HIST/LAS 3401W: Early Latin America to 1825 (Writing Intensive)

Fall 2005 – Professor Sarah Chambers

Discussion section 2 Teaching Assistant: Andrea Moerer
Email: moer0014@umn.edu (note that 00s are zeros)
Office: Social Sciences Building 122, No. 4
Office Phone: Not a reliable way to contact me, please use email
Office Hours: Monday 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday 11:15 – 12:15 p.m.

Section Description:

Discussion section is intended to work in conjunction with lecture. It is not a review of lecture, rather a time for us to discuss the readings and related concepts. As 3401 is a writing intensive course, there will be short, weekly writing activities that will help to develop your ideas and abilities. During the course of the semester, you will be responsible for turning in two 4-5 page papers or you have the option of writing one 8-10 page research paper. In either case, revision is considered a fundamental part of your writing process, and I will be planning activities to assist you in this area.

Please bring the corresponding book and/or packet materials to section discussion.
We will be discussing readings from the previous week on the course syllabus. For example, on September 12, we will discuss readings assigned for the week of September 6.

Grading:

As will be given for outstanding work, Bs for strong, above average work, Cs for adequate work, Ds for marginal work, and Fs for failing or incomplete work. Final grades will be calculated according to the following weights:

2-Paper Option

10%: Paper 1
20%: Paper 1 Rewrite
20%: Paper 2 (if you do rewrite each worth 10%)
15 %: Discussion and Short Writing Assignments
15%: Quizzes (top 4 scores out of 5)
20%: Final exam

Research-Paper Option

Proposal, bibliography, thesis/intro 10%
First Draft 10%
Final Draft 30%
Discussion and Short Writing Assignments: 15%
Quizzes (top 4 scores out of 5): 15%
Final exam: 20%

Safe Space:

I am committed to providing and maintaining a space for dialog based on an atmosphere of mutual respect. By the same token, I expect all students to treat classmates and me with the utmost respect. Because this is a discussion section and we are pursuing intellectual development, there will likely be times when you disagree with the ideas of others. At these times respect for one another and for mutual inquiry is even more important. It is required that you avoid interruptions while others are speaking or giving their opinion, and judgmental or aggressive comments. These rules will help us to advance our intellectual pursuits.

Attendance and Preparation for Class:

Attendance for discussion section is required. Absences will result in a reduction of your Discussion and Short Writing Assignment grade, unless they are legitimate according to University policy (e.g. religious holiday observance, death in the immediate family, a documented illness, athletic competition, or military service). When possible, please notify me beforehand of any excused absence.

You should come to class prepared to discuss the readings (for the schedule, see Professor Chambers’ syllabus). You should come to class prepared to complete short in-class writing assignments (and a few outside assignments). You need to arrive on time. Three late arrivals of 5 minutes or more will equal an absence and will lower your grade.

Participation:

Section meeting is a place for lively, well-informed discussion. You will receive a grade based on your contributions to discussion section. You are expect to not just say something, but to participate in such a way that it is clear you have read the materials assigned and reflected upon them.

Draft Papers and Office Hours:

I would be happy to read drafts of your papers, as long as they are given to me with adequate time for me to review your writing and for you to make subsequent revisions (a minimum of at least 48 hours before you need the document back).

During my weekly office hours we can talk about questions and concerns that may arise about the section. Also, I am more than willing to schedule appointments outside of my office hours if these are not convenient for you. I will respond to your emails as soon as possible, but in consideration of my additional outside responsibilities, it may take me up to 24 hours during the week and more on the weekends to respond.

General Guidelines:

In order to most fully benefit from our discussion section, you should arrive on time and be present for the entire section. Cell phones must be turned off for the duration of the class.

University and College Policy Statements

For further information and policies, see: http://advisingtools.class.umn.edu/cgep/ and http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/main/policyhome.cfm

Scholastic Dishonesty

Scholastic dishonesty is any act that violates the rights of another student with respect to academic work or that involves misrepresentation of a student's own work. Scholastic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as one's own anything done by another), inventing or falsifying research or other findings with the intent to deceive, submitting the same or substantially similar papers (or creative work) for more than one course without consent of all instructors concerned, depriving another of necessary course materials, and sabotaging another's work On plagiarism: Students are expected to express themselves and to sustain an argument in their own prose. They should not submit written work that does not properly acknowledge transcription or that includes excessive quotation of the works of others. If you want to quote from a published work, you must put the passage in quotation marks and cite the references. If you wish to express what an author is saying in your own words, you should include reference to the author concerned to indicate that the ideas are hers/his and not yours.
All incidents of scholastic dishonesty are to be reported. Contact the committee's executive secretary, (Office of the Assistant Dean for CLA Student Services, 106 Johnston Hall, [612] 625-3846), for more information.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota is committed to providing for the needs of enrolled or admitted students who have disabilities as defined under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. University policy requires reasonable accommodations to be made for students with disabilities on an individualized and flexible basis."Any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, systemic, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations should contact the instructor and Disability Services at the beginning of the semester."
Disability Services, 230 McNamara Alum Ctr, (612) 624-4037 TTY/voice, http://ds.umn.edu.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is defined as follows: “Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic advancement, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions or academic decisions affecting such individual, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or academic environment.” (University Senate 1984 “Policy Statement on Sexual Harassment”). For further information, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 419 Morrill Hall, (612)624-9547, www.eoaffact.umn.edu

Religious Observances

“The University of Minnesota permits absences from class for participation in religious observances. Students who plan to miss class must: (1) Inform instructors of anticipated absences at the beginning of the term; (2) Meet with instructors to reschedule any missed examinations, and (3) Obtain class notes from other students.”

General Schedule:

This is the discussion section topic schedule that addresses the lectures and reading assignments of the previous week. For the complete semester schedule, including specific assignments and readings, please refer to the syllabus distributed by Professor Chambers.

Sept. 12 Introduction (MAP QUIZ 1 SEPT 15)

Sept. 19 America before 1492

Sept. 26 Spanish Expansion

Oct. 3 Conquests and Resistance (QUIZ 2 THURS. OCT. 6)

Oct. 10 Frontiers and Early Spanish Colonial Society:
PAPER 1 DUE IN CLASS OCT. 13

Oct. 17 Native Responses and Imperial Debates

Oct. 24 Missionaries and the Church (QUIZ 3 OCT. 27)

Oct. 31 Spanish Economic System.
REWRITE OF PAPER 1 DUE IN CLASS ON NOV. 3

Nov. 7 Portuguese Economic System

Nov. 14 Slavery and Race
PAPER 2 DUE IN CLASS ON NOV. 17

Nov. 21 From Hapsburgs to Bourbons: 17th and 18th-Century Changes

Nov. 28 Rise of Rebellion (QUIZ 4 IN CLASS ON DEC. 1)

Dec. 5 Independence (QUIZ 5 IN CLASS ON DEC. 8)

Dec. 12 Independence
REWRITE OF PAPER 2 DUE IN CLASS ON DEC. 13

TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAM: DUE NO LATER THAN NOON ON FRI. DEC. 16

Site maintained by Sarah Chambers and Todd Rowlatt.

Last updated September 12, 2005
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