United States History I Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Course

HIST-1301-024 United States History I

Prerequisites

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

Occupational License Disclaimer

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:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

  The textbook is required for this course.

David Shi, America:  The Essential Learning Edition, vol. I, 2nd Edition, 2018. [ ISBN:   978-0-393-64900-8 ].  You do not need the access code for the "Inquizitive" quizzes.


 

Supplies

This is an online course, so access to a computer with reliable internet is necessary.

Student Performance

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

Behavioral Expectations/Classroom Ground Rules: Students caught cheating on exams or homework assignments will receive an F on the assignment.  Respect other students, particularly when responding in the discussion boards.  Respectable disagreements are fine, but harsh language, name-calling, or disrespect towards others will not be tolerated.

Withdrawals: You must talk to your instructor to withdraw from the class. There is a form that must be completed for the withdrawal to proceed. The form can be found in the Blackboard class. The last day to withdraw is October 8..

Any student who has not completed a quiz or the first Discussion Board by the Census Date, September 2, will be administratively dropped from the course.  Logging into the course does not count as "participating" in the class.

In order to initiate the withdraw process, you must fill out the "Academic Withdrawal Request" form, which can be found in the Blackboard class under the tab "Withdrawal Form".  This form must be filled out by the student and signed by the instructor.  It can be signed electronically or scanned into an email.
 

Grading Criteria

Composition of final grade will be based on the average of four exams, quizzes, discussion boards, and a “Thinking Like a Historian” assignment. The grade scale is as follows: A = 89.5 and above B = 79.5-89.4 C = 79.4-69.5 D = 69.4-59.5 F = below 59.4 Required Examinations:  There will be four exams during the course of the semester.   Exams will be multiple choice & true/false and will come from the assigned chapters in your textbook.  The exams are publisher-generated, so reading the assigned chapter is essential for success on the exams.  The four exams will comprise 60% of your class grade (each exam is worth 15%).  See attached schedule for exam dates. You will find the exams in the “Exams” tab on the left side of your screen in your Blackboard class.  An exam will not appear until the date it is opened. Note on the Final Exam:  The final exam will NOT be comprehensive.  It will be weighted the same as the other exams.  Think of it as Exam #4. Make-up Policy:  All make-up exams must be arranged with the instructor.  If the student misses an exam, the student must arrange to take the exam within one week of the scheduled test date.  It is the decision of the instructor whether a student will be allowed to make-up an exam. Quizzes:  There will be 8 chapter quizzes during the course of the semester.  The quizzes will be taken on-line through Blackboard.  Each quiz covers the corresponding chapters for that week [see attached schedule].  Each chapter quiz will be available for one week only (Monday at midnight until the following Monday at midnight).  You will get 2 chances to take each quiz--your highest score will be recorded.  If a student fails to take a chapter quiz, he/she will not be able to retake it later in the semester.  The average of the 7 best quiz scores will comprise the student’s final quiz grade (15% of total grade). The quizzes are intended to help you review the material from the chapters in order to prepare for the exams. Discussion Boards:  There will be three discussion questions (Discussion Boards) during the course of the semester.  You will be asked to participate in the discussion by posting an initial reaction to the idea and then responding to another’s student’s post.  (15% of total grade) Thinking Like a Historian Assignment:  You will be asked to complete a textbook assignment, “Thinking Like a Historian.”  This will be assigned later in the semester [see attached schedule].  A late assignment will be deducted 10 points for every day it is late.  (10% of total grade) Grade Breakdown: Four exams:  60% Chapter Quizzes:  15% Discussion Boards:  15% Thinking Like a Historian Assignment: 10% Total:     100%

Attendance

Checking into the class regularly is mandatory for student success.  Email and annoucements are the primary means of communication that your instructor uses.  You must login into the class frequently during the semester.

Calendar

Additional Information

This class is a general survey of United States History from pre-Columbian Native America to Reconstruction.  The study includes political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of life in this country and follows the development of the United States as a world power.  HIST 1301 is not a prerequisite for 1302. The Instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or the calendar if needed.