Course Syllabus

U.S. WOMEN’S HISTORY SINCE 1877                     HISTORY 18.2

Santa Rosa Junior College                                        Spring 2025

Anne Donegan                                                            adonegan@santarosa.edu

Office 1552-A                                                             phone 524-1812                    

Office hours:  Mondays:  4:45-5:15.  Thursdays 12-12:30 

Hybrid Class:  This class is a hybrid class, which means we will meet in person for 2 hours a week from 5:30-7:30 and then 3-5 hours of work will be assigned as homework each week.                                                                                                                   

Course Description: This course is a selective survey of U.S. history from the perspective of women that analyzes the key political, social, and economic developments since Reconstruction.

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

 

Required Texts:     Carol Hymowitz & Michaele Weissman, A History of Women in America

 

 

                            Anzia Yezierska, Bread Givers

 

Attendance 

Regular class attendance and note taking are expected and recommended.   When you are absent, it is very important that you get notes from a classmate.  

                                   

Course Requirements:

Homework:  Turning in homework assignments and/or in class writing will be worth 125 points. There will be approximately 4-6 pages of assigned homework.  This is a hybrid class, so roughly 3-4 of work will be assigned each week that you will do on your own outside of class.  

 Exams: There will be two examinations, a midterm worth 50 points, and a final exam worth 125 points. Tests will be based on all assigned reading and on material presented in class. The material to be covered on the tests will be discussed prior to each test date. Make up exams are possible only in cases of extreme emergency or serious illness.   If you do not notify me prior to the scheduled exam date, an automatic 10 points will be deducted from your score.

 Analytical Essay: There will be a 4-6 page essay on Bread Givers worth 100 points.

 

Sources: For each assignment, I will specifically list what sources you can use to answer the assigned questions. You can not use any other sources.  Using other sources or plagiarism will result in a 0 grade for that assignment, and could lead to disciplinary action with the College. Unless specifically included in the instructions of an assignment, Artificial Intelligence sources are not allowed to complete work assigned in this class.  

Citations: Be sure to cite when asked. Informal citations are fine.  Examples of informal citations:

 Text book: (H & W, p. 12)

Class Notes:  (Class Notes: Industrialization).

 

Extra Credit:

1. Students may pass in a short essay explaining how a current news story, film, TV show, or campus event relates to a topic discussed in class.   Each essay needs to 1-2 typed pages long and will be worth 0-3 points.   Please include a copy of the article if applicable.

No more than 20 extra credit points can be earned. No extra credit will be accepted after May 12th.

 

Classroom Principles:

1. Ask questions if something doesn't make sense.  
2. Agree and Disagree with one another with respect.   Keep an Open Mind.
3. Be engaged in class.      In class, phones should be put away, unless you have an important reason to keep it out.   If you need access to your phone during class, talk to me at the start of class.   If you use your phone during class without checking with me first, I will ask you to leave the class.
4. Be engaged in class (part 2)!  Come to class awake and ready to go!   If you fall asleep in class, I will ask you to go home and get some much needed rest.  

Course Outline

 

Module 1: Weeks 1-8                                      January 13th-March 10th

Lecture & Discussion Topics                                 Assigned Reading

Women in the 19^th century                               Hymowitz & Weissman, ch. 5-8

The West                                                         H & W, ch. 11-12

Turn of the century reformers                          H & W, ch. 13

Working Women                                               H & W, ch. 14

1/20               No Class:   MLK Holdiay

2/2                 Last Day to drop without a “W”

2/17               No Class:  Washington Holiday

2/24              Midterm #1

Module  2:   Weeks 7-15                                  March 24th -May 19th

Women’s Suffrage & Radicalism                       H & W ch. 15 & 16

Women in the 1920s & the Depression                        H & W, ch. 17

World War II & the 1950s                                             H & W, ch 18

The 1960s & the Modern Women’s Movement            H & W ch. 19

3/17                No Class:   Spring Break

3/31                No Class:   Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Day

4/14               Discuss Bread Givers

4/20               Last Day to Drop with a “W”

5/5                Bread Givers Essay Due

5/12             Last Day to Pass in Extra Credit

Final Exam:      May 19th

                                               

Assignment & Examinations may be Subject to Change by the Instructor