School: Los Angeles Valley College

School: Los Angeles Valley College
CHS 007: The Mexican American in the History of the United States Course Description:
This course is a survey of United States history as it relates to the development of the Chicano in the
United States with a special emphasis on Mexican-American contributions to the development of
American civilization. This course covers Pre-Columbian and Mexican colonial periods, the northwest
advance and settlement of the present-day U.S. Southwest/Southeast. Topics also include the role and
impact of the American Revolution, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
Student Learning Outcome: As a result of this course, students will be able to describe and analyze
Indian and Spanish civilizations and Mexican contributions in shaping the Chicano experience, especially
historical, social, and cultural expressions.
Assigned Texts:
Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans by
Martha Menchaca (University of Texas Press, ISBN: 13: 978-0-292-75254-2, 2006).
You do not have to buy the book. You can find it at the LAVC library as an e-book. I also put it on
reserve in the library if you would like to read it in person. Here are the instructions for the direct link to
the e-book at the LAVC library.
a. Here’s a direct link to this book on the LAVC Library website (login
required) https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/lavc/detail.action?docID=3443170
b. If you don’t know how to log into the LAVC Library website, you can learn that at this FAQ
(https://lavc.libanswers.com/faq/291119), which includes a short video demonstration with
screenshots.
c. For anyone unfamiliar with using and navigating library e-books, LAVC has an online guide with
screenshots and tips at https://lib.lavc.edu/c.php?g=1069459&p=7785273
d. If anyone has questions, they can always reach out to Ask A Librarian at (https://lib.lavc.edu/ask-
us found on the LAVC Library homepage. This is the online equivalent of the Reference Desk.
Honesty Policy:
Plagiarism is the use of others words and/or ideas without clearly acknowledging their source. When you
incorporate those words and ideas into your own work, you must give credit where credit is due.
Plagiarism, intentional or unintentional, is considered academic dishonesty and is not tolerated. Anyone
found to be plagiarizing or cheating on assignments (e.g., copying or giving answers, using crib sheets,
etc.) will (1) receive a zero (fail) on the assignment, and (2) be referred to the Vice President of Student
Services for further disciplinary action, following due process. For further information on plagiarism, go
to the Writing Center website (www.lavc.edu/WCweb/plagiarism.html) and refer to the STANDARDS
OF STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION in the current Schedule of Classes and
Catalog.
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Methodology:
The method of instruction for this class is fully online and Asynchronous. In other words, this course is
conducted remotely and online with no required real-time interaction or meetings. Students will work at
their own pace with guiding instructional materials, assignments, and deadlines provided by the
instructor.
The course content will include a required book, lectures, one exam, class discussion posts, and weekly
class assignments. A new Module will open on Monday mornings and lock on Sunday nights with the
assignments for the week. You can also find all the assignments and the due dates for each assignment on
the weekly Reading and Assignment Calendar and the Course Requirement and Expectation sections of
the syllabus.
Student Questions or Concerns:
I can be reached by e-mail or by using the CANVAS inbox when you have any questions regarding the
syllabus, lectures, class assignments, exams or any general concern(s) you may have about the class. I
will do my best to respond to you within 24 hours. We can also use the office hours to discuss any
questions or concerns you may have in more detail.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
I use the Announcements tool in CANVAS to alert students to any changes in the course, so be sure to
check into CANVAS regularly, and set your profile to be notified of any announcements.
Statement on Exclusion/Drop:
It is important to note that a student can be excluded or dropped from the course by the instructor if they
have not logged into their course CANVAS site for more than 10 school days in a row and/or have not
submitted three of more class assignments in a row. To prevent this, it is recommended students check
their CANVAS course site three to four times a week and keep up with their assignments.
Drop Deadlines:
Please note that it is the responsibility of the student to know add and drop deadlines (You can find the
deadlines in the Student Information Portal). It is your responsibility to drop the course if you do not
show on the first day or stop attending.
Helpful Student Support Services
1. The DE (Distance Education) provides comprehensive services that empower students with skills
that are essential to success in online/hybrid courses. You must contact DE if you are having
difficulty logging into CANVAS and inform the professor and DE so they can assist you with your
account.
a. LAVC Webpage: https://www.lavc.edu/VirtualValley/Home.aspx
b. LAVC Virtual Valley Help Desk Hours: August 30 – December 17, 2021
c. They are located in the library building, 2nd floor, room #232
d. Office drop-in hours: Monday – Friday, 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
e. Phone: (818) 538-9050, M-F, 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM
f. Phone: (818) 778-5834, M-F, 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM

2. The Los Angeles Valley College Library is a great resource for student resources. If you need any
help or guidance from the library, you can contact the Circulation Desk at (818) 947-7264 or the
Reference Desk at (818) 947-2764. The URL link for the library is https://lib.lavc.edu/home.
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3. It is the responsibility of the professor to help students with learning differences. If you have a
learning difference, please let me know immediately, and we will both contact the Services for
Students with Disabilities (or SSD) and together will figure out what needs to be done to make sure
you have a successful semester. The SSD provides educational and vocational support services for
students with disabilities (physical, learning, or psychological) who are enrolled in credit classes.
Services include alternative testing; special parking, note takers, readers, interpreters, tutors, mobility
aids and equipment loans. Students, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class,
are encouraged to contact SSD by phone at 818-8-947-2681or TTD (818) 947-2680 or in person at
Student Services Annex, Room 175 as soon as possible to determine whether they are eligible for
classroom accommodations, and to initiate appropriate accommodations in a timely fashion.
Authorization, based on verification of disability, is required before any accommodation can be made.
Late Assignments and Make-Up Policy:
All assignments must be submitted by the due date. Any assignment not submitted will receive a 0 for
that assignment. Students will be allowed to submit a late assignment (with no late penalty) if students
have legitimate documented proof as to why the assignment was not submitted on time. However, there
is no makeup exam for the final examination.
Course Requirements and Expectations
The final course grade will be calculated based on the following components:
Essay Response to Book Chapters and/or Power Point Lectures: (75 points possible)
1. Students are required to read the book: Recovering History, Constructing Race by Martha Menchaca
and to keep up with the lectures.
2. Throughout the class, essay questions will be asked about specific chapters of the book and/or the
lectures.
3. There will be a total of five essay questions each worth 15 points.
4. Each essay question will have a minimum response of one complete page (double spaced and 10 or
12 font sizes only).
5. Each essay response needs to include a title, a strong thesis and at least three citations from the
chapter and/or the lectures.
Mini Research Paper: (75 points possible)
1. Instructions for the research paper are attached to the syllabus (on page 5 and 6).
2. The research paper will be due on November 24, 2021.
3. Late papers will be allowed to be submitted for half credit only unless students have legitimate
documented proof as to why the assignment was not submitted on time.
Final Exam: (50 Points Possible)
1. Students will take a final exam. The exam will consist of material covered in class through readings,
lectures, and videos.
2. The final exam will require students to answer two essay questions. Each essay question response
will be a minimum of two complete pages. Each essay with also have at least three in-text citations
from the book, be double spaced, and in 10 or 12 font sizes only.
3. The final exam will be worth a maximum of 50 points.
4. There is no makeup exam for the final examination.
5. The final exam questions will be posted on the Module of Monday, December 13, 2020 and the exam
will be due on or before Sunday, December 19, 2020.
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Grading Scale
The following is the grade scale that will be used by the instructor. It is important to note that the
percentage that is present on CANVAS grades is not an accurate indicator of your current grade in the
course. The grade scale that will be used to finalize your grade will be based on the grade scale listed on
the syllabus and not the percentage posted on CANVAS.
Students will be graded on the following scale:
A 180-200 Points
B 160-179 Points
C 140-159 Points
D 120-139 Points
F 000-119 Points
Weekly Reading Schedule and Assignments Calendar
Themes: Pre-Columbian Culture, Spanish Colonization, and the Southwest
Week #1: Oct. 25-31, 2021: Review the syllabus
Syllabus Discussion Post
Read: Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Book Introduction
Week #2: Nov. 01-07, 2021: Read: Recovering History, Constructing Race: Chapter 1
Lectures: Mesoamerican Development & Mesoamerican Cultures
Essay: #1 due
Week #3: Nov. 08-14, 2021: Read: Recovering History, Constructing Race: Chapters 2 & 3
Lectures: Aztec Conquest & Colonial Mexico
Essay: #2 due
Short Paragraph and Preliminary works cited page due
Week #4: Nov. 15-21, 2021: Read: Recovering History, Constructing Race: Chapters 4 & 5
Lectures: Mexican Independence & Southwest Settlements
Essay: #3 due
Week #5: Nov. 22-24, 2021: Research Paper Due on Wednesday, Nov. 24th
Enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday
Themes: The Mexican American War and the Aftermath
Week #6: Nov. 29-05, 2021: Read: Recovering History, Constructing Race: Chapters 6-7
Lecture: The Mexican American War
Essay: #4 due
Week #7: Dec 06-12, 2021: Read: Recovering History, Constructing Race: Chapter 8
Lecture: The Mexican American War Aftermath
Essay: #5 due
Week #8: Dec. 13-19, 2021: Final Exam
Syllabus Subject to Change
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Mini Research Paper: Possible Points: 75
1. Students will write an argumentative research paper on a topic of Mesoamerica or colonial Mexico.
2. A requirement for the paper is that whatever topic is chosen students have to write its historical or
cultural importance during Mesoamerican or colonial times and also argue how it is still relevant to
the contemporary Mexican or Chicano/a community.
3. Because it is only a five-page research paper, I am asking you to narrow your focus to a very specific
topic, issue, or theme.
a. If you choose to write your paper on a Mesoamerican topic, do not write your paper on a
whole culture. Instead, write in on something very specific such as their social hierarchy,
a religious view, gender roles, child rearing, agriculture, folklore, or other, and its
continued importance, legacy, or relevance to contemporary Mexicans and Chicano/as.
For example, The Day of the Dead is an indigenous tradition. What was it? Why did
Mesoamericans celebrate it? What did it represent to them? Was it ritualistic? In
contemporary Mexican/Chicano/a culture it is still celebrated. Why? Is it still important?
Has it changed much over time? If it has, why?
b. If you choose colonial Mexico, remember that the conquest of Mexico changed the
Mesoamerican world and introduced a new colonial rule. Spain introduced new foods,
religious views, political rules, traditions, different cultural values, slavery, diseases, new
social classes, and so on. In some cases, it was to the detriment of the Mexican people, in
other cases it enhanced or altered the traditional lifestyle. Consider studying the legacy
of the conquest by focusing on something very specific during colonial times and its
legacy and/or continued significance to contemporary Mexicans and Chicano/as. For
example, Mesoamericans did not have farm animals such as horses, pigs, chickens,
lambs, and cows. The introduction of these animals by the Spaniards changed the
traditional Mesoamerican cuisine. How did it change it? What did it do to their diet?
Their economy? Their lifestyle? The legacy of this in contemporary culture is still felt in
modern cuisine. How? Explain it.
Research Paper Instructions:
1. The research paper has to be in MLA style, typed, double spaced and with a 10 or 12 font size only.
The Purdue website is a good resource to use if you need help writing or understanding the MLA
style of writing a research paper. I attached its web link:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/ml
a_formatting_and_style_guide.html
2. The written paper has to be at least five complete pages long, with the works cited page as the fifth
page. The research papers are allowed to be longer, but please do not go over seven pages.
Any paper less than five complete pages long, including the works cited page, will be
incomplete, returned and not graded.
3. The works cited page has to have a minimum of five sources and each source has to be cited at least
once in your text. Make sure you follow the MLA style for the works cited page and the in-text
citations. Please do not use the class text as one of your sources.
4. You need to have a solid thesis clearly stating what the purpose (or argument) of your paper is.
5. Students are encouraged to use a wide range of sources to analyze the subject matter. For example,
students should look into primary and secondary sources such as media outlets, internet sources,
books, magazine articles, journals, and newspapers.