HISTORY 294-19

Gender and Sexuality in Colonial America and the Early Republic
MWF: 3:30-4:30, CAR 005
Macalester College, Spring 2007
Professor Andrea D. Robertson (robertsona@macalester.edu)
Office Hours: W, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. or by appointment
 
Required Texts:
Brown, Kathleen  Good Wives, Nasty Wenches, Anxious Patriarchs 
Fischer, Kirsten  Suspect Relations 
Godbeer, Richard  Sexual Revolution in Early America 
Herndon, Ruth Wallis  Unwelcome Americans 
Kerber, Linda  Women of the Republic 
Morgan, Jennifer  Laboring Women 
Norton, Mary Beth  Founding Mothers and Fathers 
Perdue, Theda  Cherokee Women 
Ulrich, Laurel Thatcher  A Midwife's Tale 
 
Course Objectives:

Since the 1960s historians have revisited early American history to identify populations on the margins and historical actors whose stories and experiences were neglected in the canon of history. This course examines American peoples and cultures from the 16th through early 19th centuries to uncover the ways in which gender and sexuality shaped the formation of an early American society. Particular attention will be given to the way that ideologies of gender and sexuality shaped early concepts of race and the development of political institutions.

Grading and Attendance:

The quality of your grade in this course will be a direct reflection of the effort you have put forth throughout the semester. This course will not be graded on a curve and each grade is a reflection of the student’s own performance on individual assignments and participation in the discussion section. Grades based on quality of work relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements may be understood as follows:

A – outstanding

B - significantly above requirements

C – meets requirements

D – does not meet requirements, but is worthy of credit

F – signfies that work was either 1) completed but not at a level of achievement that is worthy of credit or 2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded a grade of Incomplete

The percentage of your grade allotted to each assignment is as follows:

Essay 1: Gender and Cultural Identities 20%

Essay 2: Gender, Servitude and Slavery 20%

Historiographical Review Essay 30%

Discussion Leadership 15%

Attendance and participation 15%

Essays:

I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with 
typewriters - Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
 
Writing is a powerful tool of communication and persuasion. It is the primary means by which historians share ideas with each other and with the public. Learning to write well is a challenging but imperative part of your liberal arts education. In this class we will discuss paths to becoming a good writer. In light of this goal, you will complete three essays over the course of the semester. Details of each short-essay assignment will be handed out in class two weeks prior to the due date. Full details for the research paper will be handed out four weeks prior to the due date. The first two essays will be 5-7 pages (double-spaced) and based on reading assignments from class. The third essay is a longer, review essay (10-12 pages) that will assess the current state of scholarship and major analytical problems regarding a topic of your choice related to the theme of the course.
 

All written assignments must be turned in at the beginning of section on the due date. Papers turned in late are automatically docked one-half grade and a further half grade for each additional day late. All written assignments must be turned in in hard-copy format – I will not accept e-mailed papers nor will I comment on e-mailed drafts. In-class writing assignments, which will appear periodically through the semester, cannot be made up if you are absent on the class day they occur.

Discussion Leadership:

At the beginning of the semester, each student will sign up to lead discussion in one seminar meeting. The discussion leader should be prepared to guide the class through the key issues of the assigned reading for that day and offer both praise and critique of the author’s analysis of the topic at hand.

Class preparation and timely work:

The success of our class meetings is contingent upon the cooperation of all participants. Attendance is mandatory and will be taken at each meeting. To receive full credit for course attendance you must participate actively in class, having read the assigned course materials. Please bring any notes you take while reading, the assigned course readings for the day’s discussion, and talking points and/or questions that you have regarding lecture topics. Inability to participate in class due to lack of preparation will be reflected in your course grade. Out of courtesy to your classmates, please arrive on time and do not pack up before the class period ends. Cell phones, pagers, iPods, etc. should be off and stowed for the duration of discussion section. Discussions require a courteous and respectful atmosphere at all times. While a history course may and should generate lively debates, any interruptions, personal attacks, inappropriate remarks, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Every person’s voice is of value in this class.

Contacting me:

I am delighted to be teaching your course this semester and I look forward to getting to know each of you better. Please visit me during office hours with questions or concerns about the course. If your schedule conflicts with my posted office hours, please e-mail me or speak to me following class to set up an alternate meeting time. I am happy to discuss your assignments or review papers with you; out of fairness to the class I can provide comments on only one draft per essay assignment. However, I will not review any assignment within 24 hours of the due date. Plan ahead. If you have a question about your grade you must set an appointment with me at least one day after receiving your graded paper. At the appointment I expect you to have read all the comments on your paper and to have specific questions that you wish to discuss. If you are seeking additional assistance with writing, I encourage you to visit the The MAX Center, which is open for tutoring M-F, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sun-Th, 7 -10 p.m. at Kagin Commons 1st floor.

Important academic policies:

Academic dishonesty: Please do not cheat. Per University policy, plagiarism and other forms of cheating may be reported to the appropriate disciplinary body and subject to sanction. Academic dishonesty is defined as “any act that violates the right of another student with respect to academic work or that involves misrepresentation of the student’s own work.” This includes “cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing, inventing or falsifying research or other findings with an intent to deceive, submitting the same or substantially similar papers (or creative work) without consent of all instructors concerned, depriving another of necessary course materials, and sabotaging another’s work.” Disruptive conduct and sexual harassment: Students who engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment for others may be subject to disciplinary action, including having their registration cancelled. Sexual harassment, defined as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature,” by or towards a member of the college community is strictly prohibited.

Special needs: Students with documented disability conditions that affect their ability to participate fully in class or to meet all course requirements should contact the instructor and Disability Services, Student Disability Services is the designated office at Macalester College that maintains disability-related documents, certifies eligibility for services, and determines and provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. The Disability Student Services Coordinator is located in 119 Weyerhaeuser Administration Building. The academic year hours are 8:00 am-4:30 pm. The phone number is 651.696.6220.

SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS, SEMESTER II 2007:

January 22 (M): Introduction: Syllabus and Discussion Sign-Up

January 24 (W): Brown, Introduction, Chapter 1

January 26 (F): Brown, Chapter 2, 3

January 29 (M): Godbeer, Chapter 5

January 31(W) Brown, Chapter 4

February 2 (F): Brown, Chapter 5, 6

February 5 (M): Brown, Chapter 7, Godbeer, Chapter 6

February 7 (W): Fischer, Introduction, Chapter 1

February 9 (F): Fischer, Chapter 2, Morgan, Introduction, Chapter 1

February 12 (M): Perdue

February 14 (W): Perdue

February 16 (F): Norton, Introduction, Sec. I

February 19 (M): Norton, Sec. II

February 21 (W): Norton, Sec. III

February 23 (F): Godbeer, Introduction, Chapter I

February 26 (M): Godbeer, Chatper 2, 3

February 28 (W): Godbeer, Chapter 7

March 2 (F): Ulrich ESSAY ONE DUE

March 5 (M): Ulrich

March 7 (W): Ulrich

March 9 (F): Ulrich

March 12 (M): SPRING BREAK

March 14 (W): SPRING BREAK

March 16(F): SPRING BREAK

March 19 (M): Herndon, Introduction, Chapter 1

March 21 (W): Herndon, Chapter 2, 3

March 23(F): Herndon, Chapter 4, 5, Conclusion

March 26(M): Fischer, Chapter 3, Godbeer, Chapter 4

March 28 (W): Fischer, Chapter 4, 5, Epilogue

March 30(F): Morgan, Chapter 2, 3

April 2(M): Morgan, Chapter 4, 5

April 4 (W): Morgan, Chapter 6, Epilogue,

April 6 (F): COLLEGE HOLIDAY, NO CLASS

April 9 (M): Brown, Chapter 5

April 11 (W): Brown, Chapter 6, 7

April 13 (F): Brown, Chapter 8, 9

April 16 (M): Brown Chapter 10, Afterword ESSAY TWO DUE

April 18 (W): Perdue

April 20 (F): Perdue

April 23 (M): Kerber

April 25 (W): Kerber

April 27 (F): Kerber

April 30 (M): Kerber

HISTORIGRAPHIC ESSAY DUE IN MY OFFICE BY 5 P.M. ON MAY 5