History 1415
Lewis & Clark & The Indians & The Early Republic
Dr. Paul Douglas Newman
Associate Professor of History
Krebs 125, Mailbox K104
O. 2987 Fax: 7255 H. 535-3176
pnewman@pitt.edu
pitt.edu/~pnewman
Class Meets: TR 12:30 K124
Off. Hrs:T-R11-12, 2-3 & by appt
Aims of 1400
The Course
Rules & Regs
Calendar
Aims
Books * Reading * Quizzes
Attendance * Late Work
  1  3   45   7   10
Field Trip
Participation * Reviews
Incompletes * Cheating
11 12   13 1415  16 17 18 19
 
Review Exercise * Grading
Disabilities * My Prerogative
20  2122  23  2425  26  2728






Aims of History 1415
This three credit course will explore the "American" ideas, myths, and realities about "the West" and its human and non-human inhabitants, and its environmental and geographical features around the birth of the Republic. It will use the famed expedition of the "Corps of Discovery" led by Merriweather Lewis (above) and William Clark (left) for 1805-1807 as a prism to investigate a myriad of issues facing the infant United States, including: physical expansion, Native American and foreign relations (Sacajawea on right), the relationship of Americans to their environment, trade, national defense, slavery and multi-culturalism just to name a few. The class will be structured as an upper level reading seminar. A number of historical essays will be assigned for every meeting which will serve as the basis for class discussion. Given the primary importance of discussion, verbal participation will be mandatory in each class meeting.

There will be no "examinations" in this course, but do not let that fool you--this class is not for the feint of heart--the reading load will be heavy and the writing will be constant. As a result, however, you will emerge from the course not only with a greater understanding of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, but also with fine tuned reading, writing, and analytical skills.

Field Trip
On Friday, August 29, we will take an optional field trip to Pittsburgh to see "Lewis & Clark: A Journey with the Rooney Family" at the Heinz History Center, to the Phipps Conservatory to see "The Adventures of Lewis & Clark," and to see National Geographic's IMAX film "Lewis & Clark, Great Journey West"  at the Carnegie Science Center Transportation will be provided free by the University for 14 students.  Admission to the Heinz Center is $4.50, Phipps is $4.00 and the movie costs $8.00.    We will lunch at Primanti Brothers, which'll run you about $5-10 for the best $%&@#!%^*@ing sandwich in the world!  $30 or so should get you through the day.  We will leave UPJ at 8 am and travel to the Heinz Center.  We'll lunch at Primanti Bros. and catch the 2pm showing of the Imax film, then head to the Phipps Conservatory.  We'll stop for fast food on the way home, and we should get back to UPJ before 9 pm.  I will write e-mails to profs whose classes you'll miss, but I cannot guarantee that they will accept it as an excused absence.  (Most of my colleagues don't like me very much!)


The Course

Required Reading


Reading
As mentioned above, there will be an extremely heavy reading load in this course, and each class will be a discussion revolving around that reading.  Therefore, you must read the assignments in order for this class to work.  If you fail to read an assignment there is no reason for you to come to class that day--you will only be risking humiliation when you are called upon.

Participation
Since this class will live or die with your level of participation, I am requiring you to contribute to our conversations by according 20% of your grade (100 points) to participation.  I will make a seating chart and I will record each relevant contribution you make to our class discussion.  At term's end, the highest 10% will receive an A, the second 20% will receive a B, the middle 40% a C, the next 20% a D, and the lowest 10% an F for the participation grade.  If the class as a whole does well, then the scale will slide from A to D, or A to C, but that depends on all of you.  I know what you're all thinking now: "1. But it's not fair!  2. I'll feel stupid!  3. I don't like to speak in front of people!  4. You're mean old S.O.B.!"  Well, in response to those statements, I would say: "1. Life isn't fair, get over it.  2. If you were stupid you would not be in college, and I care about your intellectual development, not your  "feelings."  3. You may not like speaking in front of people but honing your oral communication abilities is one of the most important skills that you can take out of college and into the real world.  Things that are good for you are not always pleasant.  4.  I am a mean old S.O.B., refer back to response number 1."

Quizzes
There will be periodic quizzes on your reading material that will account for 20%
of your grade (100 points).  Only persons with excused absences will be permitted to take "make-up" quizzes–no exceptions.  You must make-up missed quizzes within one week of the missed quiz.  Excused absences will only be granted prior to the class you intend to miss. You are responsible for making up your quizzes.  I will make no attempt to remind you or track you down.  Any quizzes that you fail to make-up will be recorded as a zero.

Book Reviews
You will write two, 3-5 page typed book reviews on Botkin, Our Natural History, and Ronda, Lewis and Clark Among the Indians. The book reviews will be graded on writing as well as content for a total of 250 points (50%). The review of Lewis and Clark Among the Indians will account for 100 points (20%), and Our Natural History will account for 150 points (30%).  Students who receive a D or F will be REQUIRED to re-write their paper.  Through the rewrite, they will be able to increase their score by one letter grade. This is NOT a punishment, but a way for you to improve both your grade and your writing skills. Students receiving a B or C will have the OPTION of rewriting their paper under the same terms as listed above.

Book Review Exercise
In order to prepare yourself to write this review you must do two things.  First, read the handout that I will distribute in class.  Second, you must go to the library and use the most recent issue of the William & Mary Quarterly, choose and read 5 book reviews, and submit a two-page typed summary of those reviews.  The summaries must include brief summaries of the books themselves as well as the reviewers' positive and negative criticism of the books.  You will bring this assignment, and be prepared to discuss the project, to class on  for 50 points (10%).

Book Review How To

Grading
This class will operate on a points system composed of 500 points.  At term's end, 450=A, 400-449=B, 350-399=C, 300-349=D, and 299 and below=F.  The points will be accorded as follows:
 
Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Quizzes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Book Review: Ronda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Book Review: Botkin  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Book Review Summaries  . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total Points for Semester   . . . . . . . . . . . 
100
100 
100 
150 
 50
500 



Rules, Regulations, and Disclaimers

Attendance
I have no attendance policy.

Late Work
Late work is absolutely unacceptable and will merit a zero.  Period.  Howver, all assignments must be turned in, no matter how late, in order to pass the course.  Anyone with uncompleted assignments at term's end will fail the course.

Incompletes
Only students with severe cases of hardship will be permitted a grade of "I" or "G" at term's end with the permission to finish the coursework at a later date.  I reserve the right to determine what is a "severe case of hardship."

Cheating
Any attempt to offer anyone else's work as your own will merit a zero for that assignment, a G grade for the course, and will automatically begin the proceedings for an F in the course and for your expulsion from this university in accordance with the Academic Integrity Guidelines found in your student handbook.

Disabilities
Anyone in need of special accommodations due to a disability of any kind must seek guidance from the Disability Resources and Services Director in Biddle 133, 269-7109 immediately in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Do so now.

Professorial Prerogative
I reserve the right to make any changes to this syllabus that I deem necessary at any time for any reason of my choosing.  Failure to comply with any revisions to the syllabus will not be excusable due to absence on the day the changes were announced.  You are responsible for everything that transpires in the classroom every class meeting.


Course Calendar


KEY
A=Ambrose Undaunted Courage                                B=Botkin Our Natural History
                        R=Ronda Lewis & Clark Among the Indians
  • All numbers in assignments refer to whole chapters. 
  • Bulleted sections refer to assignments due for that class period.

1. First Day: A: Indtroduction; B: Preface;  R: Preface
2. A: 1 & 2
3. A: 3 & 4
4. A: 5 & 6
5. A: 7 & 8
6. A: 9 & 10
7. A: 11 & 12

8. R: 1, 2, & 3
9. R: 4 & 5
10. R: 6 & 7
11. R: 8, 9, & Afterword
12. A: 13 & 14
13. A: 15 & 16 14. A: 17 & 18
15. A: 19 & 20
16. A: 21 & 22
17. A: 23, 24, & 25 18. A: 26, 27, & 28
19. B: Preface, 1
20. B: 2 & 4
21. B: 6 & 7
22. B: 10 & 11
23. A: 29 & 30
24. A: 31 & 32 25. A: 33 & 34
26. A: 35 & 36
27. A: 37 & 38
28. A: 39 & 40
 


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