SOC 244
What They Saw in America
Last Offered Spring 2018
Division II
Cross-listed HIST 366 / AMST 244
This course is not offered in the current catalog

Class Details

This course traces the travels and writings of four important observers of the United States: Alexis de Tocqueville, Max Weber, G.K. Chesterton, and Sayyid Qutb. The course will consider their respective journeys: Where did they go? With whom did they talk? What did they see? The historical scope and varying national origins of the observers provide a unique and useful outsider’s view of America–one that sheds light on persisting qualities of American national character and gives insight into the nature and substance of international attitudes toward the United States over time. The course will analyze the common themes found in the visitors’ respective writings about America and will pay particular attention to their insights on religion, democracy, agrarianism, capitalism, and race. This course is part of the Williams College program at the Berkshire County Jail and House of Corrections and will be held at the jail. Transportation will be provided by the college. The class will be composed equally of Williams students and inmates, and one goal of the course will be to encourage students from different backgrounds to think together about issues of common human concern. * Please note atypical class hour Monday, 4:45-8:30 pm.
The Class: Format: seminar
Limit: 9
Expected: 9
Class#: 3073
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: several short response pieces; a final paper of 10-15 pages
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: juniors and seniors; final selection for the course will be made on the basis of an interview with the instructor
Distributions: Division II
Notes: This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
HIST 366 Division II SOC 244 Division II AMST 244 Division II
Attributes: HIST Group F Electives - U.S. + Canada

Class Grid

Updated 10:46 am

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