Course description:  Women in Rural America
Sandra Bennett
 
 
This course examines the experiences and roles of women in rural America
from pre-Colonial times to the present.  Included are diaries and personal
accounts, as well as novels and short stories.  Women of varied ethnic
backgrounds are discussed, living both on farms and in small towns.
Students will participate in discussion groups and write papers and study
questions.  Essay exams.
 
Honors 201:  Women in Rural America                     Prof. Sandra Bennett
Office: 310 Minne       Phone:  457-5445
email:sbennett@winona.edu
Texts:  Cather, My Antonia
        Crow Dog, Lakota Woman
        Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
        Jewett, Country of the Pointed Firs
        Kohl, Land of the Burnt Thigh
        Schlissel, Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey
        Smiley, A Thousand Acres
 
Class requirements:  Three one-hour exams:  20% each
                     Project/Presentation: 25%
                     Class attendance and participation: 15%
Attendance will be taken daily.  You are allowed two unexcused absences;
further absences without prior instructor approval will result in a lower
final grade.  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to catch up on
classwork.  Habitual tardiness will also affect your grade;  late arrivals
and departures are discourteous and disruptive.
 
Schedule:
Dec. 3-5:  Introduction, background
 
Dec. 8-12 :  Diaries
 
Dec. 15-19: Antonia
 
Jan. 5:  First exam
 
Jan. 7:  Meet at Historical Society, 160 Johnson St.
 
Jan. 9-14:  Burnt Thigh
 
Jan. 16-23:  Pointed Firs   (Jan. 19 is a holiday)
 
Jan. 26: Second exam
 
Jan. 28-Feb. 2:Their Eyes
Feb. 4-9:  Lakota Woman
 
Feb. 11-16:  Thousand Acres
 
Feb. 18:  Third exam
 
Feb. 20-23:  Class presentations.  Project due Feb. 23. Projects can be
picked up during finals or during Spring quarter.