Eastfield College Social Science Human Services and Business Division Spring 2012 History 1301 Online 3 Credit Hours Sections 4400 4402 4403 4406 9018 9051 9048 9034 Begins January 17 Ends May 7 2012 Instructor Jerry C Henson Ph D Contact Information Office C 289 Phone 972 860 8311 Email address jerryhenson dcccd edu Hours Available see How to Contact Me on course web site Course Description from Eastfield Catalog HIST 1301 History of the United States 3 This is a Texas Common Course Number Prerequisite One of the following must be met 1 Developmental Reading 0093 AND Developmental Writing 0093 2 English as a Second Language ESOL 0044 AND 0054 or 3 have met Texas Success Initiative TSI in Reading and Writing standards AND DCCCD Writing score prerequisite requirement Course Description The history of the United States is presented beginning with the European background and first discoveries The pattern of exploration settlement and development of institutions is followed throughout the colonial period and the early national experience to 1877 3 Lec Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 5401025125 Textbook Davidson et al U S A Narrative History Vol I 2nd edition ISBN 978 0 07 338566 2 The publisher furnishes a free with new book online study resource named Connect History Access to Connect History can be purchased for 10 if you buy a used book More information will be on the class web site Class Web Site You will be required to use the class web site which is on what we call eCampus It uses the Blackboard platform which you may already know Since this is an online course the web site is obviously very important You may access the site at http ecampus dcccd edu or by clicking on the eCampus link from the DCCCD or Eastfield College home page If you don t have regular access to a good computer with high speed service the student computer lab is located in L 108 and there are several computers in the library You can also find computers at public libraries Student Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to 1 Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the chronology of major events and trends in U S history to 1877 2 Demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate historical sources distinguishing between primary and secondary sources 3 Demonstrate knowledge of the causes of various conflicts such as wars social movements political movements and economic conflicts and the effects of their outcomes during the course of U S history to 1877 4 Demonstrate knowledge of the origins and foundations of American democracy including the founding documents and the democratic values of freedom equality and justice 5 Demonstrate the importance of expansionism manifest destiny and western settlement during the course of U S history to 1877 6 Demonstrate writing skills by successfully producing a written exercise Evaluation Procedures The course is exclusively online and self paced You will take a 10 question multiple choice test over each chapter of the text at a time of your choosing Remember however that this is about a chapter a week Procrastination is your worst enemy Prior to taking the test in addition to the available online study aids you can discuss the material with fellow students on Discussion Board aka Sign In Blog I will be happy to participate in these discussions as appropriate Practice Tests Unlike the fall semester course I am reinstituting practice tests with questions very similar to the actual test questions If you take a practice test enough times each try will have different questions from a pool you will cover just about every topic that will be on the real test I am still offering the Learn Smart exercises as extra credit options but they deal with the material at a higher intellectual level and are not as helpful in preparing for the chapter tests as I had hoped They will however help you better understand the history By the end of the course you will submit a 1 2 page paper in which you answer a few questions about a short historical document you read The specific due date will be on the course web site You can choose from several documents posted on eCampus More information about the paper is found on the course web site on eCampus You are asked to complete a brief Student Survey of Instruction during the latter part of the course This is your opportunity to evaluate the course I don t see the results until well after final grades are turned in Click on Student Survey on the Main Menu on the first page of the course web site Requirements The course is self paced so you may organize your time as you see fit with two exceptions 1 you must take each chapter test in sequence and 2 all work must be completed by the date listed in Important Dates on the website If while taking a test you lose the connection and are kicked off email or call me immediately I will have to reset the test before you can continue Meanwhile you can continue to the next test in the event my response takes a few hours I don t work 24 hours per day but I will make every effort to be prompt You will complete 17 chapter tests write one paper and if you choose some or all of the extra credit LearnSmart study exercises Instructions for all these will be on eCampus Grading 17 chapter tests of 10 questions each 50 pts per test 850 points One paper of 1 2 pages 150 points Total possible points 1000 Extra credit A 900 1000 pts B 800 899 pts C 700 799 pts D 600 699 pts F 0 599 pts there is a LearnSmart exercise for each chapter worth 3 points of extra credit per chapter for a possible total of 51 points You can always see your grades on the web site by clicking on Tools then My Grades Obtaining Final Course Grades Using eConnect Final Grade Reports are no longer mailed Convenient access is available online at www econnect dcccd edu Use your identification number when you log onto eConnect an online system developed by the DCCCD to provide you with timely information regarding your college record Your grades will also be printed on your Student Advising Report which is available in the Admissions Office Eastfield College Email Policy Faculty and students must have and use a DCCCD account for all correspondence relating to academic coursework For information on setting up a DCCCD student email account go to http www dcccd edu netmail home html Course Outline The course is based on the textbook thus the course outline is the text s table of contents IMPORTANT DATES Jan 17