FYS: The 1960s-A Decade of Change and Conflict
This course is an interdisciplinary examination of the tumultuous decade of the 1960s as reflected in the films, music, texts, politics, culture and social movements of the era. The Civil Rights and Women’s movements, the Vietnam War, the anti-war movement, youth counter-culture, the Environmental movement, and increasing violence and polarization among various groups, are among the major topics we will examine over the course of the entire year. The 1960s witnessed a clash over fundamental American values and ideas about human rights, freedom, community, the pursuit of happiness and the good life, the limits of authority and the moral legitimacy of war, civil disobedience and protest. The first semester will focus on the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War and the Anti-War, Peace Movement. The second semester will deal with the youth and racial countercultures and music, the women’s and the environmental movements. Various forms of media (films, documentaries, and music) will serve as a key resource as well as topic throughout this course. Viewing documentary films will be a regular activity in this class, along with reading texts, class discussion, and developing our writing skills.

Learning Objectives
1. Listen and read critically - texts, speech, media and other cultural productions - in order to examine, challenge and reshape themselves and the world in which we live.
2. Express oneself clearly and persuasively in exposition and in argument in both written and oral forms.
3. Carry out research for the purpose of supplying evidence and support for claims made in exposition and argument.

Texts (In order of use) * Bloom and Breines (eds.), “Taking It To The Streets”: A Sixties Reader Oxford University Press – BOTH SEMESTERS * Charters (ed), The Portable Sixties Reader Penguin Classics, 2003 – BOTH SEMESTERS * Williams, Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, Penguin Books, 2013; 2002;1987 * O’Brien, If I Die in a Combat Zone: Box Me Up and Ship Me Home, Broadway Books, 1999; 1973 * Kovic, Born on the Fourth of July, Akashic Books, 2005; 1976 * Diane Hatcher and Nancy Sommers, Pocket Style Manual 6E

Course Evaluation
Students will be assessed on the quantity and quality of their class discussion and their writing in informal papers and essays. Attendance is required but leading and participation in discussion is essential. As a rule, assignments will be downgraded for lateness if you are absent the day they are due or do not turn the paper in on time. There will be three formal essays (4 pages each) that will focus on our reading with critical thinking questions. You may rewrite one of the first two papers to improve the grade on your paper by getting additional credit. In general there will be a weekly one page writing assignment. There will be no examinations.

All assignments will be assessed qualitatively but I will report grades using a point score. Final grades will be determined based on the number of total points you earn by the end of the semester. For example, if you accumulate a total of 915 points for the semester your final grade would be an A-; a total of 850 points would be a B; and so on. Students may use the scale below to estimate their course grade as the semester progresses but keep in mind course grades are only final at the end of the term when all assignments/exams have been completed.

A = 93-100% or 930-1000 pts A- = 90-92% or 900-929 pts
B+ = 87-89% or 870-899 pts B = 83-86% or 830-869 pts B- = 80-82% or 800-829 pts
C+ = 77-79% or 770-799 pts C = 73-76% or 730-769 pts C- = 70-72% or 700-729 pts
D+ = 67-69% or 670-699 pts D = 63-66% or 630-669-pts D- = 60-62% or 600-629 pts
F = below 60% or 599-0 pts

* NOTE: All assignments must be completed and are due as scheduled. Late work will only be accepted at the instructor’s discretion and if accepted will be marked down accordingly. If missing class, please email assignment prior to class. Notify your instructor immediately for documented illness or other legitimate reasons that requires you to miss class time.

* INCOMPLETES will be given only under very exceptional circumstances.