HISTORY 1301: UNITED STATES TO 1877--Spring, 2013
Course: West Loop Campus: Room C252 Section 34442 : 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. M
Instructor: Kaye Arnold
Required Text:
Office hrs. by appointment e-mail: kaye.arnold@hccs.edu
Sam Houston and the American Southwest, Randolph B. Campbell, Third Ed. ISBN: 0-321-38572-1
Recommended Text: American Passages: A History of the United States, 4th Ed., Edward L. Ayers, et al. ISBN 13: 9780-547-16646-9 or Volume I, ISBN 13: 978-0-547-16630-8
Subject/Purpose: History 1301 surveys Part I of American History, beginning with European exploration and ending with
the final year of Reconstruction in the South. We will first discuss the origins of the American culture and the development of
the nation from colonial to mid-nineteenth century America, and then we will consider the issues and crises that this culture
and the American government faced in the mid-decades of the century that led to the Civil War and the rebuilding of the
nation. In addition to learning key trends and events during the period, students will focus on the processes of historical
thinking, including extensive study of primary sources, and will apply critical thinking to make judgments about the past.
History 1301 is a 16-week, 48 contact hour course which fulfills three hours of a state-mandated six-hour history requirement.
Completion of this class will also improve student performance in reading, writing, critical thinking, communicating, and
computer skills. Prerequisites: Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing.
Program Learning Outcomes:
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Students will evaluate historical developments in an essay.
Students will read primary source documents.
Students will analyze historical evidence by writing an analytical essay.
Students will identify proper academic, history databases.
Course (Student) Learning Outcomes for History 1301:
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Discuss the Age of Exploration
Explain colonization
Identify the causes and effects of the American Revolution
Explain the origins and impact of slavery
Analyze the formation of the Republic
Summarize the effects of expansion and innovation
Explain nationalism and sectionalism
Discuss the Civil War
Evaluate the effects of Reconstruction
Course Expectations: Your outside study and preparation will be the essential determiner of your performance and thus,
your final grade average. There is no substitute for hard work and anyone who expects to invest only the time it takes to attend
classes should not expect to be successful in the course. For those who do expect success, a strong commitment to the
following habits should ensure that success:
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reviewing with frequency the course study guides and connecting them to course content
acquiring background knowledge to support understanding of course content
completing all assigned readings before the class period
bringing all assigned readings to class
completing all written assignments on time
taking thorough, organized notes
being prepared to participate in class discussion
reviewing materials for quizzes and exams
completing all skills lessons and practicing the recommended skills strategies
working on thinking, listening, writing, and vocabulary skills
meeting course deadlines
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Course Organization and Requirements:
Lectures: Lectures will be scheduled for most sessions. It will be essential for your success in the course that you take
thorough class notes. I provide study guides; frequent review of these materials will support your learning.
Reading Materials: You must read the required text and any other assignments, analyze critically the assigned readings, and
tbe prepared to discuss the readings in class. The textbook, American Passages, is not required but is recommended. Library
hours at West Loop are M-Th 7:30 am-9:00 p.m.; Fr 7:30 am-1:00 p.m.; Sat. 8:00 am-1:00 p.m.
Note taking: You will be expected to work on improving your note taking skills in the course to help you organize your
thinking related to lectures, readings, and discussions. You will be expected to practice a strategy for note taking.
Participation: Class discussions are an important part of the course. Discussions will be based on readings and participation
is required. While it is not a requirement for the course, I strongly recommend that you extend class discussions and
participation beyond the classroom by forming study groups.
Paper: A written essay is required for the course. Guidelines and a format for the essay will be given during the course. The
paper should be submitted by the due date; late papers will be penalized and no papers will be accepted after the
announced final deadline. You should keep an extra copy of your paper; you will be able to review your work after grading
but will return the paper to me. All written work completed outside of class should be your own original work, written in
your own words. Any quotes or paraphrasing will be expected to be punctuated and cited correctly. All assignments must
be submitted as a hard copy--not by e-mail.
Resources: You may be given Study Guides, Discussion Questions, and Vocabulary to support your note taking, reading,
and preparing for classroom discussion. I will use the HCC Learning Web this semester to provide these course materials as
well as to post the syllabus and any written guidelines for assignments. You can access my Learning Web at site at
http://learning.swc.hccs.edu/. Type in “Arnold” in the search box, and it will take you to my site. Alternatively, you can reach
the Learning Web by accessing the HCC Homepage (hccs.edu); click on Southwest College at the top, click on “Learning
Web” in the right hand menu on the Southwest Homepage. That should take you to the search box. If you have any difficulty
with this, let me know as soon as possible. You can access primary source materials for the American Passages textbook at
http://college.cengage.com/history/us/ayers/am_passages/4e/student_home.html.. Select a chapter in the menu bar on the
right side of the web page and then go to Improving Your Grade and then to Primary Sources. There are several other links on
the main page that are study aids for the textbook.
You may purchase the textbook at the HCC bookstores or at local stores such as Barnes & Noble or Half-Priced Books or
through online sellers. The required book can be purchased through local stores or several online sites that sell history
textbooks and books such as www.alibris.com and www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
Other history sites that provide general and topical information on U.S. History include: University of Houston’s Digital
History:http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/ and Eyewitness to History www.eyewitnesstohistory.com and Documents for the
Study of American History http:// www.vlib.us/amdocs/ and National Geographic "America in 1607"
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/jamestown/ and The Library of Congress: American Memory
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html and The Avalon Project At Yale Law School: Documents in Law, History and
Diplomacy http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/avalon.htm
HCC offers an excellent resource for tutoring and for writing papers – AskOnline. You can access it at
http://hccs.askonline.net. Turn-around time for receiving help on papers is usually 18-24 hours, so you should plan on
submitting papers for help well before they are due. Visit the AskOnline website for details and further information.
Assessment of Learning: You will be evaluated with multiple kinds of assessments for the course. There will be three major
exams covering the historical topics studied prior to the exam; there are no cumulative exams. Additionally, along with the
assigned paper, your participation in class as well as short quizzes and possibly other short written assignments may be used in
evaluating your learning. An example of a short written assignment might be a critical analysis of a primary source or a
summary of information from an internet historical site. Also please note that all multi-page assignments must be stapled
when they are submitted.
Examination and Grading Policy: Each student grades will be weighted according to the following : Major exams = 60%
Paper = 20% Other assignments, Quizzes, and Class Participation = 20% You should know that if you do not complete
the assigned paper, you will probably have a failing course grade. Exams and quizzes may be made up of objective, short
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answer (paragraph), and/or essay questions. Please note that you will have to provide Scantron forms and #2 pencils for all
tests with objective questions; please answer all other questions in ink. You must be prepared to remain in the classroom
until you have completed each test; you must turn in your exam before you leave the classroom. There will be specific
procedures for test administrations and failure to follow these procedures may result in a test grade of 0. All testing
materials and student papers are kept by the instructor. Final course grades will be available via the HCC internet site.
Please make necessary arrangements to take exams on the assigned dates. No make-ups will be scheduled. If an exam is
missed, the other tests will be weighted accordingly so that the total weight of exams equals 60% of the final grade. A grade
penalty will be assessed if the last exam is missed. The standard HCC grading system is used for all grades: A (100-90) B
(89-80) C (79-70) D (69-60) F (below 60). I do not curve grades or give extra credit work as I prefer you to concentrate your
efforts on improving your grades on regular assignments. This is a college-level course; therefore it is imperative that you
demonstrate college-level reading comprehension and writing ability. Students planning to transfer their college credits to
another college or university should check on the requirements of that institution; generally, a grade of C is required for
transfer of credit.
Attendance: Class attendance is a must, and the instructor will check attendance at every session and will follow HCC
policies regarding attendance and drops. A commitment to learning requires you to schedule your time so you can attend
classes on time and remain for full class times. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get all information, including
handouts, that you have missed; at the beginning of the course, identify fellow students who can help you. Punctuality is
expected; repeated lateness will be considered as partial absences in the course. Most importantly, many, if not all quizzes,
will be given at the beginning of class periods; a tardy will result in a grade of zero for the missed quiz. Generally, students
who miss six or more hours of the class have a difficult time following the course content. Ideally, every student will complete
the course successfully; you do, however, have the option of withdrawing any time before the official withdrawal date of
April 1. International students, veterans, and those on financial aid should be fully aware of the grade and minimum hours
policies affecting your situation. In particular, you should know the rules regarding withdrawal (“W”) from a course. Once a
“W” is officially recorded it will not be changed to another grade regardless of circumstances. I will not drop you for
reasons of nonattendance. If you choose to stop attending class, it is your responsibility to formally withdraw. You can
withdraw at the Registrar’s Office at any Southwest College campus. The last date for official withdrawal is Monday, April 1.
Failure to officially withdraw by that date will result in failure of the course.
Academic Honesty Policy: Academic honesty is essential in education. Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic
dishonesty are prohibited by HCCS policy and the rules of this class.
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Plagiarism is representing other’s work--ideas, writing, including material from the Internet, etc.--as your own,
without crediting the source. It constitutes the theft of another person’s intellectual property. It is the most common
form of academic dishonesty. If you are unclear about what constitutes plagiarism, you should seek clarification
before beginning an assignment. I will provide guidance to you.
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Cheating is any form of deception or fraud intended to misrepresent one’s academic work and/or inflate a grade or
assist other students to do so. Cheating involves fraud and deception for the purpose of violating legitimate class
rules. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying from another student’s test paper or written assignment; using,
during a test, materials not authorized by the instructor; collaborating with another student during a test; knowingly
using, buying, selling, etc. whole or part of an administered test or written assignment. Any questions about academic
dishonesty should be referred to the Student Conduct section of the College System catalogue. Also, a grade penalty
will be assessed if any tests or papers that are to be returned to the instructor are not submitted.
Violations of these policies can result, at a minimum, in the automatic failure of the assignment, exam, or course.
Severe violations could result in suspension or expulsion from HCC.
Class Etiquette: Generally, students are expected to act like adult college students and respect the rights and needs of fellow
students and the instructor. Also please that note according to Houston Community College policy, no form of sexual
harassment will be tolerated.
Electronic Devices: No electronic devices--cell phones, laptop computers, pagers, etc.--should be used during class;
anyone disturbing instruction in this manner may be required to leave. Use of any kind of recording devices, including
camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where
instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students who bring cell phones and other electronic devices to the classroom during
major exams may have to place them on the instructor’s desk during exams. Students with disabilities who may want to use a
recording device as an accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding
reasonable accommodations and must provide the instructor with appropriate documentation.
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Disability Policy: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who
needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Dr. Becky Hauri, the Disability Support Services Counselor, for the
Southwest College, phone 713-718-7909 at the beginning of the semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Office of Disability Support Services Office (DDS). Students who are requesting special
testing accommodations must first contact that office.
Notice: Students who repeat a course three or more times may face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas
public colleges and universities. State law limits the number of courses a student, attending state institutions, may withdraw
from to a maximum of six. Please ask your instructor/ counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to
considering course withdrawal, or if you are not receiving passing grades.
This syllabus is not to be considered a legal document; rather it states course goals, organization, and requirements and as such
may be subject to modifications. The following schedule and readings are subject to revisions.
HISTORY 1301 SCHEDULE OF TOPICS, READINGS, AND ASSIGNMENTS, Spring, 2013
January 14 : Session 1
Introduction/Syllabus & Schedule/Study Aides
Topic A: The Nature of History
Topic B: The New World and the Old: European Antecedents & the Columbine Exchange (15th & 16th centuries)
Topic 1: Colonial America: British Folkways Form the Cultural Foundation (17th century)
Text: Ch. 1
January 21: MLK Holiday
January 28: Session 2
Topic 1 con’t.
Text: Ch. 2 & Ch. 3
Topic 2: The Political Foundation—Evolution and Revolution (the 18th century)
Text: Ch. 4 & Ch. 5
February 4: Session 3
Topic 2 con’t.
Topic 3: The Early Republic (1780’s-1800)
Text: Ch. 6
February 11: Session 4
Topic 3 con’t.
Text: Ch. 7
February 18: Presidents’ Day Holiday
February 25: Session 5
Exam I
Topic 4: The Growth of a Democratic Culture and the Nation’s Expansion (1800-1828)
Text: Ch. 8 & Ch. 9
March 4: Session 6
Topic 4 con’t.
Topic 5: Jacksonian America and the Texas Revolution (1828-1840)
Text: Ch. 9 & Ch. 10 & Ch. 11
Discussion: Sam Houston and the American Southwest, Ch. 1-7
March 11 – 15 Spring Break
March 18: Session 7
Topic 5 con’t.
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March 25: Session 8
Topic 6: Antebellum America: Perfectionism and Sectionalism (1830’s to Mid-century)
Text: Ch. 10 & Ch. 11 & Ch. 12
Paper Due
April 1: Session 9
Exam II
Topic 7: Antebellum America: Manifest Destiny (1840’s)
Text: Ch. 10 & Ch. 11 & Ch. 12
April 8: Session 10
Topic 7 con’t.
Topic 8: American in Crisis: The Nation Divides (1850’s)
Text: Ch. 12 & Ch. 13
Discussion: Sam Houston and the American Southwest, Ch. 8-10 and Note on the Sources, pp.206-214
April 15: Session 11
Topic 8 con’t.
Topic 9: America in Crisis: Civil War (1861-1865)
Text: Ch. 14
April 22: Session 12
Topic 9 con’t.
Text: Ch. 15
April 29: Session 13
Topic 10: Aftermath of War: Reconstruction and Reunion (1866-1877)
Text: Ch. 16
May 6: Session 14
Exam III (Final)
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