The Vietnam War: A Television History
HST 195 - 3 credits
Lane Community College
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97405
#00153 Florence
Fax (541) 744-4160
Phone Numbers
Fax (541) 744-3974
- Vietnam : A History
by Stanley Karnow
Paperback - 784 pages, 2nd edition (June 1997)
Penguin USA (Paper); ISBN: 0140265473 - Vietnam: Anthology and Guide to a Television History
by Stephen Cohen
Paperback - 520 pages, First Edition, (1984)
NY: McGraw-Hill, 1983; ISBN: 0-07-554429-6
This Telecourse is an integrated instructional program consisting of a thirteen (hour-long) episode video series, two examinations, and a term paper. In addition to the videos, students are required to read a textbook and study guide . (784 and 520 pages respectively)
Upon completion of this course, students should:
- Grasp the political, social, and economic realities of the Vietnam War.
- Know the chronology of the key events in the Vietnam War.
- Appreciate that the Vietnam War was a milestone in American history that has shaped the American character and helped to change political, economic, military, and social institutions.
- Realize that the Vietnam War left numerous issues unresolved, many which will continue to challenge this nation and the world into the 21st century.
- Comprehend the war and its aftermath from multiple perspectives, from hawk to dove, American to Vietnamese, soldier to civilian.
I am accessible via phone, fax, email, voicemail, or in person at scheduled appointments.
Although not required for the course, you will find that having access to the internet
and email will be extremely helpful, since I check my email multiple times
each day, weekends included. Since this is a distance course, I encourage you to
utilize this technology. My job is to help make this a successful experience for
you. You will find that I enjoy helping my students.
(I will explain how to get internet access and a web-based email account, absolutely
free and at no cost to you, at the end of our on-campus orientation session or at
some other time, if you'd like to make arrangements.)
I expect that all students will join the class listserv (you must have an email
address to do this) which is on the class web page at: http://slimac.lanecc.edu/users/escobarj
Here are the steps:
- Click the Class Newsgroup, Listserv, and Chat link on the homepage
- Click New User (near the bottom)
- Add appropriate information in required fields
- Click Create (at the bottom)
- Click More (at the top)
- Click Mailing Lists
- Check appropriate list (hst195)
- Click Save
- Click Logoff (you are finished)
Your grade in this course will be based on the following:
|
Midterm Exam 30% |
Letter Grades will be as follows: A+= 100% A=93%-99% A-=90%-92% B+=87%-89% B=83%-86% B-=80%-82% C+=77%-79% C=73%-76% C-=70%-72% D+=67%-69% D=63%-66% D-=60%-62% F=<60% |
Students grades will be available on the class website on the internet. Grades will be listed by the last 4 digits of you student ID number in a non-alpha sort. Term papers will be mailed back to you. If, for some reason, you would like to receive your grade information in another manner, please contact the instructor.
The exams will be given on LCC's Main Campus in CEN 423C, the Written Testing Lab. Be sure to bring a photo ID and a #2 pencil (pen for essay exams).
IMPORTANT - Although exams may also be taken in any of the LCC Outreach Centers (Florence or Cottage Grove) or the Community Learning Centers (Thurston, Willamette, Churchill, Oakridge, McKenzie), students will need to make arrangements with the instructor at least two weeks in advance. These completed exams must be in the instructor's hands by 5:00 pm on the last testing day. Therefore, these exams will need to be taken early in order that they arrive on time at the instructor's office for grading.
The Written Assignments are essays based on questions in Cohen's anthology and
guide. Although subjective in nature, they should be based on factual information
and must not be written in first person (eg. "I think", "I
feel", "My opinion"). Each paper is to be typed (double-spaced, 1
inch margins, 12 point normal font), spell-checked, and proofread, and be from 1
to 3 pages long.
Each paper will have a cover page that must include the following information (1
inch from the top, left justified) in this order (including spaces):
Student Name
HST 195 Vietnam Telecourse
Written Assigment #1 (or #2)
Chapter # - Question #
Retype the entire question here
Grade on paper = _____ / 100
Spelling
Grammar
Use of First Person
Answer the question(s)
Document evidence
Other evidence
Instructor Comments:
(Substitute your specific information for the italicized information.)
You must incorporate document, textbook, and video information into you responses
and answer ALL questions and sub-questions to receive a decent grade. Students
will be able to choose which questions they would like to answer from the CRITICAL
ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION section of Cohen's anthology and guide.
For Written Assignment #1 (choose ONE question from any of the following)
- Chapter 1 - Questions 3, 9, 11
- Chapter 2 - Questions 5, 6, 9, 11
- Chapter 3 - Questions 3, 9, 10
- Chapter 4 - Questions 1, 5, 6
- Chapter 5 - Questions 1, 6, 8
For Written Assignment #2 (choose ONE question from any of the following)
- Chapter 6 - Questions 5, 7
- Chapter 7 - Questions 2, 6
- Chapter 8 - Questions 3, 4
- Chapter 9 - Question 4
- Chapter 10 - Questions 5, 8
- Chapter 11 - Questions 4, 9, 12
- Chapter 12 - Questions 4, 9
- Chapter 13 - Questions 6, 8
The most difficult task required of any instructor is that of grading papers. Although the purpose of this assignment is not to grade papers on spelling and grammar, problems in these areas can only detract from the readability and enjoyment of the paper, not to mention the lack of care or proofreading they illustrate. You do not want me to be proofreading your papers. You want me to be reading your best work and best effort. Therefore, I urge you to seek assistance if writing is not one of your strengths. For help, other than your instructor, you should contact the Counseling/Advising Center, the Study Skills Learning Center, The Writing Center, the English Department, and the Library staff.
Combined, these papers are nearly one half of your grade in this class (40%), more than each of the exams. Consider what you are required to do in order to adequately prepare for just one of these exams, such as reading hundreds of pages of text and watching several hours of video. This should give you an indication of the effort I am looking for in the written assignment.
In summary:
- Proofread your papers
- Do not plagiarize. Violators will be punished to the furthest extent of LCC's academic honesty code
- Written Assignment #1 is due Friday, April 28, 2000 by 5:00 pm.
- Written Assignment #2 is due Friday, June 2, 2000 by 5:00 pm.
IMPORTANT - The papers are due, in the instructor's hands, by 5:00 pm. You may fax, email, or drop off the paper in person. Students will have five (5) weeks to complete the each paper; therefore, no late papers will be accepted. See the calendar below.
Many Vietnam Era Veterans believe that the little-known movies Hanoi Hilton and Hamburger Hill offer a more accurate depiction of the war and what it was like to be there than mega box-office hits such as Born on the 4th of July. Rent either Hanoi Hilton or Hamburger Hill and write a review of the movie. How accurately do you believe these movies depict a soldiers life in Vietnam? How has the movie increased your understanding of this tragic historical experience?
You may choose to write a paper by answering one of the FOLLOW UP questions which follow the CRITICAL ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION section of Cohen's anthology and guide. (In all, there are 13 to choose from, one for each chapter.) These questions are more like term paper topics and require some outside information. Be sure to answer the entire question.
The Extra Credit Assignment is due Friday, May 12, 2000 by 5:00 pm.
Review Session #1 - Thursday, April 27, 2000 - 3-4pm
Review Session #2 - Friday, June 2, 2000 - 3-4pm
Meet at instructors office, CEN442.
- Videos are available for term-long loan from the LCC Library.
- You may also view the videos while at the library in their media section. Check with the Reference Desk in the Library for additional information
All videos must be viewed thoughtfully and critically, and only after you have completed the appropriate preparation outlined in the student study guide. You may find yourself pausing the videos and rewinding in certain places to hear and see something again. You may consider watching them a number of times. Do not expect that a casual viewing of the tapes will prepare you for the expectations of this course.
See page titled SPRING TERM 2000 DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE DETAILS
#00153 Florence
Video materials are available at the outreach centers for registered students.
IMPORTANT - The calendar of assignments and exams is the same for Main Campus and Outreach Center students. The term paper and exams must be RECEIVED by 5:00 pm on the deadline day.
For Outreach Center hours of operation, see page titled SPRING TERM 2000 DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE DETAILS
See the calendar below for deadlines.
You are STRONGLY encouraged to complete readings, viewing, and assignments in the following order:
- Read the text and study guide BEFORE viewing the corresponding video.
- Take notes in a journal. Write questions and reactions.
- Be sure to read the Historical Summary, Chronology, Points to Emphasize, and Glossary of Names and Terms in the Study Guide
- Watch the video.
- Take notes in a journal. Write questions and reactions.
- Repond fully (in your own way) to the Points to Emphasize to fulfill the learning objectives for the particular unit/chapter/episode.