United States History I Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course

HIST-1301-003 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

There is one textbook used in this course: The American Nation: A History Of The U.S., 15th Edition Volume 1 by Mark C. Carnes and John A. Garraty, ISBN 0134594592.

If you buy your materials through the bookstore you will be provided with a loose leaf copy of the textbook that can be placed in a 3-ring binder in addition to an access code to REVEL.

REVEL is a web based content delivery platform that provides an enhanced multimedia version of your textbook in addition to tools to help you retain the information you have learned such as quizzes and writing assignments.

Although you are provided with a paper copy of your textbook because it is easier to review material using a physical copy, you are required to use the REVEL version of your text in this course.

If you obtain your materials through the bookstore you will have everything you need; if you get your course materials through a third party you must ensure that you are purchasing access to REVEL.

REVEL provides a 14 day free temporary access period if you do not have your materials at the beginning of the semester, so failing to have your text will not be an acceptable excuse for missing assignments.

REVEL is linked to on the course menu in Blackboard.

Supplies

You are required to have regular access to a reliable computer and a reliable internet connection.

You must use a desktop or laptop Macintosh or PC to access Blackboard, which is where you will be taking your exams, writing discussion posts, and submitting your paper assignments. You may use a tablet computer or smartphone to access REVEL if it meets Pearson's system requirements (listed here).

Student Performance

Learning Outcomes  

Upon successful completion of this course, 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

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

Students are expected to follow all Amarillo College policies and procedures. Your work must be your own: academic dishonesty such as plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated and will be dealt with harshly.

During course discussions students are expected to be respectful of each other. While it is appropriate to attack a certain argument or point of view it is never appropriate to attack the person who is posting information with which you may disagree.

Please observe the proper etiquette for business emails when contacting your professor: provide a descriptive yet concise subject in addition to a professional salutation (such as Hi) and closing (such as Sincerely); additionally, you should write in complete sentences and avoid net- or text-speak. Most workplaces use email, so this should be good practice for you.

Grading Criteria

The following will be the graded components of this class:

There will be 14 Assignments that will be completed in REVEL, corresponding to the assigned chapters in the textbook. Each has a variety of activities: chapter sections will have a 15-point quiz to help you remember what you just read, a 20-point shared writing section, and a 75-point quiz on the entire chapter. Late REVEL Assignments will receive no credit. The average of all of the REVEL Assignments will be 20% of your course grade.

There will be 4 Discussions. Each discussion will first ask you to read a primary source (meaning a document from the time period we are studying) and then respond to questions about that source. After writing your response, you will then reply to one of your classmates’ responses with constructive criticism of his/her thoughts. Good discussion posts will utilize copious amounts of relevant material from the text and primary source to make their points. On the specified weeks, you must complete your initial post by 11:59 PM on Friday and your reply by 11:59 PM on Sunday. Late posts, initial and replies, will be penalized by half a letter grade and will receive no credit after being more than four days late. The discussion board, where you will post your responses, is linked to on the course menu in Blackboard. The best 3 discussions will be 15% of your course grade.

You will complete a multi-component Course Paper Project. First, you will learn how to correctly cite sources in order to avoid plagiarism. Second, you will learn how to research journal articles, and in the process write a summary of an article you have chosen to help write your paper. Lastly, you will write your paper, which will be a reflection on how you would make a decision that poses an ethical dilemma, noting what experiences or personal values you are drawing upon to resolve the dilemma. Late project components will be penalized by one letter grade per day late. Components of the project are linked to on the course menu in Blackboard. The citation exercise and article summary will each be 5% of your course grade, and the ethical dilemma paper will be 10%.

There will be 4 Exams. Each exam will have 50 multiple choice questions covering the specified chapters. You will have one hour for each exam. The exams can be saved and resumed at any point until time has expired, but the timer will continue to run if you leave the test. You must complete each exam by 11:59 PM on the due date or receive no credit; requests to make up missed exams will rarely be granted. The exams are linked to on the course menu in Blackboard. The best 3 exams will be 40% of your course grade.

Finally, you will take a 10-question Quiz on your knowledge of the syllabus and the Start Here page. You must complete the quiz by 11:59 PM on the due date or receive no credit. The quiz is linked to on the course menu in Blackboard. The quiz will be 5% of your course grade.

The exams and quiz must be taken using Respondus LockDown browser.

There will be no extra credit awarded in this course.

You may view your grades and course average any time using the “My Grades” link in the course menu.

Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria:

90-100 = A

80-89 = B

70-79 = C

60-69 = D

Below 60 = F

Your final grade will be rounded to the nearest integer.

Missed assignments will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Attendance

The online US History course will not have any on campus meetings. Students must log on to this course in AC Connect the first day of schedule classes and follow the instructions for the course. Failure to complete a graded component of the course such as the initial quiz or REVEL Assignment by the end of the day on 8/28 will result in you being administratively dropped from the class.

Calendar

Additional Information

http://www.actx.edu