Division of Social Science & Human Services Fall 2011 History 1301.4006 3 Credit Hours History of the United States to 1877 _____________________________________________________________ Instructor: Sara Ruppel Class Time: 10:10 – 11:05 a.m. (MWF) Classroom: C203 Instructor’s Email address: [email protected] Student Help Desk: (972) 669-6402 Office Hours: By appointment Division Office: Social Sciences & Human Services (G237) Division Phone Number: (972) 860-7156 Textbook: American Stories: A History of the United States, Vol. I, Eds. H.W. Brands et. al. Pearson Longman Publishers, c. 2009. ISBN#978-0-205-57269-4. Course Description: - History 1301 History of the United States (3 Credit Hours) - This is a Texas Common Course Number. - Prerequisite: Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in reading. - The History of the United States is presented in this course beginning with the European background and first discoveries. The pattern of exploration, settlement, anddevelopment of institutions is followed throughout the colonial period and early national experience to 1877. (3 Lec.) - Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number: 4508025125 Intellectual Compentencies: Throughout this course students should learn to: - Analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials such as books, documents, and articles at a college-level. - Produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience at a college-level. - Analyze and interpret various forms of spoken communication and possess significant literacy skills of writing and reading at a college-level. - Understand the evolution and current role of the United States in the world. - Differentiate and analyze historical evidence and differing points-of-view. Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: - Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the chronology of major events and trends in United States history to 1877. - Demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate historical sources, distinguishing between primary and secondary sources. - Demonstrate knowledge of the causes of various conflicts (such as wars, social movements, political movements, and economic events). This will include understanding the effects of their outcomes on U.S. history. Assignments: - There will be three exams throughout the semester. The third exam is the final exam, and it is not comprehensive. - Each exam will consist of a combination of multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short-answer, and essay questions.- Each exam will cover the information from lectures, the textbook, films, group work, and handouts from its corresponding unit. - The instructor will provide a “list of terms” before each exam. Exams will be given in class at the regular scheduled class time. Each exam is worth a total of 100 points. - Make-up exams will be given only if the instructor is notified in advance. The make-up exam must be completed by the next scheduled class period after the date of the exam. - There is no make-up for the final exam. - There will be several in-class assignments/group projects throughout the semester. The amount of assignments will be determined by the instructor as the semester progresses. Each assignment will also have its value in points determined by the instructor based on the work-level required. - Students will write a minimum five page research paper. The paper will be worth 50 points. Papers that are not turned in on-time will be deducted 5 points per class day until it is turned in to the instructor. Detailed instructions will be provided at the beginning of the semester during class-time. - There will be two movie reviews required for this course. Each review is worth 10 points each. You will be shown an outline during class that details how to construct your reviews. - There will also be an additional movie review that is optional. This review will receive a check-plus. Optional movie reviews are not worth any numerical points. The check-plus work can be taken into consideration if a student “borders” a higher grade for their final cumulative score. Course Grade: - Each student’s course grade will be determined by adding the points earned for the three unit tests, the cumulative homework/group work, and the research essay first. That number will then be divided by the total points possible for the semester. The breakdown of points for the semester is as follows: Final Grade 3 Exams 100 points each 300 points total In-class work & Homework Varied points 50 total points1 Research Paper 50 points 50 total points 2 Movie Reviews 10 points each 20 total points Total Semester Points 420 total points Grade Point-Scale (%): 90 and Above A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 59 and Below F Attendance: - Attendance is a must for this course since a large percentage of test material will come from lectures and presentations in class. Classroom Environment: - 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. Cell phone and/or laptop use: - The instructor for this course has a strict policy against cell phone use from the time each class begins until students are excused from class on the same day. - Laptops may be used in class for recording lecture notes and/or use during student group work. The instructor reserves the right to ask a student at any time to discontinue the use of their laptop and/or restrict its use for the rest of the semester if it is not being used for class purposes.Academic Honesty: - The purpose of the Student Code of Conduct is to provide guidelines for the educational environment of The Dallas County Community College District. Such an environment