Topics in Historical Memory: Nationalism and Memory

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Identify, analyze, and articulate verbally and in writing various elements of American national “collective memory” --  narratives of historical development and belonging that inform and underlie a wide variety of vernacular and official commemorations and “memory sites” -- in historical markers and monuments, commemorative spaces and rituals, political speech and propaganda, film, news, and a wide variety of public culture forms. (SLO1)
• Research and report the findings and evidence of rigorous and reputable scholars who seek to explain collective memory. (SLO2)
• Research and report your own findings about the content, purposes, and elisions of historic sites, ritual commemorations, pictorial, filmic, and rhetorical representations of the American past and disputed boundaries of American national identity. (SLO3)
• Agree and respectfully disagree as to the historical validity and legitimacy of different public projects that seek to represent the American past as balanced, “viewpoint diverse,” and inclusive, especially in relation to well resourced national commemorative sites, museums, and monuments. (SLO4)

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Attendance and participation – the virtual community	20%
Discussion Posts and Writings	40%
Memory Site Report	10%
Scholarly Analysis Report and Paper	10%
Final Projects	20%

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
93 and above	A
90-92	A-
87-89	B+
83-86	B
80-82	B-
77-79	C+
73-76	C
70-72	C-
67-69	D+
63-66	D
60-62	D-
Less than 60	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance and participation – the virtual community (20%) is essential. By the assigned date and time, students must have done all or most of the assigned reading and posted the required writing or video to the Canvas discussion or assignment page. Quality, clarity, concision, and pertinence of comments are evaluated, as well as substantive engagement with peers through the Reply function. AI use, excessively long polished entries with little reference to authors and historical figures under review, detract from class engagement and will be penalized. Preparation, timely responsiveness, cooperation, and respectful disagreement are essential criteria. Part of the grade reflects thoughtful and consistent comments on the 2 required videos: the Memory Site Report and the Scholarly Argument Report.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No book is required for purchase. All assigned materials will be available through .pdf in Canvas. Once the class votes on the themes and content, a course packet of materials in the public domain will be produced for the Bookstore and a more affordable local copy shop to make available.