David L. Rouse
Zehmer 216
(276) 376-4577
Course Description: The course surveys the history of the Appalachian
region from pre-European contact to the present. Special emphasis will be
placed on the environmental history of the mountains and the effects of
industrialization (timbering, coal, textiles, etc.) on the people.
Text: John Alexander Williams. Appalachia: A History.
Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002.
Course Requirements and
Grading: Students are expected to
attend class and do the assigned readings before each class session. All
students will have two in-class exams and a final. Students taking the course
at the 389 level will have two book reports on works selected from the bibliography. Students taking the course at the 489 level will have an
essay (12-15 pages).
The format to be used in
the book reports can be summarized as “STAMP”: (Here is a
model.)
S - Subject of the book
T - Thesis
(or argument) put forward by the author
A - Anatomy of the book (structure & chronology)
M - Method(s)
used by author (e.g., oral histories, type of archival resources)
P - Place
the work in your own experience, either as a scholar (how does it confirm or
change your thinking about the subject-matter) or as an Appalachian resident
(draw from personal experience or family history and find parallels or explain
different viewpoints)
The essay should reference
at least two books and three articles relevant to the topic of the essay. When possible, primary source material should be used as well. The
topic and references must be approved by the instructor.
Assignments are weighted
as follows.
In-class
exams: 15% each
Reviews/essay:
20%
Final:
30%
Attendance/participation:
20%
Grades are assigned as follows.
92-100 A
90-91.9 A-
88-89.9 B+
82-87.9 B
80-81.9 B-
78-79.9 C+
72-78.9 C
70-71.9 C-
68-69.9 D+
62-68.9 D
60-61.9 D-
0-59.9 F
Students are expected to
know and abide by the rules of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise,
including the Honor Code.
Schedule
|
Date |
Assignment |
|
22 August |
Introduction to the
Course |
|
24 |
Where is Appalachia? The
Geography of the Region Williams, pp. 1-18 |
|
27 |
Some Geology and Natural
History |
|
29 |
Life in the Region
before European Contact Williams, pp. 19-30 |
|
31 |
Early European
Settlement Williams, pp. 30-49 |
|
|
Through the War of
Independence Williams, pp. 49-81 |
|
03 September |
|
|
05 |
|
|
07 |
Pre-Industrial
Appalachia Williams, pp. 83-118 |
|
10 |
|
|
12 |
Early Development Williams, pp. 118-156 |
|
14 |
Civil War Williams, pp. 157-181 |
|
17 |
|
|
19 |
Exam |
|
21 |
Post War Economics and
Politics Williams, pp. 181-197 |
|
24 |
|
|
26 |
Creating Images:
Stereotyping Appalachia Williams, pp. 197-223 |
|
28 |
Williams, pp. 225-242 |
|
01 October |
|
|
03 |
First book reports due |
|
05 |
Industrialization:
Timber Williams, pp. 242-259 |
|
08 |
|
|
10 |
Industrialization: Coal Williams, pp. 259-273 |
|
12 |
|
|
22 |
Industrialization:
Textiles Williams, pp. 273-281 |
|
24 |
|
|
26 |
Exam |
|
29 |
A New Deal for
Appalachia Williams, pp. 282-308 |
|
31 |
|
|
02 November |
Hillbilly Ghettoes: Migration
to the Cities Williams, pp. 309-334 |
|
05 |
|
|
07 |
The War on Poverty Williams, pp. 334-348 |
|
09 |
|
|
12 |
Scholars and Activists Williams, pp. 348-366 |
|
14 |
|
|
16 |
Pork Barrow Politics Williams, pp. 366-398 |
|
19 |
|
|
26 |
Second book reports due |
|
28 |
|
|
30 |
Essays for 489 due |
|
03 |
|
|
05 |
|
|
07 |
|