History 1302
American History, 1877-Present
Fall, 2014
Instructor: Alisha Denton Loftin
Turnitin Drop Box Information:
Campus: West Loop Room C252
Course Name for W: HIST 1302 Sp 15 Sec 45500 W
Phone: 918-809-8661
Course ID#: 9371008
Email: alisha.loftin@hccs.edu; alishadenton@sbcglobal.net
Password: hithere
Section: 45500 (Wed) & 45896 (TTh)
Course Name for TTh: HIST 1302 Sp 15 Sec 45896 TTh
Class Time: 7:00pm-10:00pm (Wed) & 8:00am-9:30am (TTh)
Course ID#: 9371022
Office Hours: By Appointment
Password: hithere
Use of electronic devices in the classroom is not permitted without the instructor’s permission.
Texts:
Roark, James, et al. The American Promise: A History of the United States, 5th edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2012.
Bell, Thomas. Out of this Furnace. Pittsburg: Little, Brown, Inc 1941.
O’Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
Course Theme:
Course Description and Goals: History 1302 is a survey of American History from 1877 to the present. The study includes social,
economic, and political aspects of American life and follows the development of the United States as a world power. The course is
based on lectures, readings, films and class participation. This course is designed to improve the student’s skills in the following
areas: critical thinking and reading about history, clear and concise writing and articulation about history, comprehension of primary
and secondary sources, knowledge of important events, movements, people and ideas in American history.
HIST 1301 is a 16-Week, 48-contact hour lecture course, which fulfills three hours of the state-mandated six-hour history
requirement.
Core Requirements:
Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual
communication
Social Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in
regional, national, and global communities
Personal Responsibility - to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making Guidelines
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO):
Students will be able to:
1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence
2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources
3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global forces on this period of United States history
4. Explain the importance of chronology and how earlier ideas and events shaped later events.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
1.
Explain the features of the Gilded Age and the issues on society, culture, and politics
2.
Summarize Industrialism and Urbanization
3.
Analyze the New South and Jim Crow
4.
Explain Populism and Progressivism
5.
Identify the causes and effects of WWI and the US
6.
Discuss America between the wars
7.
Identify the causes of WW2 and the Cold War
8.
Discuss Post-war America at home
9.
Discuss Post-modern America
Course Grades:
The final course grade is based on completion of the following:
Midterm Exam – 100 points
Final Exam – 100 points
Book Test – 100 points each
Daily Quiz Points – 5 points per day
In-Class Essays/Homework Assignments – 20-50 points each
Exams: There will be two exams during the semester, the Midterm Exam will cover chapters 16 - 24, and the Final Exam will cover
chapters 25 - 32. The Final Exam will not be comprehensive. Exams will be worth 100 points each. These exams will be multiple
choice. Students must provide a green scantron for each exam. Information covered in the exams may come from any lecture, video,
reading, discussion, or activity assigned or completed in class. Students may only make up one test: either the Midterm or one of the
book tests.
Book Tests: Book tests will be administered over the two assigned monographs. Each Book Test is worth 100 points. Book Tests will
be essay in nature, and students must provide a blue book in which to complete each exam. If students do not complete either Book
Test on the day it is scheduled, it must be made up during the period set aside for the Final Exam. Students may only make up one
test: either the Midterm or one of the book tests.
In-Class Assignments Variable: During class time, students may be sent to complete research on assigned topics and share the
information with the class. Your electronic devices may be used for this portion of the class. Homework assignments may be
assigned at the instructor’s discretion. Class Participation and in-class essay points cannot be made up for any reason.
Daily Quizzes: Daily quizzes will occur each day in class and will vary in nature from matching to essay to multiple choice. Five
points are possible for each day there is a quiz. Students are expected to come to class prepared. Class Participation and in-class
essay points cannot be made up for any reason.
Grades on written work (Exam Essays, Homework Assignments and In-class Essays, Extra Credit) will be based upon the
following standards: Clear and concise presentation of thesis, evidence and analysis (content); organization; appropriate voice, tone
and diction, correct grammar, writing structure and spelling, and Turabian-style format. Written work, excluding Book Tests will be
turned in on Turnitin.com
Assignment and Exam Evaluation Techniques:
Grades for the class as well as on exams will be assigned on a 10-point curve of total points possible, as follows.
90% - over =A
80%-89%=B
70%-79%=C
60%-69%=D
Under 59%-F
Attendance Policy:
Regular class attendance is not only important from the standpoint of learning, but also is required in order to be successful in this
course. Students are held responsible for all materials covered during their absence and any changes made in the agenda. Students
that are counted absent more than 3 times will be dropped from the class on the drop date unless arrangements are made with the
instructor. Class Participation and in-class essay points cannot be made up for any reason.
To withdraw from the class, the student should initiate an official withdrawal through the counseling office; non-attendance
DOES NOT constitute official withdrawal. Failure to withdraw may result in the student receiving a regular grade of “F” at the end of
the semester.
To request a change to Audit (A) or Incomplete (I), the student must be maintaining a passing grade. The student must
initiate the change with the instructor and sign the audit or incomplete agreement. If the Incomplete is due to a circumstance that
prevents the student from being able to sign the form him/herself, the instructor may make other arrangements. See the agenda for the
last day to change to A or I or withdraw.
Electronic Devices Policy
Use of electronic devices in the classroom is not permitted without the instructor’s permission.
Please take notes with pen and paper. If you must leave your mobile phone turned on, please utilize the vibrate setting. Texting,
social media, and web surfing during class are prohibited.
Plagiarism, Academic Dishonesty, or Misconduct:
Plagiarism is claiming, indicating, or implying that the ideas, sentences, or words of another writer are your own; it includes having
another writer do work claimed to be your own, copying the work of another and presenting it as your own, or following the work of
another as a guide to ideas and expression that are then presented as your own. The student should review the relevant sections of the
Student Code of Conduct Policy Handbook. A student guilty of plagiarism may receive a zero for the assignment and an “F” in the
course.
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not condoned nor tolerated. Academic dishonesty is behavior in which a deliberately fraudulent
misrepresentation is employed in an attempt to gain undeserved intellectual credit, either for oneself or for another. Academic
misconduct is behavior that results in intellectual advantage obtained by violating specific standard, but without deliberate intent or
use of fraudulent means. The student should review the relevant sections of the Student Code of Conduct Policy 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.
Rate my Professor is not sanctioned by HCC, and is never a part of the instructor’s permanent record. It is also often unfair and
inaccurate.
Tentative Schedule of Activities, Agenda and Course Outline:
The instructor may change the assignment schedule AT ANY TIME by verbal or written notification in class or on Eagle Online.
Text
In-class
Class
Dates
Week #
Use of electronic devices in the classroom is not permitted without the instructor’s permission.
1
Jan 19-23
Syllabus/ The West
17
2
Jan 26-30
18&19
3
4
Feb 2-6*
Feb 9-13
5
Feb 16-20
The Gilded Age
The Spanish American War,
American Expansion
Consumerism and Progressivism
Book Test, Out of This Furnace;
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
(movie)
6
Feb 23-27
22
7
Mar 2-6
8
9
Mar 9-13
Mar 16-20
World War 1
Exam I – The West - WWI;
Drama of the 1920s
The Crash of '29
The Depression & The New Deal
Spring Break
World War II; The GI’s Come
Home;
10
Mar 23-27**
11
12
Mar 30-Apr 3
Apr 6-10
13
Apr 13-17
14
15
Apr 20-24
Apr 27-May 1
16
*
May 4-8
**
20
21
21
23
23&24
25
27
The Cold War; Civil Rights of the
'50s & '60s;
Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll
Viet Nam
Book Test, The Things They
Carried; Nixon and Watergate
Make Up Day
Exam II – The Crash of ’29 Watergate
*Date of Record
**Last Day to Drop
27&28
26&29
29&30
~
~
Course Contract
Please review the syllabus. Then sign and return this contract to your instructor by the 3 rd class meeting via TURNITIN.COM
I ____________________________________ have read and understand the syllabus for HIST 1302. I agree that this is a binding
contract and that I will abide by the policies, instructions and guidelines as communicated by it and by my instructor for the duration
of my time in the class.
__________________________________
Signed
______________________________
Date