History 1301 Syllabus
Spring 2014 Semester
Instructor: Liza T Powers
Campus:
Spring Branch
Phone:
713.979.7385
Email:
tliza@yahoo.com
Section:
Class Time:
Class Room:
Office
Hours:
CRN:
Sat 1230-3 pm
Appointments Available
Upon Request
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This is a survey of American history. A survey course touches lightly on a variety of topics but does not provide a
deep and thorough discussion of any particular topic. The course is based on lectures, readings, films, computer
generated assignments and discussions. This course transfers as 3 hours of credit to most other colleges and
universities.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO):
Students will be able to:
• 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.
Course (Student) Learning Outcomes for History 1301:
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
Furthermore, this course is designed to improve the following skills:
1. Reading/Writing
2. Understanding and using primary and secondary sources
3. Articulating your thoughts
4. Critical and logical thinking
5. Computer skills
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Textbook: Making America Berkin, Miller, Cherny, and Gormly 6th Edition – ISBN-13: 978-0-8400-2871-6
Reader: American Perspectives: Readings in American History, Volume 1. Fifth Edition. This book is an on-line
edition and not available in hard copy. Publisher: Pearson.
CHOOSE ONE OF THE TWO:
Monograph: The Artificial River: The Erie Canal and the Paradox of Progress, 1817-1862 by Carol Sheriff, ISBN
978-0809016051 OR The Fires of Jubilee By: Stephen B. Oates
YOUR TEXTBOOK should be treated as a supplement to this course. Classroom lectures and discussions will
be based on the textbook as well as other sources the instructor has read in graduate school and in professional
development since school. Do not expect class times to be solely a regurgitation of the textbook. Prior to class,
each student should read the chapters that will be discussed in that respective session and answer the
questions at the end of each chapter in the Focus Questions section to submit to the instructor. The instructor
will give students the opportunity to turn in their answers to these questions at the beginning of that respective class
Students not in attendance or
late cannot turn in the extra credit late or email the assignment in lieu of not
being present when they are turned in during class.
for the opportunity of two bonus points per chapter on the next exam.
Instructor guidelines and policies
Attendance:
Class attendance is encouraged to ensure full understanding of subject material, to foster a sense
of community, and to participate in group projects and discussions.
● The instructor will take daily attendance; however, students will be treated as adults and expected to manage their
time wisely.
● If students miss class for any reason, they need to use the syllabus and peers in their class to learn what areas
were covered at that class meeting. The instructor will not contact missing students.
● The instructor will not drop anyone from this class for chronic absences. If your name appears on the final class
roster, then you will receive whatever letter grade your assignments warrant, including an F.
● Bonus points for attendance may be given without prior notification. These points cannot be made up for any
reason. They serve to reward students who came to class, rather than to punish those who did not come to class.
Assignments:
Exams: (75% of final grade) – Lowest one dropped
● You will take four exams.
● Each will cover the lectures, class discussions, reader, videos shown in class and textbook. Each exam completes
a segment of history and no exam is cumulative.
● Students should bring a scantron and a number two pencil to class the day of the exam. Students who do not
have a pencil or scantron will NOT take the exam.
 Each exam will have a set of multiple questions as well as an essay question to answer.
Book Essay: (20% of final grade)
● Students will be required to turn an essay for the The Bread Givers book. The essay should be typed and 2-3
pages in length. (More information for this assignment is on the last page of the syllabus.) The due date will be
November 4th.
EReader Writing Assignments: (5% combined of final grade)
● There will be two written assignments for the assigned EReader essays. The questions for each respective due
date will be posted by January 25th on the HCC learning web under the instructor’s page. The first group of ereader
assignments will be due February 15th and the second group of ereader assignments will be due April 5th.
● No extensions will be given. A hard copy must be submitted in class. No email will be accepted. Assignments must be
typed. A 25 point deduction will be taken on any assignment that is handwritten.
Make-up Exams: If you miss an exam, contact me either by email or telephone within twenty-four hours. All make-up work will
be done at the instructor’s convenience and must be completed prior to the final day of class.
Cell phones and beepers: Turn off all cell phones, pagers and beepers prior to the beginning of class. See below for possible
outcome if you fail to comply with this policy.
Civility Policy:
Class attendance requires a degree of civility and courtesy towards your fellow students as well as to the professor. As such the
following behaviors are prohibited: talking, surfing the internet, cell phones, pagers, reading, studying for other classes,
chronic tardiness (as defined by the professor) or any other action deemed disruptive or inappropriate by the instructor.
Turn off all electrical appliances before entering class.
The professor reserves the right to remove anyone from class for violating these policies.
1. A verbal warning will be issued at the first occurrence of problematic behavior, where the student is told that the
conduct will not be tolerated or allowed.
2.
3.
A second occurrence will result in another verbal warning and written notification being sent to the dean of the
college, explaining the circumstances of the offense.
A third occurrence of the activity will result in the student being sent to the appropriate academic dean and
potentially being dropped from the class.
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
A
Final Average in Percent
100 - 89.5%
B
89.4 – 79.5%
C
79.4% - 69.5%
D
69.4% - 59.5%
F
Below 59.4%
Tentative Schedule
Week
of
Agenda
1/18
Chapters 1 & 2
1/25
Chapters 3 & 4
2/1
Chapter 5 & 6
2/8
Test One
2/15
Chapter 7, EREADER ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE
2/22
Chapter 8 & 9
3/1
Test Two
3/8
Chapter 10
3/15
Chapters 11 & 12
3/22
Spring Break – No Class
3/29
Test Three
4/5
Chapter 13
4/12
Chapter 14
4/19
Spring Holiday – No Class
4/26
TBD – Civil War Activity
5/3
Chapter 15, Artificial River or Nat Turner Paper Due
5/10
Final
Academic Integrity
I will follow the general discipline provisions (see Student Handbook online). Issues of compromised academic integrity that will be addressed:
cheating on tests, plagiarism, and collusion. Any other compromises will also be addresses.
Americans with Disabilities Act Statement
If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, please contact the Counseling
Office to obtain the necessary information to request accommodations. Upon completion of this process, please notify your
instructor as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the first two weeks of class to arrange for reasonable
a4/ccommodations.
Computer Virus Protection
Computer viruses are, unfortunately, a fact of life. Using diskettes on more than one computer creates the possibility of infecting computers
and diskettes with a computer virus. This exposes the computers of the college, your personal computer, and any others you may be using to
potentially damaging viruses. The college has aggressive anti-virus procedures in place to protect its computers, but cannot guarantee that a
virus might not temporarily infect one of its machines. It is your responsibility to protect all computers under your control and use and ensure
that each diskette you use, whenever or wherever you use it, has been scanned with anti-virus software. Since new viruses arise continually,
your anti-virus software must be kept current. And, since no anti-virus software will find every virus, keeping backup copies is extremely
important.
Written Book Assignment: Choose one book, Due May 3rd
The Artificial River: The Erie Canal and the Paradox of Progress, 1817-1862 By Carol Sheriff , ISBN 9780809016051, Publication Date: June 12th, 1997
Sheriff argues the impact of the Eerie Canal by using different themes. Choose one of the following
things to examine.
1. The Erie Canal as a technological innovation (including it’s own obsoletion)
2. The significance of the Erie Canal in America’s commercial revolution
3. The impact of the Erie Canal on New Yorker’s belief that upward social mobility was
key ingredient to progress
4. The environmental impact of the Erie Canal
5. The social and cultural impact of the Erie Canal
GRADING CRITERIA
AESTHETICS
10 pts typed
-computers are available in the Learning Assistance Labs
10 pts spelling/grammar
- do not write in first or second person (ie I, you, we, me, ours, yours)
- do not write in contractions
- use spell check on your computer
- do not write in slang or abbreviations, this is a formal paper
10 pts organization of paper
- do not write one long paragraph, show true development of an essay
- have a clearly stated thesis in your introductions/arguments that back up the stated thesis in body
STRUCTURE
State your theme and provide three arguments that support the them. The more analytical, the better your grade will be.
Do not simply state your supportive argument. Explain the implications and what it means.
10 pts supportive argument #1
10 pts supportive argument #2
10 pts supportive argument #3
CONTENT
20 pts Comprehension of Material
- does the paper show that you clearly read and understood the book
20 pts Examples from the book
- use examples from the book to support both your comparisons and contrasts
-do not use more than 2 direct quotations, any direct quote must cite page number
Plagiarism and fabrication will not be tolerated in this course. Plagiarism means intentionally or knowingly appropriating, either
word for word (or in substance), from the writing of another and incorporating these as your own written work offered for
credit. It includes the use of improper citations and referencing and unacceptable paraphrasing. Fabrication means the
intentional falsification or invention of any information or citation. Plagiarism and fabrication in assignments and submissions
may result in a Fail Grade in the assignment, as the situation warrants. Particularly egregious instances will result in the
reporting of the student to the College.
The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion by Stephen B. Oates
Responding to the question of what he hoped to accomplish with his documentary film, Nat Turner: A
Troublesome Property, the filmmaker, Charles Burnett stated, “Hopefully, the film will initiate a debate
on race and by doing so perhaps get us to a better place in terms of black/white issues. I also think that
part of society suffers from selective amnesia and they need to be awakened.” Compare and contrast
this film with The Fires of Jubilee. How did both the film and book address the legacy of slavery for
contemporary race relations? The film, in its entirety, can be found on YouTube.
The Stephen Spielberg film Amistad tells the story of a slave revolt. Compare and contrast the film to
Fires of Jubilee. How were the circumstances and details of the revolts different from one another?
How were they similar?
Paper Guidelines
AESTHETICS
Typed
Spelling/grammar
- do not write in first or second person (i.e. I, you, we, me, ours, and yours)
- do not write in contractions
- use spell check on your computer
- do not write in slang or abbreviations, this is a formal paper
Organization of paper
- do not write one long paragraph, show true development of an essay
- have a clearly stated thesis/argument that is backed up
STRUCTURE
State your theme and provide three arguments that support them. The more analytical, the better your grade will be.
Do not simply state your supportive argument. Explain the implications and what it means.
CONTENT
Comprehension of Material
- does the paper show that you clearly read and understood the book and film
Examples from the book and film
- use examples from the book to support both your comparisons and contrasts
The paper is due on May 3rd in class. No extensions will be given. A hard copy must be submitted in
class. No email will be accepted.