United States History I Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

HIST-1301-001 United States History I

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 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.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

You are required to obtain the following book at the beginning of the semester:

Give Me Liberty! Brief Fifth Edition Volume 1 by Eric Foner

• You will obtain a paper copy that includes an access code to InQuizitive, an online tool to help you better learn the material. If you rent or buy a used copy, you will probably not get a valid code, requiring you to buy access to InQuizitive for $20 directly from the publisher.
• Your code will also give you access to the ebook version of the text, which you may use if you wish.
• If you wish to save money you have the option of buying access to the ebook and InQuizitive directly from the publisher for $35 (simply follow links to either in Blackboard).

Patriots, Loyalists, and Revolution in New York City, 1775-1776 Second Edition by Bill Offutt

Supplies

You are required to have regular access to a mac or pc 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.

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

You are expected to follow all Amarillo College policies and procedures, particularly those relating to academic integrity and personal conduct. The following are of particular importance:

• Don't commit plagiarism: you must properly cite sources used in your work. Failing to provide citations will result in significant grading penalties. If willful plagiarism is involved the assignment will receive a failing grade and at the instructor's discretion you may fail the course and receive further disciplinary action.
• Show respect: to provide an environment that encourages free expression we must treat each other with dignity and respect. Do not engage in behaviors such as texting, napping, speaking with your neighbors while others are talking, etc. because it is disrespectful and distracting to your peers and instructor.
• Do your own work: while it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged to study together, you may not collaborate with others on any work that receives a grade unless specifically authorized. It is never acceptable to pass off others' work as your own, including having others take exams for you, buying papers, etc. Cheating will result in harsh penalties imposed at the instructor's discretion including failure of the assessment, failure of the course, and further disciplinary action.

You may not use outside sources such as Wikipedia and other websites for assignments. The use of unauthorized sources will result in significant grading penalties.

Course materials created by your professor, including assignments, handouts, lectures, 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 to the Internet without your professor’s express written permission.

You are responsible for taking the proper steps to solve technical problems with technology used in the class: a list of support resources has been provided for you under the “help” section of the course’s Blackboard site. It it particularly important to give yourself enough time to work through technical issues before due dates: because you will be given ample time to complete your work, technical problems will not be an acceptable excuse for failing to meet deadlines. Your professor is not a technical support person and will simply refer you to the “help” section if you come to him with technical problems, but you are encouraged to speak with him if you are unable to reach a resolution after consulting the appropriate resources.

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 and closing; 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.

You should check your school email each weekday, particularly before leaving for school: Dr. Fauss will occasionally send out reminders and other important information via email. If class is cancelled, an email will be sent out as early in the day as possible.

Email is not an instantaneous form of communication: Dr. Fauss checks his email at least once a day Monday through Friday, which means that usually, but not always, you will get a response within 24 hours. Emails received over the weekend may not be replied to until the following Monday.

Grading Criteria

Graded components

Each assigned chapter in your textbook has a set of exercises in an online system called InQuizitive. If you keep at it long enough, you can eventually earn a perfect score for every single InQuizitive assignment as long as you meet the due dates. The average of all of the InQuizitive assignments will be 10% of your course grade. 

You will be taking 2 exams, which will be administered in class. The exams will cover 3-4 chapters each and consist of multiple choice and true/false questions. Each exam will be 15% of your course grade.

You will be graded on participation during the American Revolution game: this includes class participation such as delivering speeches, reading quizzes, and class preparation. Participation will be 15% of your course grade.

You will write a position paper to help you collect your thoughts for the American Revolution game: the position paper will be 15% of your course grade.

You will write a paper detailing how you would respond to a situation that poses an ethical dilemma, meaning that no choice is without ethical difficulties. The ethical dilemma paper will be 15% of your course grade.

Finally, you will graded on your class attendance: 15 days out of the term will be randomly chosen at the end of the semester to count for your grade. Days that you were absent, disruptive, or inattentive will receive no credit. Lateness will result in 1/2 credit for the day. Attendance will be 15% of your course grade.

Late policies

Late InQuizitive assignments will receive no credit, but you may make up one missed assignment during the semester with your instructor's permission.

Late papers will receive a 2-point penalty for every day handed in past the due date, beginning after class the day the paper was due. Papers handed in more than a week late will receive half of the points they would have earned.

Missed exams must be taken no later than a week past the original date and will only be allowed if 1) the absence was due to a true emergency (I may require you to prove the need to miss the exam with documentation) and 2) you contact me as soon as possible regarding your need to miss class

Grade calculation

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 next highest integer.

Attendance

Your instructor will take attendance at the beginning of class after making announcements. Showing up after attendance was taken will count as being late. If you are late, it is your responsibility to report your presence to your instructor. Being more than 15 minutes late or leaving class early without permission will count as an absence. Absences will not be excused.

Calendar

Additional Information

This class features Reacting to the Past: a multi-week experience in which you will be stepping into the shoes of people in history and engaging in structured roleplaying.

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and calendar if needed.