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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 300 Level Courses > HISP 311 Evolution of the American Landscape

UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION

EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE
HISP 311

Adjunct lecturer. Valorie L. Hennigan
Fall 2004
T 7:00 – 9:45pm
CMBS 112

Office Hours 5:45 – 6:45 pm
Or by appointment, Combs 125

Office Phone (540) 654-1316
Email Vhennigan@netzero.net

COURSE SYLLABUS

Description

An introduction to the study of American landscape history from its colonial beginnings to the present day, emphasizing the historic and contemporary forces, which shaped the landscape. Students will learn to recognize and acknowledge the impact of the landscape on individuals and American society. The course format will focus on readings and discussion sessions in a relaxed class atmosphere of a book discussion group to encourage student to participate and explore various viewpoints.

Requirements

1.   A one to two page Creative Landscape Essay

  • Each student will be required to give a short presentation (5 minutes) based on the Creative Landscape Essay. Each student should present a rehearsed and professional presentation.

2.  Approximately 60 to 170 pages of assigned reading each week with class discussion focusing primarily on the content of assigned reading

  • Students will be expected to participate in every class period and to have completed reading assigned for that period prior to attending class
  • Each student will be responsible for leading one class discussion period

3.  Landscape Reflection Writings

  • Every student will be asked to prepare one (1) written page for each assigned reading in order to record his/her original reactions, reflections and thoughts with respect to the reading assignment and to facilitate class discussion. (Note: Each class period will have between 1 and 3 assigned readings)
  • (2) Two copies will be brought to class – one will be turned in to the instructor at the beginning of the class period and the student will retain the other for class discussion.
  • Landscape reflection writings do not need to be typed as long as the instructor can read each student's handwriting easily. For typed writings, single space between lines and double space between paragraphs.
  • Writings will be graded on a Good Faith Effort, meaning each student will receive 1 point per writing (indicated by a checkmark) as long as he/she has made a realistic effort to record original reflections and thoughts for each reading assignment.
  • While it is anticipated that students will miss a few writing due to class absence, illness, etc., students must submit writings for twenty-five (25) of the reading assignments in order to complete this portion of the course.

4.  Five page paper on the evolution of a landscape topic

  • Each student will be asked to research and write a paper on the evolution of a particular landscape feature or site.
  • The objective of the paper is not to simply record the history of a particular landscape feature or site, but to discuss how that feature or site has evolved over time, what forces contributed to that evolution and how that feature or site impacts human society today.
  • Topics will be selected and agreed upon by each student and the instructor. The landscape feature or site must be in the Fredericksburg area.
  • Students are required to visit the landscape feature or site as part of the research for the paper.
  • Papers and topics as well as outlines and bibliographies will be due on assigned dates in order to allow the instructor to monitor student progress.

5.  Final exam

The final exam will be in the form of a required short presentation (5 minutes) based on the evolution paper topic. Each student should present a rehearsed and professional presentation. Visual aids (slides, photographs, etc.) should be incorporated into the presentation.

Assignments

All assignments should be completed in accordance with the guidelines contained in A Manual for Writers (6 th ed.), Kate L. Turabian. If you are not familiar with Turabian, please remedy this situation ASAP! Note: Only footnote or endnote citations are permissible ; no parenthetical references.

All assignments must be pledged. In the event an assignment is turned in without being pledged, the instructor reserves the right to withhold recording a grade until an assignment is pledged and resubmitted. Students are expected to abide by the provisions of the UMW Honor Code when completing all assignments.

All assignments must be stapled (for multiple pages) and are due at the beginning of class unless specified otherwise by the instructor. There will be a five-minute grace period at the beginning of class while the instructor collects assignments. Any assignment that is turned in after the 5-minute grace period will automatically be marked down the equivalent of one letter grade (no exceptions). Thereafter, for every hour the assignment is past due the equivalent of one letter grade will be deducted. Landscape reflection writings will not be accepted after the 5-minute grace period.

Computer problems

When completing all assignments, students are expected to allow sufficient time for computer-related problems, including printing. However, every student in the course is allotted one (1), and only one (1), computer “freebie” for the semester with respect to late assignments. This “freebie” will constitute an exception to the late assignment policy stated above; provided that the student notifies the instructor before class and signs a statement indicating that a technical problem is the reason for the late assignment.

Classroom behavior

Every student is expected to be respectful and attentive when other students are making comments or asking questions. In order to maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and participation, rude and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Additionally, while the instructor encourages class participation from everyone, students with a tendency to be outspoken as asked to keep their participation to a reasonable level so that they do not monopolize class time or intimidate other students.

Out of respect for all students, cell phones and pagers must be turned off during the class session. If a student has an emergency, please ask that someone call the department main number ( 654-1041 ) and Sharon Hale will see that the message reaches you.

Grading Criteria

The course requirements will be graded on a point system in order to enable students to keep track of their progress easily. The point system is as follows:

25
Creative Landscape Essay
10
 Creative Essay Presentation
100
 General class discussion and participation
25
Class discussion session (Leading (1) class discussion)
35
 Landscape Reflection Writings
100
Landscape Evolution Paper
50
 Final Exam Presentation
 345
 points

Individual Assignments

For individual assignments, each student will be given a point value. The percentage can be calculated by dividing the point value by the total number of points available. For example, if an assignment is worth a total of 50 points and student received 44 points, the equivalent percentage is 44/50 or 88% (a B+). The instructor will typically give students both the point value and the equivalent percentage when handing back assignments.

Grading scale

For individual assignment grades

GRADE
PERCENTAGE
A 100% - 94%
A- 93% - 90%
B+ 89% - 87%
B 86%-83%
B- 82% - 80%
C+ 79% - 77%
C 76% - 73%
C- 72% - 70%
D+ 69% - 67%
D 66% - 60%
F below 60%

For Course Grades

GRADE
POINTS
A 335-324
A- 323-311
B+ 310-300
B 299-286
B- 285-276
C+ 275-266
C 265-252
C- 251-242
D+ 241-232
D 231-207
F 206 or less

Note: No passing grade can be achieved in this course without the completion of each and every course requirement.

Required Text

Gilmer, Maureen. Redwoods and Roses: The Gardening Heritage of California and the Old West. Dallas, Texas. Taylor Publishing Company, 1995. 

Cronon, William. Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England. New York: Hill and Wang, 1983.  

Olmstead, Frederick Law; edited by S. B. Sutton. Civilizing American Cities: Writings on City Landscapes. Da Capo Press, 1997.

Foote, Kenneth E. Shadowed Ground: America's Landscapes of Violence and Tragedy. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2004 or 1997.

Francaviglia, Richard V. Main Street Revisited: Time, Space, and Image Building in Small-town America. Iowa City, IA University of Iowa Press, 1996.

Thompson, George F., ed. Landscape in America. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1995.

Course Schedule and Assignments

Week 1
August 24     Introduction

      Overview of syllabus and course requirements

      Discussion – Identifying and recognizing landscape features

      Assignment – Creative Landscape Essay (due September 7)

Week 2
August 31     Landscape in America pp. ix-xiv, 3-74 (Beginnings)

Changes in the Land pp.1-53

      Changes in the Land pp. 54-107    

Week 3

September 7     Creative Landscape Essay due

Landscape in America pp. 75-142 (Landscape as History)

Changes in the Land pp. 108-156

Redwoods and Roses pp. 5-87 

Week 4
September 14     Creative Landscape Essay Presentations

Redwoods and Roses pp. 88-135

Redwoods and Roses pp. 136-188

Redwoods and Roses pp. 189-194

Week 5
September 21     Paper Topic Due

Creative Landscape Essay Presentations

Main Street Revisited pp. xi-38

Main Street Revisited pp. 39-64

Main Street Revisited pp. 65-101 

Week 6
September 28     Video – In Little Towns Like These

      Video – Landscape Architecture

 

Week 7
October 5     Main Street Revisited pp. 102-129

      Main Street Revisited pp. 130-167

Main Street Revisited pp. 168-192

Week 8
October 12     No class – Fall Break

Week 9
October 19     Civilizing American Cities pp. 21-99

Civilizing American Cities pp. 101-220

Week 10
October 26     Civilizing American Cities pp. 221-262

Civilizing American Cities pp. 263-306

      Landscape in America pp. 143-170 (Landscape as Myth and Memory)        

Week 11
November 2     Outline and working Bibliography for Paper due

      Landscape in America pp. 171-204 (Landscape as Myth and Memory)

Landscape in America pp. 205-222 (Landscape as Art)     

Week 12
November 9     Shadowed Ground pp. 1-79

Shadowed Ground pp. 80-110

Shadowed Ground pp. 111-144

Week 13
November 16     

Landscape in America pp. 275-286 (Landscape as Art)

Shadowed Ground pp. 145-173

Shadowed Ground pp. 174-213      

Week 14
November 23     Shadowed Ground pp. 214-246

Shadowed Ground pp. 246-264 (Mormon Flight Into the Wilderness)

      Shadowed Ground pp. 265-292     

Week 15
November 30     Shadowed Ground pp. 293-322

Shadowed Ground pp. 322-336 (Conflicting Meaning)

Shadowed Ground pp. 337-357

      Organization of Presentations

      Evolution Paper Due

Week 16
December 7     Final Exam 7:00 to 9:30 pm