27158 Chicana/o Studies 07 Semester: Spring 2017

Los Angeles Community College Day & Time: TuTh 9:35-11:00am FH 220
Instructor: Dr. Laura Gomez Gonzalez Office hours: TuTh 11-11:45 & Fri 2:40-3:40 FH 217
gomezlm@lacitycollege.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students survey United States history from early colonial period through the Civil War with
special emphasis on the contribution of Mexican Americans. This course provides a background
in the political and social development of both the United States and Mexico, and, in addition, is
for those who wish to gain a better understanding of Mexican culture in the Southwestern United
States. Included is a survey of the U.S. Constitution.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Examine the development of historical continuity in the establishment of Mexican-American
communities in the United States.
2. Explain how the different historical periods have shaped the social, cultural, and political
activities in Mexican-Americans communities.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Learning is a process that allows you to think differently. Learning provides you the opportunity
not only to learn new things, but it also allows you to leave your comfort zone in order to make
intellectual leaps. In order to move along the learning process, we will take a journey. And in this
journey, we need to support each other. Students will be expected to be prepared for class by
completing the readings in a timely manner, ask questions, and participate in class discussions in
order to develop a learning environment that allows us to be successful in our course. The
learning objectives for students in this class is to be able to explain how the different historical
periods have shaped our contemporary culture, to develop the ability to recognize historical
artifacts and to interpret its significance to Chicana/o social history. Furthermore, students will
examine the complex relationship between each historical period.
REQUIRED COURSE READINGS & OTHER INFORMATION
 Martha Menchaca. Recovering History Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White
Roots of Mexican Americans. University of Texas Press, 2001.
 Reading items and other resources will also be added electronically for student access.

POLICIES:
This syllabus is subject to change. If any changes should occur to our syllabus during the
semester, the instructor will give students verbal or written notice of the changes.

Grading Policies
 Late assignments will not be accepted
 All assignments must be submitted online, in a MS WORD file or its online
equivalency (12 Font, Times New Roman, default margins) Assignments not
submitted in this format will not be accepted!

GRADING SYSTEM: Grading is based upon total number of points earned for the semester.
A-90-100%
B-89-80%
C-79-70%
D-69-60%
F-59-0%
75 pts. Three Quizzes 25 points each
25 pts. One group assignment
70 pts. Midterm
70 pts. Final
30 pts. Participation/Attendance
270 total points

Writing Expectations
 All assignments must be original work completed this semester for this class.
 Practice collegiate level writing - thoughtful structure, proper
grammar/punctuation & edit for content and errors
 Directly and clearly address each prompt question in any assignment with a
thesis statement in your introduction, body (support of thesis), and conclusion
 Reflection assignments must be complete! You will be marked down if
responses leave grader asking “how so” or “why”

Attendance Policies
 The seminars are a vital piece of your reflection and learning. Attendance is
expected and required.
 Students who are registered and miss the first class meeting may lose their right to a
place in the class. Whenever students are absent more hours than the number of hours
the class meets per week, the instructor may exclude them from class. If the
instructor determines that there are no mitigating circumstances that may justify the
absences, the instructor may exclude a student from the class. Students are
responsible for officially dropping a class that they stop attending.

Expectations for Class Seminars

 Each student is expected to be on time. Once class begins, the instructor will
take roll and start the class right away. Tardiness may result in the loss of content
information and of class announcements that can negatively affect the student’s
grade as well as loss of attendance/participation points.
 Everyone is expected to participate in class discussions.
 Be respectful of your classmates and your instructor by not attacking the
individual, but the idea/opinion if you disagree with it.
 Cell phone usage during class will not be permitted.
 Laptop usage or other electronics is permitted during class for class purposes ONLY.

Emails
Please expect a 24-hour turn around for email response from the instructor. If you wish to contact
the instructor through email, please type your name at the bottom of your message and on the
subject line of the email. This will eliminate confusion and prompt faster response.

Drop Dates and Repeats

For classes from 02/05/18 to 06/04/18, the deadline for a “no penalty drop” is February 19th,
2018 and the last days to drop with "W" is May 6th, 2018. Effective July 1, 2012 students are
allowed three (3) attempts to pass a single class within the Los Angeles Community College
District. If a student gets a “W” or grade of “D”, “F”, or “NP” in a class, that counts as an
attempt. If you think you will not be able to complete this course with a C or better, drop by May
6th, 2018. If the class begins or ends on a different date, please refer to
http://www.lacitycollege.edu/services/admissions/dates.html
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic honesty is the core value of Los Angeles City College. As such, you are expected to
present your own work, except when collaboration is expressly permitted. Cheating, however,
undermines the learning process/. Simply stated, cheating is the intentional use or attempted use
of unauthorized material information or study aids in any academic exercise. Cheating
demonstrates a lack of respect for your self, fellow students, and me. Cheating can ruin a
college’s reputation and the value of the degrees it offers. We all share the obligation to maintain
an environment, which practices academic honesty. Cheaters, and individuals who assist them,
will be subject to disciplinary action, which could result in suspension or expulsion from our
college. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions:
cheating on an exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the
instructor has specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to
more than one instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose
of enhancing one’s grade (see LACCD Board Rule 9803.28). Penalties may include a grade of
zero or "F" on an exam or paper, or even suspension from the College.

Professional Behavior
It is expected that students exhibit professional behavior inside the classroom and working with
other students outside of the class on assignments related to this class in addition to behavior in
the classroom on campus. If at any time your behavior is ‘unprofessional,’ the instructor may
refer the student to the appropriate staff for the development of a Professional Improvement Plan
or the appropriate consequences for the students’ unprofessional behavior.
Units/Transferability
Transferrable to UC and CSU
Accommodations
Students with a verified disability who may need authorized accommodation(s) for this class are
encouraged to notify the instructor and the Office of Special Services (323-953-4000, ext.2270 or
email oss@lacitycollege.edu) as soon as possible, and at least two weeks before any exam or
quiz. All information will remain confidential.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites/Advisories Course
No Prerequisite. No Corequisites. No Advisories

Attendance Policy
Students who are registered and miss the first class meeting may lose their right to a place in the
class. Whenever students are absent more hours than the number of hours the class meets per
week, the instructor may exclude them from class. If the instructor determines that there are no
mitigating circumstances that may justify the absences, the instructor may exclude a student from
the class. Students are responsible for officially dropping a class that they stop attending.
Financial Aid
If you need help paying for books and other college expenses, call the Financial Aid Office
at (323) 953-4000 ext.2010, http://www.lacitycollege.edu/stusvcs/finaid/. Fall 2016
Accommodations Students with a verified disability who may need authorized accommodation(s)
for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and the Office of Special Services (323-953-
4000, ext.2270) as soon as possible, and at least two weeks before any exam or quiz. All
information will remain confidential.
Student Code of Conduct II
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions: cheating on
an exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has
specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one
instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing
one’s grade (see LACCD Board Rule 9803.28). Penalties may include a grade of zero or "F" on
an exam or paper, or even suspension from the College.