United States History I Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Course

HIST-1301-007 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.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

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\ Farmer et al.  Foundations of American History, Vol I  to 1877. 11^th Edition. Redding, CA: BVT Publishing, 2013. Bundled with Required Access Card)

\ Farmer, Brian R. ed. Retrieving the American Past. Amarillo College Reader: American History Volume I.  Boston, MA: Pearson Learning, 2012.

Supplies

Paper, pens and/or pencils. Access to a computer with internet connection, printer and printer paper.

Student Performance

\ Upon successful completion of this couse, students will:

\ 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 in United States history.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

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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

\ To the mature adults which are members of this class I apologize for the insult imposed upon you by this section of the syllabus. Unfortunately, past behavior of your fellow students has necessitated its inclusion. Students are expected in this class to behave in a manner befitting adult, university students, with the proper respect displayed for their fellow students, the instructor, and the University. This is not junior high, elementary school, nor the Lad 'N' Lassie day care center, and I have no intention of tolerating behavior which is more stereotypical of any of the aforementioned. In order to clarify my position, the following list of behaviors are included as examples of behavior which will result in permanent expulsion from this class. A student will receive one verbal warning only. Verbal warnings may include dismissal from class for the remainder of the class period. A second incident results in permanent expulsion with no chance for reinstatement.
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\ Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:

\ 1. banging, tapping on wall, desk, or floor

\ 2. sleeping, head on desk

\ 3. interrupting lecture by any unsuitable means

\ 4. cheating in any form

\ 5. disruptive talking/visiting between students

\ 6. throwing paper wads or any other objects

\ 7. passing notes

\ 8. disrespect for fellow students

\ 9. any other disruptive behavior

\  10. doing homework related to this class or any other
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\ 11. wearing headphones

\ 12. disrespectful comments

\ 13. eating

\ 14. moving from desk to desk, walking around room.

\ 15. knitting, needlepoint or other arts and crafts.

\ 16. Cell Phones Off—No Text
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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.

Grading Criteria

Course requirements/grading:

Exams.  There will be four major examinations during the semester including a final exam on Thursday, August 14, 11:30AM-1:30PM. Exams will be taken online at whatever computer each student finds to be most convenient. To access the exams, go to Blackboard at https://actx.blackboard.com/webapps/login/ Login with your username and password. Go to Courses” and navigate to our class. Click on the Content Button, Click on the Exams folder and then click on the exam you want to take.  Students may drop the lowest grade on one exam other than the final.  Students may not drop the final exam.  Exams will be multiple choice and cover both the readings and the lectures. The three exams grades that will be retained are worth 75% of the final grade.

Makeup Exams.  There are no makeup exams without prearrangement with the instructor.  If a student misses an exam, that exam automatically becomes the one that the student must drop. If the student misses a second exam, then the student must arrange with the instructor to take an essay makeup exam.

Las Vegas Option.   On exam #3 only, if a student has achieved a minimum grade of 70 on each of the first two exams, he/she may attempt to answer all 50 of the questions on the third exam incorrectly.  If a student is able to incorrectly answer all 50 questions on this exam, then a grade of 100% will be entered for this exam in the gradebook.  All questions must be answered and no questions may have more than one answer.  If a student is unfortunate enough to exercise this option and answer at  least one question correctly, then the Las Vegas Option exam becomes the exam which the student is allowed to drop.

Historical Ethical Dilemma Paper: Students will read a historical ethical dilemma assigned by individually by the insturctor. In a one page typed paper, students will briefly identify and accurately describe the ethical dilemma. Students will use appropriate insights from two or more areas of study at AC to make connections and clarify the ethical dilemma. Students will recognize connections to their own personal values and rules, articulate the sources of their insights, and incorporate personal values in a reasoned response.  Keep the length of your response to one page. The Historical Ethical Dilemma Paper is worth 5% of the final grade.

Weekly Online Homework Assignment. Students will answer the online quizzes on each chapter from BVT Publishing on a weekly basis for a total of 10% of their final grade. All quizzes will be open all semester until Friday, August 8. Instructions for accessing BVT Lab can be accessed in the BVT History Lab folder accessed through the Content button in our class in Blackboard.

Class participation grade.  Since some portion of the readings will be presented and discussed in class during virtually every class period, all students are expected to contribute to classroom discussion.  It is obviously impossible to add much to classroom discussion if you are absent, therefore, attendance is considered by the instructor in formulating the class participation grade.  Class participation is 10% of the final grade and it is based primarily on attendance, but the instructor reserves the right to deduct up to all ten points from the class participation grade for behavior detrimental to the class.  For example, a student who misses 20% of the class periods will probably receive only 8 of the possible 10 percentage points for the class participation grade at the discretion of the instructor. Students who continually exhibit disruptive, disrespectful, or otherwise detrimental behavior may receive a zero for their class participation grade at the discretion of the instructor.

Synopsis of Grading

                                                                                    Total

Three Exam scores                                                        75%

Ethical Dilemma Paper                                                     5%

Online Quizzes from BVT Publishing                              10%

Class Participation Grade                                             _ 10%__

Total                                                                             100%

Academic dishonesty:

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  Some collaboration with other students on projects is acceptable; however, students must do their own work.  Papers which bear a striking resemblance to the work of other students will not be accepted.  If the instructor determines that a student is not responsible for his/her work, no credit will be given for the assignment.

Attendance

\ Amarillo College Attendance Policy:   Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class.

\ Instructor Attendance Policy. Attendance is considered heavily in calculating class participation grade. Habitual absenteeism may cause students to lose the full ten points for class participation. Tardies count as one third of an absence, and over 20 minutes tardy counts as an absence.  Leaving class early without prior arrangement with the instructor counts as a tardy.  Leaving class 20 minutes or more early counts as an absence. 

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Calendar

Additional Information

\ The Instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or calendar if necessary.