United States History I Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course

HIST-1301-B111 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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

You are required to obtain the following books:

Give Me Liberty! Brief Fourth Edition Volume 1 by Eric Foner, ISBN 039392033X

​Patriots, Loyalists & Revolution In New York City, 1775-1776 Second Edition by Bill Offutt, ISBN 0393938891

Supplies

You are required to have regular access to a reliable computer with reliable internet access

Student Performance

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

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.
4. Express ideas persuasively through speech and writing
5. Work together in teams more effectively

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

You are expected to follow all Amarillo College policies and procedures, particularly those relating to academic integrity and personal conduct. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be dealt with harshly. You will be respectful of your peers during class discussions.

It is only acceptable to use outside sources when specifically instructed to: your textbook and the gamebook provide plenty of material to work with. It is never acceptable to use non-scholarly internet sources: use of unauthorized sources in an assignment will result in it receiving a failing grade.

In-class computer use is a privilege that may be revoked at any time: watching videos, checking Facebook, etc. is incredibly distracting to nearby students and will not be tolerated. Those using computers may be asked to sit in a designated section of the classroom.

Course materials, including lectures, handouts, and similar materials and derivative works such as course notes are protected by copyright and for personal educational use only, and may not be reproduced, distributed, sold, bartered, or publicly posted without your professor’s express written permission.

You may not record class with audio or video recording equipment without permission; if permission is granted, you agree to only use said recordings only for your own personal educational purposes and will not reproduce, distribute, sell, barter, or publicly post the recordings without your professor’s express written permission.

The best way to get in touch with your professor is through email. Please use Blackboard’s email tool, linked to in the course menu, not your personal email or school email through ACConnect.

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. Your professor earned his PhD, so it is appropriate to address him as Doctor (abbreviated Dr.). Most workplaces use email, so this should be good practice for you.

Email is not an instantaneous form of communication, so give your recipient time to respond. Dr. Fauss checks his email at least once a day from Sunday through Friday, which means that usually, but not always, you will get a response within 24 hours.

Grading Criteria

The following will be the graded components of this class. Specific grading criteria will be explained in rubrics that will be distributed to the class.

There will be three quizzes: one, which will be taken in Blackboard, will cover your knowledge of the syllabus, and the other two, which will be given in class, will check knowledge and skills at critical points in the semester. The in-class quizzes will have written questions, and the syllabus quiz will be multiple choice. The quizzes will be 15% of your course grade (5% each).

There will be two exams administered in class: each will have a combination of multiple choice and written questions. The exams will be 40% of your course grade (20% each). You may use notes taken in and out of class during the written portion of the exam. Only paper notes will be accepted; printouts of typed notes are acceptable.

You will write two papers during the Reacting to the Past component of class. One paper will be due early in the game, the other will be due at the end. Late papers will receive a 5 point penalty per day late. The papers will be 30% of your course grade (15% each).

Finally, you will be assessed on your participation during the Reacting to the Past game. Everybody must give at least one 3-minute speech from the podium during the course of the game and work regularly with his/her team in and outside of class. Apart from speaking at the podium, there are many other ways to participate, from coordinating with your teammates outside of class to personal conversations with undecided players. You will submit a short assessment of your performance that indicates what grade you believe you have earned and supporting evidence; your professor will nonetheless have the final say on your participation grade. Participation will be 15% of your course grade.

You may view your grades and course average any time using the “My Grades” link in the course menu on Blackboard; your course average is calculated as a running weighted total.

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.

There will be no extra credit awarded in this course.

Exceptions to rules such as due dates or exam/quiz dates will be dealt with on a case by case basis and will typically be considered only when notification was provided as soon as was possible under the circumstances; you may be required to provide proof of your need for an exception such as a doctors note or other documentation.

If you fall behind, it is important to get in touch with your professor as soon as possible in order to work out a plan for catching up: being an 8-week course, the course moves very fast.

Attendance

You must check in every day by using the classroom “black box” with your ID or Ellucian smartphone app. This and only this will generate your official attendance record. You are responsible for doing this yourself.

Attendance is critical for your success in this course: you cannot expect to do well on quizzes and exams if you miss class, and your participation grade will suffer if you miss class during Reacting to the Past. Excessive absences will trigger an intervention by your academic advisor.

It is your responsibility to obtain notes from a fellow student if you miss class: your professor will not hand out lecture notes to anybody.

Calendar

Additional Information

This class features Reacting to the Past: a multi-week experience in which you will be stepping into the role of people in history and engaging in structured roleplaying. You will be taking on the role of men and women living in New York City before the American Revolution, working in teams to determine the fate of New York City as tension grows between the 13 Colonies and the British Empire.