Class Schedule          Instructors        Grading        What's an MRP?       What's a CIP?        Bored?

HIS/REL 943 – Spring 2009

w have an authentic experience of American Indian cultural life
w encounter a variety of first-person American Indian accounts of their
   histories and cultures
w learn to view American history through a Native American perspective 

Students completing this course should be able to demonstrate:

w a vocabulary for discussing the cultures and histories of American Indians
w knowledge of histories and cultures in the Southeast, Southwest, and Plains areas
w knowledge of contemporary issues related to Native Americans
w knowledge of general subjects related to Native Americans (religions, land,
   art, federal policies, education)
w knowledge of Native American resources and organizations
w understanding of American Indian culture gained through attending a powwow

Faculty:            Susan McClintock (x8382) Library 109; office hours TBA, or by appt.)
                            McClinto@meredith.edu
                           John Kincheloe (x8457) Library 119; office hours TBA or by appt.)   
                            kincheloej@meredith.edu

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Classroom:      Projection Room (Room 20) – ground floor of Library

Texts:                Sutton, Mark. An Introduction to Native North America, 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2008.

                  Articles in Reserve notebook 

                  Perdue, Theda. Native Carolinians: the Indians of North Carolina.
                  Raleigh, NC: Dept. of Cultural Resources, 1988. (on Reserve)                  

                            Hillerman, Tony. Skinwalkers. New York, NY: Harper, 1986.

                  Neihardt, John, Black Elk Speaks. Lincoln, NE:University of Nebraska Press,1989 

                            Your research projects (MRPs & Contemporary Issues) notebook

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                        Regular attendance – 3 unexcused absences will result in reduction of grade
                        by one letter grade; 4 or more unexcused absences will result in reduction of grade by
                        two letter grades.  Yikes! (See below for snow policy)  

                        9% Regular class preparation and participation

                        50% 4 tests & final (10% each)

Grading Scale:           
                        
                        A  100-94
                        B    93-87
                        C    86-80
                        D    79-73
                        F     72-0

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Classroom Participation and Etiquette: Students are expected not only to attend class, but to arrive on-time ready to participate actively in classroom discussions. Such participation requires contributing to discussions and keeping up-to-date with the assigned readings. It also requires having MRP and Contemporary Issue papers completed and ready when they are due.

Phones and laptop use: All phones must be turned off before entering class. Class time should be uninterrupted by the distraction of external calls or pages. Respect the instructors and your fellow students by giving them your full attention. Laptops may be used for presentation purposes only -- no email, Facebook, IM during class.

Participation Criteria: Because this is a seminar, your participation is important for all of us.  The following guidelines outline how your participation will be evaluated.

Active Participation:

A    (10%)
      - Is very well-prepared for class
      - Demonstrates individual initiative beyond the fulfillment of class 
        requirements
      - Contributes in a significant way to class discussions
      - Positive attitude

B    (8%)
      - Is prepared for class
      - Shows initiative
      - Contributes willingly to class discussions
      - Has a generally positive attitude

Passive Participation:

C    (6%)
      - Is usually prepared for class
      - Pays attention, but responds mostly when called upon
      - Answers accurately, but only rarely takes initiative
      - Seems somewhat unconcerned or detached

Poor or No Participation:

D    (4%)
      -Is not always prepared
      - Participation rarely or only when call upon by the instructor(s)
      - Puts little effort and/or attention into group work
      - Arrives late or leaves early
      - Displays a negative attitude.

F   (2%)
      -Often comes unprepared
      - Makes no effort to participate in class discussions
      - Performs poorly when called upon
      - Arrives late and/or leaves class early
      - Displays a consistently negative attitude

  Trail of Tears, Jerome Tiger (Cherokee)

Inclement Weather policy: Check the inclement weather number (832-8878).  If the college is open, we all will make every safe attempt to get here. You are responsible for any material you miss if you are unable to attend class. If classes are canceled, you are expected to keep up with the readings and assignments. The class will continue according to the syllabus.

Meredith College Honor Code: Students are expected to abide by the Meredith College Honor Code. The Code is applicable to all aspects of your work in the course, including test taking and papers. To avoid incidences of plagiarism, be particularly careful in quoting and citing sources. We think it is great that Meredith College has this Honor Code:

We, the Meredith community, are committed to developing and affirming in each student a sense of personal honor and responsibility. Uncompromising honest and forthrightness are essential elements of the commitment. The Honor System is a method by which individual honors are protected and maintained. Any dishonorable action will be regarded as a violation of this commitment and corrective action will be taken. If I am in violation of the Honor Code, to prevent jeopardizing the Honor System or weakening our system of self-government, I have an obligation to report myself to the proper authorities. If I am aware of a violation of the Honor System by another student, I shall call this matter to the attention of that student as a violation of responsibility to the community. In choosing Meredith College, I am accepting the Honor System as a way of life. As a Meredith student, I am responsible for insuring that the Honor System is at all times carried out.

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Research papers: There will be a total of 4 individual & 1 group research papers. The individual papers papers are referred to as Mini-Research Papers (MRPs). The other paper is part of a team project, the Contemporary Issues Project.

MRPs: The purpose of these mini-research papers (MRPs) is to allow each student or group of students to investigate, in a little more depth, some object, image, event, or person related to particular culture areas or historical period being studied.

              w Each MRP will:

-  include a bibliography of important resources used and/or consulted on the subject

-  adequately describe the topic and relate it to other aspects of that area or tribe’s culture
    and history

-  accurately and without bias present information

w Students should use sources found on reserve and in reference for MRPs. Any use of Internet sites must be approved by one of the Instructors prior to inclusion in the paper.

w Each student will submit an electronic version of her paper to Susan McClintock no later than 11:00 am on the date due.  Instructors will make and distribute copies of papers to each student at the start of class.  Anyone who does not have the paper to Ms. McClintock by 11:00 will need to bring the appropriate number of copies to class. 

w  Any papers submitted after the beginning of class on the date due will be considered late and will have a half grade deducted. 

w You will lead the class discussion on your topic. Be sure to relate the topic to our assigned readings and other topics that are being discussed. Don’t just read the paper – explain the topic and engage the class in discussion.

w As you will be responsible for all material included in these papers, it is suggested that you keep a notebook for them.

w Your grade will be based on the content of the paper and your discussion of the topic.

                            IMPORTANT: Due dates for each of these papers are as follows:
 

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Contemporary Issues Project (CIP): This is a team project. The project has two parts: a written component (3-5 typed pages) and a 20 minute presentation. Each part will count as 50% of the grade.

                w  Grading of the written component will be based on:

                    - adequate treatment of the subject. Each paper should define the issue, include a brief
                    account of its larger historical context, present all sides fairly and without bias, and take
                    an informed stand on the issue

                    - accuracy of information

                    - quality of bibliography 

              w  Grading of the class presentation will be based on:

                     - same criteria as written component

                     - originality and style of presentation

                     - visual component such as maps, statistics, objects, pictures, etc.

    w Students may use sources found on reserve and in reference. Students are expected,
                    however, also to use resources found through use of on-line databases. Any use of Internet
                    sites must be approved by one of the Instructors prior to inclusion in the paper (not all sites
                    are created equal)

             w  Final papers should include names of each group member, the responsibilities each
                   member had in the project, and a project evaluation from each group member.

    w All Contemporary Issues Papers are due April 28, so plan ahead!

rev 1/6/05

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