Introduction to the course:
History 390 will explore Vietnam and the wars fought in and by Vietnam during the 20th-century. Our course has a broad time line, but we will pay particular attention to the years of America's involvement in Vietnam. This class will go beyond being just a US history course (not that there is anything wrong with them, of course), and beyond being a course on Vietnam. I would like 390 to overlap several geographical and subject areas, and be a course where you can apply things you already know, and learn things new that you can apply elsewhere.
For those who think you have me all figured out: listen up! I will be departing from the exclusive use of the "I talk, you write" format that I am so fond of. In 390, we will have more class discussion, small group discussion, and films than in my other offerings. We will even have some outside people making a presentation to us. Through these various means, History 390 will provide us with a solid appreciation of major themes, trends and movements in the history of the world, Vietnam, and America. Unlike my other upper division classes, there will be no research paper in here. Instead, you will be submitting a bunch of in-class and outside-class responses. There will be an essay midterm and final, just to keep you honest. To do well in 390, make sure you do a couple of things. First, come to class and regularly participate in discussions. I need to hear from you. Before our discussions of books, make sure to read the material. Lastly, take notes during lecture and maybe even during films.
I post 6 office hours each week, and I encourage you to consult with me if I can be of assistance. I am happy to discuss issues raised in class, assignments, the reading, other history classes, you name it. There is no history prerequisite for this course, but if you find yourself in fog, please use me. Please feel free to involve yourself in our class as you see fit, whether answering a question, raising a point, or making a suggestion about the course. I learned a tremendous amount the first time I taught the course, so I would appreciate the input.
Readings:
The following three books are required reading and will appear on the exams (a subtle hint, folks). There is no shortage of literature on Vietnam, but I have sifted through some titles and picked three real "keepers." They are available at the University Bookstore:
Philip Caputo, A Rumor of War (Ballantine Books, 1977)
David Halberstam, Ho (Knopf, 1987)
Marilyn Young, The Vietnam Wars,
1945-1990 (HarperCollins, 1991)
Grading:
Your course grade will be computed from the following:
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%
Attendance/Participation 25%
Response Papers 25%
Attendance is an important element in this course. We only meet once a week, so missing a single class is bagging on an entire week of work. To encourage regular attendance, I will pass around a role sheet during each class, so MAKE SURE you get your name on it. If you miss meetings more than once without an official pardon from me, I will drop your course grade a full letter. As the staying goes, stuff happens, or something like that, so if you have to miss class, just let me know before hand.
Schedule:
Week 1 - January 13
Introduction to the course
FILM: "Apocalypse Now"
Week 2 - January 20
South East Asia: Great Faces, Great
Places
Week 3 - January 27
France in South East Asia Through 1940
READINGS: Ho, all
Week 4 - February 3
Ho Chi Minh
Week 5 - February 10
World War II
Week 6 - February 17
France Exits Vietnam
READINGS: The Vietnam Wars, pp.
20-36, 37-42
Week 7 - February 24
America Steps Up
Film: "The Green Berets"
READINGS: The Vietnam Wars, pp.
44-59
Week 8 - March 3
MIDTERM EXAMINATION
NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK 9-13!
Week 9 - March 17
JFK and LBJ
READINGS: The Vietnam Wars, pp.
89-104
Week 10 - March 24
American Involvement at High Tide
READINGS: A Rumor of War, pp. 1-23,
38-89, 124-172
Week 11- March 31
Protest Against the War at Home
READINGS: The Vietnam Wars, pp.
192-209
Week 12 - April 7
Nixon's War and America's Exit from Vietnam
READINGS: The Vietnam Wars, pp.
262-280
Week 13 - April 14
Vietnam's Wars Since 1973
Readings: The Vietnam Wars, pp 303-312
Week 14 - April 21
GUEST SPEAKER AND POTLUCK DINNER!
Week 15 - April 28
FINAL EXAM, IN CLASS
...and that's all!
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