Women's History in the U.S.

HISTORY 247: WOMEN'S HISTORY IN THE U.S.

FALL 2006
KAREN TAYLOR
Kauke 113

Office Hours: Weds. 9:00 am to noon; 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Or by appointment

Required Readings:

Vicki Ruiz and Carol Dubois, Unequal Sisters

Nancy Woloch, Women's Experience in America

Tentative Weekly Schedule:

WEEK 1:

Aug. 29: Introduction: What IS women`s history?

*Reading: Begin reading "Beyond the Search..." in Ruiz, et al, Unequal Sisters, for discussion Aug. 31.

Aug. 31: In-Class Discussion: "Beyond the Search..."

Reading: Begin Edmund Morgan, `The Puritans and Sex,` for discussion WEEK 2.

WEEK 2:

Sept. 5: Recognizing Interpretation: Morgan, `The Puritans and Sex.`

Sept. 7: What does the evidence say? Morgan, `The Puritans and Sex.`

Forum Discussion: Looking and Seeing, DUE THIS WEEK

· Reading: Woloch, xi-35, for discussion WEEK 4.

WEEK 3:

Sept. 12: The Origins of Gender and Patriarchy

Sept. 14: Colonial Women: Woloch, xi-35.

WEEK 4:

Sept. 19: In-Class Discussion led by the Colonial Women Group: "Women's Experience": All for One?

Sept. 21: A Look at the Evidence: The Madonna/Whore Complex

Colonial Women Forum Discussion on Woodle DUE THIS WEEK

*Reading: Begin Woloch, 36-70; Ruiz, 20-38, for discussion WEEK 6.

WEEK 5:

Sept. 26: In-Class Discussion: What were the trappings of patriarchy?

Sept. 28: Revolutionary Women: Woloch 36-70; Ruiz 20-38.

WEEK 6:

Oct. 3: In-Class Discussion led by Revolutionary Women Group: When is a revolution really revolting?

Oct. 5: A Look at the Evidence: Republican Mothers and Amazons

Revolutionary Women Forum Discussion DUE THIS WEEK

TAKE-HOME EXAM 1 DUE 5 pm, Oct. 5

*Reading: Woloch, 71-141; Ruiz 39-104, for discussion WEEK 8.

WEEK 7:

Oct. 10: In-Class Discussion: Did the Revolution change women’s status?

Oct. 12: Reforming Women: Woloch 71-141; Ruiz 39-104.

*****************FALL BREAK!! Oct. 13-18!!********************

WEEK 8:

Oct. 19: In-Class Discussion led by Reforming Women Group: Does work make us equal?

Reforming Women Forum Discussion DUE THIS WEEK

*Reading: Woloch, 142-255; Ruiz, 105-291, for discussion WEEK 10.

FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE OCT. 21

WEEK 9:

Oct. 24: A Look at the Evidence: Women`s Work.

Oct. 26: In-Class Discussion: Why did women leave the home?

WEEK 10:

Oct. 31: Emancipating Women: Woloch 142-255; Ruiz 39-104.

Nov. 2: In-Class Discussion led by Emancipating Women Group: What were the factors facilitating/inhibiting women`s fight for rights?

Emancipating Women Forum Discussion DUE THIS WEEK

*Reading: Woloch, 256-342; Ruiz, 292-491, for discussion WEEK 12.

WEEK 11:

Nov. 7: A Look at the Evidence: The Cult of Domesticity.

Nov. 9: Why weren`t women united in their fight?

WEEK 12:

Nov. 14: Emancipated Women: Woloch 256-342; Ruiz 292-491.

Nov. 16: In-Class Discussion led by Emancipated Women Group: How did suffrage affect women?

Emancipated Women Forum Discussion DUE THIS WEEK

TAKE-HOME EXAM 2 DUE 5 pm Nov. 16

*Reading: Woloch 342-417; Ruiz 492-638, for discussion WEEK 14.

WEEK 13:

Nov. 21: A Look at the Evidence: Rosie the Riveter

*************THANKSGIVING BREAK!! NOV. 22-26!!**************

WEEK 14:

Nov. 28: Liberated Women: Woloch 342-417; Ruiz 492-638.

Nov. 30: In-Class Discussion: Are we liberated yet?

Liberated Women Forum Discussion DUE THIS WEEK

TAKE-HOME EXAM 3 DUE 5 pm Nov. 30

WEEK 15:

Dec. 5: A Look at the Evidence: Women’s Music

Dec. 7: Wrap-up.

** FINAL PROJECT DUE DEC. 14, 5 PM*

REQUIREMENTS:

TAKE-HOME EXAMS: Each of these 3 essays are designed to help you synthesize the themes and information we’ve covered, and come up with your own interpretation. For individual exam topics, click on "EXAM TOPIC" for the appropriate day. I will average the 3 grades together to make up 35% of your total grade.

FINAL PROJECT: This 5-7 page research paper will be on a topic of your choice: a woman, event, or issue at which you would like to take a deeper look. It should have formal footnotes and a bibliography, and follow the APA or Chicago Style. For more details, click on `FINAL PROJECT.` Your final project is worth 35% of your total grade.

PARTICIPATION: Since learning and teaching are really two sides of the same coin, your active participation in this class is neccessary. While I completely understand that you may not want to talk in every class, I will expect you to feel free to speak whenever, and as often, as you like. Because some people feel more comfortable writing their thoughts, one-third of your participation grade will be based on Woodle Forum Discussions based on the readings or questions posed in the class. Another third will be based on your group presentations. Because participation also requires the presence of your physical body, I will keep a random record of your attendence, and your absence from class, if great, will lower your participation grade. Your participation is worth 30% of your total grade.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Students caught plagiarizing other people`s work will get an F on the assignment. For further information about academic integrity and The College of Wooster`s policies regarding it, see the Code of Academic Integrity in the Scot`s Key.

If you have any questions about the class, or just some random observations you'd like to share, you'll find my door and mind both open (except when I'm avoiding extra-terrestrials or the thought police). Or you could send me an email: ktaylor@wooster.edu