HISTORY 1302
US HISTORY SINCE 1877
CRN #91928
Spring 2016 MW 9:30-11:00
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and problem-solving skills and will work with historical documents, maps and economic and demographic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
1. Explain the features of the Gilded Age and the issues on society, culture, and politics
2. Summarize Industrialization 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
Texts:
U.S. A Narrative History, ed. Davidson, et. al (required –provided!)
The Great Influenza, John Barry. (required)
e-Reader, Pearson (required)
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.
Reader Assignments: There will be four Reader assignments given throughout the semester; they will be found
in the HCC e-Reader. Each assignment is worth 25 points, for a total of 100 points.
Connect Assignments: We are piloting the Connect program in our class this semester, so please 1) be patient
as we learn together! 2) Check each Wednesday to see what assignment has been given and be sure to
complete it by the following Monday. The assignments will be online, and I will check to see if they are done.
Late assignments will not be accepted. There will be fifteen Connect assignments that will be given for a total
of 150 points.
Exams: There will be two exams in this course: one final exam, and one book exam, which will be discussed
below. The final exam will be multiple choice and is worth 100 points. The book exam will be an in-class exam
on The Great Influenza, and you will need a Blue Book. The book exam is also 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.
Participation: You will be expected to participate in class discussions, and to come to class! This will count as
10% of your grade (50 points), so please remember this, and come to class prepared to engage in a productive
discussion!
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 working through
the various assignments. In addition, you will learn to write a college level essay, complete with introduction,
thesis, body and conclusion, and you will also be graded on your ability to learn this valuable skill. The
purpose of an essay is to present your point of view about a given topic, in this case it will revolve around the
book The Great Influenza.
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 all of your work (500 points), divided by the total number of
points possible (500 points). 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 16, 2015 . Please note that there will be no curving of
grades in this class.
A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-0
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 80% 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 Stafford 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, I will drop them. 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
April 5, 2016. 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 April 5, 2016.
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 the HCC
policy and by the rules of this class. IF YOU PLAGIARIZE YOU WILL FAIL THE EXAM/ASSIGNMENT. IF YOU
PLAGIARIZE A SECOND TIME, YOU WILL FAIL THE CLASS. YOU WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO SIGN A CONTRACT AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT PLAGIARISM IS, AND
THAT YOU AGREE NOT TO DO SO.
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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.***
TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972, 20 U.S.C. A§ 1681 ET. SEQ.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires that institutions have policies and
procedures that protect students’ rights with regard to sex/gender discrimination. Information
regarding these rights are on the HCC website under Students-Anti-discrimination. Students who
are pregnant and require accommodations should contact any of the ADA Counselors for
assistance.
It is important that every student understands and conforms to respectful behavior while at HCC.
Sexual misconduct is not condoned and will be addressed promptly. Know your rights and how to
avoid these difficult situations.
Log in to: www.edurisksolutions.org . Sign in using your HCC student e-mail account, then go to the
button at the top right that says Login and enter your student number.
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 7187909) 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 12th 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
TOPIC
CHAPTER
Jan. 18
Intro
Introduction Get Connected!
Connect Assignment “Primary Sources”
Jan. 25
Decline of the Native Americans
Ch. 18
Feb. 1
Greed, Industry, and the 1%
Ch. 19
Feb. 8
Immigrants and their Impact
Ch. 20
Feb. 15
Imperialism, or Pinky and the Brain
Ch. 21
Feb. 22
Progressives!!!
Ch. 22
e-Reader “Atlanta Exposition” due
Feb. 29
Of Diplomacy and Trenches
Ch. 23
Mar. 7
WWI
The Great Influenza exam
Mar. 14
SPRING BREAK!!!
And there was much rejoicing!!!!
Mar. 21
Before the Crash
Ch. 24
Mar. 28
The Great Depression
Ch. 25
e-Reader “Bonnie and Clyde” due
Apr. 4
WWII
Ch. 26
Apr. 11
WWII
Ch. 26
e-Reader “Germany’s Formula for War” due
April 18
Cold War
Ch. 27
Apr. 25
Cold War in the ‘Burbs
Ch. 28
May 2
Vietnam to Today
Ch. 29-32
e-Reader “Letter from Birmingham Jail” due
May 11
9:00 AM
FINAL EXAM