HIST 1302 CRN #45622 American History from 1877
Spring 2015 TTH 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Houston Community College Southwest Stafford Campus
Instructor: Dr. Lori Lehtola
Email: Email: lori.lehtola@hccs.edu
Website: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/lori.lehtola
Office: C305 Phone: (713) 718-5592
Course Description: History 1302 is a survey of United States history from 1877 to the presidency of
Richard Nixon. It will focus on the evolution of the economic, social/cultural and political institutions
which define the development of the modern United States and its people. Although this course is built
around historical events and processes, it is much more than a simple recitation of facts. Students will
learn and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and will work with historical documents,
maps and economic and demographic models.
History 1302 is a 16 week, 48 contact hour course which fulfills three hours of the state-mandated
six-hour history requirement. Completion of this class will also improve performance in reading,
writing, critical thinking, communication, and computer skills.
Prerequisites: Student must have completed or be co-enrolled in ENGL 1301.
Learning Objectives: This course will enable the student to gain a clearer understanding of American
History after 1877 by examining major topic, such as industrialism, Imperialism, the two World Wars,
the Great Depression and the creation of modern American politics, the Cold War, Civil Rights and
Vietnam. Students will gain a clear perspective on how these issues form an interconnected and
continuous web of history. Furthermore, students will increase their critical thinking skills and their
writing ability through the use of essay exams. In addition, students will read/assess primary source
documents on the internet, expanding their computer skills, and their knowledge of the historical era
studied.
PROGRAM LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will be able to create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
2. Students will be able to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Students will be able to analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, and cultural
forces on this period of U.S. history.
4. Students will be able to explain the importance of chronology and how earlier ideas and events
shaped later events.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
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Explain the features of the Gilded Age and the issues on society, culture, and politics
Summarize Industrialization and Urbanization
Analyze the New South and Jim Crow
Explain Populism and Progressivism
Identify the causes and effects of WWI and the US
Discuss America between the wars
Identify the causes of WW2 and the Cold War
Discuss Post-war America at home
Discuss Post-modern America
Texts:
American Passages, v.2, 3rd ed., Edward Ayers, et. al. (recommended)
www.digitalhistory.uh.edu, Stephen Mintz (recommended)
Once Upon a Town, Bob Greene (required)
Black Like Me John Howard Griffin (required)
Purchasing a textbook is optional. If you would like to have one, I recommend American Passages, v.
2. There is also an online textbook that you can access at the above website. However, this class is
lecture based, and reading the textbook will not replace lecture notes; the textbook can, however,
supplement what we discuss in class.
This syllabus is flexible; if there is a subject that you would like to spend additional time on, please let
me know and we can certainly accommodate your request. Please feel free to ask questions and
participate – this is a friendly class and your involvement is most welcome! The instructor reserves
the right to modify this syllabus at any time, with notification to the students.
Free Online Tutoring: HCC has implemented a free online tutoring program for all HCC students. The
web address is www.hccs.askonline.net. You will need to enter your email address, choose a
username and password, and to know your HCC student ID number (the one that starts with a W).
Please take advantage of this resource.
Exams: There will be four exams in this course, one midterm, one final exam, and two reading exams,
which will be discussed below. You will also have an Oral History/Genealogy Project to do. The
midterm and final exam will consist of two essay questions each, and we will make up the study
guides for these exams during classes prior to the exam date. Each exam is worth 100 points. You
need to be on time for these exams. No student will be admitted to the classroom fifteen minutes
after the exam has begun. It is assumed that all students will take all exams at the assigned times,
unless you make assignments to the contrary ahead of the scheduled exam time. Students will be
required to put away all electronic devices, including cell phones, during exams.
Reading Exams: Students will have two exams based on primary source material. One will be based
on the book Once Upon a Town, while the other is from the book Black Like Me. All will be essays, and
worth 100 points each.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor, and only if the student
has a college approved reason for missing the exam. You must have the approval of the instructor to
schedule a make-up exam. Students will take the make-up exam at a scheduled time at the end of
the semester, and the exam will consist of all essays. Please note that students are limited to one
make-up exam.
Grades: Your grades in this class are a reflection of your critical thinking skills, how well you analyze the data
presented to you and how you organize this data into educated opinions. You will do this by writing an essay on
each exam. The purpose of an essay is to present your point of view about a given topic. In this class, an essay
is the vehicle to demonstrate your mastery of the subject and your organization of these facts into a logical
conclusion that states your opinion of the given subject. You will be graded on content and grammar.
Houston Community College now charges higher tuition rates for students who repeat a class for the
third time (or more).
Your final grade will be derived from the sum of your two exams (200 pts) reading exams (200 pts),
and Oral History Project, (100 pts), divided by the total number of points possible (500 pts). The
grading scale is as follows:
A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-0
Final Grades will be available to students by May 22, 2015. Please note that there will be no curving
of grades in this class.
Incompletes: If you experience an unexpected hardship or personal matter during the course of the
semester, you may be able to take an incomplete for the class. The requirements for an incomplete
are as follows: you must have a passing grade for the class and you must have completed at least
75% of the classwork. Remember that any incomplete work must be finished within a semester or the
“I” will change to an “F”.
Open Computer Lab: There are several open computer labs available on the West Loop Campus that
will provide students with access to the internet and email. You can also purchase a printing card to
use the printers in these labs. Please see the instructor for more information if needed.
Computers and Tape Recorders: If you wish, you may use tape recorders and computers to help you
with note taking in class. However, if you use your computer to play games or surf the web, that
becomes a distraction to others, and you will not be allowed to bring it again.
Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices: Unless you have a young child or a relative who is ill, it is
expected that you will turn off your phone during class. Texting, listening to music, etc… during class
impacts your learning experience and often disrupts others, therefore, iPods, Blackberries, and other
electronic devices need to be turned off during class as well. If your cell phone rings during class, I
reserve the right to deduct one point from your final class average for each occurrence. Students
receiving or sending texts will be asked to leave. If texting in class is continual, I will drop that student.
Attendance Requirement: Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. It is extremely important
that you attend class. Excessive absences will severely impact your grade. If, in the course of the
semester, any student misses more than six classes, then the student WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY
DROPPED. If you wish to drop this class, please inform me that you intend to do so. It is your
responsibility to drop this class if you so desire. The final date for withdrawal is March 24, 2015. If
you do not feel that you will pass the class, you must take the responsibility to withdraw upon yourself.
International students, students receiving financial aid, and veterans must be enrolled full time (12
hours) in order to maintain their status. Please keep this in mind if you decide to drop this class. The
HCCS history Department has mandated that NO “W” will be changed to an “F”. Also, make an effort
to arrive in class on time. If you are not in class when roll is called, you will not be counted present for
that day.
The final date to drop this class is March 24, 2015.
Please be aware of the fact that you are limited to six withdrawals over your college career when you
are considering dropping the class.
Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited by
HCC policy and by the rules of this class.
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Plagiarism is the use of the ideas or words of another person (either whole or in part) without
crediting the source and constitutes the theft of another person’s intellectual property. It is
the most common form of academic dishonesty. If you are unclear as to what constitutes
plagiarism, you should seek clarification before beginning an assignment.
Cheating involves fraud and deception for the purpose of violating legitimate testing rules.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying from another student’s test paper, using
during an exam materials or resources not authorized by the instructor; collaborating with
another student during a test; knowingly using, buying, selling whole or part of an
unadministered test.
Academic dishonesty constitutes a severe violation of HCC policy and rules and is subject to
stringent penalties. Violations of these policies will result, at a minimum, in the automatic
failure of this course. Severe violations could result in suspension or expulsion from HCC.
*** International students, students receiving financial aid, and veterans must be enrolled full time
(12 hours) in order to maintain their status. Please keep this in mind; if you plagiarize or cheat, you
will not receive special consideration just because you are in one of the above categories .. The bottom
line is that if you plagiarize or cheat in this class, you will fail the class, and no excuses whatsoever will
be accepted.***
Students with Disabilities: I will make every effort to accommodate those students with disabilities.
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who
needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Service Counselor,
Dr. Becky Hauri (713 718-7909) at the beginning of the semester. Faculty members are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS).
Students who are requesting special testing accommodations must first contact the office.
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.
Caveat: The College purges students who have not paid their tuition or have some other glitch with
their registration every weekend. However, it doesn’t tell those students who have been dropped from
their classes that they have been dropped. In your own best interests, pay your tuition on time and
make sure that you are still enrolled in your classes by the 12 th class day, by midterms, and before
finals. I cannot re-enroll students who have been dropped by administration, no matter what their
class standing might be.
Course Calendar
Week 1
Jan. 19
Topic 1
MLK Day/Introduction, the Final Frontier
Week 2
Jan. 26
Topic 2
West (continued), The Harrowing of the Indians
Week 3
Feb. 2
Topic 3
Greed, Industry, and the Magnates
Week 4
Feb. 9
Topic 4
Jim Crow
Black Like Me Book Exam
Week 5
Feb. 16
Topic 5
Imperialism (or, Pinky and the Brain)
Week 6
Feb. 23
Topic 6
“Give us your tired, your poor…”
Week 7
Mar. 2
Topic 7
Progressivism, The Great War
Week 8
Mar. 9
Topic 7,8
The Great War, Crafting the Peace
Week 9
Mar. 16
SPRING BREAK!!!
And there was much rejoicing!
Week 10
Mar. 23
Topic 9
MIDTERM/The Red Scare
Week 11
Mar. 30
Topic 10
The Roaring Twenties (Rawr!)
Week 12
Apr. 6
Topic 11
The Good Ol’ Bad Ol’ Days
Week 13
Apr. 13
Topic 12
WWII
Once Upon A Town Book Exam
Week 14
Apr. 20
Topic 13
Global Cooling
Week 15
Apr. 27
Topic 14
Civil Rights and Vietnam
Week 16
May 4
Topic 15
A Global Nation
Oral History/Genealogy Project Due
Week 17
May 14
12:00 pm
FINAL EXAM