Rodolfo C. Villarreal
Hist 1302
Houston Community College
Spring 2012
Course Syllabus
Hist 1302
CRN 77758
Office Hours: By appointment. Office phone: 713-718-2418. Monday-Thursday e-mail me
through Blackboard and I will respond promptly usually by the following day. Weekends
are another matter; however, I will respond ASAP.
Textbooks:
Foner, Eric
Give Me Liberty: An American History, 2nd ed.
ISBN: 978-0-393-93257-7
American Perspectives: Readings in American History Vol I, E-Reader
http://www.pearsoncustom.com/tx/hcc_hist1301
Herring, George C.
America’s Longest War: The United States and Vietnam 1950-1975
4th ed, ISBN: 0-07-241755-2
Course goal:
An American History survey course should provide a student with an overview of the major
events that have unfolded in America. It should also give the individual a better
understanding of the economic, social, and political changes that have transpired in this
country. It is important that the student understand that the present has a direct link with the
past, and this is why the study of History is so important.
Grading and Testing:
Your course grade will be determined in the following manner:
Test I
12.5%
Test II
12.5%
Test III
12.5%
Final Exam
12.5%
Term Paper 1
25%
Term Paper 2
25%
Eight reader assignments for extra credit
Each test will cover material from assigned readings, such as the chapters from
the main textbook Give Me Liberty, articles from the American Perspectives reader, or
one of the books listed above. The required articles from the reader will be listed in the
course calendar section as well as elsewhere in the course website. Exams will have 50
multiple-choice questions (two points each) and will be taken online. Students will have
four days in which they can log in to take each exam. All students will be allowed no more
than seventy minutes to complete each test. The Final Exam will not be comprehensive.
Academic cheating will result in the assignment of a course grade of F. THERE WILL BE
NO MAKE-UPS for exams or papers.
In addition to the exams, all students will be required to write two three page term
papers on articles that they must read on their own. You must choose one article to read for
each paper. The term papers should be typed and double spaced, using a Times New Roman
font of 12. Students will be given a list of articles to choose from. These papers must be
submitted as Microsoft Word or as a Rich Text file attachments by March 2nd and the 30th.
I will not accept any papers that are sent to me by e-mail. The eight Reader assignments
listed below are for extra credit. A student can earn as much as five points towards a
particular exam by reading one of these articles and writing a two-page report on it. The
extra credit assignments should be typed and double spaced, using a New Times Roman
font of 12. They should also be submitted as a Microsoft Word or Rich Text file
attachment. I will not accept any late assignments or extra credit work. Also, I will not
accept any extra credit assignments that are sent to me by e-mail. In both the term papers
and the extra credit, students need to discuss what is the article about, what is the author
trying to argue, and what are your thoughts. I will not accept any late work. Also, please
make sure to use Microsoft Word when you type your papers or convert it to a Rich Text
file. If any other word processing program is utilized, I may not be able to open your file
and grade your work. In both the extra credit assignments and the term papers, I do not
want to see any quotes or quotations in any paper that is turned in to me. Also plagiarism
will not be tolerated. Anyone committing this offense will be given an F in their paper.
Any paper that you turn in to me must be written entirely in your own words.
This course fulfills all of the core intellectual competencies. The books and
articles that students will be required to utilize in this course will help them develop the
ability to analyze and interpret what they are reading. These reading materials, along
with the essays and papers that students will be required to write will aid them in
developing their writing and critical thinking skills. The discussion section of the course
will provide an outlet for students to acquire better listening and speaking skills,
electronically speaking. Last but not least, their computer skills will definitely be
enhanced because this course is completely online.
Grade Scale:
A=
100-90
B=
89-80
C=
79-70
D=
69-60
F=
59-50
Course Calendar:
Week 1
January 17-20
Chapter 16
Week 2
January 23-27
Chapters 16-17
Week 3
January 30-February 3
Chapter 18
Week 4
February 6-10
Chapter 19
February 6-9, Exam I Chapters 16-18 from Give me Liberty
Week 5
February 13-17
Chapters 19-20
Week 6
February 20-24
Chapters 20-21
Week 7
February 27-March 2
March 2nd, Turn in Term Paper I
Chapter 21
Week 8
March 5-9
Chapter 22
March 5-8, Exam II, Chapters 19-21 from Give Me Liberty
Week 9
March 12-16
Chapters 22-23
Week 10
March 19-23
Start reading America’s Longest War
Chapters 23-24
Week 11
March 26-30
Chapter 24
th
March 29 , Last Day for Administrative and Student Withdrawals
March 30th, Turn in Term Paper 2
Week 12
April 2-6
April 2-5, Exam III, Chapters 22-24 from Give Me Liberty
Week 13
April 9-13
Chapter 25
Week 14
April 16-20
Continue Reading America’s Longest War
Chapter 26
Week 15
April 23-27
Chapter 27
Week 16
April 30-May 4
Chapter 28
Week 17
May 7-11
May 7-10, Final Exam Chapters 25-28 and America’s Longest War
Extra Credit Assignments from American Perspectives
Due Dates
Urban Pollution
The Oil War of 1872
02-09-12
Irresistible Force, Immovable Object: U.S.-Japanese Relations in the Nineteenth
Century
03-08-12
The President Wants You to Organize
A Good Way To Pick a Fight
A Conspiracy so Immense: Wheeling
04-05-12
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
See No Evil: Iraq on the Eve of the Invasion of Kuwait
05-10-12
Other:
Grades will not be curved.
Students are solely responsible for officially withdrawing from the class. Students
remaining in class after the final drop date of March 29th will be given a regular grade of A,
B, C, D, or F.
The use of the withdrawal form must be used by students/faculty to withdraw students
from coursework with appropriate boxes) checked.
The Distance Education Student Handbook contains policies and procedures unique to
the DE student. Students should have reviewed the handbook as part of the mandatory
orientation. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the handbook's contents.
The handbook contains valuable information, answers, and resources, such as DE
contacts, policies and procedures (how to drop, attendance requirements, etc.), student
services (ADA, financial aid, degree planning, etc.), course information, testing
procedures, technical support, and academic calendars. Refer to the DE Student
Handbook by visiting this link: http://de.hccs.edu/de/de-student-handbook
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, 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 division
chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
Note additional changes:
The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed during the term.
Students will be notified of such changes in advance.