Golden West College
Course Syllabus
Course Title: U.S. History to 1876
Class Meetings: TH 06:35pm - 09:45pm
Ticket #: 54857
Course number: HST 170
Session/Year: Fall 2011
Dates: 9/1/11-12/15/11
Instructor Name: Mr. Menzing
Email Address: tmenzing@sac.edu
Location: Forum II 101
Instructor Availability Outside of Class: Via email
Websites:
 Menzing Faculty Website:
http://www.saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/

http://www.engrade.com/
U.S. History
Course Description: This course is designed to provide a survey of the political, social, economic, and
cultural development of the United States from pre-European contact through reconstruction. Specific
attention will be directed to the colonial era, establishment of the new nation, sectional problems, national
growth, disunion and reconstruction. In keeping with the name of your text, we will focus as often as
possible on the history of the United States through the lives of the people who created the new nation
and the new society. Particular attention will be placed on the interaction between Europeans, Americans,
and the Native Peoples of the "New World."
Course Length: 16 Weeks
Anticipated Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Articulate the changing definition of American democracy.
To obtain a basic understanding and knowledge of the various contours within the history of the
United States from colonization to 1865.
To question "history" in order to understand that history emanates from subjective positions that
shape the stories that are told, presented, or remembered.
To explore how we construct our knowledge of the world from our diverse experiences and
backgrounds within American culture.
Examine the effects of technology on American development.
Analyze the effects of immigration on American history.
Explore contemporary American issues and determine their historical origins.
Course Prerequisites: College English
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Course Materials
1) Author : Nash
Title : American People: Brief (v.1)
Publisher : Longman
Edition : 7th
ISBN:9780205805396
Required
2) Author: Oats
Title: The Fires of Jubilee
ISBN: 9780060916701
Required
Recommended Readings: None
Method of Instruction: Lecture
Estimated Homework Hours/Week : 3-4
Technology Needed: Access to a computer, word processing program, disks, and printer
Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
100-90
80-89
70-79
60-69
60 or below
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Grades are never “rounded up.” A grade of 79.9 is a “C.” Unless there is a mathematical error,
please do not ask the instructor to change a grade.
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Please note that the final grade is not based on a simple point system. The categories are
weighted – The Final Exam category, for example, is worth more than the Quiz category.
Process for Evaluation:
11 Quizzes (4% each)
4 Exams (11% Each)
Essay
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44%
44%
12%
100%
Exams and quizzes are timed. There are no make-ups. Both quizzes and exams will start at 6:35
PM. Quizzes are broken into two halves. The first half will be from 6:35-7:00, the second half
from 9:20-9:45 PM. Exams will begin at 6:35 and last one hour to 7:35. There will be about 60
multiple choice questions (timed at about 1 minute per question). Lecture will proceed after the
quizzes and exams. I will provide Scantron forms, please bring #2 pencils with an eraser.
Quizzes are short, usually about 25 questions based on the previous week’s readings and lecture.
Quizzes will be broken into two halves. Exams are based on all material up to each respective
exam. Exam 2, for example, covers all material since Exam 1, and so on.
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The essay is based on the Oats text, The Fires of Jubilee. The essay should be 4-5 pages in
length, double spaced and typed. The essay must be submitted to Turnitin.com. Your essay will
not be accepted if it contains more than five (5) spelling errors (so be sure to run your “spell
check” program). Your thesis is completely up to you but if you want to know what your essay
should “look like” (structure, citations etc) you should follow a basic MLA structure
(introduction, thesis, body paragraphs, conclusion + parenthetical references to the text, e.g.,
(Oats, 47), (Nash, 65). This is a long text. You should begin reading the text the first week of
class.
Please submit your essays to http://turnitin.com/static/index.html, by 5/26/11. Late papers will
not be accepted. Go to the New Users tab (upper right corner) and register (takes about a
minute). Then simply type in the following codes:
o
o
Class ID: 3452284
Password: Amistad
The password is case sensitive. Also please note that the turnitin.com system is set to
Mountain Time so you need to turn in your essay by 9:00 PM on 5/26 to be safe.
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The study guides are posted only to help students keep track of the lecture/discussion. They are
not part of the grading system and do not need to be turned in. You can access the study guides at
http://www.saddleback.edu/faculty/tmenzing/ Go to bottom link marked “GWC”
Incomplete Grades: The instructor does not issue Incomplete grades.
Homework and late assignments: Students must keep pace with the reading schedule
Extra Credit Assignments: There is no extra credit
Personal Responsibility
Hst 170 is a transferable course within both the CSU and UC college systems. This course is a
university-level survey of world history. This instructor does not believe in lowering academic
standards because this is "just a community college course." On the contrary, the standard for
this course is at a CSU/UC level. If students are not prepared to engage the course at this level
they should consider dropping the course.
Remember, as Cheech Marin once said:
"Responsibility is a heavy responsibility"
Please complete your readings and assignments on time.
Due dates are clearly marked on the syllabus
No late work will be accepted
There are no make-up quizzes or exams
Course Requirements
NOTE: If you are no longer participating in the class it is your responsibility to drop or withdraw
yourself from the course. It is not the instructor’s responsibility to drop students who are no longer
participating in the class.
Special Services
“Special Services provides support services and specialized instruction for students with disabilities.”
If you feel that you are in need of special services please contact the Special Services office
Note: please feel free to discuss special services issues with me. If you have already been assessed
through Student Services please discuss accommodations with me and get the paperwork to me as soon as
possible.
This course meets the requirements set forth in the accessibility checklist and universal design grid
provided by special services. The Web pages, video presentations, textbooks and class materials used in
this course are accessible to students with disabilities.
Grading Criteria for Writing Assignments:
Please note that grading is an inherently subjective process. The instructor uses the
following rubric to help determine grades on discussion forums and essays. The instructor
reserves the exclusive right to determine grading thresholds. The instructor will never
“negotiate” grades.
"A" range work is:
Outstanding achievement; significantly exceeds standards. Unique topic or unique treatment of topic;
takes risks with content; fresh approach. Sophisticated/exceptional use of examples. Original and "fluid"
organization; all sentences and paragraphs contribute; sophisticated transitions between paragraphs.
Integration of quotations and citations is sophisticated and highlights the author's argument. Confidence
in use of standard English; language reflects a practiced and/or refined. Posts also effectively integrate all
of the course resources (Pesci and Nash) with proper in-text citations.
"B" range work is:
Commendable achievement; exceeds minimum standards. Specific, original focus; content well-handled.
Significance of content is clearly conveyed; good use of examples; sufficient support exists in all key
areas. Has effective shape (organization); effective pacing between sentences or paragraphs. Quotations
and citations are integrated into argument to enhance the flow of ideas. Have competent transitions
between all sentences and paragraphs. Conveys a strong understanding of standard English; the writer is
clear in his/her attempt to articulate main points, but may demonstrate moments of "flat" or unrefined
language. The work contains very few mechanical errors. Posts also integrate at least two of the course
resources.
"C" range work is:
Acceptable achievement; meets minimum standards for course. Retains over-all focus; generally
solid command of subject matter. Subject matter well explored but may show signs of underdevelopment. Significance is understood; competent use of examples. Structure is solid, but an
occasional sentence or paragraph may lack focus. Quotations and citations are integrated into
argument and references are provided. Transitions between paragraphs occur but may lack
originality. Competent use of language; sentences are solid but may lack development,
refinement, style. Occasional minor mechanical errors may occur, but do not impede clear
understanding of material. The work contains few serious grammatical or spelling errors.
understanding of syntax and usage. Sentences vary in structure; very few if any mechanical
errors. Posts also effectively integrate at least one of the course resources.
"D" range work is:
Marginal in achievement; it fails to not meet minimum standards. Significance of content is
unclear. Some ideas may lack support, elaboration. Lacks sufficient examples or relevance of
examples may be unclear. Support material may not be clearly incorporated into argument.
Expression is occasionally awkward (problematic sentence structure). Mechanical errors may at
times impede clear understanding of material. May have a few serious mechanical errors. Posts
do not integrate any of the course resources.
“F" range work:
Ignores assignment. Lacks significance. Lacks coherence. Lacks focus. Difficult to follow due to
awkward sentence or paragraph development. Mechanical errors impede understanding.
Problems with writing at the college level. Any work that is plagiarized.
Academic Dishonesty
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies
at Golden West College. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: plagiarism and cheating,
misuse of academic resources or facilities, and misuse of computer software, data, equipment or
networks.
Plagiarism is the use (copying) of another person’s ideas, words, visual images, or audio samples,
presented in a manner that makes the work appear to be the student’s original creation. All work that is
not the student’s original creation, or any idea or fact that is not “common knowledge,” must be
documented properly to avoid even accidental infractions of the honor code.
Cheating is to gain an unfair advantage on a grade by deception, fraud, or breaking the rules set forth by
the instructor of the class. Cheating may include but is not limited to: copying the work of others; using
notes or other materials when unauthorized; communicating to others during an exam; and any other
unfair advantage as determined by the instructor.
Students who cheat and/or plagiarize will receive a score of zero for the particular assignment). Also,
students who violate the terms of academic honesty will have an Academic Dishonesty Report filed with
the Dean’s Office.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 1 (9/1) Three Worlds Meet
Introduction and Orientation
READ: Nash, chapters 1-2 Ancient America and Africa & Europeans and Africans Reach the
Americas
FILM: 500 Nations & Middle Passage (from Amistad)
Week 2 (9/8) Servitude, Slavery, and the Growth of the Southern Colonies
READ: Nash, chapter 3 Colonizing a Continent in the 17th Century
FILM: 500 Nations
Quiz 2
Week 3 (9/15) The Maturing of Colonial Society
READ: Nash, chapter 4 The Maturing of Colonial Society
FILM: 500 Nations
Quiz 3
Week 4 (9/22) Bursting the Colonial Bonds
READ: Nash, chapter 5 Bursting the Colonial Bonds
EXAM 1
Week 5 (9/29) A People in Revolution
READ: Nash, chapter 6 A People in Revolution
FILM: 500 Nations & The People Speak
QUIZ 4
Week 6 (10/6) Consolidating the Revolution
READ: Nash, chapter 7 Consolidating the Revolution
FILM: ?
QUIZ 5
Week 7 (10/13) Creating a Nation
READ: Nash, 7 Consolidating the Revolution
FILM: 500 Nations
QUIZ 6
Week 8 (10/20) Society and Politics in the Early Republic
READ: Nash, 8 Currents of Change in the Northeast and Old Northwest
EXAM 2
Week 9 (10/27) The Market Revolution
READ: Nash, 8 Currents of Change in the Northeast and Old Northwest
FILM: Daughters of Free Men
QUIZ 7
Week 10 (11/3) Slavery and the Old South
READ: Nash, 9 Slavery and the Old South
FILM: Doing as they Can
QUIZ 8
Week 11 (11/10) Shaping America in the Antebellum Age
READ: Nash, 10 Shaping America in the Antebellum Age
FILM: ?
QUIZ 9
Week 12 (11/17) Moving West
READ: Nash, 11 Moving West
VIEW: San Patricios
EXAM 3
Week 13 (11/24) THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Week 14 (12/1) The Union in Peril
READ: Nash, 12 The Union in Peril
FILM: John Brown’s Holy War
QUIZ 10
Week 15 (12/8) The Union Severed
Read: Nash, 13 The Union Severed
FILM: The Civil War
QUIZ 11
Week 16 (12/15) FINAL EXAM
ESSAY DUE (Turnitin.com – Due 12/15)