History 444\544: A Survey of Native American History
Spring, 2005; MWF: 10:10-11:05

Dr. Katherine M.B. Osburn             Office: Henderson Hall, 110
Office Hours: M/W: 11:15-200; F: 11:15-12:15; And By Appointment
Phone: 372-6297                            email: Kosburn@Tntech.Edu
Web Page: http://iweb.tntech.edu/kosburn

ASSIGNED READINGS
1. Miguel Leon-Portilla, The Broken Spears
2. Peter Nabokov, Two Leggings.
3. Polingaysi Qoyawayma, No Turning Back.
4. Theda Perdue and MIchael Green, Cherokee Removal
5. There are several articles in a packet that you will purchase from me. They are noted in the syllabus.

GRADES
1. Write-ups on articles:  13 @ 5 points = 65
2. Book reviews: 4 @ 10 = 40 points
3. Essay # 1 = 100 points
    Essay # 2 = 100 points
4. Tribal Website project = 50
TOTALS: 355-320 = A; 319-284 = B; 283-248 = C; 247-212 = D

PEDAGOGY: This is not a lecture class; rather, it is a seminar based on the radical notion that students have something worthwhile to say.  Indeed, the pedagogy I use assumes that you learn far more by reading and drawing your own conclusions than by sitting passively while I spoon-feed you material.  Much of your grade, therefore, will be attendance and analysis of the materials as expressed in your written summaries of the books and articles.

ARTICLE SUMMARIES: Every class period for which there is an article assigned, you must turn in a summary of 2-3 pages which addresses the following things:

1. What is the main point of the readings--that is, the authors' thesis?
2. What evidence does the author use to support her/his argument?
3. What question or questions, if any, do the readings raise for you?

These are worth up to 5 points each. You may turn in a summary during the following class if you miss class, but you will only get 2 points for these. I prefer these be typed, but they may be handwritten if they are legible. I reserve the right to require typed summaries if a student’s hand writing is too sloppy to read easily.

BOOK REVIEWS: The 4 monographs are better summarized as a whole, rather than chapter by chapter.  Therefore, you will turn in a 3-5 page book review that analyzes the material in the book according to one of the themes we are discussing.  I will give you guidance on how to do this.  These are worth 10 points each.  You will still be asked to discuss these works in class, so please do not put off reading until you write your review or, worse, commit the crime of academic colonialism by hoping to pick up enough material in the discussions that you don’t have to read.  I will give you random pop quizzes over the monographs and lectures, so be sure you always come to class prepared.  These quizzes will not count into your total, but, rather, will count against it should you fail—that is, if you fail a quiz I will deduct 5 points from your grade.  If you consistently come to class without your summaries, or if you fail to turn in a review for any of the monographs, you will be docked one full letter grade. 

BACKGROUND MATERIALS: In order to assist your understanding of the articles and monographs, I have linked a lot of background information into the website.  You are not required to turn in a summary of this material, but I will be looking for it in the answers to your essay questions and in classroom discussion.  Moreover, the policy notes are the thread that weaves these disparate stories into a coherent narrative.

ATTENDANCE POLICIES: I take attendance every class period, and I reserve the right to lower your grade by one full letter for missing classes without an accepted documented reason.  If you must miss a class, please let me know what is going on.  Sometimes students skip class because they have not done the reading. You are, however, better off coming to class unprepared than ditching, since you can, presumably, learn something from the discussions. Hopefully, the materials will raise questions for you, and discussion of these questions will benefit the entire class.  The bottom line is this: your contribution to the class is valuable and you need to commit to attending this class prepared to share your ideas with the group.  If this is not to your liking, please do not take this course.

VIRTUAL FRIDAYS: Most of our Fridays we will meet online, meaning we will post our responses to the readings on a web board on WebCt.  The student should have her/his response posted by the end of class on that Friday.  Late assignments are not accepted unless you have a documented emergency.  These virtual Fridays are marked w/ a VF.  Unless otherwise noted, all virtual Friday assignments require a summary posted to the web board.  

INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSTING FOR VIRTUAL CLASS:

1. Please post listing your last name so that I can find your grade page quickly and work alphabetically. This cuts down on the number of things I miss and helps me to be organized.

2. Please NO ATTACHMENTS. Cut and paste your work into the message. Again, this makes my job easier

EXAMS: Exams are essays. You will have the essay questions in advance, and you will have some choice as to which questions to answer on the test.  In addition, since testing your ability to memorize things is not one of my pedagogical goals, you may bring one 8x5 note card to class with the outline of the essays prepared in advance.  This gives you the added advantage of being able to come to me in advance and find out if you are on track in your answer. HINT: better prepare them all, because you don't know which ones I'll ask. 
THE DEAL THAT IS “SUCH-A-BARGAIN”: The exception to the above rule is the special deal for conscientious students: If you have faithfully turned in great summaries and reviews—that is, if by the end of the twelfth week, you have accumulated 50 of the 60 points possible at that time—you get to choose your own final exam questions.

PAPERS: You will research a contemporary tribal website according to a set of criteria I will give you.   

GOOD WRITING.   One reason you write so much in this class is to improve your written communication skills. This is something we all can use no matter what profession we eventually wind up doing. Indeed, businesses continually tell the university that they want graduates with good writing skills. Writing is like any other skill--it takes lots of practice to get good at it.  To make sure that your writing is up to par in all of your assignments, then, please see Academic Writing.                                                                    

PLAGIARISM: THE MORTAL SIN OF ACADEMIA: It is imperative that you do not commit the mortal academic sin of plagiarism in your papers. To make sure you are covered, see Policy on Plagiarism. Final Exams that do not include the proper citations will fail.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: All assignments must be turned in on time--that means @ the beginning of the class period for which they are due, not the end of the period. Thus, if you skip class to finish your work you will be out of luck because I will not accept it unless you can prove, through appropriate documentation that an emergency occurred. Computer problems are not an acceptable emergency, for computers "know" when you are on a deadline and will deliberately chose not to function. Having been warned that this occurs, I suggest you print your work out well before class time.

ADA STATEMENT:  Students with a disability requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS).  An Accommodation Request (AR) should be completed as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the first week of the course.  The ODS is located in the Roaden University Center, Room 112; phone 372-6119. I will work with the ODS to the best of my ability to help you.

SCHEDULE OF READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS

Jan. 19 & 21. W. Introduction: The Problems of Native American History; F. Anthropology 101: Anthropological Concepts in Studying Native Americans; and Glossary of Anthropological Terms

Week 1: Jan. 24-28. M. Discussion: The Great Migration & Paleo-Indians. and The Introduction of Agriculture; W. Discussion: Native American Creation Myths.  I will pass out some myths for you to read & discuss. You need not write a summary for these.) For background on mythology as a category of analysis see: Myth.; F. Practice Analysis: Ferguson R. Brian, “The Birth of War.” Download this article and draft a summary of it.  I will then provide you a copy of my analysis of this article to use as a model for constructing your own summaries throughout the semester.  We will go over these in class and critique our summaries.

Week 2: Jan. 31-Feb. 4. M. First Contact: MOVIE: First Contact; W. Discussion of movie: Patterns of Contact; F. Conquest of the Aztecs: Broken Spears, Foreword-Ch. 5; Please read: Background on Aztec Culture  
NOTE: Please see Things to Consider When Reading Broken Spears

Week 3: Feb. 7-11. V M. Broken Spears, Chs. 6-13, (YOU MAY SKIP CHS. 14-15); For your WebCT assignment please click here.
W.
Broken Spears, Ch. 16 & wrap-up; VF. Pre-contact “Civilizations” in North America: Brian Fagan, "Chiefdoms of North America." (For a general overview of pre-contact history by culture area see, Pre-contact History of North America: A Chart.)  Review of Broken Spears, due by Monday of week 4. 

Week 4: Feb 14-18. M. MOVIE: The Mystery of Chaco Canyon W. North America: Invasion & Settlement, The Southwest; Discussion: The Spanish in the Southwest,  and The Pueblo Revolt. You need not write a summary of this material. VF Invasion & Settlement: The Eastern Seaboard: James H. Merrell, "The Indians' New World: The Catawba Experience." Please familiarize yourselves with the policy background for the next several topics: Indian Policy: The Colonial and Early National Periods   See also: The English in the Southeast and The Puritans and the Indians.

Week 5: Feb. 21-25 M. J. Frederick Fausz, "Opechancanough: Indian Resistance Leader." W The Fur Trade: Sylvia Van Kirk, "The Role of Native American Women in Fur Trade Society." VF.  Empire, Revolution, & Indian Resistance: Colin Calloway, “The Aftermath of the Revolution in Indian Country.” Further background information on this period is found in: Revival and Resistance in The Old Northwest.”

Week 6: Feb. 28-March 4. M. Removal and Indian Policy: Perdue and Green, Cherokee Removal: A Brief History with Documents, Introduction and ch. 1 W. Chs.  2-3; VF. Chs. 4-5. Click here for the Quiz that will be your VF assignment.

Week 7: March 7-11. Spring Break! Hooray!!

 Week 8: March 14-18. M. Summary and Review; W. Midterm Exams. VF. The West: Uplift and Extermination: Two Leggings, Forward through ch. 8. For background on the Crow see: Crow Culture Things to Consider When Reading 2 Leggings

Week 9: March 21-25. M. Two Leggings: chs. 8-16; W. Two Leggings: chs. 17-23; No class (virtual or otherwise) on Good Friday,

Week 10: March 28-April 1 M. Two Leggings: chs. 24-31; W. We will meet and discuss the Dawes Act.  Download these notes  and be prepared to talk about this act, but no summary is due. Reservation Life: Indian Policy: The Dawes Act Review of Two Leggings due on Monday of week 11. No class at all on Friday

Week 11: April 4-8 M.  Response to the Reservation:  Raymond DeMallie, "The Lakota Ghost Dance: An Ethnohistorical Perspective." For background on this battle see: Wounded Knee; W. Katherine M.B. Osburn, "'To Build Up the Morals of the Tribe': Southern Ute Women's Sexual Behavior and the Office of Indian Affairs, 1895-1932.”  VF Toward a New Accommodation: The Reservation in the 20th Century: No Turning Back: chs. 1-5. For background see: Hopi Culture. See also: Things to Consider When reading No Turning Back

Week 12: April 11-15 M. No Turning Back: chs 6-11; W. No Turning Back: chs. 12-Epilogue. F. Indian Policy and The Struggle for Self Determination:  Katherine M.B. Osburn, “In a Name of Justice and Fairness.” Background: The Indian Reorganization Act and Native American Leadership; Review of No Turning Back due on Monday of Week 13.

Week 13: April 18-22 M. Nancy Shoemaker, "Urban Indians and Ethnic Choices: American Indian Organizations in Minneapolis, 1920-1950." W. John R. Finger, "Termination and the Eastern Band of Cherokees." Background:  Termination and Relocation. VF. Ward Churchill, “The Bloody Wake of Alcatraz: Political Repression of the American Indian Movement during the 1970s.” Background: In the Spirit of Crazy Horse: AIM and the Second Battle of Wounded Knee;  Also see the AIM website: http://www.aimovement.org/  

Week 14: April 25-29 M. The New Buffalo: Joseph Jorgenson, “Gaming and Recent American Indian Economic Development.” W.  In Whose Honor?: Ward Churchill, "Crimes Against Humanity."  F. Wrap up and review.

Week 15: May 2-6. FINALS Click here for the Final

FINAL EXAM: WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 10:30-12:30 Your take homes are due by 12:30.
You must hand it to me--do not shove it under my door or leave it in my mailbox.