Course Instructors:

• Tom Averill (English):

Office: MO 300
Office Hours:  1st 8 weeks = TTh 9:30-10:45 am; 2nd 8 weeks = TTh 11-11:45 am
Office Telephone: 231-1010 x 1448
E-mail zzaver@washburn.edu

• Karen Ray (English; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences)

Office: MO 108
Office Hours: W 11-12 am
Office Telephone: 231-1010 x 1561
E-mail zzray@washburn.edu
 
• Sara Tucker (History):

Office: HC 311E
Office Hours: 9-10:45 am MWF, 8:30-9:15 am TR, and by appointment
Office Telephone: 231-1010 x 1319
E-mail zztuck@washburn.edu
Webpage: http://www.washburn.edu/cas/history/stucker/SWThome.html

Course Description:
Kansas Character/Characters is an interdisciplinary course focusing on the history and culture of Kansas and the people who have shaped the state. Course work is focused on the many steps necessary to first identify, then research, and finally create a presentation about a person in some way significantly linked to Kansas.  Presentations may take either of two forms: a fifteen minute live, in-character performance or a website including both a core interpretive essay and significant supplemental materials (ex: photographs, maps, excerpts from original documents, weblinks, or soundfiles).
 
Course Schedule (all classes meet in HC 307 unless otherwise noted):
Week One, August 24: Introduction to the course. Sample 1998 Student Performance and Website tour. Introduction to Online Kansas State Historical Society and other web resources.

Week Two, August 31: Survey of 19th-Century Kansas History & Characters: Bleeding Kansas through Populism. Class presentation and discussion.

Week Three, September 7: Survey of 20th-Century Kansas History & Characters: Progessivism, the World Wars, Civil Rights, Women's Changing Lives, etc. Class presentation and discussion.

Week Four, September 14: Introduction to Kansas State Historical Society Archives. Meet in the lobby of the Archives building (the further one, past the Museum) of the Kansas State History Center.  [To get there go west on 6th Street as far as you can go (6425 6th), or take I-70 west to 356 (Wanamaker) exit, turning north onto Wanamaker, and then almost immediately west onto 6th. You will apply for researchers' cards, and then be introduced to the variety of resources and finding aids available.]

Week Five, September 21: Class Presentations on Chosen Topics and Formats. Each student should bring a brief 250 word essay describing which character s/he has chosen to do, in what format, based on what resources, why.

Week Six, September 28: Technical Breakaway Session #1. Web and Performance segments of class meet separately for the next two weeks. Web students meet in Mabee Library Electronic Classroom (1st floor, in back center), learn Page Composer basics, start assigned Web Basics sampler (due online by October 4th).  Performance students meet in HC 307, learn script, narrative form and structure basics.

Week Seven, October 5: Technical Breakaway Session #2: Web and Performance segments of class meet separately again. Web students meet in Mabee Library Electronic Classroom, learn Page Composer Tables and Targets, start Table & Target sampler (due online by 11th). Performance students meet in HC 307, learn aspects of performance: props, costume, acting exercises.

Week Eight, October 12: Individual Research Day: No formal class; individual students encouraged to be at KSHS archives. Course instructors will be available there during class time (Tuesday1-3:40 pm).

Week Nine, October 19: Progress Reports & Discussion: Brief individual reports due on research progress and problems, early thinking about focus of website or live performance presentation.

Week Ten, October 26:  No Class. All students expected to continue research and work on developing individual website or performance. Individual conferences with course instructors encouraged.

Week Eleven, November 2: Website Core Narratives and Overall Site Design Description due. Brief class presentations (1st hour), then group discussion. [Core essay should be about 2-3 screens worth; site design can be description of organizational logic and coming components, but at least 1/2 half of components should be gathered, and ideally already on-screen.]

Week Twelve, November 9:  Performance Scripts due. Brief class presentations (1st hour), then group discussion.

Week Thirteen, November 16: No Class

Week Fourteen, November 23: "Dress Rehearsal" Presentation: Websites. Website students each conduct 15 minute "tour" of Kansas Character Website. All major elements expected to be in place.

Week Fifteen, November 30: "Dress Rehersal" Presentation: Performances. Performance students each present 15-minute performance as Kansas Character. Script should be complete.

Week Sixteen, December 7: FINAL Presentation: Websites. Website students each conduct 15 minute tour of completed website.

Final Exam Period: 1:30-3:30 pm Tuesday December 14: FINAL Presentation: Performances. Performance students each present final version of 15-minute Character performance.


Points to keep in mind when choosing a Kansas Character and Style of Presentation:

• no fictional characters
• no people who are still alive
• you must show a clear connection to Kansas (birth, residence, issue, impact on history, etc.)
• you must be able to find both primary and secondary resource materials on the person
• performances: since you must present this character as a live performance, it must be someone you can perform believably. So for a performance you must choose a character of your own gender and race, and whose age and other characteristics are ones you can reasonably portray.
• website: Note that creating a "cyber" website character will allow you to research someone of a different race, ethnic group or gender. But also note that you must have or acquire the basics of website authoring (this can be learned sufficiently in the two scheduled Tech Breakaway sessions.). While you are encouraged to seek help, you must learn enough to (eventually) be able to do all the basics of  creating the website yourself.


A note about this class:

Discussion and sharing is a key to the success of this class and the students in it. Your grade will be affected by your participation. However, your goal has to be even more than participation; like your professors, you must dedicate yourselves to being certain that EVERYONE participates, as equally as possible.


Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities may identify themselves voluntarily to the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSWDO) to request accommodations. The office is responsible for assisting in arranging accommodations and for identifying resources on campus. New requests for accommodations should be submitted two months or more prior to the date services should begin; however, check with the SSWDO office as soon as a need may arise.  Students may also voluntarily identify themselves to the instructor to discuss accommodations.

SSWDO Office Location:  Morgan Hall, Room 150
Phone:  (voice calls) 785-231-1010 x1629; (TDD) 785-231-1025