United States History II Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Course

HIST-1302-014 United States History II

Prerequisites

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

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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

This course requires one textbook:

The American Yawp, Volume II: Since 1877. http://www.americanyawp.com/

You may purchase a print edition of the textbook throught the AC bookstore. It includes includes only the secondary-source "textbook" section, and does not include the primary sources. The online edition, linked above, contains all of the book, both the primary as well as secondary sources.

Supplies

You are required to have regular access to a Mac or PC computer with reliable internet access. Keep in mind that you may access computers in the AC library on the fourth floor of the Ware Student Commons, or in "The Underground," the basement of the Ware Student Commons. If the course is ever taught remotely, you should also be able to access the course using your phone. Be sure that your phone is charged and that you have a good connection.

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

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

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

• Be respectful: 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 (when you are permitted to use electronics), napping, speaking with your neighbors while others are talking, etc. because it is disrespectful and distracting to your peers and instructor.
• Do not plagiarize: 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.
• 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 unless specifically authorized. 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. Do not make video or audio recordings of class sessions.

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. Use your AC email to send messages to the instructor. 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. Most workplaces use email, so this should be good practice for you. Do not send an email that simply asks something like "When's the test?" All such emails will be deleted, as they would be by a prospective employer, for example.

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

Email is not an instantaneous form of communication: Mr. Bellizzi 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.

Electronics in the Classroom: Because electronic devices distract both the student and other students around them, all electronic devices must be turned off during class time. This means no texting or other use of cell phones, and no laptop computers. A laptop may be used only if the instructor gives permission, which will require a face-to-face meeting in which the student will be given the opportunity to make a case for use of a laptop. This meeting is no guarantee that permission will be granted. If permission is granted, the student must use the computer for class-related activities only, such as note-taking. This means no email. social media, Internet surfing, video watching, or other non-academic activities. Students using unauthorized electronic devices during class will be asked to leave and will be counted absent for the day. If, during a quiz or an exam, a student is seen using any electronic device, the exam will be collected immediately and receive a failing grade. What is the point of this policy? See the following web page with links to several good articles that provide the answer:  http://www.markstoll.net/Electronics.htm

Grading Criteria

You will take 4 exams. These will be based on in-class presentations and discussion, plus any reading and viewing assignments. The exams will amount to 72% of your course grade. Each exam will be worth 18% of your final grade.

Your will be graded on your attendance and participation. Attendance will be worth 10% of your course grade. 10 classes will be selected at random at the end of the semester to count towards this grade; beyond two instances, each absence will lower your grade by 10%. Students who are disruptive or inattentive during class may be considered absent at the instructor's discretion.

The remaining 18% of the course grade will be based on a term paper, the Common Assessment. Specific instructions for this assignment will be provided in class and via email.

Late work/exam policies

You may only make up an exam if you email Mr. Bellizzi before it is given with an explanation of your need to reschedule. The instructor will make exceptions to this rule only in extreme circumstances (i.e. you are in the hospital, a car accident, etc.). Requests will only be granted in true emergencies, and I may require you to provide proof of your situation.

Electronic submission policies

It is your responsibility to submit any work to Blackboard in the correct format, docx (Microsoft Word). Google Docs, which every Amarillo College student has access to, has the ability to export files to this format. So, there is no reason why anybody will not be able to meet this requirement.

It is also your responsibility to verify that your work was submitted correctly. After submission, you will be able to see your submission in the Box viewer (in the middle of the web page). If something is amiss, you will be able to see it there. Submitting your work incorrectly is not an excuse for lateness: contact Mr. Bellizzi as soon as possible if something is not right.

Extra credit

There will be no extra credit awarded in the class.

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. For example, 89.5% or higher will be counted as an A grade.

Attendance

The instructor will take attendance at the beginning of class. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will be marked as absent. Students who come in after attendance was taken are required to report their presence to the instructor at the end of class, otherwise, your attendance may not be counted. Keep in mind that Mr. Bellizzi meets with another class shortly after your class time.

Calendar

Additional Information

Consider this a dynamic syllabus. The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and course calendar as needed. If any changes are made, they will be announced in class and through email.