Movies in US History
Syllabus
2011-2012

Course Description
This class can only be taken senior year.  Movies in US History will follow in conjunction with US History Continued that each senior takes to complete his/her senior year.  Students will view Hollywood movies and Documentaries that coincide with the historical events they are studying in US History Continued.  This class will look at the following historical subjects:
Beginning of Women’s Rights, Prohibition, The Great Depression, Build up…. Entry and Conclusion of WWII, Baby Boom Generation, Cuban Missile Crisis, Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, Hippie Movement, Watergate, Terrorism, and lastly we will watch and discuss current issues such as natural disasters that have changed the historical direction of our society. 

Class Objective – Students will….

1. Analyze movies for historical accuracy by conducting individual research of historical events
2. Discuss Catholic Values demonstrated in the characters actions
3. Maintain well organized journals that analyze historical time period and the societal impact of history

4.   Organize and Present group and individual projects
5.   Write and TYPE well-developed, detailed essays.

Absences

1. Class participation is VERY IMPORTANT!
2. Absences require the student to make up the part of the movie missed
3. Missing 2 or more days during a movie or documentary will require the student to make up the time missed over the weekend (student will be responsible for checking out the movie or documentary or renting the movie from a local video store).
4. All assignments, questions, journal entries, projects and essays assigned must be made up due to absences.  One day for every day missed will be given, although…. If the student has been absent for more than 3 days special arrangements between the student and the teacher will be discussed. 
5. Assignments and Projects missed because of suspension can be made up within a specified time (determined by teacher) for 50% credit.

Course Expectations and Procedures

1. Sleeping, doing homework, disturbing others, and not participating in class will result in zeros on your Participation for the day. (Participation is 10% of the overall class grade)
2. Any late assignments are penalized -5 points per day.
3. Bring your journal, agenda book and writing materials with you each day.
4. Be in your seat when the bell rings and stay in your seat until I dismiss you
5. Cheating (i.e. copying someone else’s journal) will result in an automatic zero
6. Your parents and your parish are paying for you to get good education at Bishop Carroll.  I work VERY HARD to plan out a very informative, intellectual, organized class so you can get a lot of great historical information.  PLEASE take advantage of the opportunity to learn!

MOVIES IN HISTORY
Movie List

The following are possible movies that may be shown in class.  The new diocesan policy is that we must have your permission to show movies rated A-III or above by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops.  According to the council, “this can be a tricky category.  Adult sensibilities run the gamut from a cosmopolitan readership with a wider tolerance for edgy subject matter to more sensitive moviegoers who find certain elements less palatable.  We try to strike a balance between the two.  Oftentimes, a worthy film is clearly “adult” in subject matter, but older teens might derive benefit from it, so a sentence may be added about it being “acceptable” or possibly acceptable” for “older teens.”  Dramatically justified violence, moderate sexual content of a “non-deviant” nature, restrained nudity, and valid use of coarse language are permissible here.”  Movies are shown in class to enhance understanding as well as to enhance the themes of class.  The following are movies that MAY be shown in class, as well as their ratings from the USCCB.  Your signature implies that movie choices are fine for your student!!  For more information, please see www.usccb.org. 
USCCB Classifications are as follows:

1. A-I – general patronage
2. A-II – adults and adolescents
3. A-III – adults
4. A-IV -- **
5. L – limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.  L replaces the previous classification, A-IV
6. O – morally offensive

We will be watching the following movies.  This list includes the documentaries and the Hollywood movies, plus supplemental clips to enhance the Historical information students will be learning in this class.

1. ABC’s The Century, Decades of Change”
2. A documentary series produced by ABC News in association with The History Channel and hosted by Peter Jennings.  The series takes an era-by-era look at America’s evolution during the turbulent 20th century.  Each segment celebrates the nation’s culture and explores the events that made the last hundred years the “American Century.”

1. Iron Jawed Angles (2004)
1. Women’s Suffrage Movement
2. HBO Drama

1. Untouchables (1987)
1. Prohibition
2. Rated R/A-III

1. Cinderella Man (2005)
1. The Great Depression
2. Rated PG-13/A-III

1. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
2. Depression-era drifters and how they survived during this time living a life of crime
3. Rated R/A-IV

1. Schindler’s List (2004)
1. The Holocaust
2. Rated R/A-III

1. Life is Beautiful
2. Life in Nazi Germany
3. Rated PG-13/A-II

1. Casablanca
2. Propaganda and social history (1940-1941)
3. Rated PG/A-II

1. Pearl Harbor
1. American reasons for entering WWII (December 7, 1941)
2. Rated PG-13/A-III

1. Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
2. Prisoner of War in WWII – 1943
3. Rated PG/A-I

1. Saving Private Ryan (1999)
1. D-Day 1944
2. Rated R/A-III

1. Flags Of Our Fathers (2006)
2. Battle for Iwo Jima during WWII
3. Rated R/A-III

1. White Light, Black Rain:  The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Documentary
1. Numerous eyewitness accounts from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks.  Interviewees include Kiyoko Imori, the only survivor from her obliterated elementary school, and Sakue Shimohira, who recalls choosing at ten between “the courage to die and the courage to live.”  U.S. servicemen who carried out the bombing missions, such as Enola Gay navigator Theodore Van Kirk and weapons test officer Morris Jeppson are also interviewed during the film.
2. HBO Production

1. American Graffiti
2. 1950’s  Social History
3. Rated PG/A-III

1. Dr. Strangelove
2. Cold War and Satire
3. Rated PG

1. Good Night, and Good Luck
1.  McCarthyism, depiction of the showdown between Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy during the 1950’s
2. Rated PG/AII

1. Mississippi Burning
1. Civil Rights Movement
2. Rated R/A-IV

1. A Time to Kill
2. Civil Rights
3. Rated R/A-IV

1. Malcom X (1992)
2. Civil Rights Movement
3. Rated PG-13

1. Apollo 13
2. Space Race and social history
3. Rated PG/A-II

1. Thirteen Days (2001)
1. Cuban Missile Crisis
2. Rated PG-13

1. Platoon
2. Anti-Vietnam War
3. Rated R/A-IV

1. We Were Soldiers (2002)
1. Pro-Vietnam War
2. Rated R/A-IV

1. The 60’s Documentary
2. Societal issues in the 1960’s
3. NR

1. Summer of Love – Documentary
1. Hippie Movement in the 1960’s that became a cultural force that sparked the largest migration of young people in American’s history.
2. PBS Documentary

1. Nixon
1. Watergate, Understanding Richard Milhous Nixon
2. Rated R/A-III

1. The True Story Charlie Wilson
1. History Channel Special – examines the far-reaching effects of the CIA’s efforts to assist the Afghan rebels in the fight against the Soviet Union.  Look at the result of these inner-workings of the CIA to uncover the fact that these choices may have come back to haunt America today.
2. Trace back the beginnings of Terroristic groups in the Middle East, why do they hate America and who is behind the hatred
3. Rated NR

1. Charlie Wilson’s War (2008)
2. Based on a true story of how one Congressman, one socialite and one CIA agent conspired to bring about the largest covert operation is history
3. Rated R/A-III

1. Black Hawk Down (2002)
2. Somalia – 1993
3. Rated R/A-IV

1. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
2. A true story of one man’s brave stance against savagery during the 1994 Rwandan conflict
3. Rated PG-13/A-III

1. United 93
2. Heroism in the face of Terrorism
3. Rated R/A-III

1. 9/11 (2002)
2. Visual document of Ground Zero.  A tribute to real-life heroes who rose to extraordinary acts of courage and compassion on September 11, 2001
3. Rated NR

1. World Trade Center
1. Terrorism in America, tells the true story of two of the last men pulled out of the rubble of Ground Zero alive.
2. Rated PG-13/A-II

1. W. (2008)
2. George W. Bush…. His struggles, triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and the critical days leading up to the decision to invade Iraq.
3. Rated PG-13/A-III

1. Tsunami (2007)
2. The aftermath of those who survived one of history’s most cataclysmic natural disasters
3. Rated NR – HBO Films

1. Arlington Road (1999)
2. Conspiracy Theory
3. Rated PG-13
4. An Inconvenient Truth
1. Look at issues that deal with our Environment.  What responsibilities do we have?  Challenge students to look for ways to conserve!
2. Rated PG

Dear Parents,
Please read the syllabus for this class and review the Movie List so you know what Movies and Documentaries your child will be required to watch for this class.  Of course we will not be watching every movie listed, but this is a complete list of all movies possible.  By signing below you indicate that both you and your student understand the requirements of this class, especially noting the policy regarding absences and having to make up the journals, worksheets, projects and essays on the students own time.  Also note that some of the movies are rated R (and rated A-IV by the USCCB).  Your student is over 17 and so meets the recommendations for watching R movies, but, of course the ultimate decision is yours.  The movies that are rated R are rated that way because there are scenes that are for mature audiences only.  I will assure you that movies that have been selected are chosen because they deal with historical information that enhances the understanding of the historical topic we are learning.   Although sometimes Hollywood puts in scenes into movies that are “not exactly” historically accurate, it does bring up discussion about “can you always believe everything that you watch?”  And how, as a RESPONSIBLE viewing audience we can decipher the accurate from the inaccurate.  Students will look at and discuss the realities of War and how it is depicted in these movies.  Unfortunately, war is rated R and some of these movies are very graphic.  Therefore, if you oppose movies on this list, it is best for your student to seriously think about withdrawing from the class. 
Please Review the Syllabus and Movie list and have the student bring this signed consent form back on the second day of class.  
Please feel free to call or email me whenever you have a question.
School Number:   722-2390
School Email Address:  lovelessheather@bcchs.org

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