Professor Rachel Goossen                                                      Class meets MWF 9:00-9:50 am in HC 210
Office:  #311-D
Office phone: 231-1010, ext 1762
Office Hrs:  M & W, 10:00-10:30 am
                     T & R 11:00-11:30 am and by appointment
E-mail:  zzgooss@washburn.edu

I.  COURSE OBJECTIVES
    A.  To become acquainted with a wide range of historical literature on war in this century.
    B. To consider America's changing status in relation to global problems, tracing foreign and domestic policies from the World War I era through the twentieth century.
    C. To reflect on war's legacies in a broad sense, encompassing social, cultural, political, and economic areas of American life and thought.
    D. To develop communication skills, namely the closely-related arts of critical thinking, writing, and speaking.

II. REQUIRED BOOKS AND READINGS

Linenthal and Engelhardt, eds., History Wars: The Enola Gay and Other Battles. New York: Henry Holt, 1996
Shane Maddock, ed., The Nuclear Age. Houghton Mifflin, 2001
Tim O'Brien, Going After Cacciato. Dell, 1978
Margaret Sams, Forbidden Family. University of Wisconsin Press, 1989.

Additional required readings will be given as class handouts or placed on reserve in the library.

III. COURSE CONTENT
The course consists of reading and writing assignments, lectures, discussions, films, and students' research and storytelling presentations.

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
    A. Participation in World War I research--Congressional and public controversy over whether the U.S. should enter the war. You will be assigned the identity of a prominent American, and will present that person's perspective on the eve of America's decision to enter the war. (10 pts)

    B. Movie Viewing. From a list provided in class, you should choose to view one major feature-length film that considers the following wars: World War II and Vietnam. These must be films you have not seen before. The movies may be obtained from libraries (check the Mabee Library or local public library) or rented at video stores. In addition, the class will be viewing a documentary on anti-Semitism in the United States during World War II, and the classic 1959 science fiction film On the Beach on nuclear war fears. For each of the four films you view, you'll need to complete and turn in a "movie reflection" form. Periodically in class, students will be asked to report on movies seen. These "movie reflection" study guides will be due Sept. 23, Oct. 4, Oct. 28, and Nov. 11. (20 pts)

    C. Each student is to assess one of the essays in History Wars: The Enola Gay and Other Battles for the American Past. All students will be assigned to read pp 1-62 as background, as well as an additional essay for understanding of the controversy. Written reports of approximately three typed, double-spaced pages should assess the main insights of the assigned essay. (Written paper, 30 pts)

    D. Each student is responsible for telling the class one story on the theme of "war's impact on America" during the course of the semester. You are limited only by your creativity in the topic you choose or the way in which you tell the story. As part of this assignment you are encouraged to bring guests to class to interview or to talk about their own wartime experiences. Consult with the instructor ahead of time about your storytelling plans. (20 pts)

Suggestions:
    a) Stories from novels related to American warfare.
    b) Stories of people associated with war (i.e., Wilson, Eleanor or Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Oppenheimer, Nixon, McNamara).
    c) Stories from your own family.
    d) Stories involving war and Americans in other lands: i.e., Germany, England, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Central America....
    e) Stories drawn through oral history gathering.
    f) Stories of resistance to war.
    g) Stories drawn from primary documents. For example, use news clippings or correspondence in the Washburn University Special Collections, to trace the impact of war on the Washburn campus during a particular year in 20th-century history.
    h) Stories related to an artifact or exhibit (i.e., from a museum you have visited or will be visiting this semester).

E. In-class essay on Tim O'Brien's fiction. The class will be reading O'Brien's award-winning novel Going After Cacciato. Students will be asked to discuss this work, and the class as a whole will devise a list of questions about the work's significance and its relevance to our larger study on "war;s impact on America." A final activity regarding this book will be an open-book, open-note in-class essay. (20 pts)

F. Quiz on The Nuclear Age. One quiz is scheduled over the chronology (pp xxv-xxvii) in the book The Nuclear Age, as well as selected readings from this book. (20 pts)

G. Occasional Writing Assignments. Students will be asked to write reflective paragraphs in class, over Margaret Sams' Forbidden Family, as well as over other assigned readings. (20 pts)

H. Final Exam. The exam will cover major themes of the course. Exam format will include both objective and essay questions. (30 pts)

I. Attendance and Participation. Attendance will be noted during each class period, and regular attendance is expected of each student. I appreciate knowing in advance if you are planning to be absent. Students are responsible for work missed during any absences. Class participation will enter into the overall course evaluation. In particular, quality contribution to discussions is a requirement for an A grade. Come to class prepared to raise questions and to take part in discussions on the readings and presentations. (30 pts)

V. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Be attentive to announcements made in class of changes in schedule or procedures, including additional suggested or required readings. You are responsible for acquainting yourself with any schedule changes and newly assigned material.

If you must carry a cell phone, turn it off before entering the classroom. This is a matter of courtesy to me and to your fellow students, since phones are intrusive and disruptive of class time.

Students with disabilities who want to request accommodations should speak to the instructor and also contact the Office for Students with Disabilities, located in MO 150. This office has the responsibility of assisting students and advising faculty regarding reasonable accommodations.

If you have questions, problems, or have something you'd like to discuss, feel free to stop by my office or contact me by e-mail. You are welcome to take advantage of departmental tutoring assistance. Student tutors work with individuals; available hours are posted outside the History Department suite, HC 311.

VII. GRADING SCALE:    180-200 pts  A
                                              160-179       B
                                              140-159       C
                                              120-139       D

VII. COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1: Aug. 16             Introduction
Fri: Introduction to course

Week 2:  Aug. 19-23        World War I
Mon: World War I--review of important events
    Read Ch. 25 in George Tundal's America: A Narrative History
    (handout) and bring your notes to class
Wed:  World War I--review of important events, continued
Fri:  to be announced

Week 3:  Aug. 26-30       World War I
Mon: US decision to declare war. Perspectives of Doves, Moderates, Hawks
Wed: US decision to declare war, continued. Perspectives of Moderates and Hawks. Note: come to class prepared to indicate ideas for story-telling assignment. You do not need to have definite plans yet, but you should indicate your preference for which of the following (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, or Gulf War) you plan to address.
Fri: Class discussion of David Kennedy, "You're in the Army Now." (handout)

Week 4:  Sept. 4-6         World War I
Mon.  Labor Day--no class
Wed: Class discussion of "Homogenizing a Pluralistic Culture: Propaganda During WWI" (handout)
Fri:  American Pacifists and the Great War

Week 5:  Sept 9-13       World War II
Mon:  Video, "FDR"
Wed: Class discussion of "Pearl Harbor and the Yellow Peril" (handout)
Fri: The Draft and G.I. Experiences

Week 6:  Sept 16-20      World War II  -- Be reading Forbidden Family
Mon:  Class discussion of selections from Studs Terkel's The Good War (handout)
Wed:  Video, "America: Deceit and Indifference"
Fri: Video, "America: Deceit and Indifference" (conclusion and discussion)

Week 7:  Sept 23-27      World War II -- Finish reading Forbidden Family by Monday
Mon:  Class discussion of Forbidden Family.  Due: Study Guide for film Deceit and Indifference
Wed:  In-class writing on Forbidden Family
Fri:  Storytelling; also begin reading History Wars

Week 8:  Sept 30-Oct 4  World War II -- Continue reading History Wars
Mon:  Women in World War II
Wed:  Women in World War II, continued
Fri:  Pictorial Images of the Second World War. Due: Study Guide for a World War II film of your choice

Week 9:  Oct 7-11          World War II -- Finish reading History Wars
Mon:  Class discussion of Paul Boyer, "The Whole World Gasped" and Gar Alperovitz's essay on the atomic bomb. (handouts)
Wed:  The Enola Gay Controversy of 1994-95 (class will discuss History Wars, Introduction and Chap. 1)
Fri:  The Enola Gay Controversy, continued.

Week 10:  Oct. 14-16      Korean Conflict & Nuclear Age --read William O'Neill's chapter in American High on Korea (handout)
Mon:  Class discussion of O'Neill;s perspective on Korean War
Wed:  Quiz on The Nuclear Age (see chronology, pp xxv-xxvii)
Fri:  Fall Break -- No Class

Week 11:  Oct 21-25         Nuclear Age Fears
Mon:  Film, On the Beach
Wed:  Film, On the Beach, continued
Fri:     Film, On the Beach, continued, and discussion.

Week 12:  Oct 28-Nov 1      Vietnam War
Mon:  Introduction to Vietnam War. Due:  Study guide for film On the Beach
Wed:  Vietnam War
Fri:     Vietnam War

Week 13:  Nov 4-8             Vietnam War -- Begin reading Going After Cacciato
Mon:  Read "The Ghosts of Vietnam" (1994 Newsweek handout)
Wed:  My Lai -- Film and discussion
Fri:  American women's participation in Vietnam. Read:  "Honor Role: Monumental Memorial to all Servicewomen" (Chicago Tribune handout)

Week 14:  Nov 11-15       Vietnam War
Mon:  Storytelling from the Vietnam War. Due:  Study guide for film on Vietnam War of your choice
Wed:  The Vietnam War, continued
Fri:  The Vietnam War, continued

Week 15:  Nov 18-22        Fact and Fiction in Wartime:  Going After Cacciato
Mon:  Class discussion of Going After Cacciato
Wed:  Class discussion of Going After Cacciato
Fri:  In-class writing assignment on Going After Cacciato

Week 16:  Nov 25            Gulf War
Mon:  Class discussion of Newsweek articles assessing the Gulf War (multiple copies are on reserve in the library; the issues are March 11 and March 18, 1991)
Wed & Fri:  Thanksgiving Break - No classes

Week 17:  Dec 2-6          Wrap-Up
Mon:  Storytelling
Wed:  Storytelling
Fri:  Review for Exam

FINAL EXAM:  Monday, Dec 9 at 9:00 am