Stephen Ortiz

Binghamton University (SUNY)

Stephen R. Ortiz is an associate professor of history at Binghamton University (SUNY); his research focuses on the political, military, diplomatic and gender history of the twentieth-century United States. Ortiz is the author of Beyond the Bonus March and GI Bill: How Veteran Politics Shaped the New Deal Era and editor of Veterans' Policies, Veterans' Politics: New Perspectives on Veterans in the Modern United States, and is working on a new book titled "Comrades in Arms: Veterans Organizations and the Politics of National Security in the American Century.” He currently serves as Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Enrichment and Executive Director of University Scholars at Binghamton University.

  Undergraduate Syllabi

Soldiers/Veterans in the Modern US

 

This course will examine war’s impact on the modern United States by examining the historical experiences of soldiers and veterans in a century dominated by military conflict. The course will focus on three key conflicts and their aftermaths: World War I, World War 2, and the Vietnam War. We will do this by considering the specific experiences of the servicemen and servicewomen who fought in America’s wars, the experiences of veterans dealing with the aftermath of war, and the relationship between soldiers and veterans and American society and politics. The course will use quizzes, 2 short papers, one longer final paper project, and participation for assessment. It carries Harpur College “W” and Gen-Ed “N” designations and is crafted for history majors and non-majors alike.

War and Society in the Modern US

 

This course examines war’s cultural, social, economic, and political impact on the modern United States (approximately 1898-1991). While covering a century dominated by military conflict, the course will focus on four key periods for exploration: World War I, World War 2, the Cold War, and the Vietnam era. We will do this by considering a number of issues associated with war: the experiences of the servicemen and servicewomen who fought in America’s wars, life on “the homefront,” the economic developments sparked by war, the relationship between war and American political development, the relationship between veterans and American society, and the impact of war on both race and gender relations (and vice versa).It carries Harpur College “W” and Gen-Ed “N” designations and is crafted for history majors and non-majors alike.

Assignment

 Ortiz HIST 380 Time Homefront paper guidelines

Paper due October 20, 2015 in class.

 

The bound library volumes of Time Magazine are located in the Newcomb Reading Room in Library North near Jazzman’s Café.

 

Read each of your month’s Time issues—the articles, the ads, the photos, the letters to the editor, etc. (A scan of the sign up sheet is in Blackboard.) Find three topics about American life on the homefront that are discussed or depicted in multiple issues (at least twice in the given month but the more, the better). Some topics to consider: the experiences of the servicemen and servicewomen in stateside training camps, life on “the homefront” for women and children, propaganda efforts t mobilizing popular support, the politics of war and war preparation, the economic developments sparked by war mobilization, discussion of American political ideology and citizenship, geographic mobility and the movement of peoples, and the impact of war on both race (understood broadly) and gender relations. If you have problems doing this for your month or in choosing topics, talk to either of the course instructors during their office hours well in advance of the deadline.

 

The paper should be approximately ten (10) double-spaced pages (no more than twelve and no less than 8), and typed in 12-point font. We prefer printed on front and back.

 

  • Begin with an introduction explaining what your topics are.

  • Allowing 2-2.5 pages for each topic, describe these major issues as they are discussed or depicted in the magazine.

  • In your discussion, if possible, compare and contrast the presentations and depictions in the articles with the historical narrative presented in the WWII overview and from previous classes, and with interpretations offered in the course’s readings (no outside sources necessary).

  • Choose good quotations from the articles to provide life and texture to your analysis. You may use parenthetical or Turabian citation: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/DocChicago.html

  • Offer a strong conclusion about that month in US history as seen through the lens of Time Magazine.

  • A full bibliography with each article and reading employed in your analysis is necessary. Turabian as found here: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/DocChicago_Bibliography.html

  • Note: include images if necessary in an appendix. This does not count toward the page-length requirement.

 

Grading:

Since the success of this project depends mightily on the caliber and relevancy of the magazine material to the 3 topics, you will be assessed on your ability to locate and choose sources for historical analysis. Your grade will be based on how well you describe and evaluate the topics. The grade will also be based on the strength of your introduction and of your concluding evaluative section, and the overall strength and clarity of your writing. Concrete detail and good vibrant quotations will be privileged, too.