Organization

Trinity College
Hist. 247: Latin@s in the U.S.A.
Prof. Luis A. Figueroa

Class Format and Requirements:

The class format will mix lectures, impromptu and systematic classroom discussions, online discussions, and individual and collaborative research and writing activities.

There are five major requirements for the successful completion of this course:

attending class and special events, and participating actively and thoughtfully in class discussions

active engagement in online class discussions

writing two five-page papers on specific Latin@ ethnic experiences

researching and writing a ten-page paper on Hartford’s
Latin@ community

a final exam

Attendance and Class Participation:

Each student is expected to read all the required readings and to participate in class discussions. Participation in the discussions means contributing your presence and thoughts to the success of this course. After all, this is your course! To do all this work effectively requires that students keep up with assigned readings, lectures, writing exercises; and that they come prepared to speak thoughtfully about the topics discussed in class.

Attendance is not only required but also essential, and therefore more than three absences without an acceptable excuse will result in grade penalties. Repeated instances of getting late to class will also count as absences.

Writting Assingments:

A detailed list of online discussions scheduled for the Spring 199 semester appears under Assignments. Each type of writing assignment has a particular function:

Online discussions using YAPP are designed to help students work through required readings by giving them an opportunity to react to both the readings and to the comments on them made by others students.

The two online essays, each equivalent in length to a five-page paper [excluding graphics], are aimed at allowing students the opportunity to engage in further reflection on the historical experiences of Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans. Students will prepare the essays using MS FrontPage or an HTML editor of their choice in case of prior expertise.

A final essay, equivalent in length to a ten-page paper [excluding graphics], on Hartford’s largely Puerto Rican Hispanic community. This essay should allow students to bring together the expertise gained over the course of the semester into a product that will address major contemporary issues facing Hartford’s Latinos and Latinas. The topic of the final online essay will be discussed later in class, and will be based on sources selected after prior consultation with and approval by the instructor.

Please take note of the due dates for reading and writing assignments as indicated in the schedule below, and plan accordingly. Late written assignments will suffer a grade penalty.

Paper Printouts:

Although papers will be posted online, students are required to print and submit a text-only version of their papers on the posted due dates mentioned below. These papers should be printed or typed in dark, easy-to-read letters. Computer users should print their papers in regular-size fonts (i.e., 11- or 12-point "Times," "Courier," or similar fonts). The layout of the essays should be double-spaced with one-inch margins on all sides, and with numbered pages. A front page with your name, social security number, course number, title of the paper, and date should precede the text of the paper. No large type/fonts or margins will be accepted in the body of the papers. Finally, please note that the minimum page specifications will be enforced strictly.

Grading: