United States History I Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

HIST-1301-010 United States History I

Prerequisites

RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills

Course Description

A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and creation of the federal government.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ REQUIRED BOOKS FOR CLASS:

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\ Title:  Foundations of American History, Vol. I to 1877 BUNDLED w/ ACCESS CARD
\ Authors:  Degler, Desantis, Farmer, et al.
\ ISBN: 978-1-61882-805-7  NEW 11^th Edition

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\ Title:  Retrieving the American Past
\ Amarillo College Reader, American History Volume I
\ ISBN:  978-1-256-53470-9

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\ NOTE: All books above are printed and packaged specifically for AC students and can only be purchased from the AC Bookstore.  Please remember that each student is responsible for purchasing the CORRECT Textbook/Readers for this course.  It is very easy in the hectic early days of a new term to glance at a card in the bookstore and select the wrong Edition of a book that has just been updated from the previous year, or to grab the wrong Volume and end up with a Volume I book, even though you are taking the class which needs Volume II instead. Please be sure that ALL of your books match in both Volume and Edition those listed on this Syllabus and no other books.  Please trust only what is on this Syllabus, and no other source of information no matter how well meaning the person, since you will be the one who suffers if you get the wrong books.  So be sure to go online, print-out-a-copy of the Syllabus and bring it with you when buying your books.  If in doubt, buy what is listed on the Syllabus, then sort out any issues later.  The Syllabus is the final word on which book is correct, so read it carefully and buy accordingly.
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Supplies

\ The Exams for this Course are taken Online which means that each student will need access to a reliable computer and Internet service in order to take each of the required Quizzes.  You may take your Exams from Home, or on the College campus,

Student Performance

\ Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

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\ 1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
\ 2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
\ 3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period of United States history.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ DISABILITY STATEMENT:    Any student, who because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (SSC 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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\ STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:  Student records are confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.  Therefore, the student’s progress within this class cannot be discussed with parents, friends, or guardians without written permission from the student.  The student (not a parent, friends, or the professor) is responsible for contacting the professor if the student is concerned about their progress in the class, absent for an extended period due to illness, surgery, or other circumstances, or any other extenuating situations which may arise during the course of the semester. The student is responsible for following and understanding their rights and responsibilities as listed in the student handbook at on the AC Webpage.  

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\ NOTE:  If a student misses class, it is the student’s responsibility to get class notes from another student.  DO NOT ASK THE PROFESSOR FOR THE NOTES.

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\  Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:

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1. \ sleeping, head on desk
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2. \ interrupting lecture by any unsuitable means
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3. \ banging, tapping on wall, desk, or floor
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4. \ passing notes
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5. \ disrespect for fellow students
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6. \ wearing headphones - except for hearing assistance as approved.
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7. \ disrespectful comments
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8. \ cheating in any form
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9. \ disruptive talking/visiting between students
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10. \ any other disruptive behavior
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11. \ doing homework related to this class or any other
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12. \ moving from desk to desk, walking around room
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13. \ throwing paper wads or any other objects
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14. \ knitting, needlepoint, other arts and crafts
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\ The instructor reserves the right to assign seating if necessary to preserve order.  Contrary to what you are probably now thinking, it is not my intention to design a class which is a prison camp for college students.  I am in favor of having fun in class perhaps as much as anyone; however, it must not be at the expense of an environment conducive to learning.

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\ Review behavior guidelines in the AC student handbook.

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Grading Criteria

REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS:

Required Exams:  Students will be tested, on average, once every two to three weeks over the roughly 15 weeks of the Semester. Testing will be done entirely Online, during a window of time that opens at 0800 (8am) on Friday mornings and will end at 2355 (11:55pm) on Sunday nights.  You may access the Exam only once, so plan your effort accordingly.  That means you must limit all distractions from friends, family, the neighbor's dog, or anything else that may get in the way of you doing your very best on these Quizzes.  This 3-day window allows everyone to take each of the Tests, but although there are 6 Exams scheduled during the Term, you may drop the lowest two scores from the first 5 that are given.  That means that the Last Quiz must be taken and its grade may not be excluded from your Course Average.  The logic here is that if you were not required to take that last test then you would simply skip the final two weeks of the course, and the whole point is for you to learn, not just get your "ticket punched."  Since you are given the chance to drop the lowest two grades from the Tests, then I DO NOT allow any Make-Up assignments.  The second reason for not granting Make-Ups is that they tend to be more work for an already over-stressed student, and by allowing the Drop option instead, I feel that everyone benefits while still protecting your opportunity to succeed in this class.  So remember, there will be 6 Quizzes in total given about every second or third weekend, and you may drop the lowest TWO (2) of the first 5 that are taken, including those that you might miss due to illness or some other issue.  But everyone must participate in the Last Quiz and that score will count.  So to summarize, there are 6 scheduled Quizzes and students may drop two (2) of the first 5 Quizzes, BUT everyone must take the last Quiz, scheduled for the last Friday-Sunday period prior to the start of Final Exam week, and the score from that Quiz #6 counts!  The last Test will open at 0800 (8am) on Friday morning 6 December and it will close at 2355 (11:55pm) on Sunday night the 8th of December. The Quizzes comprise a total of 80% of your class average, while the remaining 20% will come from the following two assignments.

 

Other Assignments:

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First is a Participation Grade worth 10% of your Class Average, based upon each student completing 6 of the Practice Quizzes found in the BVTLab Class, passing each with a grade of 100%.  The early problems have now been addressed, and every student received a score of 100 for the First Practice Quiz.  I have now opted, after several requests from students, to grant open access to all of the remaining Practice Quizzes that count toward your Participation Average.  That means that there are 5 such Practice Quizzes left, and you may now take them at anytime you choose prior to Wednesday 4 December 2013, at 2355 (11:55 pm).  Remember that each student's Practice Quiz is randomly generated by the BVTLab Class when you log-in, which allows you t get the same 20-questions so that students can meet that obligation.  Be careful to select the appropriate Chapter Quiz you intend to complete, and be sure to finish that one with a score of 100 prior to moving on to the next Chapter Quiz.  Also, be sure to read the Instructions so that you do not accidentally try and take a Practice Quiz from the BVTLab Student Study Center and then expect that one to serve as the required score of 100%.  You are encouraged to use those tests found in the BVTLab Student Study Center to aid in preparation for the Graded Quizzes, but they will not be the same 20-questions each time and are not linked into the Grade Book.  Be sure that you are in the correct place when trying to take any Test that counts toward your Class Average.    The "experts" in Education tell us that the more times you "see" a topic the more you recall about it later.  So this is one way to help assure that you will be ready every second-third week for the real Quiz, where all four (4) of the Graded Quizzes will amount to 80% of your average.  So you must take the remaining 5 Practice Quizzes from the BVTLab Class, and score 100% on each for a Participation Grade totaling of 10% of your class average, but you are all off to a fine start with the free 100 on Practice Quiz #1 .  These are now done on your own time schedule and you may take them all as soon as you are ready until the deadline which is now set for Wednesday 4 December at 2355 (11:55 pm).  These, just like all assignments are done Online, but please feel free to ask questions of the Professor if you are unclear on any material you find while taking these Practice Tests. 

 

The remaining 10% of your Course Average will come from a Capstone Reflective Essay written in response to one of the Ethical Dilemma questions you will find on the Course Homepage.  These are being instituted in several so-called Gate-Keeper classes like History this semester, but will become College-wide within a short time.  They are to be between 350-500 words in length, and you may select the question that interests you the most.  You are required to submit your Essay Online no later than 2355 (11:55pm) on Thursday night 5 December.  You may turn it in anytime after 21 November 2013, but no later than 5 December.  Your essay should follow the Rubric (rules/format) found on the Course Homepage and be double-spaced.  No citations are necessary since this is your view of an ethical dilemma that was faced by a real person from the period of History you studied during the Semester.  The goal is to have each student explore and apply what they have learned during the term to an actual event, and then express their personal response to it. 

 

To summarize, each student must take 6 Quizzes during the Term that are worth 20% each and may drop two of those Tests so that 4 Quizzes will count for 80% of the class average.  Everyone must also take 6 Practice Exams that are randomly created for them when they join the BVTLab Class using the corrected Access Code.  Each student gets a total of 10 attempts at scoring the maximum 100-points and the Practice Quizzes may be taken at any time prior to 5 December.  These 6 Practice Quizzes count as 10% of a student's Participation Grade.  Finally, each student will write a brief Reflective Capstone Essay covering an Ethical Dilemma that occurred during the period of History being covered.  This Essay must be between 350-500 words and submitted between 21 November and 5 December for the last 10% of the student's Course Average.          

       

 

COMPOSITION OF FINAL GRADE:  All Quizzes are worth 20% each for a total of 80% of your Course Grade.  There are 6 of these Quizzes, but only 4, including the last one will be used to determine all averages.  Students may drop two (2) of the first 5 Quizzes, BUT everyone must take the Last Quiz and the score from Quiz #6 counts!  There is NO extra credit offered.  Remember, each student is being allowed to Drop one-third of their scores to assist those who must miss a Quiz or have outside obligations.  So there is no Extra Credit allowed. The remaining 20% of your course grade will come from the Participation Grade worth 10% and the Capstone Reflective Essay worth 10%.

Graded Quizzes (4 at 20% each)      80%
Participation Grade                             10%
Capstone Reflective Essay               10%

 

GRADE SCALE:
A          90 and above
B          80-89
C          70-79
D          60-69
F          Failing (below 60)

 

MAKE-UP POLICY: There are no make-up Quizzes or Assignments under any circumstances. A missed Quiz will simply become a dropped score-- no exceptions.  There is NO extra credit offered. Remember, everyone must drop two of the first 5 Quizzes but ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE LAST Quiz and the score will count.  The other Assignments must be submitted on the dates listed, with no extensions or exemptions.

 

Attendance

Attendance is necessary to successfully complete this course.  See AC Student Handbook for guidelines.

QUIZ SCHEDULE:  Quizzes will, on average, be administered at the end of every two to three weeks the class meets during the 15 weeks of the Regular term.  This means that a great deal of material will be covered in lecture/discussion in the period between the Quizzes. Therefore, it is imperative that students be in attendance each day, since most of the content that will be tested will come from the Professor's lecture/Discussion with the class.  I cannot be emphasize strongly enough just how important being part of that interaction between the class and the Professor is when learning History.  This is not a subject that is bound by formulas or learned by memorizing the names of bones or atomic tables.  The foundation of History is the story of mankind, and the only proven way to learn that story well is to participate in a discussion of what happened and why.  So please make every effort to attend all classes, and seriously consider forming Study Groups with your classmates to spread the workload out among several people and to learn from their interpretations of the events we are all studying.  Also, ask the Professor to cover anything you do not understand.  I hold a Doctor's Degree in this field of study, spending 12-years in Higher Education and roughly $100,000 to be able to teach you in the best way possible.  So please take advantage of that while I am learning from you as well.

Calendar

Additional Information

\ AC Connect for Course Webpage:  Students can access the associated course webpage on the Internet through the AC Connect Server at https://acconnect.actx.edu or through the AC Homepage http://www.actx.edu/.   Students will be able to access and complete the quizzes on the associated calendar dates, enter the BVT Study Lab to  take practice quizzes and find additional study aids, view their quiz scores, review the Course Syllabus, and more.  All electronic correspondence between student and Professor must to be conducted through the AC Connect -- Course Home Page – Send E-mail link.

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\ WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE:  It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to withdraw may result in a grade of “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated withdrawals that are submitted on or before NOVEMBER 20, 2013.

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\ COPYRIGHT OF COURSE:  The course presentations/materials shall not be reproduced, distributed, re-used, or revised without prior knowledge and consent of the professor. The content of this class is copyrighted and protected under laws similar to those governing more traditional materials such as books or articles.   Therefore, audio recorders must have PRIOR approval of the instructor and cannot be disseminated beyond personal use and no visual reproductions or photographs are allowed under any circumstances.

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\ HOLIDAYS:  No class will be held on the following dates:
\ Monday - September 2, 2013 – Labor Day Holiday
\ Tuesday - September 17, 2013 - No Class (Doctor Powell’s Classes ONLY)
\ Thursday - November 28, 2013 - Thanksgiving Holiday
\ Friday - November 29, 2013 - Thanksgiving Holiday

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\ **Changes or adjustments in course material, or other parts of this syllabus may be made during the semester if circumstances warrant.

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