United States History II Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Course

HIST-1302-010 United States History II

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 Civil War/Reconstruction era to the present. United States History II examines industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History II include: American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the federal government and the study of U.S. foreign policy.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

The Unfinished Nation: Concise History of the American People(includes Connect) - 7^th Edition

By Alan Brinkley

ISBN:                     9780077412326

Publisher:            McGraw Hill

Copyright:           2013                          

Supplies

Textbook, Internet, Paper and Pens

Student Performance

Grading:          

Each student will be required to take three exams over the semester. Each exam will contain 80 True/False, matching, and/or multiple choice questions.  Each question will be valued at 1.25 points. Each exam will be available online for three (3) days. Each exam will have a maximum time-limit of 2 hours (120 minutes).  Each exam is worth 10% of your total grade.

Each student will partner with three (3) students to create a digital video or photo storytelling history project.  The digital history project will be due on November 13, 2013.  The video project is worth 30% of your total grade.

 

Each student will be required to complete 15 study modules at McGraw Hill Connect over that week’s reading material.  The study modules are worth 25% of your total grade. 

 

Each student will be given an ethical dilemma topic to write a one-page research paper.  The student will need to use at least one primary source to support his/her point of view regarding the historical ethical dilemma. The paper must be one-page in length with 1-inch margins on all sides and 12-point Times New Roman font.  The paper will be due on December 4, 2013.  The historical research paper is worth 5% of your total grade.

 

Each student will be required to attend class and participation in that day’s lesson. The points assessed will be based on the student’s attendance and level of discussion during in-class times.  The attendance/participation is worth 10% of your total grade.

                               

Grading Scale:

Exam One	30% of total grade(10% each exam)
Exam Two
Exam Three
Digital History Project	25% of total grade
Digital History Project – Teamwork Assessment	5% of total grade
McGraw Hill’s Connect History Lab Study Modules	25% of total grade
Historical Research Paper	5% of total grade
Attendance/Participation	10% of total grade

 

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

            

No make-up exams will be given.If an exam is missed, the student will receive a zero for the exam grade. 

Classroom Ground Rules:           

1. Cell phones, pagers, or any electronic devices must be turned off during the class hours.

2. Students caught cheating will, at a minimum, receive a grade of F for that examination. Additionally, such students may receive a grade of F in the course.

3. No late work will be accepted. The student must complete all required work by the deadline on the course schedule. 

Grading Criteria

Exam One	30% of total grade(10% each exam)
Exam Two
Exam Three
Digital History Project	25% of total grade
Digital History Project – Teamwork Assessment	5% of total grade
McGraw Hill’s Connect History Lab Study Modules	25% of total grade
Historical Research Paper	5% of total grade
Attendance/Participation	10% of total grade

 

Attendance

Each student will be required to attend class and participation in that day’s lesson.  The attendance/ participation grade will be worth up to 10% of the student’s total grade.  The points assessed will be based on the student’s attendance and level of discussion during in-class times

Calendar

Additional Information

Digital History Project Guidelines & Resources

 

Purpose – Storytelling has always been a significant part of history, but the means through which the stories have been told has evolved with each civilization. From the oral histories presented by bards in ancient courts, to the works of scribes during the Renaissance, to newspapers, CNN, and now the Internet, personal narrative has been used to communicate the events of the past. Digital media now combines tradition with technology and allows students to tell stories through voice, text, images, audio, and video.

Digital stories allow students to take a linear series of events and turn them into a multidimensional experience. It encourages them to communicate, collaborate, and research as well as to infuse media into the process. A plethora of tools exists to create these projects - both in terms of software as well as hardware - and all of them enable students to gain a deeper understanding of history as they explore the most effective way to retell it.

 

Guidelines & Requirements –

1. Create a team of 4 students by Friday, October 4^th, to develop a digital video or photo storytelling project.  The names of the partnership must be sent to the professor no later than Sunday, October 6^th.

 

1. Decide on a topic and submit the topic to the professor no later than Friday, October 11^th, for approval.  Each group will need to select a topic for their digital history project.  The topic can be any historical event that involved America from its origination through the end of the Reconstruction era (between 1400 to 1872). Examples include assassination of Founding of the English Colonies, American Revolutionary War, and/or Civil War. See examples/web-links below.

 

1. Create a 4 to 6 minute digital storytelling history project.  The digital format can be either a video, iMOVIE, Microsoft Movie or any other format that is agreed upon by the group and professor.

 

1. Here is an overview on how to create a digital story:

a)      Script development: write the story using the storyboard outline provided below.

b)      Record the author reading the story – if using a video format OR Develop the words used to convey the story – if using a photo format.

c)       Capture the story using images (photos) to illustrate the story you are trying to tell.

d)      Combine audio and images (and any additional video) onto a timeline, add music track.

e)      Add Background Music, Titles, Transitions, and Effects (Optional).

1. The digital storytelling project is due on November 13^th.  Digital history projects will be shown during the in-class time on November 27^th.  Students will share and discuss their digital stories with the class.

Project Grading –The grade for the project will be determined as follows: 25% of total grade based on actual video (see rubric in AC Online for specifics).  5% of total grade based each individual’s teamwork.  Team members will assess each other and themselves to determine these points.

Digital Storytelling Resources –

Digital Storytelling – Educational Guidelines

http://www.microsoft.com/education/en-us/teachers/guides/Pages/digital_storytelling.aspx

 

The Center for Digital Storytellingin Berkeley, California is known for developing and disseminating the Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling, which are often cited as a useful starting point as you begin working with digital stories.

 

1. Point of View What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author? 2. A Dramatic Question A key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end of the story. 3. Emotional Content Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the story to the audience. 4. The Gift of Your Voice A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context. 5. The Power of the Soundtrack Music or other sounds that support and embellish the storyline. 6. Economy Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer. 7. Pacing The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To assist you with developing your digital project.  Use the following Digital Storytelling Storyboard.

 

Each box represents one slide in your digital story. Describe in as much detail as possible what will be included for each slide. The more you plan ahead of time, the easier it is to create your digital story. Copy as many storyboard boxes as you need to plan your digital story.