United States History I Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Course

HIST-1301-013 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

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook:  The textbook is required for this course.  David Shi, America:  The Essential Learning Edition, vol.I  2018 (second edition).

ISBN:   978-0-393-64300-8 

Supplies

Paper, pen, access to computer with reliable internet.

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, 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 October 5.

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 (August 30) will be administratively dropped from the course by the Registrar's Office.
 

Departmental Tutoring Policy:  If a student scores below 70% on an exam or writing assignment, he or she will be required to attend tutoring per the instructor’s directions before being allowed to complete the next assigned work.

Grading Criteria

Composition of final grade will be based on the average of four exams, a Documents Paper and class participation/homework. 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 & true/false and cover the material presented in class and the textbook. The exams are publisher-generated, so reading the assigned chapters is essential for success on the exams! The four exams will comprise 60% of your class grade (each exam is worth 15%).  EXAMS WILL BE TAKEN ONLINE IN BLACKBOARD [SEE CLASS SCHEDULE FOR DATES].  The exams will be taken outside of class meeting times. 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 (Please Note:  make-up exams can be more difficult and may consist of an essay portion). Documents Paper:  There will be one written assignment over two primary source documents.  The instructor will distribute the topics and instructions later in the semester.  The paper will constitute 15% 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.  It cannot be a paper used for another class. Class Participation/Homework:  Every class meeting, students will have a homework assignment to complete.  These assignments are found in the "Weekly Assignments" folder in Blackboard and are due on the due date listed in Blackboard.  I will not accept emailed work unless it has been cleared by me.  Late homework will be -10 for every day it is late.  The grade possibility for each class meeting is 100 points (50 points for homework, 50 points for class participation). Therefore, one missed class/homework drops the daily grade to 50 points, missing both results in a 0 for the day.  Excused absences must be approved by the instructor and will be exempt from the day's participation grade, but homework will still need to be turned in for a grade.  Homework assignments are the student's responsibility.  The homework/participation grades will be updated weekly and will make up 25% of the overall course grade.  The lowest class participation/homework grade during the semester will be dropped. You are expected to read the chapter before class time.   Grade Breakdown: Four exams:  60% Documents Paper:  15% Participation/Homework: 25%   Total:  100%

Attendance

Calendar

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.