & "Jefferson in Power'' English: Elements. pp 216-225 Emerson biography. excerpts from "Nature" & "Self-Reliance"
Tue. 11/2 - History Norton. F 232-234 "Republicans versus Federalists". and pp. 245-251: "Postwar Nationalism and Diplomacy": Lecture in class: the War of 1812 English: Elements. pp 230-245: Thoreau & Walden
Wed. 11/3 - American Studies (both classes) work on American Studies essay (due 11/15)
Thu. 11/4 - American Studies: meet in the auditorium for art assembly
Fri. 11/5 - No School

Week of November 8

Mon. 11/8 - American Studies (30-30-30) History: Norton, pp 358-361: "Jacksonianism and Party Politics" and Xerox on Andrew Jackson English: work on American Studies essay (due 11/15)
Tues. 11/9 - History: Norton, pp. 361-364: "Federalism at Issue: The Nullification and Bank Controversies" ; Review for test English: Elements, pp. 342-354; Whitman and Dickinson poetry
Wed. 11/10 - History(for all): TEST #2
Thu. 11/11 - English (for all): Elements, pp. 371-393: Emily Dickinson poetry & biography
Fri. 11/12 - American Studies: 1st independent reading book report: House of the Seven Gables; History reading TBA

Week of November 15

Mon 11/15 - American Studies: essay due; in class: introductions to Huck Finn and Unit III
Tue. 11/16 - All History: Norton, pp.264-271: Rise of Manufacturing and Commerce
Wed. 11/17 - All English: Huck Finn, Chapters 1-8; Walt Whitman video (in class)
Thur. 11/18 - All History: Norton, pp. 271-275: Workers and the Workplace
Fri. 11/19 - History: Norton, pp. 330-334: Immigrant Lives in America; discuss newspaper assignment / English: Huck Finn, Chapters 9-13

Week of November 22

Mon. 11/22 - History: Norton, pp. 354-358: Abolitionism & the Women's Movement / English: Huck Finn, Chapters 14-17
Tue. 11/23 - History: Norton, pp. 285-292: Intro to Chapter 11; Migration, Cotton, & the Cotton Boom; An Agrarian Society / English: Huck Fin, Chapters 18-20
Thanksgiving break

Week of November 29

Mon. 11/29 - History: Norton, pp. 334-339: Native American Resistance and Removal / English: catch up on Huck Finn or read ahead if you would like
Tue. 11/30 - History: Norton, pp. 292-299: Free Southerners / English: Huck Finn Quiz Chapters 1-20
Wed. 12/1 - All History: Norton, pp. 299-306: Slaves and Their Status in Bondage; Slave Culture and Everyday Life
Thur. 12/2 - No School: Parent Conferences
Fri. 12/3 - History: first draft of sectionalism newspaper due; peer editing in class English: Huck Finn, Chapters 21-27

Week of December 6

Mon. 12/6 - History: final draft of newspaper articles due; meet in library to research monologues / English: Huck Finn, Chapters 28-31
Tue. 12/7 - History: review Sectionalism readings and newspapers for Wednesday Quiz / English: Huck Finn Quiz, Chapters 21-31
Wed. 12/8 - All History: Sectionalism Quiz
Thur. 12/9 - All English: Huck Finn, Chapters 32-37
Fri. 12.10 - Independent reading book report: Middle Passage/Amistad / English: Huck Finn, Chapter 38 to End

Week of December 13

Mon. 12/13 - History: Norton, pp. 367-371: Manifest Destiny and Exansionism / English: Huck Finn TEST
Tue. 12/14 - Slavery monologuesdue; start performances in class; history group work in class
Wed/Thur. - History: Norton, pp. 375-381: Chapter 14 Intro & The Mexican War / English: perform monologues in class
Fri. 12/17 - American Studies: Gone with the Wind; finish performances in class

Huck Finn paper due Friday, January 7th

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