History of Latin America
Syllabus
09 246A

Fall 2004
Wed., 6:00-8:40
 

Room N225 
 
 

Professor: Dr. Cathy McDonnell Schultz
Office: S319
Work phone: 740-3595
e-mail:  cschultz@stfrancis.edu
Office Hours:  M 12:30-1:30
                     Tu, Th 9:30-11:30
               Other times by appointment    

TABLE OF CONTENTS

On-line access

http://www.stfrancis.edu/hi/schultz/lasyllabus.html

Note on Disabilities
All students with documented disabilities who need accommodations should contact your professor within the first two weeks of school and schedule an appointment with the Disabilities Coordinator. Please call Dr. MeShelda Jackson at 815-740-3461 or email her at mjackson@stfrancis.edu to schedule an appointment.

Course Description:
 This course explores the history and culture of Latin America, a region which includes Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.  We will examine the region’s indigenous civilizations, European colonization, independence movements, and social and political events and issues of the 20th century. We will also spend time discussing the U.S./Latin American relationship, and the culture of Latin America today.

Course objectives:

By the end of this course, you should have accomplished the following:

A.  Be able to identify and discuss the people, events, and ideas which have shaped the history of Latin America. This historical context should also help you better understand the unique problems and issues of modern Latin America.

B.  Have a deeper understanding of the sometimes tortured relationship between Latin American countries and their northern neighbor, the U.S., and be able to discuss the reasons for it.

C.  Better understand and  appreciate the different cultures and world views found in Latin America.

D.  Be aware of current events in Latin America.

E.  Be able to identify on a map the countries of South and Central American and the Caribbean.

F.  Improved your skills of historical analysis and critical thinking.

G.  Increased your facility in oral and written communication.
 

Required text:

Textbook: E. Bradford Burns Julie Charlip, Latin America: A Concise Interpretive History. Seventh Edition (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002.)
Other essays, to be announced.


Requirements and (tentative) grading percentages:

A. Class participation is important, and is worth 10% of the final grade. This means you must attend class, have the readings done before class, and add your voice to class discussions.
N.B. Since the class only meets once a week, one absence means that you have missed 1/15 of the entire semester's material. Therefore, more than ONE absence, without an EXTREMELY good reason, will result in your final grade being lowered.

B.  Exams: there will be three tests. Each is worth 20 or 25%.

C.  Map quizzes will be worth 5%.

D.  Essays: There will be 2  essays due (each about 3 pages long) throughout the semester, on the films "The Mission" and "The House of the Spirits." More details on these will be forthcoming. These will collectively be worth 10%.

E..  Group presentations/ papers: Working in groups of two or three (NOT four), you will do a paper and/or class presentation  on a particular designated topic. (10% of grade) More details on this will be forthcoming. Possible topics include:

     Virgin of Guadeloupe
     Popular Sports in Latin America
     Pancho Villa
     Day of the Dead festival in Mexico
    Che Guevarra
     Oscar Romero
    School of the Americas
     Cinco de Mayo festival in Mexico

F.  Newswatch: Every week I want you to find and copy at least one news article about Latin America. (5% of grade)  You will be asked to give a short synopsis of the news in class, and hand in your copy. Use newspapers like the NY Times (which you can subscribe to free online) or The Chicago Tribune (also free online), or magazines like Newsweek, Time, U.S. News and World Report or The  Economist, all of  which our library gets. Or use Internet resources like World news or   CNN.com/World                    

Good Links:

 Virtual Library for Latin American Studies
 Web Resources for Latin America
Colonial Latin America: Internet History Sourcebook
19th century Latin America: Internet History Sourcebook
20th century Latin America: Internet History Sourcebook
Latin America in the Early 20th century: Internet History Sourcebook
 School of the Americas Watch
 Internet Resources for Latin America
 Latin America Data Base

Course Reading Schedule:

8/25/04: Introduction to course; syllabus distribution
 Discussion of the "Popul Vuh"

9/1/04  The Encounter; the Origins of a Multiracial Society
 Textbook, chapter 1

9/8/04:  Map quiz: South America
Movie: "The Mission"
Textbook, chapter 2

9/15/04: Essay due on "The Mission"
 Continue colonial period.

9/22/04:   Map quiz: Central  America, Mexico, and the Caribbean
  Independence Movements
 Textbook, chapter 3   

9/29/04: First hour:  Test #1
 After break: Continue discussion of new nations of L.A.

10/6/04: Forging New Nations
 Textbook, chapter 4 

10/13/04: The U.S. Intrudes on Latin America

   Textbook, chapter 6
   Readings handed out during previous class.

10/20/04: No class; Enjoy Fall Break!

10/27/04:  Emerging Nationalism in Mexico and Elsewhere
    Textbook, chapter 7     

 11/3/04:  Development and Democracy Frustrated
    Textbook, Chapter 8
    Group presentation on Che Guevarra
    And group presentation on  Pancho Villa

111/10/04:   TEST #2
     Film on contemporary issues of Latin America.

11/17/04:  Latin America Culture Through Film and Novels
      Film: "The House of the Spirits"
       Isabel Allende :  web site with questions and answers from Allende       

11/24/04: No class: enjoy Thanksiving 

12/1/04: Essay due on "The House of the Spirits."
The Revolutionary Option
 Textbook,  Chapter 9,  Also read and be prepared to discuss readings on Latin American literature given in class last week. .
  
12/8/04: Readings: Burns, chapters 10 and 11.    

12/15/04:  Final exam