Light T. Cummins

Course Description

This course presents a detailed analysis of the American South as a section from the late 18th Century until 1861. It will examine the special nature of its uniqueness as a section of the United States. Will present a broad-based survey of the region that includes its political, economic, racial, gendered, and cultural aspects. 

Required Texts<>

Course Requirements

There will be three tests: two unit examinations and a final examination. As well, each student will engage in outside reading as noted below. The graded assignments will have the following percentage in determining the final course grade:

Reading List ----------- 10%
1st Unit Examination --- 30%
2nd Unit Examination --- 30%
Final Examination ------ 30%

The instructor reserves the right to raise or lower the final course grade according to class discussion and participation. No extra credit work will be assigned.

Outside Reading

Students will read extensively in the historical literature from the library's general collection dealing with the Old South. Each undergraduate will be required to read a minimum total of 2000 pages during the semester from monographs or biographies dealing with the era. Graduate students must read a minimum total of 3000 pages. For purposes of rough approximation, this total reflects the estimate that each book read will be some 200-300 pages or so in length. Of course, should students choose some books which are longer or shorter, the number of books read will vary from individual to individual. 

Students will assemble their own formal reading list based on a personal bibliographic search which reflects their interests. Students have complete freedom of choice in selecting their reading. You may, for example, read books all centered on one topic, or vary them widely to reflect all aspects of the course. All books chosen must be valid works of recognized historical scholarship.

The instructor must approve the reading list, which should be formally submitted by the end of the second week of class. At that time, the student should submit a typed list which includes author, title, date and place of publication, publisher, number of pages, and Abell Library call number. It should be arranged alphabetically by author. Include only those books which you will read in their entirety. Consider this list a reading contract for the semester with the instructor. This list will be graded and will count 10% of the final grade. The instructor might add or delete titles, which in turn will provide your final reading list. The list will be graded on the following criteria: completion by the deadline, appropriateness of the titles as major historical works dealing with the course, and the furnishing of the desired bibliographical information noted above.

Students will be tested on their outside reading in the following manner. At least one class period before each test, the student will turn in to the instructor during class a blank blue book which will be returned at test time. The exam will be taken in this blue book. On the inside front cover of this blue book, the student should have listed by author and title all of the books from their reading list which they have read during the period of the course covered by the examination. The instructor will then fashion a specially designed essay question for each student based specifically on the books read by each individual, and which will be particularly based on the information and interpretations contained in these books. This reading question will count 25% of the examination grade. It is important that students pace their outside reading in such a manner that approximately one third of it is done during each of the three testing periods. For that reason, the instructor expects to see listed at the time of each examination a total number of books reflecting one third of the total outside reading for the course.

Late Work

For the purposes of this course, all assignments have been made on the first day of class. Therefore, under no circumstances whatsoever will late work be accepted for course credit without penalty. Only students with verifiable excuses will be allowed to take make-up examinations. In the case of the final, no student will be permitted to take the exam at another time without the instructor's consultation with the mentor and registrar's office.

Incompletes

No incomplete grades will be awarded in this course for any reason whatsoever, except in those cases where the student has been rendered unable to continue in the routine of attending college and is not completing work in their other classes as well because of such situation. These cases will be coordinated through the Dean's Office.

Attendance Policy

All students are encouraged to keep several factors in mind: roll will be called every day and an attendance record kept; missing class for any reason whatsoever will not be excused as each student is fully responsible for changes of schedule, assignment, and all course content material noted each day whether or not they attended; and the instructor reserves the right to make a subjective judgment in raising or lowering a student's final course grade based upon class attendance and participation. In general, more than three absences will affect your grade. I will not give a WP to any student who is being dropped for attendance reasons. Any student being dropped for absences will be dropped with a WF no matter what their grade average might be in the course. In addition, I expect all students to conduct themselves in a manner that does not disrupt the class.  I reserve the right to drop any student from the course who repeatedly disrupts class as a result of their behavior. Disruptive behavior includes coming late to class or leaving the room during lecture. Any student who leaves the room during a lecture once class in is progress cannot return to the room during that class period. In addition, students cannot arrive more than five minutes late for class. After that time, they will not be admitted.

Special Note for Emphasis: Students may not leave the class and return once it has begun unless in the case of a medical emergency. Students who leave the classroom thus cannot return during the remainder of that period. This includes both regular class days and examinations. Please come to class prepared to remain all period.

Students with special accommodation and who are registered with the Academic Skills Center must bring these matters to the attention of the instructor with all relevant paperwork by Monday, February  11^th or within three calendar days of adding the class. After that time, the instructor will not honor any special testing or classroom-related accommodations. Only those accommodations that are appropriately documented and registered with the appropriate college authorities will be honored with only those accommodations as noted in the paperwork.

Graduate Students

Those students taking this course for graduate credit are expected to complete an additional research project of a substantial nature. These students should consult with the instructor as soon as possible order to discuss individually this requirement.

Final Note

It is an important goal for this course that each student get the best grade they are able to earn. For that reason, please bring to the immediate attention of the instructor as soon as possible any matter, event, occurrence, circumstance, or consideration which might have a direct or indirect impact on your performance in the course. Please do not delay in mentioning such matters, even as a situation develops, since the instructor will assume no problems are bearing upon your situation unless informed otherwise.

Class Schedule

There will be three units in the course. They are as follows:

Unit I --  The Colonial Foundations and the Rise of Section.

The Unit I examination will be held on: Monday March 3^rd. Please read all of Fox-Genovese, Within the Plantation Household.

 Unit II – The Cotton Kingdom and Slavery.

The Unit II examination will be held on: Friday, April 11^th. Please read all of Pace, Halls of Honor.

Unit III – The Westward Expansion and Politics of Slavery

The Unit III examination will be held during the regularly scheduled time for the administration of final examinations. For this class, that will be Wednesday, May 14^th at 3:00 pm in Hopkins Center 210. Since this examination is not a comprehensive examination, but instead is the test that covers only Unit III, the total amount of time for its administration will be limited to one hour which is the allotted time for the other two examinations. Please read all of Campbell, An Empire for Slavery.

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