This course requires students
1. to recognize important cultural influences that both formed and informed Africans
and Europeans prior to their interactions in the New World.
2. to understand the historically dialectical relationship between black and white
people in American society and to recognize the agency of black people in forming
their experiences within the United States.
3. to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize a significant amount of reading material
from a variety of sources with complementary, but not duplicate lecture materials.
4. to participate knowledgeably in class discussions, informed by mastery of the
course materials.
5. to demonstrate critical and analytical skills in writing papers and answering
comprehensive essay questions on written examinations.

Utilizing lectures, assigned readings, and class discussions, students will examine
selected critical issues in the African American experience. Topics may include the
traditional West African cultural backgrounds of the peoples Europeans enslaved in
the New World; the institution of slavery; the slave community; antebellum free black 
people; black participation in the Civil War and Reconstruction; different schools of
thought on black education; the first fifty years of the twentieth century; and the
Civil Rights Movement. In addition to written papers and examinations, the instructor
may assign oral presentations and/or group projects as course requirements.

I expect all students to adhere to the University Honor Code and Academic Honesty
Policy. I will provide explicit guidelines for all written and oral assignments. I
will deal with any incidents of cheating or plagiarism severely.

This course requires students
1. to recognize important cultural influences that both formed and informed Africans
and Europeans prior to their interactions in the New World.
2. to understand the historically dialectical relationship between black and white
people in American society and to recognize the agency of black people in forming
their experiences within the United States.
3. to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize a significant amount of reading material
from a variety of sources with complementary, but not duplicate lecture materials.
4. to participate knowledgeably in class discussions, informed by mastery of the
course materials.
5. to demonstrate critical and analytical skills in writing papers and answering
comprehensive essay questions on written examinations.

The Traditional West African Cultural Backgrounds of the Peoples Europeans Enslaved
in the New World
The Institution of Slavery
The Slave Community
Antebellum Free Black People
Black Participation in the Civil War and Reconstruction
Different Schools of Thought on Black Education
The Twentieth Century: The First Fifty Years
The Civil Rights Movement

In addition to written papers and examinations, the instructor may assign oral
presentations and/or group projects as course requirements. The small class size of
Honors sections allows for greater student participation in class discussion than
possible in standard sections. Furthermore, Honors students will write longer papers
requiring more analysis, synthesis, and evaluation than students in the standard
course. Finally, at the discretion of the instructor, the course may deviate from a
general survey format to focus more narrowly on particular time periods or selected
historical issues.

I expect all students to adhere to the University Honor Code and Academic Honesty
Policy. I will provide explicit guidelines for all written and oral assignments. I
will deal with any incidents of cheating or plagiarism severely.