Eastfield College Social Science Human Services Business Division SYLLABUS FOR HISTORY 1301 AMERICAN HISTORY FALL 2011 HIST 1301 4009 3 Credit Hours HIST 1301 4011 3 Credit Hours 4009 8 00 a m 9 20 a m C293 4011 9 30 a m 10 50 a m C293 Instructor Franklin Cate Contact Information Office Phone Email address Hours Available G237 Social Science Division Office 972 860 7156 7159 FranklinCate dcccd edu By Appointment REQUIRED TEXTBOOK David M Kennedy The American Pageant Brief Edition ISBN 9780495915317 8th Ed 2012 Houghton Mifflin PURPOSE OF THE COURSE This is a basic introductory course for beginners The instructor expects that the student will have much to learn concerning American history The purpose of this course is to provide the student in 15 weeks with a basic grasp of this cultural political and economical heritage The time frame of the course is the period from 1500 to 1876 Within this time frame specific events ideas and individuals will be studied Our objective will always be to relate these events ideas and personalities to each other and to the student in this class in terms of the framework described above OBJECTIVES On 4 tests for this course the student should be able to demonstrate skills and knowledge in the following 1 Given terms persons or concepts the student should be able to relate them to particular historical periods or events and to explain why they are historically significant 2 Given an historical problem questions the student should be able to reach a logical conclusion based on factual evidence which he is able to demonstrate in a written essay 3 The student will read the assigned material with an inquiring mind and be prepared to discuss and interpret his findings 4 The student should be able to cite trends which flow through American History and be aware of parallels between various eras in American History 5 The student should realize that history is not static or fixed that historical fact is continually being reinterpreted LEARNING ENVIRONMENT The course will be presented by means of lectures discussions student reports and audio visual aids slides films filmstrips cassette tapes A study guide prepared by the instructor will accompany each principal unit of work HOW TO STUDY Difficulties in completing American History courses usually arise from one of the following reasons 1 2 3 4 5 Inadequate study too little time spent Ineffective study turning pages not taking notes Non attendance of class sleeping in class A job and other college courses too much to do elsewhere Inability to read COURSE OUTLINE 1 Unit I Birth of the Nation Ch 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2 Unit II Getting Started Ch 9 10 11 12 3 Unit III Jackson and the West Ch 13 16 17 18 4 Unit IV Civil War Ch 19 20 21 22 GRADES 1 Your semester grade will be calculated in a simple concrete manner The grade is derived as follows 4 tests of equal weight covering 4 units of work 2 In addition Bonus Points from none to a maximum of 10 may be added at the conclusion of the semester You will receive these points for not being tardy to class After 3 tardies you should not expect to receive bonus points 3 In addition Extra Project Points from 0 to a maximum of 10 may be added at the conclusion of the course if they are earned They fall into 3 types and will be explained after the test Type I Abstracts of Articles 1 Due Type II Critical Essays Type III Creative Idea 4 At the close of the semester the individual s 4 test scores plus bonus points will be added together and the total divided by 4 The extra project points will be added to this sum The result is your semester grade 5 Food in classroom PLEASE DO NOT BRING FOOD OR BEVERAGES INTO THE CLASSROOM GRADING SYSTEM NUMERICAL TO LETTERS 90 100 A 80 89 B 70 79 C 60 69 D 59 below F student dropped course W STOP BEFORE YOU DROP For student who enrolled in college level courses for the first time in the Fall of 2007 Texas Education Code 51 907 limits the number of courses a student may drop You may drop no more than 6 courses during your entire undergraduate career unless the drop qualifies as an exception Your campus counseling advising center will give you more information Remember that once you have accumulated 6 non exempt drops you cannot drop any other courses with a AW Therefore please exercise caution when dropping courses in any Texas public institution of higher learning including all 7 of the Dallas County Community Colleges For more information you may access https www1 dcccd edu course drops ATTENDANCE DROP POLICY If you are unable to complete this course you must withdraw from it by Thursday Nov 17 Withdrawing from a course is a formal procedure which you must initiate I cannot do it for you You may do this in Admissions or Counseling If you stop attending and do not withdraw you will receive a performance grade usually an F Students sometimes drop courses when help is available that would enable them to continue I hope you will discuss your plans with me if you do feel the need to withdraw MAKE UP TESTS If you miss an examination you may report to the Appraisal Center the day you return to college to take the make up test If you take a make up test it will consist of 50 multiple choice questions over the material covered by the examination you missed during regular class hours The make up test must be made up before you return to class The make up test will be in the Appraisal Center for only one week after the date of the regular test If you cannot take the scheduled test in class or the make up test in the Appraisal Center you need to contact me If you do not contact me a make up test will not be scheduled I consider voice mail a proper contact CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR Since every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption all students are expected to be in class and prepared to begin on time All pagers wireless phones electronic games radios tape or CD players or other devices that generate sound must be turned off when you enter the classroom Disruption of class whether by latecomers noisy devices or inconsiderate behavior will not be tolerated Repeated violations will be penalized and may result in expulsion from the class If you arrive at class late you will sign the LATE ROLL At the end of the term every student whose name does not appear on the late roll more than three 3 times will receive a 10 point bonus on the last test When your name appears the 4th time on the late roll and each time thereafter I will subtract