1 Course Syllabus HIST 2301—The History of Texas Social Sciences Department; Division of Arts and Sciences South Plains College Instructor: Dr. Sharon Bogener Email: [email protected] Print and keep a copy of this syllabus—it is your guide to this class—and you are responsible for knowing its contents! Before you ask questions about policies, procedures, dates, chapters, etc., check your syllabus! Course Description: This course is a survey of Texas History. Primary emphasis is placed on ideas and social concepts that constitute the Texas heritage but we will also examine the major cultural, economic, diplomatic, and political trends in Texas. The emphasis will be on understanding and interpreting history rather than memorization of dates. Our goals include improving critical thinking skills, formulating significant questions about the past, and understanding past events as products of multiple factors. Required text: Calvert, Robert A. Arnoldo De León, and Gregg Cantrell. The History of Texas, 4th Edition. Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson Publishers, 2007. Paperback: 503 pages ISBN-13: 978-0-88295-255-0 Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be familiar with the development of Texas and its role in the world from the time of its early inhabitants to the present and demonstrate an understanding of Texas political, social, and economic institutions and traditions that have been a part of the evolving history. Students will be expected to: - Locate and identify the characteristics of the major geographical regions and places of historical significance in Texas and identify the political, social, and economic dynamics that have influenced the changing geographical boundaries of Texas - Analyze the impact of exploration, colonization, industrialization, and various wars on the political, economic, and social development of Texas. - Identify and sequence major events that have shaped the history of Texas. - Recognize the contributions of significant individuals and various ethnic and racial groups to the development and growth of Texas and its diverse culture. - Identify political, economic, and social issues and problems that have characterized each era in the history of Texas and how they were resolved. - Trace the origins and evolution of the Texas political system and define the structure and basic political elements of the state government Students need the following basic skills to be successful in this course:  Effective time management skills  Efficient reading skills since you will be reading the entire textbook and taking a quiz from each chapter  Good writing and research skills since you will be required to write two research essays  Computer literacy2 Computer and Internet Requirements:  The student must have access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection. I do not recommend a particular brand of computer. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that they have the necessary computer resources and skills to take this class.  There are computer labs available for student use on our Levelland and Plainview Campuses and at Reese Center.  To test for the ability to browse the Web, a computer must be able to visit the SPC Home Page. Click on the “webCT” tab at the top right corner of the page. WebCT has several tools you can use to make certain your computer is upgraded to use webCT formatting. It also has a tutorial that is very helpful. All technological questions should be directed to the SPC technology center (their information is available on the opening page of webCT). I do not offer any computer or webCT related technological assistance or advice.  You must be able to receive and send email from and to me.  If you have any trouble opening my attachments or any of the documents, it is YOUR responsibility to find a computer that will allow you access to these documents.  Make sure your computer and Internet connection work properly. The hour before an assignment is due is NOT the time to address these problems.  You must have Microsoft Word. How this course is conducted: This course is conducted using on-line tools. SPC uses webCT (Web Course Tools) to deliver course materials, exams, assignments, and correspondence between the professor and all students in the class. Keep in mind that the class is structured so that you have access to all of the course content 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; however, I am not available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SPC Technical Support: 894-9611, extension 2962 or by email using the help link. There is also a help desk link on the webCT log-in page. Make sure you do the BROWSER CHECK BEFORE starting the course. **Students who have NOT logged into the course by the official roster (4 class day) will be dropped from the course for nonattendance.** **Attendance: A student who fails to turn in 3 chapter quizzes or assignments (any order for any reason) will be dropped from the course with an F. There is no such thing as makeup work. If missed quizzes or assignments occur after the final drop date, the student will lose a letter grade for each quiz or assignment missed.** Dropping the Course: There is no on-line drop system so if you choose to drop this course you must do so at the registrar’s office following the procedure outlined in the SPC catalog. Logging into the course: Under NO circumstances are you allowed to give your User ID and/or password to anyone. - If someone, besides you, is logging into this course on your account, I will drop you immediately with an F, regardless of the reason. - If you log in under someone else’s account, I will drop you immediately with an F. - If you are taking this course along with a roommate, spouse, or significant other, you need to let me know immediately. Failure to do so could result in your being dropped from the course with an F.3 - The software used to manage this class tracks student log-ins, tracking when and where the student has been in the course. Accessing the course on a regular basis is extremely important to meet the objectives of the course. - If you wait until the last minute to turn in your assignments, click submit, and get a message that submission was denied because it is after the deadline, you will receive a zero for that assignment. You can