United States History I Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Phone

Office Location

Online

Office Hours

Course Information

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Course

HIST-1301-MCC1 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 Resources Student 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

Textbook:  The textbook is required for this course.  David Shi, America:  The Essential Learning Edition, Vol. I (fourth edition).

ISBN:  978-0-393-54291-2
 

Supplies

Paper, pen, access to computer with reliable internet and a computer with a camera for the first class meeting.

 

Student Performance

After studying the material presented in this course, the student 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 of United States history.

 

 

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, quizzes, or other assignments will receive a failing grade (F) for that exam and may face institutional discipline.  Students who are more than 10 min late for class without a valid reason will be counted absent.

Withdrawals: The last day to withdraw is Oct 7.

In order to initiate the withdrawal process, you must fill out the required form.  You can access the form in your Blackboard class under the "Withdrawal Form" tab.  You will need to get the instructor's signature in order to drop the class.

Administrative Drop:  Any student who has not attended class by the census date (Sept 2) will be administratively dropped from the course by the Registrar's Office.
 

Departmental Tutoring Policy:  If a student's overall average falls below 75% he or she will be required to attend tutoring per the instructor’s directions.

Grading Criteria

Composition of final grade will be based on the average of four exams, a paper, chapter quizzes and class participation (this includes discussion questions and responses). 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

[note:  any average with .5 and above will be rounded up]

Required Examinations:  There will be four exams during the course of the semester. Exams will be multiple choice and cover the material presented in class and the textbook. Reading the assigned chapters and watching the lectures and completing the study guide is essential for success on the exams. You must take these exams using the Respondus Lockdown browser. Notes will not be allowed during the exams. The exams will comprise 40% of your class grade (each exam is worth 10%).  Exams will be taken online and are due by midnight of the due date [SEE CLASS SCHEDULE FOR DATES].  

Students are expected to complete the exams by the due date. Any student who does not complete an exam without a valid excuse and contact the instructor will receive a ZERO.

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 and are at the instructor's discretion.  Make-up exams will be deducted -10 points unless accompanied by an excused absence at instructor's discretion.  

Letter to the Editor Paper:  The instructor will provide the instructions to this assignment in the Blackboard class.  The paper will constitute 20% of total grade.  Late papers will be deducted 10 points for every day they are late (including weekends).  You will submit this assignment in Blackboard.  The paper must be an original paper that is used only for this course.   

Class Participation:   The grade possibility for each discussion is 50 points. You must respond to two other students to get a complete grade in your discussions. Discussions and responses make up 30% of the overall course grade. Late discussion postings will receive a zero.

You are expected to read the chapter each week and listen to the lectures before submitting discussion posts.

Chapter Quizzes:  Students will complete a quiz each week after watching the lectures and completing the required reading. These assignments are worth 10% of the grade.

 

Grade Breakdown:

Four exams:  40%

Paper:  30%

Discussions: 15%

Chapter Quizzes: 15%

 
Total:  100%
 

Attendance

This class is EOL, meaning you complete the work on your own time. I will be online via appointment, but there is no mandatory attendance online. I will record lectures each week for students to watch and I recommend taking the assigned times to work on assignments.  It is the responsibility of the student to watch the lectures and keep up with the assignments. The student is responsible for communicating to the instructor if an assignment is unable to be completed or will be turned in late. Late assignments will automatically get a zero unless a student communicates. I will deduct points for late assignments, 10% per week it is turned in.

Calendar

 

Week 1

 

August 25-29

 

Ch. 1 & 2:  A Collision of Cultures; England and Its American Colonies

Syllabus agreement due Friday, August 29 by midnight

Discussion Question & chapter quizzes due Thursday, Aug 28 by midnight

Week 2

Sept 1-5

Ch. 3 & 4:  Colonial Ways of Life

Discussion Question & Chapter Quizzes due Thursday, Sept 4th by midnight

 Sept 6Exam 1 Due by midnight

Week 3

 

Sept 8-12

Ch. 5 & 6:  From Colonies to States; The American Revolution;  Securing the Constitution and Union

Discussion Question & chapter quizzes due Thursday, Sept 11 by midnight

Week 4

Sept 15-19

Ch. 7 & 8 The Early Republic

Discussion Question and chapter quizzes Due Sept 18 by Midnight

 

Sept 20

Exam #2 Due Saturday, Sept 20th by Midnight

Week 5

Sept 22-26          

Ch. 9 & 10: The Emergence of a Market Economy; Nationalism & Sectionalism; The Jacksonian Era

Discussion Question and chapter quizzes due Thursday, Sept 25 by Midnight

 

Week 6

Sept 29-Oct 3

Ch. 11 & 12:  The South & Slavery

Discussion Question & chapter quizzes Due Thursday, Oct 2nd by Midnight

 

 Oct 4Exam #3 due Saturday, Oct 4th by Midnight

Week 7

Oct 6-10

Ch. 13 & 14:  Religion, Romanticism, and Reform; Westward Expansion & Southern Secession; The War of the Union 

Discussion Question and chapter quizzes due Thursday, Oct 9 by Midnight

Letter to Editor Written Assignment due by 11:59 pm on Friday, Oct 10

Week 8

Oct 13-17

Finals Week

Ch. 15:  Reconstruction - Discussion Question due 10/15

   Oct 15Final Exam-- Due Wednesday, Oct 15 by Midnight

Additional Information

This class is a general survey of United States History from the Reconstruction to the present.  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.

Syllabus Created on:

07/23/25 11:55 AM

Last Edited on:

10/03/25 3:16 PM