COURSE RATIONALE:
This course focuses on three areas of emphasis: basic skills development
(reading comprehension and writing), state standards alignment, and
development of an in-depth, oral history project that promotes the vision of
the Southwest Oral History Association.
In the field of basic skills development, students will be expected to read,
analyze, and interpret content from a variety of primary and secondary
sources. In examining lyrics, students will be expected to connect lyrics
to the historical context in which they were written. Additionally,
students will understand the difference between “implied” and “expressed”
lyrics aiding in the analysis of documents such as the Constitution. In
addition to a required textbook, students will be responsible for reading
and analyzing excerpts from a variety of sources, as well as writing an
investigative report on a historical figure of their choice.
Most units will underscore and reinforce the California State Standards for
11th grade, but will include some 10th and 12th grade standards as well.
Each unit will be placed in a historical context focusing primarily on the
period of 1950-2000, but dating as far back as 1915, and will include
appropriate themes as they relate to the time periods being covered.
The culminating project for this course will be one that encompasses an oral
history, incorporating multi media, and employing research skills and
principles established by the Southwest Oral History Association. The goal
is to foster an understanding of and use of oral history for students so
that they become lifelong historians.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will be broken into sixteen units of study, ranging in length
from 1 to 4 weeks. The information covered in these units will consist of a
textbook and several excerpts from books on US foreign policy, a primary
source on the civil rights movement, and other pieces examining economic
components. Additionally, each unit will cover historical content pertinent
to the musical era, highlighting significant historical events that meet
many of the California State Standards found in the US History component.
Assessments will include research papers, a written debate between musical
genres, mind maps, lyric analysis and interpretation, C.R.E.A.M project,
writing a protest song, and a culminating project focusing on oral history
and multi media.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
A Socio-Political History of Rock-and-Roll will:
1. Reinforce reading, analyzing, interpreting, writing, and oral
communication skills utilizing high-interest content.
2. Support and apply US History/World History/American Government/
Economics state standards.
3. Promote the value and application of oral histories while learning and
implementing new multi media technologies.
JOURNAL:
Students will be responsible for purchasing and maintaining a journal that
will be used for notes, review and preview questions, and other entries
designed to highlight thematic topics. Unless otherwise advised, please
come to class prepared each day by bringing your book, journal, and pencil
or pen.
Attendance and participation are an important part of your grade. Because
class begins on time, it is important not to be tardy. Homework is due at
the beginning of the period. 10% will be deducted for each day the homework
is late, and will not be accepted after the 4th school day it was due.
UNIT BREAKDOWN AND ASSOCIATED CA STATE STANDARDS:
I. The Blues, Rock-and-Roll, and Racism (1915-1956) Standards:11.8.8
II. Elvis and Rockabilly (1953-1958) Standards:11.8.7, 11.10.2, 12.5.4
III Dick Clark, Don Kirshner, and the Teen Market (1957-1963)Standards:
12.2.1, 12.2.8
IV. Surfboards and Hot Rods: California, Here We Come (1961-1964)
Standards: 12.5.2
V. Bob Dylan and the New Frontier (1960-1966) Standards: 11.9.3, 11.10.4,
12.7.8
VI. The British Invasion of America. (1964-1969)
VII: Motown: The Sound of Integration (1960-1968) Standards: 11.10.6,
11.11.2, 11.11.6
VIII: Counter-Culture Movements in the 1950s and 1960s Standards: 11.9.3
IX: Fire from the Streets (1966-1968) Standards: 11.10.5
X: Militant Blues on Campus (1968-1971) Standards: 11.9.2, 11.9.4,
12.5.1,
XI. Soft Sounds of the Seventies and Activism. Standards: 11.10.5,
11.11.3, 11.11.4, 11.11.5, 12.7.8
XII. The Era of Excess (1973-1978) Standards: 12.5.4
XIII. Punk Rock and the New Generation (1975-1983) Standards: 10.9.7,
11.9.5, 11.9.6.
XIV: I Want my MTV (1981-1988) Standards: 11.8.7
XV: Generation X Blues (1986-1995) Standards: 11.9.7.
XVI: The Many Faces of Hip Hop (1982-1997) Standards: 12.2.5
RESOURCES:
Textbook: Rockin’ in Time: A Social History of Rock-and-Roll, 5th Edition,
David P. Szatmary
Excerpts from Additional Resources:
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Eric Schlosser
The Fight in the Fields and the Farmworker’s Movement, Susan Ferriss,
Ricardo Sandoval and Diana Hembree
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything,
Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Rise to Globalism: American Foreign Policy Since 1938, Stephen E. Ambrose
and Douglas G. Brinkley
Why Nations go to War, 8th Edition, John G. Stoessinger
You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train, Howard Zinn
GRADING SCALE: Percentage Breakdown:
A - 90-100% Attendance - 10%
B - 80-89% Participation - 10%
C - 70-79% Journal - 10%
D - 60-69% Classwork/Homework/Projects - 60%
Attendance and participation are an important part of your grade. Because
class begins on time, it is important – as well as respectful – not to be
tardy. Excessive tardies and absences (more than 7) will result in a lower
grade. Homework / Projects are due on the due date at the beginning of the
period. 10% will be deducted for each day the homework is late, and will
not be accepted after the 4th school day it was due.
ACCOMPANYING VIDEOS: In addition to clips from "The Century" and "The
History of Rock and Roll," the following will be shown in each unit:
Unit I: The Blues, Rock and Roll, and Racism
"Ray"
Unit II: Elvis and Rockabilly
"Separate but Equal"
"Walk the Line"
Unit III: Dick Clark, Don Kirschner & the Teen Market
"American Bandstand" clips
Unit IV: Surfboards and Hot Rods
"Endless Summer"
Unit V: Bob Dylan and the New Frontier
"October Sky"
"13 Days"
Unit VI: The British Invasion of America
"Help!"
"Across the Universe"
"Tommy"
Unit VII: Motown
"Mississippi Burning"
Unit VIII: Counter-Culture Movements
"Peggy Sue got Married"
"The Majestic"
"I Love Lucy" clips
Unit IX: Fire from the Streets
"Malcolm X"
"Last Days of MLK, Jr."
Unit X: Militant Blues on Campus
"Good Morning Vietnam"
"Woodstock" clips
"Smothers Brothers" clips
"Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" clips
"1968 with Tom Brokaw"
Unit XI: Soft Sounds of 70s and Activism
"A Civil Action"
The Fight in the Fields"
Incident at Oglala"
"All in the Family" clips
"Barney Miller" clips
"Leave it to Beaver" clips
"Brady Bunch" clips
"Roseanne" clips
"Mary Tyler Moore" clips
Unit XII: The Era of Excess
"Studio 54" clips
Unit XIII: Punk Rock and the New Generation
"Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme"
Unit II: Elvis and Rockabilly
Unit XIV: I Want My MTV
"Thriller"
MTV clips
"Forrest Gump"
Unit XV: General X Blues
"Inside Nirvana"
"Joe Strummer: A Documentary"
Unit XVI: The Many Faces of Hip Hop
"Shaft"
"Dangerous Minds"
