Course DescriptionFormatAssignmentsPlagiarismGradingAttendanceParticipationStudy Skills SeminarsRequired BooksClassroom EtiquetteReading AssignmentsBooksInternetArticle in a scholarly journalInternetHISTORY 135 UNITED STATES HISTORY TO 1877 Prof. Hamilton Spring 2012 Office: HUMB 352 Section 107 Office Hours: TR 11:00-12:30, T 5:00-6:00 TR 12:30-1:45 W 12:00-1:00 and by appointment HUMB 360 Phone: 460-7611 Email: [email protected] Course Description History 135 is a broad survey of American history from the earliest settlements to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Although it covers many topics, we will concentrate on social and political developments in the region that became the United States, analyzing in particular issues of race, class, gender, social structure and citizenship. The purpose of the class is to stimulate critical thinking about the history of the United States to better understand the choices made by people in the past and how those choices have shaped society today. Few events in history are inevitable; the decisions of earlier Americans, individually and in aggregate, not only shaped their world, but also influenced the range of choices available to us. We therefore are not simply learning names, dates and facts about the past, we will try to comprehend how the United States developed and why this is important to you, as citizens making crucial decisions for the future. Format The course will consist of lecture and class discussions. You are expected to complete the assigned readings before each class and come prepared to discuss them. You are also encouraged to ask questions – if you do not understand an issue, chances are that another student has the same problem. You should also be prepared to analyze and comment on the issues presented in the readings and lectures. In other words, active engagement with the material is required. Participation in class discussions gives you the opportunity to voice your opinion, to formulate arguments, and to respond to the opinions and ideas of other students. Participation is a significant proportion of your final grade. Assignments There will be three major assignments during the semester: a 3-5 page essay, a mid-term exam and a final. EACH OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO PASS THE CLASS. A writing assessment assignment and several quizzes on the readings will also be given throughout the semester. Writing is an important part of these assignments, which will be evaluated on composition as well as content. You must communicate your ideas effectively by using proper grammar and syntax in well-constructed sentences and paragraphs. Students will submit the essay to Turnitin.com, discussed below. We will discuss the assignments and writing in greater detail before they are due. Assignments must be turned in on the day they are due. Late papers will not be accepted, nor will emailed papers or papers turned in on other electronic media. If you have problems completing an assignment, talk to me before the situation becomes desperate. I am more likelyto be sympathetic the week before an assignment is due than on the day it is due. Computer or printer crashes are not acceptable excuses for late papers. Keep a backup of drafts online, on a flash drive or as hard copy. All papers should be stapled together when handed in—please do not use report covers or folders. Make-up exams will be given only if an emergency prevents the student from attending the exam as scheduled and if I am notified of the problem IN ADVANCE. Plagiarism Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any assignment. Purchasing papers over the internet, taking information and ideas from published or internet sources without proper attribution, copying articles from published or internet sources, and making only slight changes in the words of a source with or without attribution are all considered plagiarism. ANY STUDENT CAUGHT PLAGIARIZING MATERIAL WILL RECEIVE AN “F” FOR THE COURSE. Please refer to the statement on plagiarism attached to this syllabus. Make sure you read it and understand it. You will submit the 3-5 page essay to Turnitin.com to help you learn how to avoid plagiarism. You may submit more than one draft of the paper. In other words, if you submit a draft of your essay and the report from Turnitin.com indicates a problem, you can revise your paper and resubmit it to find out if you have made the proper changes. You can also bring the paper and the report to me and we can discuss any problems. The name of this class is History Survey; the password is Survey; the class ID is 4719375. You will need both of these to log onto Turnitin.com. We will discuss the process of using Turnitin.com in greater detail before the essay is due. EACH STUDENT MUST TURN IN ONE DRAFT OF THE PAPER TO TURNITIN.COM. PAPERS NOT SUBMITTED WILL RECEIVE A LETTER-GRADE REDUCTION. “The University of South Alabama is committed to the fundamental value of academic honesty. The student handbook, The Lowdown, defines plagiarism as one form of academic misconduct which is ‘subject to investigation and disciplinary action through appropriate university procedures.’ Plagiarism is using somebody else’s ideas and/or words in your writing without correctly identifying the sources. As one resource for helping you avoid plagiarism, your written work in this class may be submitted to Turnitin.com for an evaluation of the originality of your ideas and proper use and attribution of sources. Assignments submitted to Turnitin.com will be included as source documents in a restricted-access database solely for the purpose of detecting possible plagiarism of such documents. As part of this process, you will be required to submit electronic as well as hard copies of your writing. By taking this course, you agree that all assignments may be subject to some from of originality review. A paper not submitted according to procedures and format set by the instructor may be penalized or may not be accepted at all.” Grading Essay 25% Participation 15% Mid-term exam 25% Attendance 5% Final 25% Quizzes and assignments 5%The final exam for this class is Thursday, May 10 at 1:00 in Humanities 360. Grades will be calculated on a straight scale (i.e. 90% and above is an A, 80% and above is a B, 70% and above is a C, 60% and above is a D, and 59% and below is