United States History 1302 – Fall 2011
Course Syllabus
Professor G.A. Hawkins Instructor
E-mail address: gne_simone@yahoo.com. Conferences scheduled only by appointment
Course Description
History 1302 United States after 1877 to the present
Credit: (3 Lecture Hours) M-TH
This core curriculum course is designed in part to analyze and discuss the American Nation since the
end of the Reconstruction Era to the present. We will be paying particular attention to people, events,
and issues that effected our social, political, and economic pasts as well as their impact on our present
and future. There will be several writing assignments in an attempt to induce and promote original ideas
about the impact of pre-existing historical conditions.
I.
ADA Syllabus Statement
Any student with a documented disability (i.e. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, 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 is authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Staff.
For questions, contact Kim Ingram at 713-713-8420 of the Disability Counselor at your college.
Visit the ASA web site @ http://www/hccs.edu/studens/disability/index.htm
Faculty Handbook/ Faculty Orientation is also available @
http://www.hccs.edu/students/disabiltyfaculty.htm
II.
Class Withdrawal Syllabus Statement
Faculty will no longer be able to withdraw students on their final semester roll sheets. The use
of the withdrawal form must be used by student/faculty to withdraw students from coursework
with appropriate boxes checked.
III.
HCCS Course Withdrawal Policy Statement from… Dr. Charles Cook….1st Draft
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively.
For example, if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. In
2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting students to no more than six total course
withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree. There will
be penalties imposed. To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC
has instituted an Early Alert process by which your instructor will alert you and HCC student
services of the chance you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor
academic performance. You should visit with your Instructor, and HCC Counselor, or HCC
IV.
Online Student Services to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be offered to
assist you (i.e. tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc.) to stay in class and
improve your academic performance.
TEXTBOOKS
Give me Liberty! An American History, by Eric Foner, published by W.W. Norton & Company
is a survey of American History from the earliest days of European exploration and conquest
of the New World to the dawn of the twenty-first century. It offers students a clear and concise
narrative whose central theme is the changing contours of American Freedom. In addition, you
will be required to purchase American Perspectives: Readings in American History- Vol. II 4th
ED. .
V.
Course Objectives
The objective of History 1302 in the core curriculum is to increase student’s knowledge of how social
and behavioral scientist discover, describe and explain the social, political, and economical behaviors
and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events and ideas. Such knowledge will better
equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing the issues facing
humanity. 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.
VI. Course Requirements
A. You must purchase, open and read the assigned chapters in the textbooks complete the
focus and review questions and participate actively in the classroom discussions and
activities. Photocopies of the textbook will not be permitted.
B. You must adhere to the official HCCS attendance policy. See current class schedule (Two
(2) absences maximum)
C. You must pass all examinations with a grade of 70% or better.
D. Writing Assignment--Students must answer focus and review questions for chapters as
assigned by instructor.
E. You must present a power point presentation (10-12 slides minimum, along with an eight –
ten page paper on your topic) to include an Outline, Introduction and Bibliography.
F. Writing assignment--Article reviews must adhere to Instructor’s directions given in the
handout.
G. Article reviews must adhere to Instructor’s directions given in the handout
 All assignments must be typed and double spaced and follow either MLA or APA writing
styles
VII.
EXAMINATIONS
A. Four (4) unit exams, including the final. 1 multiple choice, 1 essay only, 2 combination
B. Two/Three pop quizzes depending upon class discussion and completion of focus and
review assignments.
C. You must take your exam during the schedule time.
D. Grading standard: 100-90=A... 89-80=B... 79-70=C… 69-60=D… 59 below= F.
E. Cheating may/will result in you failing the course or withdrawal by the instructor.
F. Only one letter grade will be given and that will be the final. All other grades will be in
numerical form according to the grading scale previously listed.
This core curriculum course is designed in part to analyze and discuss the American Nation since the
end of the Reconstruction Era to the present. We will be paying particular attention to people, events,
and issues that effected our social, political, and economic pasts as well as their impact on our present
and future. There will be several writing assignments in an attempt to induce and promote original ideas
about the impact of pre-existing historical conditions.
VIII. Spring 2011 course assignment Calendar
*Exam #1 Unit Chapters 15-19………………..TBA
*Article Reviews 1 & 2…….Big Stick Abroad by John Milton Cooper (pg.35)...Meat Inspection
Theory and Reality by Gabriel Kolko (pg.39)…………..TBA
**Exam #2 Unit Chapters 20-23………………………….TBA
**Article Reviews 3&4….The Middle East from Collaboration to Control by Gabriel Kolko
(pg.140)…Holding the Line in Little Rock by Mary Dudziak (pg.199)….TBA
***Exam #3 Unit Chapters 24-28…………………………………………….TBA
***Article Reviews 5&6…Three Voices from the Civil Rights Era by Allen J. Matusow
(pg.256)…Out of Gas by David Goodstein (pg.320)…………TBA
****Final Examination / Comprehensive……………………….TBA
IX.
Classroom Rules
1. Pagers and cell phones must be on silent mode and instructor will not tolerate students
leaving class to make or answer phone calls.
2. Make-up Exams if necessary will be at the instructor’s discretion.
3. Anyone caught cheating during an exam or plagiarizing article reviews will fail the entire
course.
4. Plagiarism shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by
any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission and/or incorporation of it in
one’s own written work.
X.
Assessments
Focus & Review
Article Reviews
Exams #1-#3
Final Exam
PowerPoint and Paper Presentation
10% of your final grade
15% of your final grade
25% of your final grade
25% of your final grade
25% of your final grade
XI. Instructor’s Challenge: Welcome back HCCS students. First, here is the good news;
everybody has an “A”: in U.S. History 1302 as of right now. My challenge to you is to see if you can
maintain your “A”: average until the end of the semester! GOOD LUCK*****