Course Contents
For files marked with Adobe Acrobat® is Required. Get Adobe Acrobat®
Calendar of Assignment Deadlines
General Course Outline
Course Requirements
Reading Schedule
Examinations: Use the following study guides to prepare for the examinations Midterm #1, March 10, Midterm#2, April 14, Final Exam, At Officially Scheduled Time: 1:15 – 3:15, Saturday, May 10 Some advice for writing examinations Criteria used in evaluating essay exams
Some points to remember when citing other works in your paper

Office Hours:

M – W – F, 9:15 – 10:15 T – Th, 11:00 – 12:00,
and by appointment

History 256, Scandinavian Immigration History, is a general survey of the history of immigrants to the United States from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, and their descendants. Drawing on the rich ethnic resources of Luther College and Vesterheim museums, this course examines the nature of the immigration experience and the development within immigrant communities of a sense of old world ethnicity combined with a rising U.S. nationalism.

Required Reading:

Lovoll, Odd, The Promise of America: A History of the Norwegian-American People

Moberg, Vilhelm, The Emigrants

Zempel, Solveig, ed, In their Own Words: Letters from Norwegian Immigrants

"Supplemental Course Materials" --available online in two formats: in PDF format on this site in .pdf format or as part of the Katie program at http://blackboard.luther.edu (as Word documents). These files contain reading assignments, map quiz identification items, guidelines for book reviews, study guides for examinations, etc. (Please note the capitalization--the system is case sensitive.)

Reading Schedule

The document "Weekly Reading Schedule" indicates reading assignments for each section of the course. Because of the amount of reading required, you cannot expect to digest all of the material at one time. You should thus try to read part of the assigned material daily, or at least several times a week. Reading the material before the subject is covered in class will make it easier for you to understand the lectures, and help you formulate questions which will help you learn the material more effectively.

Course Structure

This class consists primarily of lectures, supplemented by films or slides. The lectures are not simply a repetition of information found in the text. Examinations will cover material from the reading assignments as well as the lectures. You will be responsible for lecture material whether or not you are in class, and it will be very difficult to get a passing grade if you frequently miss lectures. Furthermore, attendance may be considered when determining "borderline" grades.

Although this is primarily a lecture course, you are encouraged to ask questions. If you have questions that you believe are too detailed to ask in class, or which may be outside the general interest of the class, please visit me in my office.

Assignments and Examinations

2 midterm examinations (100 points each) (Tentatively scheduled for March 10 and April 14)(Study guides will be posted at least one week prior to each exam)

1 final examination (partly comprehensive)--at officially scheduled final exam time (100 points)

1 Paper (8 - 10 pages) related to Scandinavian Immigration History (100 points) (Due Wednesday, April 23)

Total: 400 points

Course grades are based on completion of these assignments only. There are NO provisions for "extra credit" work to supplement these requirements.

(More information regarding these assignments is provided in a separate file: "Assignments and Examinations." Dates listed are tentative, and subject to possible change.)

Violations of the Honor System will be referred to the Honor Council, and unless overturned by that body, will result in failure in the course.