American Legal History HST 342 SPRING 1993 Instructor: Dr. Donna Spindel Office: Smith Hall 771 Phone: 696-2719 Office Hours: MW 8:30-10:00 T TH 11:00-11:45 [Any other time by appointment] Required Books Garraty, Quarrels That Have Shaped the Constitution Bodenhamer, Fair Trial PLEASE BRING TO CLASS FIVE BLANK BLUEBOOKS (SMALL SIZE). DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE BLUEBOOKS. THESE WILL BE USED BY THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT AS EXAM BOOKS. Quiz Dates (quizzes will be on articles assigned in Quarrels That Have Shaped the Constitution) Jan. 26: Garraty, "The Case of the Missing Commissions" Feb. 2: Hammond, "The Bank Cases" 16: Dangerfield, "The Steamboat Case" and Current, "The Dartmouth College Case" 23: Magrath, "The Case of the Unscrupulous Warehouseman" Mar. 2: Apple, "The Case of the Monopolistic Railroadman" 9: Lewis, "The Case of the Florida Drifters" and 30: Fehrenbacher, "The Dred Scott Case" and Westin, "The Case of the Prejudiced Doorkeeper" Apr. 6: Woodward, "The Case of the Louisiana Traveler" 13: Kelly, "The School Desegregation Case" 20: Murphy, "The Case of the Miscreant Purveyor of Scandal" 27: Dilliard, "The Flag-Salute Case" and Rosenberg, "The Abortion Case" Quizzes You should expect to have a four question multiple choice/true-false quiz on each of the assigned articles above. Quizzes will be given at the start of class on the day indicated above. There will be no make-up quizzes except for students with excused institutional absences. Quiz scores will not be counted for students, (unless they check with me beforehand), who take the quiz at the beginning of class and then leave. Reading in Bodenhamer, Fair Trial This book is the closest thing to a textbook that is available and appropriate for this course. It will correspond to and supplement our classroom lecture and discussion and serve as a reference text when you are studying your class notes. You should not do the assigned reading all at once, but read some each week so that by the time of the first exam, for example, you will have completed the reading assignment for that period. Exams We will have two 55 minute exams and a 2 hr. final exam. Each exam will cover one-third of the course. Exams will contain short answer questions plus one essay question. All make-up exams, without exception, will be given on the day and time designated in the syllabus. Students who take a make-up can expect a more difficult test than the regularly scheduled exam since they can benefit from feedback from classmates and a longer time in which to prepare. Exam Schedule First Exam: February 9 Second Exam: March 23 Final Exam: May 4 Make-up Exam:Thursday/April 22/3:00-3:55 pm Attendance Attendance will be taken each day at the very beginning of class for my own record-keeping. Your attendance record can have an impact on a grade that is borderline. Since exams are based heavily on class lecture and discussion, students with too many absences usually do not do well. Without question, you are always responsible for material covered when you are absent, regardless of the reason for your absence. Course Grade Quiz average 25% First Exam 20% Second Exam 25% Final Exam 30% All your work is graded on a 100 point basis with 90 or above being an "A", 80 or above a "B", etc. Each piece of work is weighted differently. To calculate what you think your final grade might be, add your 3 scores plus the score you hope to earn on the final exam, and multiply this total by 4. A=360 points B=320 points C=280 points D=240 points F=less than 240 points Design and Purpose of Course This course is a topical survey of major developments in American law from an historical perspective. You do not need to have a solid understanding of American law or American history, but you will learn how the two are inextricably tied. The topics we will cover include the colonial background to American law, the early Supreme Court, the law and economic growth in the nineteenth century, criminal justice, the law of slavery, and civil liberties. We have no textbook because no appropriate text is available. Our readings will introduce you to a variety of topics we will discuss in class. You must read carefully and take complete class notes. Your essay exams should be well written and precise. Poor writing or the inability to express yourself clearly will most certainly be a part of your evaluation. Please read below on how to write a good exam. Remember that this is a course in law and history. Both disciplines require clear and intelligent writing. Not only should you know and understand the historical background of the law, but you should also be able to express what you have learned in writing. HOW TO WRITE A GOOD EXAM Essay: 1. Answer the questions as if a person with no knowledge of the subject will be reading it. I cannot assume that you have learned something that does not appear in your answer. 2. Do not write the first thing that comes to mind. Read the question carefully, being sure that you understand all its parts. 3. It helps first to make a list of the points you wish to write down in the order in which you will discuss them. 4. Be sure your answer sticks closely to the question. Including irrelevant information will not improve your grade and will cost you time. 5. Do not repeat yourself. Each sentence should add new material. 6. Always proofread an answer. If you are writing quickly you might make errors or put down a sentence that is unclear or makes no sense. A well-written essay should show a good knowledge of the subject, clear thinking about the points you are covering, well-structured sentences, and a full understanding of the question. An adequate answer should fill at least two sides of a bluebook page.