Montgomery College

Rockville Campus

History and Political Science Department

Syllabus

Spring 2009

 

HS 137 (33145)                                  Instructor: Shuping Wan

History of Asian Americans              Office: HU 270

(MWF) 10:00-10:50                           Office hours: (MWF) 8-25-9:55am

(R)  6:00-6:30pm and appointment

                                                            Office phone: 240567-5024

                                                            Department phone: 240-567-5178

E-mail: shuping.wan@motgomerycollege.edu

Course Texts:

Ronald Takaki, Strangers from Another Shore

Renqiu Yu, To Save China, to Save Ourselves

 

General Course Information:

 

Brief Course Description: This course is a historical survey of the diverse experience of Asian Americans in the United States.  Topics include international context of Asian immigration, immigration and livelihood, hostility and conflict, social organizations of Asian immigrant communities, resistance to oppression, women, family, and cultural dilemma, new immigrants and refugees, myth of the “model minority” and other current issues.  Methodologically, we will investigate whether concepts such as colonialism, capitalism, imperialism, the third world, gender, class, may or may not help us better understand the experience of Asian Americans.

 

Aims and Objectives: The goal of the course is to illuminate the process by which Asians became a part of American society.  By the end of the course students should be able to outline the experience of Asians in the United States since the mid-nineteenth century, describe important historical events that occurred in the history of Asian Americans, and analyze some important issues in Asian American studies.

 

 

Course Learning Objectives:

1. To explore the international context of the first wave of Asian immigration

2. To outline the diverse experience of the Chinese and the Japanese in the US before WWII

3. To identify some important laws and institutions related to the experience of Asians in the US

4. To relate the issue of colonialism to the experience of Koreans, Asian Indians and Filipinos.

5. To relate WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War  to the experience of the Chinese, the Japanese, the Korean, and the Vietnamese in the US.

6. To analyze the impact and response of the Civil Rights Movement on Asian communities in the US.

7.  To describe new challenges that confront Asian American communities since 1965.

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Assessment

This is a lecture course, but the instructor will run it like a seminar.  The students’ participation is crucial.  We will schedule several documentary movies and discussions in the class.  These are not optional, and you are responsible for their contents.  All the assigned readings should be completed prior to the class.  Your course grade will be determined on the basis of an oral history report (10 points), a book review of Renqiu Yu’s To Save China, to Save Ourselves (20 points), a mid-term (30 points), and a final exam (40 points).  The oral history project is based on your interview of an Asian American; the book review should consist of the main thesis of the book, the author’s arguments, the historical evidence the author presents, and your evaluation of the book; the mid-term and the final consist of identifications, multiple choices and essay question..

 

 

Grading:

A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=59 or less

 

Policies:

 

Attendance: Attendance is required.  In the whole semester you are allowed to miss only two classes for unexcused reasons.  More than three absences without the instructor’s approval will result in your involuntary withdrawal from the course or a reduced grade.

 

Make-up :  If exceptional circumstances necessitate your absence on the day of the final exam, you should contact the instructor prior to the exam and timely submit a written request, along with an official document, for a make-up.

 

Late Work : You are required to turn in all the assignments prior to the class on the day indicated in the syllabus.  Late work will be penalized 20% a day.  Absence from the class does not excuse a student from the due date.

 

Academic Dishonesty:  Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will result in awarding an “F” for the course.

 

In addition, it is your responsibility to understand other policies indicated in the Code of Student Conduct.  Relevant information is available on the College’s web page..

 

Student who has a disability might want to contact the Disability Support Service (CA 122) and to obtain an authorizing letter for accommodation.  Please feel free to talk to the instructor in regard to necessary arrangements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Schedule:

 

Week 1 Jan. 26-30                  Introduction to the Course

                                                “Historical” Construction of the Image of Asians

                                                Slaying the Dragon

Week 2 Feb. 2-6                     International Context of Asian Immigration

                                                Takaki, Ch. 1

                                                Chinese Americans

Week 3  Feb. 9-13                  First Wave of Asian Immigration

                                                Japanese Americans

                                                Takaki, Ch. 2

Week 4  Feb. 16-20                World of ‘Golden Mountain’ and Plantation

                                                Takaki, Ch. 3

                                                Korean Americans

                                                Interview Report due on Feb. 16 (M)

Week 5  Feb. 23-27                Class Presentation

Week 6  Mar. 2-6                    Japanese in Hawaii and Nisei

                                                Takaki, Ch. 4-5

                                                Sandakan #8

Week 7 Mar. 9-13                   Talking History

                                                Takaki, Ch. 6

                                                Mid-term Exam Mar. 9 (M)

Week 8 Mar. 16-20                 Spring Break

Week 9 Mar. 23-27                 Urban Chinese

                                                Takaki, Ch. 6

Week 10 Mar. 30-Apr. 3         Koreans in America

                                                Takaki, Ch. 7

Week 11  Apr. 6-10                Asian Indians in America

                                                Takaki, Ch. 8

                                                Miss Indian Georgia

                                                Book Review due on Apr. 6 (M)                  

Week 12 Apr. 13-17               Resistance to Oppression

                                                Takaki, Ch. 9

                                                Dollar a Day, Ten Cents a Dance                              

Week 13  Apr. 20-24              Asian Americans during WWII

                                                Takaki, Ch. 10

Week 14  Apr. 27-May 1        Second Wave of Asian Americans

                                                Takaki, Ch. 11

                                                                Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves

The New Generation:  Vietnamese Americans Today           

Week 15  May 4-8                  Community of Memory

                                                Takaki, Ch. 12

                                                Who Killed Vincent Chin?

                                                Current Issues

                                                Takaki, Ch. 13

                                    Final Exam May 11 (M) 10:15-12:15