United States History II Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

HIST-1302-016 United States History II

Prerequisites

<p>Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills</p>

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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Farmer et al. Foundations of American History Volume II. Twelfth Edition. Redding, CA: BVT Publishing, 2015. ISBN 978-1-62751-785-0.

100 Milestone Documents. https://www.ourdocuments.gov/content.php?page=milestone

Supplies

A device for internet access. Materials or a device with which to take notes.

Student Performance

Learning Outcomes: 

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

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

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:

5. disruptive talking/visiting     10.  doing quizzes related to 15.  knitting, needlepoint,

between students                                 this class or any other                        other arts and crafts.

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 Wednesday, December 13, 5:30-6:45.  Students may not drop an exam.  Exams will be multiple choice and cover both the readings and the lecture notes. Each exam is fifty questions worth two points apiece for a total of 100 points. The four exams combine for 400 of the possible 600 points in the class.

Makeup Exams.  There are no makeup exams without prearrangement with the instructor.  If a student misses an exam, they can replace it with an extra credit book review on a book chosen by the instructor.

Historical Ethical Dilemma Paper: Students will read a historical ethical dilemma assigned by individually by the instructor. The due dates will not be the same for all students and the individual due dates for each student will be posted in Blackboard in the ethical dilemma folder (accessed through the Content Button) by the end of the first week of class. In a one page typed paper, students will briefly identify and accurately describe 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.  Students are required to search for a source related to their ethical dilemma and use something from that source in writing their paper. Students should follow the Turabian Citation Guide in making their citations. http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html Keep the length of your response to approximately one page. The Historical Ethical Dilemma Paper is worth 50 points of the possible 600 that make up the final grade. Papers will be submitted through the drop box in our class in Blackboard.  No ethical dilemma papers will be accepted after 12:00 noon on Wednesday, December 13.

Online Quizzes in bvtlab. Students will answer the online quizzes on each chapter in bvtlab. There are ten quizzes with ten questions each that cover the readings in Foundations of American History. All Quizzes will be open all semester until Noon on Wednesday, June 28. It is the responsibility of the students to get them completed. The quizzes combine for 100 points of the possible 600 points in the class. For access to bvtlab, students must have the product key inside the back cover of Foundations of American History and the section code that is found in the instructions for bvtlab accessed through the content button in the class in blackboard under the bvt lab folder. 

Class participation grade Attendance is considered heavily by the instructor in formulating the class participation grade.  Class participation is worth 50 points of the possible 600 points in the class.  Additionally, the instructor reserves the right to deduct up to all 50 points from the class participation grade for behavior detrimental to the class.  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 (4 x 100)                                                     400

Ethical Dilemma Paper                                                               50

Online Quizzes from BVT Publishing                                      100

Class Participation Grade                                                           50

Total                                                                                          600

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. 

Class participation grade Attendance is considered heavily by the instructor in formulating the class participation grade.  Class participation is worth 50 points of the possible 600 points in the class.  Additionally, the instructor reserves the right to deduct up to all 50 points from the class participation grade for behavior detrimental to the class.  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.

Calendar

Additional Information

Prerequisites:  Test Scores indicating college-level reading skill.  (TASP or state-approved alternative test.)

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 State 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.. 

Learning Outcomes: 

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.

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

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 (SSC 125, Phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.