History 1301
American History, Inception to 1877
Spring, 2012
Instructor: Alisha Denton Loftin
Section: 83840
Campus: Katy, Room 227
Class Time: Beginning 2/13/12 -MW 7:00pmPhone: 918-809-8661
9:00pm
Email: alisha.loftin@hccs.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Texts:
Ayers, Edward L., et al. American Passages: A History of the United States, 4th edition. Boston: Wadsworth, 2010.
Pearson E-Reader: http://www.pearsoncustom.com/tx/hcc_hist1301/ Use Volume I.
History Monograph of the student’s choice. Must be approved by the instructor.
Course Theme:
Course Description and Goals: History 1301 is a survey of American History from inception to 1877. The study includes social,
economic, and political aspects of American life and follows the development of the United States as a world power. The course is
based on lectures, readings, films and class participation.
This course is designed to improve the student’s skills in the following areas: critical thinking and reading about history, clear
and concise writing and articulation about history, comprehension of primary and secondary sources, knowledge of important events,
movements, people and ideas in American history.
By the end of the class, students
 Will be able to create an argument through the use of historical evidence,
 Will be able to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources
 Will be able to analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global forces on this period of United
States history
 Will be able to understand the importance of chronology and how earlier ideas and events shaped later events.
This course transfers as 3 hours of credit to most other colleges and universities.
Course Grades:
The final course grade is based on completion of the following:
2 Exams – 100 points each
Final Exam – 100 points
Book Review – 100 points
In-Class Essays – 20 points each
Homework Assignments – 50 points each
Assignment and Exam Evaluation Techniques:
Grades for the written work and for the class will be assigned on a 10-point curve of total points possible, as follows
90% - over =A
80%-89%=B
70%-79%=C
60%-69%=D
Under 59%-F
Exams: There will be three exams during the semester, Exam I will cover chapters 1-4, Exam II will cover chapters 5-9, and the Final
Exam will cover chapters 10-16. Exams will be worth 100 points each and consist of 25 multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions
and one essay. Students must provide a bluebook for each exam. Information covered in the exams may come from any lecture,
video, reading, discussion, or activity assigned or completed in the class. The Final Exam will not be comprehensive. If a student
misses either Exam I or Exam II, s/he will be allowed to make it up during the period allotted for the Final Exam, as well as taking the
Final.
Book Review: Students will choose a history monograph over which to write their review. Instructor Approval is Necessary for All
Monograph Choices. The book review will consist of a two-page, typed double-spaced paper, with no larger than a 12-point font.
More information on how to write a book review will be forthcoming. The book review is due at the beginning of class or before April
23rd.
Grades on written work (Exam Essays, Book Review and In-class essays) will be based upon the following standards: Clear
and concise presentation of thesis, evidence and analysis (content); organization; appropriate voice, tone and diction, Correct
grammar, writing structure and spelling, and MLA-style format. Book Reviews will be accepted early, but will not be accepted late.
In-Class Essays: Also known as Pop Quizzes. At the instructor’s discretion, pop-quizzes over materials pertinent to the day’s lecture
will be administered at the beginning of class. Students may not make up pop quizzes for any reason. Therefore, it is in the student’s
best interest to come to class on time and prepared, having read the assigned chapter in the textbook or the appropriate reading.
Attendance Policy:
Regular class attendance is not only important from the standpoint of learning, but also is required in order to be successful in this
course. Students are held responsible for all materials covered during their absence and any changes made in the agenda.
The student is responsible for withdrawal from the class; the instructor will not complete withdrawals. Remember, Class Participation
points cannot be made up for any reason.
To withdraw from the class, the student should initiate an official withdrawal through the counseling office by March 29 th;
non-attendance DOES NOT constitute official withdrawal. Failure to withdraw may result in the student receiving a regular grade of
“F” at the end of the semester.
To request a change to Audit (A) or Incomplete (I), the student must be maintaining a passing grade. The student must
initiate the change with the instructor and sign the audit or incomplete agreement. If the Incomplete is due to a circumstance that
prevents the student from being able to sign the form him/herself, the instructor may make other arrangements. See the agenda for the
last day to change to A or I or withdraw.
Plagiarism, Academic Dishonesty, or Misconduct:
Plagiarism is claiming, indicating, or implying that the ideas, sentences, or words of another writer are your own; it includes having
another writer do work claimed to be your own, copying the work of another and presenting it as your own, or following the work of
another as a guide to ideas and expression that are then presented as your own. The student should review the relevant sections of the
Student Code of Conduct Policy Handbook. A student guilty of plagiarism may receive a zero for the assignment and an “F” in the
course.
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not condoned nor tolerated. Academic dishonesty is behavior in which a deliberately
fraudulent misrepresentation is employed in an attempt to gain undeserved intellectual credit, either for oneself or for another.
Academic misconduct is behavior that results in intellectual advantage obtained by violating specific standard, but without deliberate
intent or use of fraudulent means. The student should review the relevant sections of the Student Code of Conduct Policy Handbook.
1
Syllabus, Pre-Columbian Civ’s, Exploration and
Columbus
Colonial America, Southwest, FL (l) and VA
President's Day No Class
2
13-Feb
15-Feb
20-Feb*
3
22-Feb
27-Feb
Colonial America, NE, Witchcraft (l) Pirates
The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening
2-4
3&4
Indian Wars (Movie)
Catch-up day
3&4
4
29-Feb
5-Mar
5
7-Mar
Mar 12/14
Exam 1 – Inception to End of Colonial Period
Spring Break - No Class
6&7
~
19-Mar
7
10
4-Apr
9-Apr
11-Apr
16-Apr
Revolutionary War, Transformation of America (ppt),
Class Warfare XYZ Affair, Alien & Sedition Acts
/Homework 1 Due
War of 1812 (l)
LA Purchase, Lewis and Clark
Second Great Awakening, The American System
Exam 2 – War for Independence to American
System
Texas and Mexico/Homework 2 Due
Indian Removal (movie?) (l)
The South, Slavery
11
18-Apr
23-Apr
Reform Movements Lecture
Bleeding Kansas/Book Review Due
6
7
8
9
21-Mar
26-Mar
28-Mar**
2-Apr
12
25-Apr
30-Apr
2-May
13
9-May
Civil War
Reconstruction
Catch-Up Day
Final Exam - Texas and Mexico to
Reconstruction
*21 Feb Day of Record
**Mar 29 - Last day to Withdraw
1&2
2&3
~
8
8
8
8&9
10
11
11
11
11&12
13
14&15
16
Outside
Readings
(E-Reader
unless
otherwise
specified)
Text
In-class
Class
Dates
Week #
Tentative Schedule of Activities, Agenda and Course Outline:
The instructor may change the assignment schedule AT ANY TIME by verbal or written notification in class or via email.
De Las Casas, on
Learning Web
MA “Ways’” pp83-104
Native Reactions, pp153163
Declaration of
Independence,
Constitution and Bill of
Rights, pp214-229
The Sedition Act p267,
Alien Act on LW
Slave Ship pp144-152
Ain't I a Woman, p435 &
Dec. of Sntmnt, pp385387
13th, 14th, & 15th
Amend, pp469-473
Course Contract
Please review the syllabus. Then sign and return this contract to your instructor by the 3 rd class meeting.
I ____________________________________ have read and understand the syllabus for Section 83840 of History 1302. I agree that
this is a binding contract and that I will abide by the policies, instructions and guidelines as communicated by it and by my instructor
for the duration of my time in the class.
__________________________________
______________________________