University Studies 212C 
American Studies: American Pluralism
Sophomore Inquiry: Fall 2005

Perplexities of American Pluralism

INSTRUCTOR:

        Michael A. Toth, Ph.D.                                                       Office: CH 271T
        Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 12:30 - 1:30 pm & by appointment  
        Phone: 725-3620 or email: tothm@pdx.edu

Many downloads on this site are in pdf or Adobe Acrobat format
if your computer does not currently have Adobe Acrobat Reader
you may download a free copy by clicking  here

Required Reading:
 1) Packet of Select Readings, available from 
Smart Copy, 1915 SW 5th Street
2) One of the following six "autobiographies:

The Accidental Asian, by Eric Liu Bread Givers, by Anzia Yezierska
Bloodlines, by Janet Campbell Hale Hunger of Memory, by Richard Rodriguez
Makes Me Wanna Holler, by Nathan McCall     West of Kabul, East of New York, by Tamin Ansary

Working Schedule

Week

Date

Course Topics

Readings

Additional Resources
1

Sep  27

Explanation of Syllabus
 Introduction to the Term

Syllabus Schedule
# 1, 2, 3, & 4

PBS    NPR
The Oregonian
The New York Times
Sep 29

American Exceptionalism
Historical Overview

# 5, 6, 7, & 8

American Exceptionalism
Historical Overview
2

Oct 
4

Working Concepts
Frames of Reference

# 9, 10, & 11

Street Calculus Cartoon
Your Own Status Calculus
Status Set Worksheet
Oct
6

Seeing the World(s)
Drawing the Line(s)

# 12 & 13

Brief Multiple Reality Quiz
Drawing the Line Exercise
Questioning "Eruvs"
3

Oct
11

Ethnicity, Race, Religion, Nationality, Gender
Dilemmas: Myth or Reality

# 14, 15, 16, 17, & 18

Whadda Ya Think?
Family Tree
"America Me" Essay
Oct 13

Assimilation
Historical/Contemporary

# 19

Ellis Island Website
4

Oct 18

Anglo Primacy: The Melting Pot 
(the old immigration and platitudes)

# 19, 20, 21, & 22

Myth of the Melting Pot
Oct 20

Outliers: Indigenous People
 (Leave Us Alone)

# 23 & 24

Wounded Knee Massacre Wounded Knee Assignment
5 Oct 25

What is a Nation?
What is a People?

# 25, 26, & 27

Goodbye War &Things to Think About
Pluralism & Unity
Oct 27

Outliers: Black Exceptionalism 
(We Shaped the Culture But Can’t Get In)

# 28, 29, & 30

Black Culture Quiz
Answers to Black Culture Quiz
6 Nov  1

Review and Reflections,
Discussion...

.

Practice Questions
Nov  3

Asian Americans 
(Not Always Quiet Absorption)

# 31

.Ordeal at Wausau
7 Nov  8

Hispanic Americans
(Changing the Rules)

# 32 & 33

Where We Are Now
About the Exams & Portfolio
Exam - Part I
Nov  10

Muslim/Arab Americans
  (Fundamental/ist Challenge)

# 34

A Test of Faiths
Answers to Test of Faiths
8 Nov 15

The Anomaly of Sex/Gender

   # 35 & 36

Lives Together,
Worlds Apart.
Nov 17

Contemporary Strains: New "isms" and Identity Politics

# 37 & 38

 .
9 Nov 22

Post-Culturalism Possible?  Summing  Up

# 39, 40, & 41

Exam - Part II
Nov 24

Thanksgiving Holiday
10 Nov 29

Group Presentations

Dec 
1

Group Presentations
11 Dec
6

Completed Portfolio and All Assignments Due - Cramer 217T

                    COURSE HANDOUTS