COURSE NUMBER : : 2003
COURSE DESCRIPTION :
This is an introductory history class exploring American life beginning with
European backgrounds; discovery and settlement; concluding with the
Civil War and Reconstruction. The survey encompasses the constitutional, political, social, and economic development of the United States prior to
1877.
COURSE DATES: August 24 through December 11
INSTRUCTOR: Greg Kiser
EMAIL: gkiser@nwacc.edu
OFFICE: BH 2218
OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Thursday 10:00 to 3:00; Friday by appointment; always available through email: gkiser@nwacc.edu.

PHONE: 479-619-4227
BIOGRAPHY:
I began teaching here at NWACC in 1990. I received my undergraduate degree from Missouri Southern State University and my graduate work from the University of Arkansas.
TEXTBOOK:
Shi and Tindall, America: The Essential
Learning Edition, Volume One
A word about the textbook: You can purchase the textbook through our NWACC Bookstore, in fact, I believe the administration prefers it. Of course, you can purchase the textbook at other bookstores, like, College Bookstore, and that’s fine as well. There is, however, another option. You can click on the textbook picture above and it takes you directly to the ebook option. The ebook edition of the textbook has advantages. It is considerably less expensive, because it is an ebook it is with you whenever and wherever you have a mobile device or access to a computer, and it has nice features like “search” and “highlight” and “notes.”
COURSE GOALS:
As America continues its unparalleled growth, our multicultural society appears ever more diverse. There is, however, a common thread uniting each of us - our collective past. United States history is the link to our uniqueness as a society. The United States History course is an overview of that commonality.

COURSE SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES & COLLEGE-WIDE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To accomplish the following NWACC and course outcomes, students should read and complete all course assignments, make a sincere effort to be actively involved, and should work cooperatively with other students and the instructor.
Course Specific Learning Outcomes
1. Through an examination of the American colonial experience, the student will identify reasons for the establishment of colonies in
America, especially as regards England .
2. By investigating the development of the American government and politics, the student will identify differences between the Articles of
Confederation and the US Constitution and analyze the Constitution’s impact on the new American government.
3. By observing the growth and division of early America, the student will trace American expansion resulting in our becoming a coast-to-coast nation.

College-Wide Learning Objectives
1.
Students can read selections at the appropriate level of education and describe the main idea and supporting details. Students can evaluate written material objectively.
Instructors will utilize the course textbook and possible outside readings for a better understanding of each topic.
WHAT DOES THE COURSE AND COLLEGE-WIDE LEARNING
OUTCOME WE ARE FOCUSING ON THIS SEMESTER MEAN TO YOU?
ASSESSMENT:
The Department of Social Science is committed to ensuring our students come away from our courses with a good general understanding of the material and specifically, to see that students achieve the college-wide objectives through our course objectives. Each semester we break the total number of course objectives into one or two (for the US students, this semester, only one). The US History instructors have all agreed to offer the same reading for evaluation. While the vehicle is left up to each instructor, I will have it as one of the required essays on the final exam.
REQUIREMENTS:
The semester will consist of two exams, fifteen chapter quizzes (there are fifteen chapters), fifteen weeks of Discussions (with a minimum of two

posts each week), possible readings from the Internet &/or films, and bonus point possibilities.
THE EXAMS: Each exam is worth 200 points . You will have several days to finish and submit the exam, therefore, make-up tests are not allowed. This is very important -
.
This also includes those who have accommodations for ADA. I have built in much, much more time for each exam than should be necessary. There is no need for the usual “time and a half” or “two times” accommodation for each exam as it is built in.
For each of the major exams there will be essay questions worth 20 to 40 points each. They are chosen at random and will come from the "Review
Sheet" for that exam (found as a link on the homepage). You will also have a section of multiple-choice questions, possibly true/false, possibly several identification terms. Read the “Essay Exams, My Thoughts” link on the main page menu on the left to see exactly what I look for in your answers.
Because you have quite a bit of time to take the exam, it is set up so you can come and go during the testing period. Do not hit the “
” button until you are ready for me to receive it. Do hit the “save” button often and

certainly at the end of each time you work on the quiz. I only see it when you submit it to me.
(This really is the biggest problem I have had. Hit the save button often and especially the last thing before you submit it to me. If you worked on it for two days and hit “save” then came back the next day and wrote your best material and hit “submit” without first hitting
“save” then “submit,” I will only see what you did for those prior two days and nothing from the last time you logged on.) I also urge you to write your essay answers in “Word” and then “copy/paste” to the test.
I would write my answers in “Word” and save them, then “copy/paste” to the exam.
PLAGIARISM! (IT WILL BE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES)
Now, the good news is you have lots of time (several days) to take the exams and can use not only your textbook but other sources as well. That is fine by me. In fact, I encourage it .
Remember, however, anytime you are not using your own original thoughts or ideas, and anytime you are quoting directly from a source, you must cite the source. Failure to cite the source will result in a “0” for the essay, possibly entire test, and possibly an “F” for the course. The problem in allowing so much time is, of course, my not knowing absolutely that you are doing your own work. Sadly, someone with get someone else to do it. It is so easy to just

download things from the internet and hope I think it is your own. I’ve even seen students borrow a former student’s work. Don’t do that. It will guarantee an “F” for the course.
These tests are the equivalent to “take home” exams for lecture classes.
Each essay answer should be approximately 500 words in length
(
), and you should make every attempt at good grammar and correct spelling.
: Because you have a good deal of time to take the exams and have the possibility to use not only your textbook but other sources as well. I urge you to read and re-read the statement on
PLAGIARISM .
Let me repeat this to stress the importance. If you are guilty of plagiarism, whether through carelessness or deliberate, whether from a source on the web or another students work you will receive a zero for that essay, and, depending of the severity, possibly on the test, and could receive a zero for the course.
Click HERE to read what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
Click HERE to see the student handbook wording which covers plagiarism as well as ACADEMIC DISHONESTY.

Keep track of the due date for each exam. There are no make-up exams offered. If you miss the exam date, for any reason, you will receive a “0” for that exam.
THE END OF CHAPTER QUIZZES:
There is a chapter quiz each week. They are located on the left menu under "Weekly Chapter Quizzes" and are due no later than the date posted
(see “Important Dates” also on the menu and below).
Each weekly quiz is worth up to thirty (30) points (you will do fifteen for a total of 450 points). Do not forget these chapter quizzes. They are a crucial part of the total points for the class and are time sensitive. You have an entire week to do each one.
The quizzes have multiple-choice questions and may have true/false questions and other formats. As with the major exams, the quiz requirement is set up so that you can come and go throughout the week. And as with the exams, do not hit the “submit” button until you are

ready for me to receive it. Also, hit the “save” button often and certainly at the end of each time you work on the quiz. I only see it when you submit it to me.
DISCUSSIONS:
You are required to make use of the "Discussions" section by submitting
. The Discussions are by chapters and follow the “Weekly Chapter Quizzes” time-line. Again,
Each student is required to post at least two comments or inquiries for fellow students, or statements concerning the chapter content. No partial credit is given.
Keep in mind that to receive the points, your posting must be relevant to the course material. A simple “hello,” or “hope you all do well on the test,” or “I agree,” will not count.
Use the “Main” area for those types of postings not the weekly ones. There is not a minimum word count for the discussions but one or two sentences will not be enough to get your point across. Remember, you are writing a post about things in the chapter, and/or you are responding to someone else’s post. You will receive twenty
(20) points for doing so and those 300 points (fifteen weeks) are included in your total grade. Failure to post at least two during that particular session will be a zero and will hurt, if not ruin, your final grade.

I am not posting a general topic for you each week . Each chapter’s content is the topic of the discussions.
Keep track of the discussions timetable. If you miss posting during any discussion time-period, or submit only one posting, you will receive a “0” for that topic.
GRADING:
Two major exams , each worth 200 points; the fifteen quizzes are worth a total of 450 points, and the discussions section is worth 300 points for a grand total of 1150 points.
1150-1035 A 1034-920 B 919-805 C 804-690 D BELOW
690 F
COURSE POLICIES:
ASSIGNMENTS/CHAPTER QUIZZES:
Any assignment (such as a chapter quiz) given will be due, without exception within the time allotted. Failure to meet the deadline of each assignment will result in a zero "0" for that assignment. Make-up work is not allowed for assignments missed.
Each is intended to keep you on pace in the course, to allow you to open up a dialogue with other students in

class, and to generate some much needed points for your total grade. Not submitting them, however, could be the difference between passing and failing this course. Again, because you have an entire week to do each one, I will not accept late work.
NO MAKE-UP EXAMS:
Make-up exams are not allowed for those missing the regularly scheduled exam . You have three days to do the tests and get them to me. However, you must be very careful to make sure you turn in your exam within the given window. Otherwise, you will receive a zero "0" on that exam. No exceptions.
As you can see, the “Important Dates” will become your friend.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
(as quoted in the Student Handbook)
Definition:
Ensuring students understand the core value of academic honesty is an overarching goal of all faculty and staff at NWACC. Academic honesty means students do their own work and do not represent others’ work as their own. To help clarify, the following principles defining academic honesty from Charles Lipson’s book, Doing Honest Work in College
(University of Chicago Press, 2004, pg. 3) are provided:
“When you say you did the work yourself, you actually did it.”
“When you rely on someone else’s work, you cite it. When you use their words, you quote them openly and accurately, and you cite them, too.”

TECHNICAL SUPPORT, DEVICE RECOMMENDATION, ACADEMIC
SUPPORT, OFFICIAL ADA STATEMENT, GRADE OF “FP”, AND CLASS
CONTINUATION PLAN are now posted on the left hand menu under
“Syllabus Policies.”
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:
The Social Science Department follows our NWACC Student Handbook regarding proper steps to take should a grievance occur between fellow students, or the student and instructor. The first step in any grievance is to bring the complaint to the attention of the instructor. If the issue is not satisfactorily resolved, the student (and/or instructor) then contacts the instructor's Chairman, Greg Kiser, gkiser@nwacc.edu
. Because I am the chair, you would contact the dean, Jerry Vervack, jvervack@nwacc.edu
.
BONUS OPPORTUNITIES: Check the "Bonus Opportunities" link frequently. There may be occasional readings assigned from the web that I will place in the “Bonus Opportunities” link.
One last thing, the weeks for this course, run from Sunday at 12:00am through Saturday night at 11:59pm.

TIMELINE FOR OUR SIXTEEN WEEK, US I, FALL 2015 COURSE
WEEK ONE: AUGUST 24 (MONDAY) THROUGH AUGUST 29 (SATURDAY)
CHAPTER 1 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 1.
WEEK TWO: AUGUST 30 (SUNDAY) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5 (SATURDAY)
CHAPTER 2 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 2.
WEEK THREE: SEPTEMBER 6 (SUN) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12 (SAT)
CHAPTER 3 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 3.
WEEK FOUR: SEPTEMBER 13 (SUN) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19 (SAT)
CHAPTER 4 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 4.
WEEK FIVE: SEPTEMBER 20 (SUN) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26 (SAT)
CHAPTER 5 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 5.
WEEK SIX: SEPTEMBER 27 (SUN) THROUGH OCTOBER 3 (SAT)
CHAPTER 6 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 6.
WEEK SEVEN: OCTOBER 4 (SUN) THROUGH OCTOBER 10 (SAT)
CHAPTER 7 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 7.
WEEK EIGHT: OCTOBER 11 (SUN) THROUGH OCTOBER 17 (SAT)
NO QUIZ, NO DISCUSSION, STUDY FOR:
FIRST EXAM (CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 7) BEGINNING OCT14 (WEDNESDAY,
12:01AM) – OCT17 (SATURDAY, 11:59PM)

WEEK NINE: OCTOBER 18 (SUN) THROUGH OCTOBER 24 (SAT)
CHAPTER 8 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 8.
WEEK TEN: OCTOBER 25 (SUN) THROUGH OCTOBER 31 (SAT)
CHAPTER 9 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 9
WEEK ELEVEN: NOVEMBER 1 (SUN) THROUGH NOVEMBER 7 (SAT)
CHAPTER 10 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 10.
WEEK TWELVE: NOVEMBER 8 (SUN) THROUGH NOVEMBER 14 (SAT)
CHAPTER 11 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 11.
WEEK THIRTEEN: NOVEMBER 15 (SUN) THROUGH NOVEMBER 28 (SAT)
CHAPTER 12 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 12.
November 20 - Last Day to Withdraw with "W" on Transcript with 0%
Refund.
WEEK FOURTEEN: NOVEMBER 22 (SUN) THROUGH NOVEMBER 28 (SAT)
CHAPTER 13 QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 13.
November 25 - 29 - Thanksgiving Break Faculty & Students
WEEK FIFTEEN: NOVEMBER 29 (SUN) THROUGH DECEMBER 5 (SAT)
CHAPTER 14 (QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 14.
WEEK SIXTEEN: DECEMBER 6 (SUN) THROUGH DECEMBER 11 (FRI)
CHAPTER 15 (QUIZ, DISCUSSION PERIOD FOR CHAPTER 15.

FINAL EXAM: DECEMBER 12 (SATURDAY, 12:30AM) THROUGH
DECEMBER 14 (MONDAY, 11:59PM). COVERS CHAPTERS 8
THROUGH 15.