Glendale Community College Fall 2010 HISTORY 104/20456: United States II: 1865 to the Present MWF: 10:00-10:50 a.m. -- CL12 PROFESSOR: Dr. Bonnie F. Saunders E-mails: [email protected] and [email protected] -- if you e-mail me: [1] write History 104 in the subject line; [2] write your name somewhere in the e-mail; and [3] do not send me an attachment. Give me your e-mail address today; if you do not have one, get one free at GCC. I will e-mail you with any changes that occur in the Course Outline. If you are absent the day before a quiz or an essay exam, I will e-mail you to remind you. OFFICE HOURS: MWF: By appointment. SYLLABUS AND COURSE OUTLINE TEXT: James West Davidson et al. U.S.: A Narrative History. Volume Two of a Two-Volume Set. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. COURSE DESCRIPTION: The political, economic, and social development of the United States from the Reconstruction period up to the present time. GENERAL OBJECTIVES: Students will be expected to do the following: 1. Read and follow this Syllabus, attend class regularly, pay attention, and take notes on the lectures and discussions. Read the textbook assignments before class in order to discuss issues in class, demonstrating critical thinking. 2. Form educated opinions based on the facts. Write essay exams explaining these opinions. 3. Read a historical novel set in what is now the United States, 1877 to the present. Write a short paper summarizing the novel and reacting to the novel. 4. Study the items in the Study Guide in preparation for objective quizzes. CONTENT OBJECTIVES: Students will be expected to understand: 1. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the other 17 Constitutional amendments. 2. The impact of Reconstruction and its aftermath on the freed slaves, on the white Southern population, and on the rest of the country. 3. The impact of late 19th century westward expansion on the Indians, on the settlers, and on the U.S. as a whole. 4. The impact of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration on American society and people. 5. The impact of the political, economic, and social reforms of the Progressive Movement and the New Deal 6. The impact of the U.S. foray into international affairs in the 20th and 21st centuries. 7. The many domestic political, economic, and social changes in the U.S. during and after World War II. 8. The importance and impact of the rise and fall of the Cold War on the U.S. and the world. 9. War and terrorism in the 20th and the 21st centuries, especially the question of the morality of using weapons of mass destruction (biological, chemical, nuclear).COURSE REQUIREMENTS: -2- 1. ***** Essay Exams: [50% of grade] ***** a. ***** 1st Essay Exam: ***** 1st Part of 1st Essay Exam: W:9/22 ***** ***** 2nd Part of 1st Essay Exam: F:9/24 ***** b. ***** 2nd Essay Exam: ***** 1st Part of 2nd Essay Exam: M:10/25 ***** ***** 2nd Part of 2nd Essay Exam: W:10/27 c. ***** Final Essay Exam: W:12/15 - 10:00-11:50 a.m. ***** d. Do not cut an exam except in a verifiable emergency or by prior arrangement. In order to get a C or better in the course, you must take all of the essay exams. In order for me to arrange for makeup exams, you must talk with me about your emergencies and absences. e. Throughout exams, you may have nothing on your desk except writing implements and the paper that I will give you on which you will write your essays. You may not use any paper that I do not provide. ALL books, notes, and electronic equipment that you bring to an exam must be secured from vision, i.e., inside a zipped backpack or on my desk. Make sure that your eyes look only at your own paper. Cheating will result in a zero on the offending essay exam. f. Tips on how to write a well-organized, fact-filled essay exam: (1) My exam questions are in the form of quotes that I write: read the quotes carefully to make sure that you understand them. (2) Make a brief outline of the relevant topics and stick to it throughout your essay (3) Be as specific and as comprehensive as possible: be sure to ANSWER THE QUESTION, THE WHOLE QUESTION, NOTHING BUT THE QUESTION. (4) Be as bold and creative in your answer as you dare but you must be sure to deal with the issues in the questions: do not go off on a tangent or answer some other question. (5) Most quotes will require you to make a judgment and/or state an opinion. Be sure to back up the judgment and/or opinion with solid facts and generalizations. Write a persuasive essay of at least three or four paragraphs. The important element of your essay is how well you defend your opinions, not whether or not I agree with you. 2. Attendance and Class Participation: a. You are expected to attend classes regularly. I take attendance. Perfect attendance will enhance your grade. Excessive unexcused absences (more than 3) will count against you. Regarding your excused absences (illness, family problems, work problems, perhaps other problems): Please talk to me about your emergencies and other reasons and I will not count them against you. If you must drop the course for any reason, please be courteous enough to let me know. Before October 9th, I reserve the right to drop you from the course if you are absent for more than three classes in a row without contacting me, especially if you miss a quiz or an essay exam. Before I drop you, however, I will always attempt to contact you by e-mail. After October 8th, I will not drop you unless you request that I do so. b. Be on time for class: if you are late, you will miss the roll-call and any announcements at the beginning of the class. If you arrive after I begin talking, please see me after class to make sure that I recorded your presence. c. You are responsible for everything that is said in class: absences do not excuse ignorance. Ask me about what happened in classes that you miss. You are expected to pay attention to what is said in class and to take notes, as appropriate, on class lectures, films, and discussions. d. You are expected to pay attention to this syllabus: you are responsible for everything written herein. If you lose your syllabus, ask for another copy. THIS SYLLABUS IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE!! Anything not mentioned herein shall adhere