Houston Community College
U.S. History before 1877 – Spring, 2014
Course:
Classroom:
Time:
Instructor:
E-mail:
Phone:
1301-0023 Section 79697
324
Tuesday/Thursday 8:00-9:30
Christopher Scott
christopher.scott@hccs.edu
713-862-5583
Course description: This course is a survey of U.S. history from the founding of the American colonies to the end
of Reconstruction (1877). Covered will be the economic, political, military and social influences that shaped the
people and the nation. The course is taught using a lecture and note-taking format; discussion and questioning are
encouraged. Also covered will be current events and the impact the history we will learn this semester has had on
current events. A good deal of self-study is required.
Purpose: 1301 studies the broader questions and trends in American History, especially the root cause of events.
We will learn certain historical facts and analyze the impact of governmental decisions made prior to 1877 that
impact our lives today. We’ll focus on wars and other “eras” and how these events have shaped America.
Course (Student) Learning Outcomes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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
Program Learning Outcomes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global forces on this period of United
States history.
Explain the importance of chronology and how earlier ideas and events shaped later events.
Textbook: The American Promise (Fifth Edition) Volume I – Roark, Johnson, Cohen, Stage, Hartmann (authors).
Failure to purchase the textbook will probably equate to a lower grade for the course. The textbook is necessary to
complete the chapter review sheets. Make sure you buy the book early – the bookstore may sell out quick! Please
bring your text to every class.
ADA Statement: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the Southwest
College at the beginning of each semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the accommodations
requested by the Disability Support Services Office. If you have any questions, please contact the disability counselor
at the Southwest College.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend class regularly and are responsible for materials covered during any
absences. Class attendance is checked each class, and a student may be dropped from the course for excessive
absence (excessive absence is missing five (5) or more class meetings). Please see me if you are having problems
attending regularly and keep me posted regarding any extended absences you may have because of work, family,
etc. Please note that if you decide to drop the course, you should do so by the drop date. Failing to drop by the
drop date keeps you on the class roster. In the past, students have stopped attending, believing the instructor
would automatically drop them. They were not always dropped (it is not the instructor’s responsibility) and received
and F for the course. Don’t jeopardize your transcript/GPA by failing to turn in the proper paperwork on
time.
Classroom Conduct: The HCC student handbook states that “an instructor may establish additional reasonable
behavioral guidelines for his/her class.” Therefore, please be courteous to your fellow students and refrain from
disruptive behavior. Disruptive behavior includes walking around, making a lot of noise with your bag, talking to
other students, talking out loud, taking/making phone calls, having beepers go off, texting, cursing/swearing, etc.
Disruptive behavior also includes wearing hats, t-shirts, and/or other clothing bearing potentially disruptive messages
and symbols (i.e. swastikas, bad language, reference to body parts and/or lewd acts, neo-Nazi symbols, messages
directed toward a specific race, religion, or ethnicity, and pictures of controversial individuals such as Hitler, Stalin,
Mao, Guevara, Manson, etc.). As the HCC student handbook states, “students must exercise their liberty with
responsibility.” So please refrain from making highly controversial and inflammatory statements and please refrain
from wearing controversial and highly inflammatory apparel. The instructor will make the final determination as to
what is or is not offensive.
Some students may feel that they have more freedom because they are on a college campus. However, this is not
true, as the HCC student handbook states: “A student is not entitled to greater immunities or privileges under this
policy than those enjoyed by other citizens generally.”
Finally, water, soda, coffee, and hi-energy drinks such as Red Bull are allowed in the classroom. However, no food is
allowed. Please eat in designated areas throughout the building, not in the classroom.
Don’t forget! Eat in designated areas throughout the building, not in the classroom.
Exams: Exams may be a combination of multiple-choice questions and essays or only multiple choice questions.
One or two exams may be a combination, and one or two may be multiple choice only. A combination of material
from class lectures and the notes you take during those lectures, in addition to handouts and the chapter review
sheets, will be used to formulate exam questions.
•
Do not just read the chapters. Use the textbook as a reference. Only those
points made during the lectures, in addition to information on handouts and
the chapter review sheets, should be referenced in the textbook. There will be
small portions of each chapter not covered, so reading each chapter is not a
good idea.
During exams, all pagers/cell phones must remain off and completely out of site. Try to be quiet during each exam
so you don’t disturb other students. If you come to an exam more than ten (10) minutes late, you will not be
admitted. You will have to take a makeup if you are more than ten (10) minutes late. Also, do not leave the
classroom during an exam. If you miss an exam, make arrangements with me to take a make-up. If you miss the
make-up exam, you will receive a grade of “F” for that exam.
Course Requirements: You are required to complete all of the following:
Exam #1
15%
Exam #2
15%
Exam #3
15%
Book Review/Paper
25%
Historical evidence essay
15%
Historical forces analytical essay
15%
• Please note that all of the above are requirements. Failure to fulfill any one or more of the requirements translates
to an “F” for the semester.
Please note that all students must pass at least one exam with a minimum score of 60. Failure to achieve a score
of 60 on at least one exam will result in an “F” for the course.
Grading Scale:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F Below 60
• Please note that an “I” grade (incomplete) can only be given if there are extenuating circumstances. In other
words, a student has done considerably well all semester and has completed at least 80% of the course work and
exams and then something happens (illness, accident, family problem, etc.). Then, and only then, after proper
documentation, can an “I” be given.
Exam questions are written based on information from a few sources:
Lecture + chapter review sheets + handouts
Explanation: An exam question may come from: 1) something said during a lecture, 2) information
written on the board during a lecture (most often 1 & 2 are the same), 3) information from a handout,
and 4) information acquired by answering the questions on the review sheets (indicating self-study is
to be done by the student).
NOTE:
Exam #3 must be taken during final exam week.
No exceptions.
Review/Presentation must be given during the last class of the semester. No exceptions.
The Book
Book Review/Presentation: Each student must read a book and hand in a four (4) page paper in addition to
making a presentation in class for the book. You may choose any topic in American History (between 1607 and
1877) that interests you. The book must be non-fiction; show me the book when you obtain it so I can determine
whether it is suitable. Your class presentation should match your paper and be a summary of the book. Be sure to
read the Preface and/or Introduction, since this is where the author usually informs the reader what he/she wants to
accomplish by writing the book.
NOTE: Be careful when selecting your book. Take your time with this task. Students often select books that are not
interesting and/or too difficult. Students sometimes select books that are too broad (for example, you can’t do a five
minute presentation on World War II – it’s just too much information to cover). Be careful!
Make sure you do not pick a book that is “edited by” someone. That kind of book is simply a collection of articles or
chapters by different authors. Also, no diaries, memoirs, books of famous documents, political science (government)
books, or online books allowed. Books must be a minimum of 225 pages (not counting glossaries, indexes, etc.) and
be a minimum of 5 ¾ wide by 8 ½ inches long. Please do not send e-mails regarding book selection; all discussions
regarding books should be done during class time.
Students will be required to turn their paper in to turnitin.com. This website will check your paper to determine
whether or not any portion of the paper has been downloaded from a website or turned in as another paper by
another student somewhere else (high school and college). Please make sure your paper is in your own
words. There should be a 0% score on your paper from turnitin.com, and there should be absolutely no reference
to any internet resources when your paper is scored. A reference to a website will mean that you will have to do
your paper over again.
Your paper format is double-spaced, 11 font, and 1” margins all around; use Arial, Times New Roman, or Tahoma as
a font. Citations and a separate bibliography page are not necessary. Use a cover page, and it should include your
name, course time, and title with author of your book. No plastic covers, and please staple!
The Learning Web. Students can access my page on The Learning Web to print handouts and chapter review
sheets. A copy of this syllabus is also available on The Learning Web. Go to the HCC website at hccs.edu, then click
on help for students. Then click on Student Sign-Ins. Then click on The Learning Web. Then type in Christopher
Scott to find my page.
Academic Conduct: At all times act with the utmost honesty and integrity when fulfilling the requirements of this
(and all) your college courses. Cheating, plagiarism, etc., even if very slight, will result in a student being turned in
to the college for academic dishonesty and/or given an “F” for the course. Do your own work, not the work of a
fellow student or the work of an individual with something to say or sell on the internet. Avoid the temptation of
plagiarism! Each semester at least a few students are dealt with harshly because of cheating and/or plagiarism.
Save yourself the embarrassment and refrain from any unworthy acts.
Withdrawal from the class. Every semester there are a few students who are doing poorly so they no longer
show up. They assume I will drop them from the course. This is not true. If you decide to stop showing up, you
must drop the course yourself. Go to the registrar and get the appropriate form and I will sign it. You can also drop
online if you wish. If you don’t withdraw, the only grade I can enter at the end of the semester is an F. Avoid the F
because it hurts your grade point average. If for any reason you can no longer continue, drop the class yourself. Be
sure you are aware of the final day you can withdraw from classes (see Class Schedule).
Keys to Success
1.
Come every class period, on time, and take a lot of notes.
2.
Refresh (study) class lecture notes every day for 20 minutes.
3.
Use chapter review sheets in conjunction with lecture notes and any handouts.
4.
Pick books early and read immediately. Write good papers and make great presentations.
Study Tips
The best way to effectively study for each exam is to refresh your memory each day, going over the notes in class. If
you do not, and instead “cram” the night before, your grade will most probably be lower. You only have to spend about
20 minutes a day going over the material. If you review the information presented in class within 72 hours, your brain
cells remember the information, even two or three weeks down the road. By “cramming” unappealing information (and
pulling an “all-nighter”) into your head the night you will probably get lower grades.
It is highly recommended that you use flash cards to study. They’re cheap and effective. Review the cards you prepare
while at a stop light, on a break at work, etc. Just making the cards is helping you study. Flash cards are a very effective
tool that “A” students use quite often.
Studying in groups is also very effective. Utilize the rooms in the library that are set aside for student study. Friday
and Saturday mornings are great times to get together to quiz each other on the review sheets and issues discussed
in class.
Class Schedule
Date
Day
Activity/Reading Assignment (this schedule follows the chapters in
The American Promise – see page xix in the text).
Jan 14
Tuesday
Introduction to class, cover syllabus and schedule. Introduction to
Chapters 1 and 2: ancient Americans before 1492 and Europeans
encounter the New World 1492-1600
Jan 16
Thursday
Continue discussion on ancient Americans before 1492 and Europeans
encountering the new world
Jan 21
Tuesday
Chapter 3 Discuss the Sothern colonies in the 17th century
Jan 23
Thursday
Chapter 4 Discuss the Northern colonies in the 17th century
Jan 28
Tuesday
Chapter 5 Discuss colonial America in the 18th century
Jan 30
Thursday
Continue discussing colonial America in the 18th century
Feb 4
Tuesday
Chapter 6 Discuss the British empire and the colonial crisis
Feb 6
Thursday
Continue discussing the British empire and the colonial crisis
Feb 11
Tuesday
Chapter 7 Discuss the war for America, 1775-1783.
Feb 13
Thursday
First Examination
Feb 18
Tuesday
Chapter 8 Discuss the building of a republic, 1775-1789
Feb 20
Thursday
Continue discussion on the building of a republic, 1775-1789
Feb 25
Tuesday
Chapter 9 Discuss the new nation taking form, 1789-1800
Feb 27
Thursday
Continue discussing the new nation taking form, 1789-1800
Mar 4
Tuesday
Chapter 10 Discuss republicans in power, 1800-1824
Mar 6
Thursday
Continue discussing republicans in power, 1800-1824
Mar 10 – Mar 16
Spring Break
Mar 18
Tuesday
Chapter 11 Discuss the expanding republic, 1815-1840
Mar 20
Thursday
Continue discussing the expanding republic, 1815-1840
Mar 25
Tuesday
Chapter 12 Discuss the new west and the free north, 1840-1860
Mar 27
Thursday
Second Examination
March 31
Monday
Last day to withdraw with a “W”
April 1
Tuesday
Chapter 13 Discuss the slave south, 1820-1860
April 3
Thursday
Chapter 13 Continue discussing the slave south, 1820-1860
April 8
Tuesday
Chapter 14 Discuss the house divided, 1846-1861
April 10
Thursday
Continue discussing the house divided, 1846-1861
April 15
Tuesday
Finish discussion on the house divided, 1846-1861
April 17
Thursday
Chapter 15 Discuss the crucible of war, 1861-1865
April 22
Tuesday
Continue discussing the crucible of war, 1861-1865
April 24
Thursday
Chapter 16 Discuss Reconstruction, 1865-1877
April 29
Tuesday
Continue discussion on Reconstruction, 1865-1877
May 1
Thursday
Book review/presentation
May 5 – May 9
Final Exams