Texas A&M University Latinos in the U.S. HIST 307, Section 500 Tues/Thurs, 5:30-6:45pm MILS 216

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1 1 Texas A&M University Latinos in the U.S. HIST 307, Section 500 Tues/Thurs, 5:30-6:45pm MILS 216 Professor (Dr.) Lisa Y. Ramos Office: 201 Glasscock Building Office Telephone #: (979) ( is the best way to reach me as I am not in the office every day) Office Hours: Mondays, 11am-1pm COURSE DESCRIPTION We will examine Latino history from the late fifteenth century through the late twentieth century, with an emphasis on Latino experiences in the U.S. The course focuses primarily on the experiences of Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans because these groups comprise the largest and most influential sectors of the Latino population in the United States. Some of the specific topics we will cover include immigration, cultural assimilation processes, racial and ethnic identity formation, social movements, and popular culture. The format of the course will consist of lectures, class discussions, small group presentations, film viewings, and guest speakers. REQUIRED READINGS Books Garcia, Maria Cristina, Havana USA: Cuban Exiles and Cuban Americans in South Florida, (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996). ISBN-13: Glasser, Ruth, My Music is My Flag: Puerto Rican Musicians and Their New York Communities, (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995). ISBN-13: Ruiz, Vicki, From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in Twentieth-Century America TENTH EDITION (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008). ISBN-13: Book Chapter Excerpts These readings can be found on the elearning website for this course. Go to: elearning.tamu.edu and login. Click on HIST Latinos in the U.S. Click on the Folder entitled Additional Readings. Click on the date the readings are due. You will find a list of Titles/Authors. Find the assigned chapter. If you experience problems accessing elearning, please let me know ASAP, so I can assist you or fix the problem if it s related to the elearning website. Readings will usually be added a week in advance. Students are expected to critically read, take notes on, and refer to assigned books and book chapter excerpts in presentations, class discussions, exams, and papers. KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES Students will learn about: the causes and effects of conquest and colonization on the Latinos in the US

2 2 the salience of racial and ethnic identities to Latino lives the impact of structural inequality (institutional discrimination) on Latinos in the US the ways in which the Latino experience in the US converges and diverges with that of other racial and ethnic groups in the US the social, political, legal, economic, and cultural factors that have shaped Latino groups in the US PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES Students are expected to: Be respectful. Please do not cause disruptions: walk in late consistently, hold private conversations with your neighbors, read newspapers, surf the Internet for non-class purposes, or do homework for other classes. FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN EXTRA ASSIGNMENTS AND/OR GRADE DEDUCTIONS. Wait for the professor to dismiss class before you start packing up your belongings. I will only let you leave early if you bring an excused note (signed, dated, and with a brief explanation) beforehand. Reschedule make-up exams or presentations. Speak critically and informatively about the major themes (conquest, colonization, syncretism, racial and ethnic identities, structural inequality, political resistance, and so forth) of the class. Be available (in person, phone, Skype, etc.) to meet with fellow students to prepare for and discuss class presentations. If YOU FAIL TO MEET WITH GROUP MEMBERS, YOU WILL RECEIVE A 0 FOR YOUR PART OF THE PRESENTATION. Write original essays that use proper academic formatting (Chicago style) and that are proofread for spelling, grammar, and typos. ESSAYS THAT ARE FULL OF TYPOS, MISSPELLINGS, AND GRAMMATICAL ERRORS WILL BE RETURNED TO STUDENTS FOR REWRITING AND WILL HAVE 10 POINTS DEDUCTED FROM THE FINAL GRADE. OTHER COURSE POLICIES 1. ATTENDANCE a. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY ON DAYS WHEN THERE ARE GUEST SPEAKERS. b. At other times, attendance is very highly encouraged. If you will have to miss an exam or be absent the day of your class presentation due to a university-excused absence (e.g. religious holiday, athletic event, serious illness, or medical emergency), please notify me as early as possible. Only students with university-excused absences can make up an exam or presentation. For students who have to miss class the day of their presentation, please speak to the professor about making up this assignment. QUIZZES CANNOT BE MADE UP. For information on university-excused absences, please go to: 2. ELECTRONIC DEVICES Please turn your cell phone and all other similar electronic devices off before coming to class. Only laptops are permitted, but only for taking notes and other class-related uses. If you use your laptops to surf the Internet or for non-class purposes, I will ask you to leave and not return to class until you have completed an extra assignment. Students may not record class sessions.

3 3 ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%) Students will receive a class participation grade for each class session. I will call on students randomly to discuss the themes, theories, important facts, and evidence in the readings. Please show respect for others opinions, especially when they are different from your own. You should not interrupt others when they are speaking. Students who are not afraid to ask questions related to the readings and course themes and who offer their informed opinions and analyses will do well in the course. POP QUIZZES (10%) At any time, I may give a multiple-choice pop quiz that will be based on the required readings for that day. Pop quizzes will be given at the very beginning of class. If you are late, you will not be allowed to take the quiz. There will be three quizzes. I will drop the lowest quiz grade. CLASS PRESENTATION (10%) Each class meeting will begin with a minute group presentation on the assigned readings for that day. A group will consist of 2-3 people. These presentations should consist of a: 1. VERY BRIEF SUMMARY of the readings (author s thesis and conclusions) 2. ANALYSIS (Option #1 - draw connections with class lectures, films, and/or guest speakers; Option #2 - draw connections with contemporary events and people; Option #3- draw connections with your own experiences, meaning describe how the reading s ideas/theories reflect your own life experiences; Option #4 identify passages you disagree with and discuss the problems you found with them). This is not an exhaustive list, but an example of how students should think critically about and apply the ideas of the readings to other situations or people. 3. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Students should come up with 4-5 questions. Questions should not be what, who, where, or when questions. They should be why or how questions that require more than a yes or no answer or an easy answer. EXAM #1 (20%) and EXAM #2 (20%) 40% of final grade Exams will consist of some combination of 4-5 short definitions, 1-2 short essays, and 1-2 long essays. Material on the exam will come from lectures, discussions, guest speaker presentations, films, and readings. Exams will be discussed in fuller details as the exam dates draws closer. ESSAY #1 (15%) AND ESSAY #2 (15%) Students will write two 5-page papers. These papers will be based on a combination of primary (firsthand accounts) and secondary (secondhand accounts) sources, which I will provide, and post to elearning. I will give more information on the essay assignments during the course of the semester. Late papers will be penalized 15 points for every day they are late. Papers will not be accepted after 48 hours from the due date. The UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER (UWC) offers one-to-one assistance with every step of the writing process from brainstorming to improving your proofreading skills. I highly recommend you visit the UWC if you have trouble conceptualizing papers, completing papers, or have received low grades on writing assignments in the past. Of course, any student who wants to improve his/her writing can use the UWC s services. You can make an appointment online by

4 4 going to the URL link: writingcenter.tamu.edu. Please take a copy of your essay assignment and your draft, notes, and sources with you to the appointment. The UWC is located at 214 Evans Library and 205 West Campus Library. Their phone number is (979) TEXAS A&M POLICIES Academic Dishonesty & Plagiarism Statement: 1. You are expected to adhere to the Aggie Honor Code, which states, in part, that "an Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do." You are also expected to be aware of the entire Aggie Honor Code and the Honor Council Rules and Procedures found at 2. If you are caught committing academic dishonesty on an assignment, you will receive a failing grade of F for the assignment and possibly an F for the course. 3. Plagiarism as defined by the Aggie Honor Code is The appropriation of another person s ideas, processes, results or words without giving appropriate credit to that person ( If you have any questions about what qualifies as plagiarism, please make an appointment to see me during office hours. ADA Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation, please contact the Disability Services office in Room B118 Cain Hall ( ). Any students needing such accommodations must also inform me as soon as possible. For further information on the ADA, please go to the Texas A&M Student Handbook online at COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS (This schedule is subject to change. If it does, I will let you know in advance.) WEEK 1 Jan 18 th, Tuesday Jan 20 th, Thursday Intro. to the Course Review of Class Policies & Syllabus Video Clip: Hispanics in the U.S. (4:36) youtube.com/watch?v=bgb3cm8pws4 Hispanic v. Latino: What s in a Label? 1. Joan Moore, Hispanic in the United States (1985) excerpt 2. Richard Rodriguez, Brown: The Last Discovery of America (2002) excerpt 3. Clara Rodriguez, What It Means to Be Latino (2004)

5 5 WEEK 2 Jan 25 th, Tuesday Jan 27 th, Thursday WEEK 3 Feb 1 st, Tuesday Feb 3 rd, Thursday What does Latina/o History mean? What are the major concepts of this field? 1. David G. Gutiérrez, Demography and the Shifting Boundaries of Community : Reflections on U.S. Latinos and the Evolution of Latino Studies 2. George J. Sánchez, Y tú, qué? (Y2K): Latino History in the New Millennium Chicano History - Mexico Before the Conquest (Pre-1500s) elearning Reading: Ross Hassig, Mesoamerica and the Aztecs Hernan Cortés and the Conquest of Mexico, 1520s 1. Pohl and Robinson, The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 2. Restall, Under the Lordship of the King: The Myth of Completion DISCUSSION OF ESSAY #1: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES Spanish Exploration and Settlement of Texas & New Mexico (Late 1500s- early1800s) 1. Chipman and Joseph, The Spanish Occupation of Texas, Jones, New Mexico Settlements and Settlers WEEK 4 Feb 8 th, Tu Chicanas/os in the U.S. (early 1800s-early 1900s) 1. De Leon, Leyendas Negras 2. De Leon, Ordinary People Feb 10 th, Th Chicanas/os in the U.S. (early 1900s) Ruiz, Skim Introduction & Read chps. 1-2 WEEK 5 Feb 15 th, Tu Chicanas/os in the U.S. (early 1900s) & Guest Speaker Ruiz, chp. 3-4 Feb 17 th, Th Chicanas/os in the U.S. (mid- to late 1900s) Ruiz, chps. 5-6 WEEK 6 February 22 nd, Tu Chicanas/os in the U.S. (late 1900s) Ruiz, Epilogue and Afterword February 24 th, Th Wrap-up of Chicana/o History & EXAM #1 Review Session ESSAY #1 DUE

6 6 WEEK 7 March 1 st, Tu March 3 rd, Th EXAM #1 (Early 1500s, Late 1800s, Early 1900s) 1. Picó, The Conquest of Boriquén 2. Gonzalez, Banana Republics and Bonds: Taming the Empire s Backyard ( ) excerpt WEEK 8 March 8 8h, Tu (Late 1800s-Early 1900s) 1. Duany, The Rich Gate to Future Wealth: Displaying Puerto Rico at World s Fairs 2. Daniels, From the New World: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans excerpt March 10 th, Th Glasser, Skim Preface and Intro. & Read chp. 1 DISCUSSION OF ESSAY #2: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES WEEK 9 March 15 th, Tu March 17 th, Th WEEK 10 March 22, Tu March 24, Th WEEK 11 March 29 th, Tu March 31 st, Th SPRING BREAK, NO CLASS SPRING BREAK, NO CLASS Glasser, chp. 2 Glasser, chp. 3 Glasser, chp. 4 Glasser, chp. 5 and Conclusion WEEK 12 April 5 th, Tu Wrap-up of Boricua History ESSAY #2 DUE April 7 th, Th, (1500s-Early 1900s) 1. Suchlicki, Enter the Spaniards & The Emerging Colony 2. Gott, Wars of independence and occupation, WEEK 13 April 12 th, Tu April 14 th, Th Garcia, Skim Preface and Intro. & Read chp. 1 Garcia, chp. 2

7 7 WEEK 14 April 19 th, Tu April 21 st, Th WEEK 15 April 26 th, Tu April 28 th, Th Garcia, chp. 3 Garcia, chp. 4 Garcia, chp. 5 and Conclusion Wrap-up of & EXAM #2 Review Session EXAM #2, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011, 3:30-5:30PM, 216 MILS