SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AIS 202 A Spring 2022
Introduction to American Indian Contemporary & Social Issues
Monday and Wednesday, 4:30 pm-6:20 pm, ARC 160
Scott Pinkham, Lecturer 342 Loew Hall
spinkham@uw.edu/ 206.221.7769
Office Hours Tuesdays 12 pm to 1 pm
Description:
This course will cover issues of concern to today’s American Indian/Alaska Natives. Topics will include identification, demographics, government relations, treaty rights, representation, and cultural and social issues contemporary American Indian/ Alaska Natives face. History and background on U.S.-Indian relations will be covered for reference. Lectures will be designed to provide for student interaction and comments, with one or more classes reserved for classroom debates on current topics.
Readings:
Required Textbooks-
- Martinez, Urban American Indians: Reclaiming Native Spaces
- Moore, Genocide of the Mind
- Wilkinson, Charles, Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian Nations
Optional Textbooks-
- Reyes, Bernie Whitebear: An Urban Indian's Quest for Justice
Handouts-
- As noted on the Canvas site / Announced in class.
Web Resources-
- Indian Country Today Media Network: https://indiancountrytoday.com/ (Links to an external site.)
- Native News Network: https://www.nativenewsonline.net/ (Links to an external site.)
- Indianz News: https://www.indianz.com/News/ (Links to an external site.)
Grading:
Assignments and associated points (subject to change) are as follows:
| Assignment | Points Per | Number | Drop | Total |
| Quiz | 20 | 5 | 1 | 80 |
| Exams | 100 | 2 | 0 | 200 |
| Debate | 50 | 1 | 0 | 50 |
| Research Project | 150 | 1 | 0 | 150 |
| Participation | 20 | 19 | 1 | 20 |
| TOTAL | 500 |
Due dates and further information will be posted in the course calendar with any changes/additions announced in class or in respective handouts. Late assignments are deducted 10% each day they are late unless prior arrangements have been made.
If all assignments are turned in and accepted as complete, grades will be calculated based on the percentage points earned out of 500 points. A 95% or higher will earn a 4.0 grade; a minimum of 62% is needed to pass the class with a 0.7.
Extra credit opportunities may arise during the quarter and could be done in class without prior advance notice. Volunteering at Native/Indigenous events during the quarter may also be used but must be approved in advance.
Quizzes-
Five quizzes will be given throughout the quarter. They will be closed notes/readings and be done in class on the dates indicated. Each quiz will be a combination of multiple-choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions. The top four quiz scores will be used in determining the final grade.
A Canvas Quiz version will be available to help raise your quiz score or as a makeup for missed in-class versions. Canvas Quizzes will be due by 5 pm Friday of the same week. If a quiz is taken only once, that score will be recorded in the grade book. If a quiz is taken twice, the higher of the in-class or average of both attempts will be recorded in the grade book. The in-class version will have you submit your answers on your own paper. The Canvas Quiz version will be timed and must be completed once started.
Exams-
Two exams will be given at the middle and end of the quarter. The midterm will be on the date indicated, and the second exam will be held on the last day of instruction. This course has no final exam, only a final research project. Exams will be a combination of multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank questions, and short answers. Notes and readings will be allowed during the exams. Please bring exam books (blue or green) for submitting your exams.
Debate-
One class will be dedicated to an in-class debate. The class debate will take place on the date indicated, with the class broken up into three groups. Two groups will debate a topic, and the third will serve as a judge for the debate. Details on the debate topic will be included in additional handouts.
Research Project-
Each student must do a research project on a topic selected from the options provided in a separate handout. The total points for the research project include submitting a topic (10pts), resources (15pts), introduction & outline (25pts), and final project (100pts) on the dates indicated.
Participation-
As this class meets only twice weekly, being in class for lectures and discussions is important to learning. Participation is being present to observe and learn from others as topics are discussed in class. Participation will be monitored with a sign-in sheet and Poll Everywhere surveys in class. Full or partial absences are subject to point deductions at the instructor's discretion. Each full or partial absence deduction will consider the following: Prior notification/excused absences up to a one-point; No notice/unexcused up to a two-points. One absence (excused or unexcused) is allowed before points are deducted.
Accommodations:
Your experience in this class is important to me. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please activate your accommodations via myDRS so we can discuss how they will be implemented in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu.
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).
Zoom meetings have been set up and will be used only if the University of Washington guidelines require classes provide remote or hybrid class options.