SYLLABUS
HIST 351 Ray E. Johnson, Ph.D., University of La Verne Catalog Course DescriptionLatin American peoples from their Indian and Iberian origins. Emphasizes Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Course ObjectivesThe course is designed to cover pre Colombian America, the period of European discovery, conquest and settlement, Luzo, Franco and Hispanic civilization in the new world and the independence movements which led to the end of the colonial era. The early national and modern period will be surveyed especially noting the historical development of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. The interested student should gain a solid perspective about the complex origins and development of the United States' neighbors to the south. Course Requirements and Grading |
During this course there will be two examinations, one ten page term paper
(Group 1), one succinct book review (two to five pages) of a Richard Graham’s,
Independence in Latin America, A Comparative Approach and one video review (two
to five pages) of Carlos Fuentes' The Buried Mirror, volumes one through
five. The term paper will follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association style manual and may be submitted electronically or on hardcopy.
Each student will find on this site a bibliography of books contained in the
University of La Verne's Wilson Library to assist each student’s term paper research . Students may also utilize
the Wilson Library web page or other resources such as book stores, other
libraries or web sites. The course syllabus will contain a book and video
review format to aid the student in composing the book and video reviews which
may be submitted electronically or on hard copy. Each of the examinations
carries a value of 20% of the course grade. The term paper carries a value of
30% of the course grade. Each of the book and video reviews carries a value of
15% of the course grade. Three Groups of selected topical and factual questions
will be provided to the student as part of the course syllabus at the beginning
of the term. The student will choose one the topical questions from Group 1 as
the topic for the term paper. The mid-term examination will cover the eight
topical questions from Group 2, the Colonial Period Topical Questions, and the
final examination will cover the eight topical questions from Group 3, the
National Period Topical Questions. The professor will select five of the eight
questions for each examination. The student will select two of the five on
which to write two essays of approximately 250 to 750 words.
Each examination is two hours in length, one hour per question. The examinations are taken on-line; the schedule of the dates and times will be included in the Welcome Letter sent to each student at the beginning of the term along with other course materials as well as listed on Blackboard. Though these examinations are de facto open book it behooves the serious student, because of time constraints, to have mastered the material so that the essays flow readily from brain to keyboard.