United States History I Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Course

HIST-1301-007 United States History I

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 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Farmer et al. Foundations of American History Volume I--To 1877. 12th Edition. Redding, CA: BVT Publishing, 2015. ISBN 978-1-62751-779-9

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

Supplies

Four scantron forms 882-e and something with which to take notes where electronic or hardcopy

Student Performance

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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

Academic dishonesty:

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  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.

Behavior policy.  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.

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

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 11, 11:30-12:45.  Students may not drop any of the four exams.  Exams will be multiple choice and cover both the readings and the lectures. Each exam has 50 questions and is worth 100 points. Bring Scantron form 882-e and a number 2 pencil on exam days. 

Makeup Exams.  There are no makeup exams without prearrangement with the instructor.  If a student misses an exam, the student can make it up by completing an extra credit book review.

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 50 points of the possible 600 that make up the final grade. No ethical dilemma papers will be accepted after 12:00 noon on Wednesday, August 10.

Online Quizzes in BVT Lab. Students will answer the online quizzes on each chapter in bvtlab for a total of 100 points. All quizzes will be open all semester until noon on Wednesday, August 10 and students will take them online at their convenience. Each quiz has ten questions and covers one or two chapters. Once the quiz is opened, you have two hours to take the quiz. To access the quizzes, go to the bvtlab folder accessed through the content button and read the instructions there. Your section code for the course will be found in the bvtlab folder in Blackboard and you will also need the product Key inside the back cover of your Foundations in American History textbook.

Class participation grade.  Attendance is considered heavily by the instructor in formulating the class participation grade.  Class participation is worth 50 points of the 600 possible points that make up the final grade. Though it is based primarily on attendance, but the instructor reserves the right to deduct up to all fifty 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 40 of the possible 50 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

Four Exam scores (100 x 4)                                                     400

Ethical Dilemma Paper                                                              50

Online Quizzes from BVT Publishing                                      100

Class Participation Grade                                                           50

Total                                                                                        600

Grade Scale

540=A

480=B

420=C

360=D

<360=F

Attendance

Class participation grade.  Attendance is considered heavily by the instructor in formulating the class participation grade.  Class participation is worth 50 points of the 600 possible points that make up the final grade. Though it is based primarily on attendance, but the instructor reserves the right to deduct up to all fifty 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 40 of the possible 50 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.

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Additional Information

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