AMST 205
Material Aspects Of American Life
Course Requirements
AMST 205 consists of several interrelated parts: readings; class
discussions, presentations and activities; writing and fieldwork
projects; and homework assignments. There will be no midterm or
final exam.
READINGS: The readings are important. Be an active reader!
Take notes, think about what you have read, and come to class prepared
to discuss or argue with or ask questions about the readings. They
have been chosen to 1) provide instruction in techniques of artifact
analysis, critical thinking, and museum exhibition; 2) to provide a
variety of approaches to material culture studies and American studies;
and 3) to stimulate discussion and interest in deciphering American
culture. Please complete the readings for the day they appear on the
course calendar.
CLASS DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIVITIES: Class time is very important.
We are committed to making our classroom experience as interesting and
meaningful as possible. We will be learning together and working
together as a team; what you do influences others. We need your
involvement. Your knowledge and experience are important resources
for us all.
Your responsibilities are to attend regularly, come to class on time,
and come prepared for the day's activities. You can contribute your
attention, your leadership skills, your good ideas, and/or your
reporting skills in making those activities a success. On days when
a homework assignment or project is due, you should be prepared to
share your work with the class and discuss your findings.
HOMEWORK: There are three homework assignments each worth 5 points.
In these you will have an opportunity to practice your new HTML skills
and develop material for the larger project assignments. It is very
important that you keep up with the assignments and with the rest of the
class. Late submissions may be given a lower grade, but we will discuss
them with you at any time and completion will assist you in doing the
remaining homework and projects.
PROJECTS: There are five project assignments
each worth 10 points. These will include a formal analysis of
paper plates in American culture; an opportunity to research and interpret
the material culture of your own bedroom; a visit to the Museum of American
History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; a visit to
the Greenbelt Museum, Greenbelt, Maryland; research and evaluation
of an object in the Greenbelt Museum; and a final portfolio showcasing
your work for the semester.
The final project (worth 25 points) may be an individual or a team effort
to construct an exhibit for the Virtual Greenbelt Museum. You will be
asked to apply the field analysis techniques and the computer skills
learned during the semester and to report your conclusions in a formal
manner. Your final projects may be chosen as part of the permanent
Virtual Greenbelt Museum displayed on the Internet.
GRADING: Your grade will be calculated roughly on the following
basis:
Quizes and Class Participation -- 10%
Homework Assignments -- 5% each (15% total)
Project Assignments -- 10% each (50% total)
Virtual Greenbelt Exhibt -- 25%
In this course we work as a team -- students will not be competing
against each other for a limited number of high grades. For most
assignments, we will list the criteria for the evaluation on the
assignment sheet. You are welcome to make an appointment to discuss
our evaluation of your work at any time. Please stop in to see one
of us if you would like help with any aspect of your course performance.
RETURN to Course Syllabus