FAMOUS TRIALS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

Rogers State University

Dr. David A. Tait

HIST-3053 Spring 2006

Getting In Touch With Your Professor

Office: Room 112

(“The Bunker”)

Claremore Campus

E-Mail: dtait@rsu.edu Phone: (918) 343-7746

E-mail is often the most efficient way to communicate. Use it! You may get a quicker reply to your question or concern than with any other method.

Office hours: please refer to the professor’s website for information about office hours and appointments.

Website

Up-to-date information about this course can be found on the professor’s website. Visit the website regularly to look for new information. If there are changes in the curse calendar and/or course requirements, you will find them there.

In Brief

This class examines famous trials in American history to discover what they reveal about major social changes, cultural conflicts, and political struggles. Some of the reading covers conflicts in other countries to facilitate a comparative perspective. The class also explores the continuing significance of these trials in national memory.

This syllabus contains important information about books, grades, assignments and policies. It may be supplemented by additional information, and may be revised by the professor during the semester.

Outcomes

Students will be able to describe and discuss selected major trials and assess their continuing importance in American culture ad politics.
Students will be able to examine a sensational episode in order to discern the spiritual, social, psychological, medical, cultural, economic and political forces that may be at work.
Students will develop the capacity to consider multiple explanations of complex situations.
Students will demonstrate these capacities through writing assignments, class presentations, and class discussions.

Trials and Issues

Salem Witchcraft Trials, 1692-1693

Salem

European Witchcraft trials

Salem in national memory

Comparative Perspective: Contemporary South Africa

Witchcraft in the USA, 21^st century

Controversial evidence in child-abuse trials

Race and Justice

Tulsa Race Riot Commission

Scottsboro Boys

O.J. Simpson

Justice, Politics and Ethnicity

Sacco and Vanzetti

Scopes Trial, 1925

Scopes Trial

Evolution and religion

Evolution and Education

Privacy

The Supreme Court on Contraception

CLASS CALENDAR

Week 1. Orientation and Salem Witchcraft

January 9 and 11

READ: Salem Possessed (SP) Preface, Prologue and chapter 1

DUE: Lessons & Puzzles 1, SP reading, Wednesday

Submit as Word or text document by 9 AM

Also bring a hard copy to class

Week 2. Salem Possessed

January 16 and 18

READ: SP all

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 2, SP reading, Wednesday @ 9 AM

Book analysis of SP, Wednesday

Week 3. Witchcraft Considered

January 23 and 25

DUE: Monday at 9 AM. Witchcraft Book Selections

Monday at 9 AM. Book Review, SP

Wednesday at 9 AM. Two document analyses, witchcraft

READ: Library book selection

ACTIVITY: View film “Three Sovereigns for Sarah”

Week 4. Witchcraft in Scholarly Perspective

January 30 and February 1

DUE: Witchcraft Book Analysis: Monday @ 9 AM

DUE: Witchcraft Book Review: Friday February 3 @ 5 PM

DUE: In class reports on books, to be scheduled by professor (MW)

ACTIVITY: Student Reports on witchcraft books

Week 5. Witchcraft Today

February 6 and 8

READ: Witchcraft Goes Mainstream (WM), all

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 3 on WM, Wednesday @ 9 AM

Website Reports, two, on witchcraft, Wednesday @ 9 AM

ACTIVITY: Classroom Reports on Witchcraft Websites

Week 6. Sensational Accusations and Controversial Evidence Today

February 13 and 15

READ: No Crueler Tyrannies (NCT), all

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 4, on NCT, Monday 9 AM

Paper # 1 comparing Salem trials and child abuse trials, Wednesday @ 9 AM. Instructions to be posted on professor’s website.

Week 7. Witchcraft in South Africa

February 20 and 22

READ: Witchcraft, Power and Politics (WPP), all

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 5, on WPP, Monday @ 9 AM

Book Analysis on WPP, Wednesday @ 9 AM

Week 8. Witchcraft in Perspective

February 27 and March 1

DUE: Wednesday @ 9 AM. Paper #2 on witchcraft. (to be assigned)

Instructions to be posted on professor’s website.

Week 9. Scopes Trial: Evolution and Education

March 6 and 8

READ: The Scopes Trial: A Brief History (ST), all

READ: Crimes of the Century (CC), ch. 2 (on Darrow)

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 6, ST Intro, Monday @ 9 AM

DUE: Two document analyses from ST, Wednesday @ 9 AM

DUE: Evolution Book Selections. Wednesday @ 9 AM

Week 10. The Scopes Trial and Evolution

March 20 and 22

ACTIVITY: View Inherit the Wind

READ: Library book, Evolution

Week 11. Scholarship, Scopes Trial and Evolution

March 27 and 29

DUE: Evolution Book Analysis, Monday @ 9 AM

DUE: Evolution Book Review, Wednesday @ 9 AM

DUE: In class book reports, MW, scheduled by professor

Week 12. Evolution and Education Today

April 3 and 5

DUE: Website Reports, 2 on evolution and education and/or intelligent design,

Monday @ 9 AM.

DUE: Paper on evolution and education, instructions to be posted.

Wednesday @ 9 AM

Week 13, Privacy and Law: The Case of Contraception

April 10 and 12

READ: Griswold v. Connecticut (GVC), all

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 7 on GVC, Wednesday @ 9

DUE: Book Analysis on GVC, Wednesday @ 9

Week 14. Freedom and Justice For All?

April 17 and 19

READ: Crimes of the Century (CC), all

READ: Tulsa Race Riot Commission Report, all

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 8 on CC, due Wednesday @ 9 AM

Week 15, Sacco and Vanzetti

April 24 and 26

READ: The Sacco and Vanzetti Case (SV), all

DUE: Lessons and Puzzles 9 on SV Intro, Wednesday @ 9 AM

DUE: Two document analyses from SV, Wednesday @ 9 AM

Week 16. Politics, Crime, Ethnicity Race and Justice

Final Exam Week

DUE: Final Paper, date to be determined. Instructions to be posted on website.

Required Books

Paul S. Boyer, Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674785266

Isak Niehaus. Witchcraft, Power and Politics: Exploring the Occult in the South African Lowveld. Pluto Press. ISBN: 0745315585

Jeffrey P. Moran. The Scopes Trial: A Brief History with Documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s. ISBN 0-312-24919-5

Gilbert Geis, Crimes of the Century. Northeastern University Press. ISBN 1555534279

Dorothy Rabinowitz. No Crueler Tyrannies : Accusation, False Witness, and Other Terrors of Our Times. Free Press. ISBN 0743228405

Michael M. Topp. The Sacco and Vanzetti Case: A Brief History With Documents. Bedford/St Martin’s. ISBN 0-312-40088-8

John W. Johnson. Griswold v. Connecticut: Birth Control and the Constitutional Right of Privacy. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 0-7006-1378-1

Brooks Alexander. Witchcraft Goes Mainstream: Uncovering Its Alarming Impact on You and Your Family. . Harvest House Publishers. ISBN 0-7369-1221-5

Each student will also read two books from the RSU Library. These books will be assigned by the professor.

All books except the library books have been ordered through the RSU Bookstore. They may also be available from other vendors. It’s the student’s responsibility to obtain copies of all books in time to complete the reading assignments. “The bookstore didn’t have it” is never a legitimate reason for falling behind on the reading.

Required Work and Grading

Assignments

Item	Number Required	Value	Total Points
Lessons & Puzzles	8 (of 9 available)	010	080
Document Analysis	6	020	120
Website Reports	4	025	100
Book Analysis	5	020	100
Book Review 1	1	040	040
Book Review 2	1	100	100
Book Review 3	1	100	100
Class Reports	2	030	060
Paper #1	1	025	025
Paper #2	1	100	100
Paper #3	1	025	025
Final Exam	1	1 50	150
TOTAL			1000

Attendance

Class attendance is required: it is expected that all; students will attend all classes, arriving on time and staying until the end. There are 30 classes scheduled during the semester. Any student who misses more than four classes will lose 10 points for each class up to a total of five. A student who misses more than 9 classes will receive an F regardless of the number of points earned.

Semester Grades

Your semester grade will be based on the points earned on the assignments, minus any missed-class penalties, provided all course expectations have been met. Students who choose not to meet the “Expectations of Students” stated in the syllabus may receive a failing grade regardless of the number of points earned.

Semester Grade

A	900 points or higher
B	800-899 points
C	700-799 points
D	600-699 points
F	599 points or fewer

It is important to keep in mind that there is no curving of grades, and also that there is no automatic rounding up of grades (e.g., a semester total of 799 points can mean a course grade of C rather than B).

The professor may choose to add extra-credit opportunities, but any such opportunities will be available to the whole class, not just to individuals. Keep on top of your grades: make sure you know what you need to do to get the grade you are aiming for.

Descriptions of Required Work

The professor will post descriptions of assignments on his website prior to deadlines. Some assignments will be completed on forms provided by the professor.

Submitting Your Work

All assignments must be submitted as Word or text documents (.doc, .rtf or .txt) attached to an e-mail, no later than the deadline in the class calendar. Assignments submitted in other formats may be unreadable and won’t get credit.

The e-mail subject line must include the class name, you fall name, and the assignment. For example: Famous Trials, George W. Bush, Lessons and puzzles 1. E-mails that do not follow these guidelines risk being ignored or deleted as potential spam!

Also: print out a copy of your assignment and bring it to class.

COURSE POLICIES

Prerequisites

This course presupposes college-level reading and writing skills. If you do not read English well, the work will be very difficult. If you do not write Standard English competently, you will have a hard time with the writing assignments. If you have not satisfactorily completed English Composition I, it is strongly recommended that you take it concurrently with this class.

Approach to Learning

This course is built around assigned reading, occasional lectures and/or presentations, films, class discussions, student reports, and writing. Student participation is essential if this class is to achieve its maximum potential. Outside of class, students will learn through reading books and historical documents, investigating websites, and preparing writing assignments. Individual help is available: your professor is available to meet with you to help you get the maximum benefit from this class. You can also talk with your professor by telephone or consult with him via e-mail.

Expectations of Students

The path to success in the class begins with the attitudes and actions of students and the professor. This is what I expect of students:

1. complete all required work on or before the due date, and keep up to date on the assigned reading;

2. look up the definitions of words you do not know;

3. conduct yourself in class so that lectures and other scheduled activities can proceed without distraction or interruption (no talking, whispering, or other actions that can interfere with orderly learning). No communications devices (telephones, beepers, pagers, etc.). Treat other students with respect at all times. Students who disrupt the class in any way may be dismissed from the classroom;

4. comply with all relevant Rogers State University policies, especially those concerning academic integrity; and

5. attend all classes, arrive on time, and stay to the end. If you miss a class for any reason, it is your responsibility to obtain the notes and other necessary information from other members of the class who are willing to help you.

The Professor’s Responsibilities

The professor has certain responsibilities, too. You can expect that I will:

1. lecture on topics mentioned in the course calendar, or related to them, or lead class discussions on such topics;

2. provide reasonable advance notice of changes in the course calendar and/or required work;

3. maintain regular office hours for students; and

4. grade and return your work in a timely manner.

Preparing Written Work

All work must be typed or word-processed. Double-spacing and 12-point font required, except when using a form provided by the professor. . Please follow the guidelines for each kind of assignment; if you are not sure what to do, or how to do it, ask your professor! All assignments will be graded not only for content but also for the quality of the presentation (grammar, spelling, word choice, etc., as well as appearance). Use Standard English and aim for professionalism in your work. Be sure to cite the sources you consult and to identify the source of any quotations. Use APA Style or Chicago Manual of Style.

Deadlines

All assignments are due as stated on the class calendar. Late work is unacceptable. It will not be graded and no credit will be awarded. As a general rule, missed work cannot be made up. If there are unusual and unavoidable circumstances, please discuss the matter with the professor, who will consider requests on a case by case basis.

Special Student Needs

If you have special physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities, please let me know immediately so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Office of Student Relations.

Academic Misconduct

Students are expected to follow university policies as

put forth in the institution's Student Code of Responsibilities and

Conduct. In accordance with Title 12 of The Student Code (page 11),

instances of alleged academic misconduct will follow the policies and

procedures as described in Title 12. As a general rule, faculty at

Rogers State University have the responsibility of enforcing the

academic code. Therefore, if academic misconduct is suspected I will

submit a letter of alleged academic misconduct to the Office of Student

Affairs.

Non-academic misconduct

In order to maintain an effective learning environment, students

are expected to fully comply with The Student Code. Disruptive

behavior will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of each

student to read and become familiar with the policies of The Student

Code.

KEEP COPIES OF ALL YOUR WORK

Always keep a copy of any work you turn in. Although it doesn’t happen often, an assignment could get misplaced. If it does, you need to have a backup copy. It is recommended that you keep a hard copy as well as a computer file.