HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM: Spring Branch Campus
Instructor contact information
Instructor:
Dr. M. Jamal Jamil
Office Phone:
History Department
Office:
History Department
Office Hours:
By Appointment
(or hours of availability)
E-mail:
doctormojam@hotmail.com
HISTORY 13O1:
Course Subject:
Course Catalog Number:
Course Number:
Course Section:
Credit Hours:
Total Contact Hours:
(All hrs. x 16)
History
1301
43323
0091
3
UNITED STATES HISTORY TO 1877
Semester and Year:
Spring 2015
Class Days & Times:
Tuesday 12:30 - 2:30 P.M.
Thursday 12:30 - 2:30 P.M.
Class Room Location:
Spring Branch Room 104
48
Course Prerequisites: Must have passed English 1301 (Composition I) or be co-enrolled in English 1301 as a
co-requisite.
Course Overview
Catalog Description: The American nation from the English colonization to the close of the Civil War through
Reconstruction. Core Curriculum course
History 1301 is a survey of American history from discovery to 1877. This course is based on
lectures, readings, films, individual activities, and classroom discussion. The goal of the
course is to give the student a clear understanding of the United States History until 1877.
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Program Learning Outcomes (PLO):
• Will be able to create an argument through the use of historical evidence
• Will be able to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources
• Will be able to analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global
forces on this period of United States history
• Students will be able to explain the importance of chronology and how earlier ideas and events
shaped later events.
Course (Student) Learning Outcomes for History 1301:
1.
Discuss the Age of Exploration
2.
Explain Colonization
3.
Identify the Causes and effects of the American Revolution
4.
Explain the origins and impact of Slavery
5.
Analyze the formation of the Republic
6.
Summarize the effects of Expansion and Innovation
7.
Explain Nationalism and Sectionalism
8.
Discuss the Civil War
9.
Evaluate the effects of Reconstruction
Course Learning Objectives: The student will develop an understanding of the following:
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Pre-Columbian Civilizations
Europe Before Exploration
Colonization
Mercantilism
The Chesapeake Bay Colonies
The Massachusetts Bay Colonies
Marriage and Family Life in the Colonies
Native Americans and Wars
The Columbian Exchange
Slavery
Dissension in the Colonies
The Great Awakening
The Enlightenment
The American Revolution
The Constitution
Political Parties
Jeffersonian Democracy
The War of 1812
The Growth of the Economy and the Transportation Revolution
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The Age of Jackson
The Age of Reform
Manifest Destiny
Texas and the War with Mexico
The Sectional Crisis
Lincoln
the Civil War
Reconstruction
Mission Statement
The Houston Community College System is an open-admission, public institution of higher education
offering academic preparation and lifelong learning opportunities that prepare individuals in our
diverse communities for life and work in an increasingly international and technological society. The
Northwest History Department will provide an environment conducive to learning and encourage
academic excellence. Furthermore, the History faculty will encourage the development of the
following competencies: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, Critical thinking and Computer
Literacy.
SCANS Skills:
Texas Colleges must demonstrate that the Basic Intellectual Core Competencies are incorporated into all Core
courses. This course addresses the competencies in the following ways

Reading: The Textbook, historical web sites, and the readers will provide the basis for Section Exams,
Chapter Essays, and the Final Exam

Writing: Students will write all responses to their selected Chapter Essay. Students will write an
historical research paper and answer essay questions.

Speaking: Students will participate in class discussions and will have the opportunity to develop their
speaking proficiency.

Listening: Students will have the opportunity to develop and practice their listening skills in lectures.
Students will also practice critical listening from video materials.

Critical Thinking: Many of the Chapter Essays and essay questions on the Final Exam will contain
questions that will require higher-level, "critical" thinking skills.
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Computer Literacy: Students will be proficient at navigating the web, sending and receiving Email, and
conducting historical research for their paper and exams.
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Required Material:
Making America: A History of the United States, Sixth
Edition, Berkin et al. (text)
American Perspectives, Volume I, Fifth Edition, Readings in American
History (online reader)
http://www.pearsoncustom.com/tx/hcc_hist1301
The Louisiana Purchase. Thomas Fleming. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hoboken, New Jersey.
(Essay midterm exam question will be based on this monograph)
Holy Warriors: The Abolitionists and American Slavery.
James Brewer Stewart. Hill and Wang. New York.
(Essay final exam question will be based on this monograph)
Instructor’s Guidelines and Policies
Teaching Methods: The instructor incorporates lecture/demonstration, class discussions,
reading assignments, collaborative/cooperative learning activities, computers, internet, web
sites, and library research into the classes in this course. Taking notes during the class
lecture/discussion is the responsibility of the student. However, both the textbook and the
monograph are required reading.
Attendance: Attendance is required in this class. Every class you will sign-in. The sign-in
sheet will be the official record that you were in class that day; therefore, it is critical that you
sign-in. If you must be absent, please talk to me in advance. As a courtesy, please notify me
that you will not return to class.
Not attending this class and having four absences from this class will result in the class
participation grade being lowered by twenty points.
Please note that there is no distinction between “Excused” and “Unexcused” absences.
Please note that coming to the class late or leaving the classroom early will affect the
participation grade.
Withdrawal and Drop: Should any student like to drop the class under any circumstances,
the student may drop the class by himself/herself.
The last day to drop a class or withdraw from a class is April 14, 2015, before 4:30 P.M.
The Texas State Legislature has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively.
In 2007, the Legislature passed a law limiting students to no more than 6 total course withdrawals
throughout their academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree.
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Assignments: To do well in this course, the student must keep up with the assignments.
The student cannot make a satisfactory grade without studying and participating. The
student must take all the exams, including the final exam.
RESEARCH PAPER: DUE May 5, 2015.
The topic of the research paper is any historical person, group, or political party
from the period of discovery to 1877. The research paper should be a minimum
of three pages/maximum five pages using a minimum of three sources and
typed using MLA format.
Late Assignment Policy / Make-up Exams: No Make-up exams or assignments will be allowed.
No late research papers will be accepted. No-show will result in a zero.
Student Behavior Expectations:
Students are expected to conduct themselves
appropriately while on College property. Students are not to disrupt the learning of the other
students in the class. More specifically, students are expected to abide by the following
policy:

Students are not permitted to bring food and drinks to eat and drink in the classroom.
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Students are not permitted to sleep during class, and they will be asked to leave the
class until they can remain awake.
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Students are not permitted to chat about personal matters during class, and they will be
asked to leave the class until they can remain focused on the subject matter and fully
participate in the activities of the class assigned by the instructor.
Cell phone policy: Cell phones and beepers must be turned off before class starts. If
electronic or communication equipment disrupts class, then appropriate deductions will be
made toward the student class participation grade.
Laptop policy: Laptops are not allowed in the classroom
HCC Policy Statements:
ADA: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Any student with a documented disability, (i.e. physical, learning,
psychiatric, visual, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability
Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide
only the accommodations requested by the disability services office.
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EGLS3 (Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System)
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to
improve teaching and learning. During a designated time near the end of the term, you will be asked to
answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results
of the survey will be made available to your professors and department chairs for continual
improvement of instruction. Go to www.hccs.edu/egls3 for more information.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy:
We are committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community. In becoming a
part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and independent effort. Failure
to uphold these standards will be dealt with according to the policies of the College.
Grade Determination:
YOUR FINAL CLASS
Points
(if applicable)
Percent of
Final
Average
Discussion on assigned topics and readings as well
as oral AND written discussion exercises on assigned
topics
100
25
Multiple-choice exam on assigned readings AND
Essay on assigned monograph
40
60
25
Multiple-choice exam on assigned readings AND
Essay on assigned monograph
40
60
25
100
25
Details
GRADE WILL BE
DETERMINED BY THE
FOLLOWING:
CLASS PARTICIPATION
MIDTERM EXAM
FINAL EXAM
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH
PAPER AS ASSIGNED
Research paper on chosen historical topic
DUE ON May 5, 2015
Total:
100%
Letter Grade Assignment:
Final Average in Percent
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F
100-90
89-80
79-70
69-60
59 & below
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Tentative Instructional Outline: Tuesday and Thursday, Spring 2015
Week Number
Activities and
Assignments
Assigned Readings
1
T, 02/17/2015
Course Introduction and
Text:
Chapter One, pages 1–24
Text:
Chapter Two, pages 25–46
Overview
TH, 02/19/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Online Reader:
pages 4-9
2
T, 02/24/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Three, pages 47–76
Online Reader:
TH, 02/26/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
pages 16-17
Chapter Four, pages 77–106
Online Reader:
pages 24-31
3
T, 03/03/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Five, pages 107–137
TH, 03/05/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Six, pages 138-165
Online Reader:
pages 73-82
4
T, 03/10/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Seven, pages 166–197
TH, 03/12/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Seven, pages 166–197
Page 7 of 9
5
T, 03/17/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Eight, pages 198-225
TH, 03/19/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Nine,
T, 03/24/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Ten, pages 254-285
TH, 03/26/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapters One to Ten
pages 226-253
6
Documentary Film,
Trail of Tears
7
T, 03/31/2015
MIDTERM EXAM
Monograph: The Louisiana Purchase
TH, 04/02/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Eleven, pages 286-315
Online Reader:
pages 155-163
8
T, 04/07/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Twelve, pages 316-345
TH, 04/09/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Twelve, pages 316-345
T, 04/14/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Thirteen, pages 346-381
TH, 04/16/2015
Film on Abraham Lincoln
9
Documentary based on the
historical novel Lincoln by
Gore Vidal
(First Part)
Page 8 of 9
10
T, 04/21/2015
Film on Abraham Lincoln
Documentary based on the
historical novel Lincoln by
Gore Vidal
(Second Part)
TH, 04/23/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Fourteen,
pages 382-416
Online Reader:
pages 153-163
11
T, 04/28/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Fourteen,
pages 382-416
TH, 04/30/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Fifteen,
pages 417-448
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
Chapter Fifteen,
pages 417-448
12
T, 05/05/2015
 RESEARCH PAPER DUE TODAY
TH, 05/07/2015
Lecture/Discussion
Text:
FINAL EXAM at Noon 12:00 P.M.
Text:
Chapter Fifteen,
pages 417-448
13
T, 05/14/2015
Chapters Eleven to Fifteen
Monograph: Holy Warriors: The Abolitionists and
American Slavery
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