OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HIS 290: TOPICS IN HISTORY
History of Chicago
Spring 2009
Jim Holderfield
Ph#: 847-376-7074
E-mail:
Office#: 2516 DP
Office Hours: Mon. & Wed., 12:00pm-12:30pm
Website: http://www.oakton.edu/user/~jholderf/his290spring09.htm
I. Course Course Course
Prefix Number Name Credit Lecture Lab
HIS 290 Topics in History 3 3 0
II. Course Prerequisite: None.
III. Course Description:
Course explores major historical issues and/or periods of history that are related to history courses taught at the College. This course will have a different focus and/or scope than the courses currently offered in the department and can be repeated on different topics up to three times for up to nine credit hours. Prerequisites may vary by topic.
IV. Learning Objectives:
Students will identify, compare, and contrast major historical concepts, movements, and periods relating to the specific topics being studied.
V. Academic Integrity:
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
· cheating,
· plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
· falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
· helping others to cheat,
· unauthorized changes on official documents,
· pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
· making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
· any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI. Course Outline:
A. Introduction to Historical methodology and Historiography
B. Creation of Chicago
C. Immigration
D. Social Activities
E. Creation of Suburbia
F. The Progressive Era
G. The Roaring 1920s
H. The Great Depression and WWII Era
I. Post-WWII Growth
J. The 1950s
K. The 1960s
L. The 1970s and '80s
M. The 1990s
N. Current Issues
Topics and Readings by Week:
1. Week 1 - Introduction to Chicagoland
a. What will be covered in the course.
b. Course introduction.
2. Week 2 - Before 1833 – Native Americans
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Spinney, Chapt. 1 and 2
3. Week 3 - 1833 – 1871 , Birth, Travel, Civil War, Growth, and the Destruction of Chicago
a. Readings: Textbook – Spinney
i. Spinney, Chapt. 3 and 4
4. Week 4 - 1871-1893, Growth of Farm and Rail, early commerce and ties to the city
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Spinney, Chapt. 5 and 6
5. Week 5 - 1893 – 1934, From Colombian Exposition to Century of Progress, Suburbs
a. Movie – The Untouchables
b. Paper 1 – due
c. Readings: Textbook –
i. Spinney, Chapt. 7, 8, and 9
6. Week 6 - Exam 1
7. Week 7 – 1934-1945, End of Prohibition, End to Depression, and End to WWII
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Spinney, Chapt. 10
ii. Keating, Chapt. 1
8. Week 8 – Post-WWII growth
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Spinney, Chapt. 11
ii. Keating, Chapt. 2 and 3
9. Week 9 – Cont’d from week 8, suburbs
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Keating, Chapt. 4
b. Paper 2 - due
10. Week 10 – Exam 2
11. Week 11 – Catch-up Day
a. Movie – The Blues Brothers
12. Week 12 – 1960s and 1970s
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Spinney, Chapt. 12
ii. Keating, Chapt. 5
13. Week 13 – 1980s and 1990s
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Keating, Chapt. 6
14. Week 14 – 2000s
a. Readings: Textbook –
i. Keating, Chapt. 7
15. Week 15 – Review/Catch-up Day
a. Paper 3 – due
b. Movie – Ferris Buehler’s Day Off
16. Week 16 – Final Exam, Exam 3
VII. Method of Instruction:
Classes will include a variety of instructional methods such as: lectures, in class discussions, group activities, document and film analysis, and the use of new technologies.
VIII. Course Practices Required:
Students will be required to:
A. Read a standard textbook and research materials.
B. Write three papers, double spaced. The topics will be on local history and the city of Chicago. The papers will be worth the following:
Paper 1 (3 page paper): 10% of your final grade
Paper 2 (3 page bibliography with 5 book synopsis): 15% of your final grade
Paper 3 (10-12 pages written, 1 title page, 2 bibliography page): 25% of your final grade
C. Participate in in-class and out-of-class activities.
Class/Group participation: 5% of your final grade
IX. Instructional Material:
Keating, Ann Durkin. Building Chicago: Suburban Developers and the Creation of a Divided Metropolis. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2002.
Spinney, Robert G. City of Big Shoulders: A History of Chicago. DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2000.
X. Method of Evaluation:
Three exams will be given. The final exam will be comprehensive.
Exams 1 and 2 will be essay, one question. Questions for Exam 1 will be given before the exam for study and review. Exam 3 will be the final exam, with 2 essay questions, questions will not be given ahead of time, but topic area will. Exam 3 will also include a 3rd question worth 5% of extra credit. The points will be as follows:
Exam 1: 12.5% of your final grade
Exam 2: 12.5% of your final grade
Exam 3 – Final: 20% of your final grade
Students will also be evaluated on a combination of written assignments and in-and out-of-class assignments.
Breakdown of grade composition:
Class/Group participation: 5%
Exam 1: 12.5%
Paper 1: 10%
Exam 2: 12.5%
Paper 2: 15%
Exam 3: 20%
Paper 3: 25%
Extra Credit: 6%
Total Available: 106%
A: 90-100%
B: 80-89%
C: 70-79%
D: 60-69%
Below 60% is an F.
****Late assignments will be accepted with a 25% reduction of the given grade if turned in within the first week after original due date, 50% reduction if turned in anytime after one week late, with the exception being the final paper (paper 3) and the final exam (exam 3) which will not be accepted after the final in-class meeting. If you know that you will miss a class where a paper is due or a test is scheduled, notify professor ahead of time to make proper arrangements to complete the assignment.
**** You must complete and turn in a minimum of 67% of the course assignments, which include exams and papers, in order to pass the course. Failure to turn in the minimum amount, which is at least 4 of the assignments, will result in a F for the course.
****No cell phones, digital mechanism, or communication device allowed in class.
****Missing class will impact your overall grade. Being late or leaving early will also impact your overall grade for the course.
****Changes can be made to assignments, class discussion, and any other matters pertaining to the course or contents as needed or required during the term of the semester by the discretion of the professor only.
XI. Other Course Information:
A. Support Services: Tutoring in history is available at the Learning Center.
B If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability, you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skills or requirements of a course or degree program.
C. Statement on Discrimination: Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services, or employment practices. The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault by or of its students or employees.
D: Important Dates: *
02/15: Last day to withdraw and have course dropped from record
02/15: Last day to change to Audit
02/22: Last day for students to submit materials to make up incomplete from the previous semester
03/15: Last day to withdraw from classes with a "W"
* These dates differ for each semester. The correct dates can be found in the Academic Calendar.