United States History II Syllabus for 2015-2016
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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-1302-006 United States History II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 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.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Books:

Title: American History W/Connect Access Card, Vol. II
Authors:  Alan Brinkley
Volume 2 ISBN: 1259563677
Publisher:  McGraw-Hill, 15^th ed.

Title: Retrieving the American Past (Access Card)
Amarillo College Reader, American History Volume II
ISBN: 1323019022

*NOTE:  The Retrieving the American Past book is 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/Reader 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 books.  It is also possible for a student to get conflicting advice from others, including bookstore personnel who mean well, but may be misinformed about the correct books for the proper Professor.  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.

 

Supplies

Regular access to a computer with Internet is necessary.  Students also have access to significant Virtual help from the Textbook publisher’s web site and often may use an E-Book instead of the more traditional printed version.  See AC

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 (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible. 

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.

Study Groups:  Student-led study groups are encouraged.  The professor will provide, if requested, a secure-web forum for each individual study group.  But, never forget that I am also available to you and will gladly help during my Office Hours or Appointments.

Cheating:  Occasionally a few students will attempt to cheat on one of the examinations.  Students caught cheating in any way or using materials other than those allowed will have their examinations rejected and, at minimum, receive a grade of F (0 points) for that examination.  Additionally such students may receive a grade of F for the course and may be suspended from the College (penalties which become a permanent part of a penalized student’s record and cannot be eliminated by the repeat-option).

Withdrawing From A Course:  It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course prior to the below date. Students are now REQUIRED to contact their Professor and get Approval before Dropping any class.  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 JULY 19, 2016.
 

Etiquette:  The study of history is important and deserves respect from both the professor and from students. Everyone has an obligation to cultivate an environment for learning that enhances the ability to pursue the shared interest in history. Respect for one another and for the ideas and values of others are essential for a strong environment for learning history. Respectful students bring a strong work ethic to the course. They are expected to log-on to the class regularly, be prepared for class, and be attentive to discussions and online chats. A shared respect for one another is essential to the academic integrity and a comfortable learning environment. Everyone must do their part to maintain an environment of openness and civility that encourages and honors the intellectual achievement. If you need to review the standard Net Etiquette rules, see the Net Etiquette for more information.

 

Instructor’s Policy on Academic Dishonesty:  Occasionally a few students will attempt to cheat or plagiarize.  Students caught will receive a grade of F (0 points) for that examination and/or essay.  Additionally such students may receive a grade of F for the course and may be suspended from the College (penalties which become a permanent part of a penalized student's record and cannot be eliminated by the repeat-option).  If you are unsure about the definition of plagiarism, see the links available to students or visit with your instructor.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• downloading a free or purchased paper
• copying an article from the web or electronic database
• translating a foreign web article into English
• copy a paper from a local source
• cobbling -- cutting and pasting to create a paper from several sources (including web sites) even if properly cited
• excessive quoting (more than 20% even if properly cited)
• quoting less than all the words copied
• changing some words but copying whole phrases
• paraphrasing without attribution
• summarizing without attribution
• faking a citation
• recycling work from a previous or current course, whether your own work or another student’s work.

Review the plagiarism link located on the "Course Info - Start HERE!" TAB located on the Course Website.

 

Choosing Good Sources for Historical Research:  Students often search for additional information about historical events to supplement their understanding of the material in preparation for essays, discussions, and even quizzes.  To correctly interpret historical issues, students must have accurate knowledge of the facts. Students can also consult secondary sources such as the work of other historians.  Students are, however, STRONGLY cautioned to choose these extra sources, particularly internet sites, with care.  Websites, such as Wikipedia or Yahoo, DO NOT necessarily contain reliable facts, documentation, or interpretations, and therefore, should not be used in a college course.  Websites like Wikipedia even post disclaimers informing users that their material may or may not be valid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disclaimers).  Students should, instead, choose sources from the AC Library such a History Cooperative, JSTOR, or other refereed journals. For websites, learners should select sites where the author can be identified as a scholar, historian, or other knowledgeable person.  Such examples would include websites ending in .edu or .org.  Websites helpful to students in this course already examined by the professor are available via the "Web Resources" link through the course. See "Using Wikipedia -- "Danger Will Robinson" handout located on the "Syllabus" page or this recent CNN article, "Use with caution:  The perils of Wikipedia."  Encyclopedias and general "History" websites also fall into this category because they are too superficial to use as "source material" for research necessary for use in any College Course. Using as “sources” such non-academic web sites like Wikipedia, Yahoo, Encyclopedias, or even general History websites (like History.com) among others with similar designs and intent will result in a reduction in points appropriate to the infraction on submitted the Assignment.  Use solid academic sources, and if in doubt, ask the Professor to be certain that you avoid penalties.

Review behavior guidelines in the AC student handbook.

Review Net Etiquette rules before taking an online course.

Grading Criteria

Students will be expected to work through 11 lessons (17 chapters) chronologically before the end of the semester as well as participate in discussions.  Additional articles are assigned in an Primary Source Reader each week to correspond to the main thesis being presented in the textbook (see Course Schedule for reading below).

Computer Requirements: 

Regular log-on is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to keep track of their assignments. Students must have regular access to a computer and a reliable Internet connection to enroll in this course.  I repeat, these are minimum requirements for all students in every online course.  Technical problems are not an excuse to miss a posted quiz or other due date.  Students should plan ahead to have all work submitted earlier than the last Due Date in the event of a computer malfunction. Students should then have access to a back-up computer at a family member's home, friend's location, local school, or local city library so they may still meet all assignment dates.  This is one of the trade-offs for the convenience of a Virtual class.  When technical problems occur, students need to send an e-mail to the Help Desk explaining the difficulty, and copy your instructor as well.  If you cannot use e-mail, call the Help Line and not your instructor to explain the difficulty.  You may also leave a summary of your trouble and response on your instructor's voice-mail.

 

Make-up Policy:
Since you are given the chance to drop several grades (see below), then I DO NOT allow any Make-Up assignments -- for any reason so do not ask.  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, the rule is -- there are NO make-up exams (or resets) or assignments under any circumstances.  A missed quiz or discussion will simply become a dropped score -- no exceptions and there is NO extra credit offered.  Therefore, it is imperative that students keep track of due dates for assignments.

Again, there is NO extra credit offered--so Please Do Not Ask.  This Syllabus is much like a Contract between the student and professor and alterations are not allowed.  Experience has demonstrated that Make-Up work is often just more to do for an already swamped student, so I have chosen to use the Drop score option to relieve the pressure and prevent students from trying to do extra work while still keeping up with up-coming work that is still due on time.  Remember, each student is being allowed several drop scores to assist those who must miss a Quiz or a Discussion because of outside obligations.  So there is no Extra Credit allowed.

Students MUST submit all Assignments and Quizzes electronically per the appropriate Instructions on the Course Website and no Assignments will be accepted in any other form as mandated by College and Course Syllabus rules.

 

Assignments:

1. For the first component of your grade, students must take the seventeen (17) chapter quizzes covering the eleven (11) modules/lessons.  Depending on scheduling needs, students will take either one or two chapter quizzes per testing cycle.  The goal is to allow for 17 Graded Chapter Quizzes so that student’s may drop their 5-lowest Quiz scores. Each individual quiz will be composed of fifteen (15) questions in various formats, including (but are not limited to) multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false, maps, and more. Graded Quizzes begin at 12:00 p.m. Noon and close at 11:55 p.m. (just before Midnight) on the dates listed on the Course Schedule (see below). This allows students a total of 84 hours over a four (4) day window in which to take each quiz after it is posted and recall that each quiz is timed.  You will be able to access each individual quiz TWICE and you will have thirty (30) minutes to take and complete each quiz attempt within a Testing Cycle.  That means, for any testing period which has two (2) Graded Chapter Quizzes scheduled, students must allow for one full hour of time during the Testing Window, or 30-minutes for the first Graded Quiz, and then some time later, another 30-minutes for the second Graded Quiz set for that period. Once you open a specific Quiz, you must complete it within 30-minutes.  The Blackboard Program times all Quizzes so each student must prepare for TWO (2) Test attempts for a specific Quiz in case of some technical issue, or if they score poorly and wish to try improving their grade using a second effort within a Testing Cycle, and Blackboard will keep only the highest score.  There are NO make-ups.  Each quiz is worth 15 points and the student will be able to drop five (the 5 lowest scores) of the 17 chapter quizzes.  The top twelve (12) quizzes at 15 points each will be totaled for your Quiz grades, but remember there are other graded course requirements.  (Total 180 points or approximately 75% of Final Course Grade.)
    
2. The second component of a student's grade are Discussion Questions scheduled on the Calendar throughout the Course, generally at the end of several modules.  Each student will answer the Question posed by the Professor, and will have some choice from which to select.  These are posted on the Discussion TAB and each answer should be a minimum of 250-500 words in length in a thoughtful and in-depth response.  Rules for answering Discussion Questions are listed under the Discussion Rules Link (see the Course Info TAB then look under Course Policies). Discussion Forums, including the student posts are open for one week, usually from Fridays beginning at 12:00 p.m. Noon to the following Friday until 11:59 p.m. Midnight.  You will have 6-Days in which to first, post your answer the question you selected, then each student must post two, shorter Commentaries (a minimum of 100-150 words in length) on the answers that two (2) of their classmates have posted to the Question they opted to write about.  So be clear, there are actually 3-Parts to this assignment.  The first is your own answer to a question posted by the Professor and selected by you, totaling about 500-words, then two shorter responses or commentaries totaling about 150 words each that you post regarding what two of your classmates had to say about the Question they chose to write upon.  However there are two (2) separate due dates so Do Not Panic, and remember that you have almost one week to complete all three (3) parts of this Assignment.  Be careful, however, to be sure that you submit your Answer to the Question you opted to write about No Later Than the First Due Date on the Course Schedule thus allowing at least 24 hours for the replies from your classmates ensuring each student will have time for thoughtful responses to what others wrote, and to what you posted as your answer.  Waiting until the last minute is unfair to those who need time to compose in-depth postings, so treat your classmates as you wish to be treated. The three (3) Discussion Forums during the Course are worth thirty (30) points each and students will be able to drop ONE (1), obviously it will be the lowest score.  The points will be awarded as follows: twenty (20) points for a quality answer to the Discussion Question itself; and then Five (5) points for each reply to your classmate’s posts for a total of ten (10) points. The responses to your fellow students' answers must be insightful commentaries that show you have read and considered what they have argued in their answer to the question being posed. Your highest two (2) Discussion Forum posts will thus total sixty (60) points toward your Final Course grade. (Total 60 points or 25% of Final Course Grade.) 
    

Method of determining course grade:

Course grade will be determined by the student's total accumulated points divided by the total possible points available.  For example, if the student has accumulated a total of 250 points from all assignments (after drops), then the student's course grade would be 250/290 for a grade of 86 or a B for the course. Approximate percentages are given to assist students who prefer to determine their grade through that method. To view your Grades, click on the "Check Your Grade HERE" TAB on the Course Webpage.  Manually calculate your Grade or Current Average using the Course Syllabus and/or see the "Graded Quizzes TAB -- How to Calculate Your Current Average" Link for assistance.

Final Grade based on Total Points:

• A    240-216 points

• B    215-192 points

• C    191-168 points

• D    167-144 points

• F    143 or less points

Remember, there are NO make-up exams or assignments given for any reason so if you miss a posted assignment, that grade will become your dropped score or a zero. There is NO extra credit offered.

Answers to all Discussions Forums should be thoughtful and critical with supporting facts and appropriate citations. Opinions without documentary evidence will not receive a passing grade. YOU MUST SUPPORT YOUR STANCE WITH FACTS FROM YOUR READINGS. 

NOTE:  Online students play by a slightly different set of rules than classroom based students.  Because your Professors have no opportunity to meet you face-to-face, nor to conduct any real discussions with the class as a group, you pay a penalty when it comes to the final class averages.  Unlike those who are in a regular course, day-in and day-out for weeks and who can participate in the give-and-take of the academic process, there is no room for leeway when it comes to averaging a student's grade.  The nearest thing to classroom participation/discussion is found in the Discussion postings that are done by each student posted on the Course Schedule.  These are student led learning tools, but they also give your Professor a glimpse into how well you are learning the material, and substitute for the in-class debates found in the normal lecture format.  So the Trade-Off for flexibility and not driving to class each week is that you must participate in these Discussions in order to give your Professor the best opportunity to assess your overall performance in the class.  Failure to do these has often made the difference between a student earning an "A" instead of the "B" they got, and did not want.  So please remember to take full advantage of both the learning process and the assessment tool provided by these Discussion posts. 

 

Attendance

NO on-campus meetings are required.  This course is conducted entirely online.

NOTICE:  BE WARNED -- This is fast-paced 8-week Summer course.

Attendance Policy: Regular log-ins are required not only for satisfactory achievement in the Course, but to meet the attendance criteria established for those accepting Financial Aid.  Be certain that you know---and follow the rules for such attendance as stated in your Financial Aid package.  Students must log into the course daily, or at a minimum of every 48 hours. This requirement is based upon the student's need to be informed on many issues that can arise, including changes in their course, any AC Connect announcement posted for the entire class, and in order to stay in contact with their Professor, who may feel that important information is not being understood by the students enrolled in the course, with AC Connect, or AC.  Experience has demonstrated the important role played by the announcements in assisting students in successfully completing the class.  So, remember to check the Homepage on a regular basis.
 
It is the responsibility of each student to keep track of their Assignments. Students must have daily access to a computer and a reliable Internet connection to enroll in, and to succeed in this course.  Technical problems with a Student’s computer or Internet provider are not valid excuses to miss Assignments, Exams, or other Due Dates.  Students should plan ahead to have access to a back-up computer at a family member's home, friend's location, local school, or local city library. If a technical problem does occur, students should immediately send an e-mail to the AC Help Desk (AskAC), where specialists in this technology can provide assistance.  You must also send a note to your Professor via the Course E-mail explaining the difficulty and the Date, Time and Steps taken to solve the issue.  Should the problem not be addressed by the Help Desk, they will provide the Professor with a detailed report of ALL actions taken and the Professor will then decide if the Student can be allowed to complete the work in another fashion. If you cannot use e-mail, telephone your Professor as a last resort to explain the problem.  Remember, however, that this is an Online course, and traditional telephone messages may take longer to be returned since they are outside of the normal communication chain.  If you reach your Professor's voice-mail, leave a message explaining the trouble and contact information where you can be reached.  Expect an e-mail response via the Course E-mail as the primary means of return contact, not a telephone call, since students are enrolled from around the world, and may, in fact, be on Active Duty in a military combat zone, or live in Alaska or Hawaii and so on.  This makes telephone communication problematic to say the least.  If necessary, a Chat Room can be created as a temporary method to discuss material that is too complex for a standard e-mail.

Online students play by a slightly different set of rules than classroom based students.  Because your Professors have no opportunity to meet you face-to-face, nor to conduct any real discussions with the class as a group, you pay a penalty when it comes to the final class averages.  Unlike those who are in a regular course, day-in and day-out for weeks and who can participate in the give-and-take of the academic process, there is no room for leeway when it comes to averaging a student's grade.  The nearest thing to classroom participation/discussion is found in the Discussion postings that are done by each student posted on the Course Schedule.  These are student led learning tools, but they also give your Professor a glimpse into how well you are learning the material, and substitute for the in-class debates found in the normal lecture format.  So the Trade-Off for flexibility and not driving to class each week is that you must participate in these Discussions in order to give your Professor the best opportunity to assess your overall performance in the class.  Failure to do these has often made the difference between a student earning an "A" instead of the "B" they got, and did not want.  So please remember to take full advantage of both the learning process and the assessment tool provided by these Discussion posts. 

NOTE:  Contact the professor immediately if you have a family emergency such as an unexpected major illness or family death, are on active duty in the military serving in a war zone, or have any other justifiable reason why you are unable to meet the due dates.  However, change of military assignments or TDYs, changing work schedules, or other occurrences caused by a busy life are not acceptable excuses for missing assignment due dates.  Plan ahead.

 

Log-on and Meeting Times: Students should purchase textbooks and receive them prior to the first day of class. In addition, students need to log in on or before the first day of class through AC Connect 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/  to begin the course. This class is conducted completely online and does NOT require proctors for exams. All Graded Quizzes and Assignments are submitted online through the course website.

 

Students MUST submit all Assignments and Quizzes electronically per the appropriate Instructions on the Course Website and NO Assignments will be accepted in any other form as mandated by College and Course Syllabus rules.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

 

Teaching & Learning Strategy:  The class is approached as an on-line instruction tool to learn about United States history. The course is designed to be completed during either a traditional 16-week Fall/Spring term or a NEW 8 week fast-paced session. A student should expect to schedule, on average, approximately 6-8 hours per week to accomplish the assignments required in this course and plan on reading 75-100 pages per week — even more in an 8-week session. The student should block out time in a day planner three (3) times a week in a traditional 16 week session (5-6 times a week in the 8-week session) for completing reading, reviewing Internet sources, and course work, just as you would do if you were on campus.  The seemingly vast reading load is the result of not attending classroom lectures where material is distilled by the Professor.  Instead, the student is given the assignments, and should read them first and ask any questions raised by the topics that each student as an individual needs guidance to follow.

The course is structured with readings that correspond to content material posted online. Additional readings from Internet sites are assigned to support your historical understanding.

Students should be sure to view and/or print off the class calendar to keep track of the required posting dates for exams and discussion questions. In addition, students should regularly check their email for notices about any changes in the course or content materials. Participation in this course is crucial to success.

Since this course is offered as an online class, individualized learning is the key. Your ability to read the textbook and additional material and learn on your own to identify major theses and link material together into a comprehensive understanding of the United States is crucial. The professor is available by email or in person to discuss in-depth any material you do not understand but the burden of learning falls upon the individual student.

 

Go to the Course Webpage on AC Connect and select the "Course Info - Start HERE!" TAB:
--Print out and keep a copy of the Course Syllabus for the semester handy,
--Print out the Course Schedule on the "Course Schedule" TAB and post somewhere prominent.
--Review and be familiar with ALL Course Policies located including the SafeAssign, Wikipedia and Plagiarism Handouts.

 

Copyright of Course:  Courses and course presentations/materials shall not be reproduced, distributed, re-used, or revised without prior knowledge and consent of the professor. Copyright of courses and course presentations are owned by the professor just as in the case of traditional course materials such as books or articles.

 

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