American History to 1877 HISTORY 1301.372 Patton Springs ISD Dual Credit Fall 2011 Instructor: Andy Anderson Room: “Old Home Economics” Room Phone: 806.689.2220 ext. 2245 Email: [email protected] Department: Social Sciences Credit: 3 Lecture, 0 Lab Satisfies a core curriculum requirement? Yes, Social Science and ALL Undergraduate Degrees Prerequisites: TSI compliance in Reading Available Formats: Conventional Textbook: The American Nation, Mark Carnes and John Garraty, Thirteenth Ed. Vol. 1 To 1877 Course Description: This course is a survey of United States history from colonial foundations to 1877. Primary emphasis is placed on ideas and social concepts that constitute the American heritage. Course Purpose: To acquaint students with the diversity of American history and to promote critical thinking in interrelating the past to the present. Fundamentally, the course promotes general understanding of a body of knowledge any literate person should possess about the history of his own country. Course Requirements: To maximize a student’s potential to complete this course, he/she should attend all class meetings, complete all homework assignments and examinations in a timely manner, and complete all other projects or papers as assigned in the instructor’s specific instructions.Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students should be familiar with the evolution of American political, social, and economic institutions and traditions from the arrival of Europeans to the mid-nineteenth century. This would include the following:  discovery of the western hemisphere  colonization of North America  short-term and long-term causes and results of the American Revolution  development of the US constitution  national territorial expansion  American political and social development  creation of the national government between 1787 and 1861  social, economic, and political issues that led to the Civil War  social, economic, and political consequences of the Civil War  reconstruction Grades: Interpretation of grades should be considered within the university framework: A=excellent; B=good; C=average; D=inferior; and F=failure. You are expected to keep up with your own grades. You should know your standing in the course at any time during the semester. Therefore, students with questions about grades are encouraged to contact the instructor. Grades will be based on: Tests 50% Daily Quizzes 10% Mid-term Exam 20% Final Exam 20% Oral Presentation 10% Research Paper 20% Class Participation* 15% TOTAL POINTS 100% * The total participation grade will be a compilation of the students’ active involvement in all class discussions, attitude, and attendance. Assignments: Assignments must be completed on time. Late work will result in the loss of points (ONE LETTER GRADE, PER DAY THAT THE ASSIGNMENT IS LATE). Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is expected on all course assignments and activities. Violations of academic integrity (e.g. plagiarism, cheating, etc.) are serious offenses and will be dealt with according to the university policy as stated in the Student Handbook.Attendance: Punctual attendance is expected at all class sessions, especially on oral presentation and test days. Excessive absences are defined by the instructor as more than two days, excused or unexcused. If you participate in school sponsored activities (e.g. sports, FFA, UIL) you must check with the instructor with appropriate documentation before you are absent. Students are responsible for all missed work. Whenever absences become excessive and in the instructor's opinion, minimum course objectives cannot be met due to absences, the student will be withdrawn from the course. Make-Up Assignments and Examinations: If you miss an exam or your oral presentation it must be for one of the following types of documented reasons: death in family, severe personal illness, school sponsored activities, etc. If you have an unexcused absence on a day you are scheduled to make an oral presentation or take a test, you cannot make up the oral presentation or take a make-up examination. In order to take a make-up examination or to present your oral presentation you must submit verifiable and official documentation to your instructor (e.g. doctor’s note for the specific day missed). If your request is approved, you make take the make-up test, or present on the appointed day. Extra Credit: Extra credit is at the discretion of the professor. If the opportunity for extra credit arises, it will be made available to all students equally. Extra credit points are not guaranteed, and should not be counted on to raise grades at the end of the semester. Cell Phones: No cell phones are permitted at the Patton Springs campus. Hints for Success in the Course: START EARLY and FINISH EARLY. Read your material throughout the week rather than waiting until the last night. Finish your research paper, and prepare your oral presentation ahead of time or at least on time. Please always start early and finish early, to avoid problems. Also, there is a direct correlation between class attendance and your performance on the examinations. There is also a direct correlation between your note-taking and reading ability and your grade. In other words: you must attend class, you must take good (and complete notes from my lectures) and you must read assignments in order to pass this