HIST 251
Latin America Since Independence

http://www.history.umd.edu/Faculty/DWilliams/courses/Spring12/HIST251
http://elms.umd.edu
Last updated: Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Spring 2012

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-11:50pm

LEF 2166

 Course Description | Requirements | Readings | Grading | Policies | Schedule

Prof. Daryle Williams
Department of History
2125 Taliaferro Hall
(301) 405-0061
daryle@umd.edu
http://www.history.umd.edu/Faculty/DWilliams  

Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5:00pm and by appointment

Teaching Assistant	Discussion Sections
Shawn Moura	0101	Mon	10:00-10:50pm	TLF 1103
3116 Key Hall	0102	Mon	1:00-1:50pm	TLF 1101
(301) 405-4330	0103	Tues	9:30-10:20am	LEF 1220
smoura@mail.umd.edu	0104	Tues	12:30- 1:20pm	LEF 1201
Office Hours: Mondays, 11:00am to noon and Thursday, 1:00-2:00pm and by appointment

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Course Description, Organization, and Objectives

HIST 251 is an introductory survey of the history of Latin America from the era of independence (c. 1800-1825) through the difficult transitions to democratic, civilian rule and neoliberal economics in the 1980s and early 1990s. The course explores the historical evolution of political economy and political cultures in postcolonial Spanish and Portuguese America, paying close attention to selected historical figures, trends, concepts, and events that help shape a historical understanding of modern Latin America. Recurrent themes to be discussed include independence and sovereignty, postcolonialism and neocolonialism, nation- and state-building, liberalism, citizenship, economic development and modernization, social organization and stratification, race and ethnicity, gender relations, identity politics, reform and revolution, authoritarianism and democratization, and interamerican relations.

The course has been divided into four major historical eras. Within each era, the lectures will emphasize major themes of continuity and change in the historical formation of modern Latin American society. The weekly discussion sections are structured to sharpen interpretive skills in historical analysis by exploring themes raised in the lectures and assigned readings.

In a variety of activities including quizzes and examinations, assigned reading, discussion section, short ELMS assignments, and written papers, students will demonstrate a familiarity with the natural and political geography of Latin America as well as a firm command of the major historical periods, problems, processes, and personalities of post-independence Latin America. By the conclusion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate an ability to articulate and develop a historical argument about key problems of modern Latin American history based upon a variety of primary and secondary sources.

The course meets weekly for two fifty-minute lectures and one fifty-minute discussion section.

HIST 251 satisfies CORE Social or Political History (SH) and Diversity (D) requirements. As of Fall 2012, the course will satisfy History and Social Sciences and Understanding Plural Societies General Education requirements.

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Course Requirements

A pass/fail Map Quiz will be given at the beginning of lecture on Thursday, February 2.The map quiz study sheet is available at the course website. Seven or more correct responses will be a pass. If you do not pass the quiz on the first time, you will have a second opportunity to take the quiz.

Each Thursday by 6pm, the professor or the teaching assistant will post an online assignment to the course ELMS site. By the following the following Monday at 9:00am, all students are required to submit a short two-paragraph response to the posted assignment. A typical ELMS Assignment will ask for a short written response to a primary document, an image, an online video, or an online newspaper.

The First Paper is due Thursday, February 23. The paper will draw from the assigned Lasso reading. Guide.

The Midterm will be held in class Thursday, March 15. The exam will cover materials presented during the first half of the course. Study Guide

The Second Paper is due on Thursday, May 3. Additional details will be distributed after spring break. Guide.

A two-hour Final Examination, to be held Saturday, May 12, 2012, 8:00-10:00am, will be cumulative in scope, with emphasis placed on materials presented during the second half of the course.

All students are encouraged to seek out the professor and/or teaching assistant for guidance in writing well-organized and engaging papers. Outlines and/or rough drafts are always welcome. Many may benefit from a session with the Writing Center, located in 1205 Tawes Hall. The Writing Center accepts both appointments and drop-in visits. Tel: 301-405-3785.

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Assigned Readings

The following books and articles have been assigned as required reading:

Chasteen, John Charles. Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America. Third Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2011. [ISBN: 978-0393911541]

Chasteen, John Charles. Born in Blood and Fire: Latin American Voices. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011. [ISBN: 978-0393935585]

Chazkel, Amy. "Beyond Law and Order: The Origins of the Jogo do Bicho in Republican Rio de Janeiro." Journal of Latin American Studies 39, no. 3 (August 2007): 535-565.

Dorfman, Ariel. "Afterward from Death and the Maiden." Southwest Review 8, no. 3 (Summer 2000): 350-5.

Dorfman, Ariel. Death and the Maiden. New York: Penguin, 1991. [ISBN: 978-0140246841]

Lasso, Marixa. Myths of Harmony: Race and Republicanism during the Age of Revolution, Colombia 1795-1831. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2007. [ISBN: 978-0822959656]

Levine, Robert. Father of the Poor? Vargas and His Era. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998. [ISBN: 978-0521585286]

Manzano, Valeria. "The Blue Jean Generation: Youth, Gender, and Sexuality in Buenos Aires, 1958-1975." Journal of Social History 42, no. 3 (Spring 2009): 657-677.

Townsend, Camilla. "'Half My Body Free, the Other Half Enslaved': The Politics of the Slaves of Guayaquil at the End of the Colonial Era." Colonial Latin American Review 7, no. 1 (June 1998): 105-124.

Zolov, Eric. Refried Elvis: The Rise of the Mexican Counterculture. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999. [ISBN: 978-0520215146]

ACCESSING ASSIGNED READINGS

All assigned books are available for purchase, download, and/or rental through the University Book Center, the Maryland Book Exchange, and many online book vendors. All assigned books are also available on 2-hour reserve at the McKeldin Course Reserves Desk.

Articles are available full-text via the Course Reserves section of the HIST 251 site on ELMS. The full-text articles are also accessible via ResearchPort.

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  Grading Policies

With the exception of the pass/fail map quiz, all assignments will be graded on a 100-point scale, with the scale 100 through 60 corresponding to the standard letter grades of A+ through D-. A failing grade is 59 and lower.

The final grade will be determined by the following formula:

5%	Map Quiz
20%	Midterm
30%	Writing Assignments (15% each)
25%	Final Examination
10%	ELMS Assignments*
10%	Discussion Section Participation*

*The grading for the ELMS and discussion section participation grades will be outlined by the teaching assistant during the first discussion section, but in general terms, it is important to recognize that these two elements of discussion and engagement represent one-fifth of the total course grade. Success in these course requirements will contribute to success in the course.

Always keep in mind that active and thoughtful participation in lecture and especially in discussion section will not only enhance the overall quality of learning, it will work in favor of students whose final grade falls near a borderline. Conversely, passive or nonexistent participation will diminish the quality of discussion sections and result in a lowered grade for students who choose not to engage.

Attendance in discussion section is expected, but attendance alone does not guarantee a high grade.

Late papers will not be accepted without prior approval. With the exception of legitimate excuses, late papers may be subject to a grade penalty of up to one full grade for each day late.

Students with a legitimate reason for the delay or rescheduling of an examination should speak with the professor.

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CLASS POLICIES

Electronic Devices in the Classroom

A wide variety of electronic devices (e.g., laptop computers, PDAs, smart phones, among others) play an important role in higher-education classroom instruction. Note-taking, the retrieval of assigned texts and media, consultation with the syllabus, online discussion and debate, and other learning activities conducted via electronic devices are acceptable parts of in-class learning and engagement. However, the potentials for distraction and abuse are self-evident.

In HIST 251, the standard of unacceptable use of electronic devices in the classroom is to understood as follows:

Unless specifically authorized, all online social networking, texting, instant messaging, tweeting, and voice communication with anyone outside of the classroom during regularly-scheduled lectures, discussion sections, and examinations is unacceptable. If you have an electronic communication device, these capabilities should be disabled during class hours.

Excused Absences, Religious Observances, and Accommodations for Inclement Weather

University policy excuses the absences of students for illness (self or dependent), religious observances, participation in University activities at the request of university authorities, and compelling circumstances beyond the students' control. In requesting an excused absence, students may be required to provide appropriate documentation.

All course expectations and requirements will comply with the University System of Maryland Policy on Religious Observances.

Inclement weather and official University closures may require modification of course expectations and requirements. Details of any change will be posted to the ELMS website as appropriate. 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with a documented disability should speak with the professor and/or the teaching assistant at the beginning of the semester to discuss arrangements for the appropriate academic accommodations.

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is a foundation for learning, as outlined in the Code for Academic Integrity. The Code prohibits students from cheating on exams, the intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise, the facilitation of academic dishonesty, and plagiarism. The suspicion of academic dishonesty may result in referral to the Student Honor Council. Questions and doubts about any the expectations for any course assignment or examination should be directed to the professor.

The Honor Pledge

Under the provisions of resolutions adopted by the University Senate, all students will be asked to write by hand and sign the Honor Pledge on all written assignments and examinations, unless otherwise instructed.

And Finally…

This syllabus may be subject to change. The online syllabus, available via the course ELMS site, will always be the most up-to-date. Students will be notified in advance of important changes that could affect grading, assignments, and other course components.

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Course Schedule