Syllabus
Survey of American Civilization since Reconstruction
Spring 2013 Semester
HIS 1493-317-22944—3 Credit Hours
Room 7116 SE Campus
January 14 to May 12, 2013
Tuesdays, 7:00pm to 9:50pm
Instructor:
Bob Wilkerson
Home/Cell: 918-809-4904
Home Office fax: 918-496-9465
TCC Email: Robert_Wilkerson1@mail.tulsacc.edu (underscore between Robert & Wilkerson)
Southeast Campus Arts & Sciences Division Office
Phoebe Baker, Associate Dean
Phone: 918-595-7737
Academic & Campus Services
Phone: 918-595-7673
Required Text: Alan Brinkley, American History: A Survey, Vol. II, 14/e. Book may be purchased at the TCC
Bookstore.
Course description
During the semester we will survey U.S. History from the Civil War Era to the present day, including social,
economic, political development and trends of American life.
General Education Goals
General Education courses at TCC ensure that our graduates gain skills, knowledge, and abilities that comprise
a common foundation for their higher education and a backdrop for their work and personal lives. TCC’s
General Education goals are: Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Engaged Learning, and
Technological Proficiency.
Course objectives
 To understand the issues, events and cultural developments of U.S. History from the end of the Civil
War to the present era.
 To link events of the past with current events and uncover the issues that they share.
 To use the study of American history to improve your writing and planning skills essential to your future
success in any endeavor.
Method of Instruction
Class time will be used to highlight major points from the reading, summarize concepts addressed from the
previous class, clarify new concepts, and answer any questions you may have concerning the topics covered.
You are encouraged to bring in recent articles, books read or video media related to topics we cover for class
discussion. Relevant films, audio, field trips as well as guest speakers will be part of the course when
appropriate. Discussion and question are encouraged during instructor presentations.
Email communications
All TCC students receive a designated “MyTCC” email address (ex: jane.doe@mail.tulsacc.edu). All
communications to you about TCC and course assignments will be sent to your MyTCC email address; and you
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must use MyTCC email to send email to, and receive email from, the instructor regarding this course. Do not
hesitate to contact me as I check for email and voice mail messages often. The most efficient way to reach me is
via email. If you need to leave a message on voice mail, provide all of the relevant details. That way I can leave
an appropriate response to your question should I get your voice mail. I will be available for consultations
during class breaks and 30 minutes prior to each class.
Inclement Weather
TCC rarely closes. If extreme weather conditions or emergency situations arise, TCC always gives cancellation
notices to radio and television stations. This information is also posted on the TCC website (www.tulsacc.edu).
Course Withdrawal
The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed 3/4 the duration of any class. Check the TCC
Academic Calendar for the deadline that applies to the course(s). Begin the process with a discussion with the
faculty member assigned to the course. Contact the Counseling Office at any TCC campus to initiate
withdrawal from a course (“W” grade) or to change from Credit to Audit. Withdrawal and/or change to an audit
from a course after the drop/add period can alter the financial aid award for the current and future semesters.
Student may receive an outstanding bill from TCC if the recalculation leaves a balance due to TCC. Students
who stop participating in the course and fail to withdraw may receive a course grade of “F,” which may have
financial aid consequences for the student.
Attendance & Participation
Your enrollment in this class assumes that you will attend and participate fully in the course. Participation in
class discussions is not graded per se, but encouraged to improve and facilitate your learning process.
When participating in class discussions, a substantive response is more than simply saying, “I agree.” or “I like
your thinking on that subject.” or “I’m not sure I see it that way.” A substantive response builds on other
people’s comments, adds the person’s own knowledge, suggests alternative opinions, points out problems,
advances the discussion by asking a related question of the other students, or even at times, constructively
disagrees. All students are to respect the opinions and thoughts of the instructor and other students.
All cell phones, iPods, iPads and laptops should be turned off or put on silence mode during class. Any
student discovered using their laptop for personal messaging during class will result in the prohibition of
laptops for all students. Twittering & text messaging during class time will not be tolerated. In the
instructor’s opinion this is like talking in class.
Attendance Policy –IMPORTANT!
Attendance is essential in a class of this nature. Assignments and lectures build upon each other from one class
to the next, so an absence makes successful completion of the assignments quite difficult. More than 4 class
absences will be considered excessive and result in a failing course grade. It will be reported to the Registrar
and dean of Student Services. The Financial Aid Office and Veterans Services also will be notified. If the
student is unable to attend class, he/she should contact the instructor as soon as possible. After each absence, the
student is responsible for obtaining assignments from a classmate or the instructor and for completing any
missed work on time.
DISABILITY RESOURCES: It is the policy and practice of Tulsa Community College to create inclusive
learning environments. Accommodations for qualifying students in compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are available. To request accommodations,
contact the Education Access Center (EAC) at eac@tulsacc.edu or call (918) 595-7115 (Voice). Deaf and hard
of hearing students may text (918) 809-1864.
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Institutional Statement
Each student is responsible for being aware of the information contained in the TCC Catalog, TCC Student
Handbook, Student Code of Conduct Policy Handbook, and semester information listed in the class schedule.
All information may be viewed on the TCC website: www.tulsacc.edu
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is highly valued at TCC. You must always submit work that represents your original words
or ideas. If any words or ideas used in a class posting or assignment submission do not represent your original
words or ideas, you must cite all relevant sources and make clear the extent to which such sources were used.
Words or ideas that require citation include all hard copy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not,
and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an
identifiable source. Academic dishonesty or misconduct cases are governed by the Campus Student Rights &
Responsibilities Code (see Student Conduct Handbook). Academic dishonesty (cheating) is defined as the
deception of others about one’s own work or about the work of another. Examples of academic dishonesty
include, but are not limited to:
 Submitting another’s work as one’s own or allowing another to submit one’s work a though it were his
or hers.
 Several people completing an assignment and turning in multiple copies, all represented either implicitly
or explicitly as individual work.
 Failing to contribute an equal share in group assignments or projects while claiming equal credit for the
work.
 Using a textbook, notes, or technology tools during an examination without permission of the instructor.
 Receiving or giving unauthorized help on assignments.
 Stealing a problem solution or assessment answers from a teacher or other student.
 Tampering with experimental data to obtain “desired” results, or creating results for experiments not
done.
 Creating results for observations or interviews that were not done.
 Obtaining an unfair advantage by gaining or providing access to examination materials prior to the time
authorized by the instructor.
 Tampering with or destroying the work of others.
 Submitting substantial portions of the same academic work for credit or honors more than once without
permission of the present instructor.
 Lying about these or other academic matters.
 Falsifying college records, forms or other documents.
 Accessing computer systems or files without authorization.
Plagiarism
Deliberate 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 by our own, copying the work of another
and presenting it as your own. Accidental plagiarism is the handling of quotations and paraphrases without a
deliberate attempt to deceive. It includes failing to mark the beginning of paraphrases, failing to get away from
the language of the original text when paraphrasing, failing to mark quotations with properly placed quotation
marks and failing to properly identify the source of a quotation or paraphrase. At the instructor’s discretion, a
student whose paper contains accidental plagiarism may have the opportunity to rewrite the paper with a
reduction in grade.
Consequences of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not condoned or tolerated at campuses within the Tulsa Community
College system. Tulsa Community College adopts a policy delegating certain forms of authority for disciplinary
action to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions delegated to the faculty include, but are not limited to, the
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dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students from classes. In the case of academic dishonesty a faculty
member may:
 Require the student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to complete a substitute
assignment or test.
 Record a "zero" for the assignment or test in question.
 Recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or administratively withdraw the
student from the class.
 Record a grade of "F" for the student at the end of the semester. Faculty may request that disciplinary
action be taken against a student at the administrative level by submitting such request to the Dean of
Student Services.
Tests, Make-up Test & Late Assignment Policy
For tests, you may use your text, notes, handouts and any other source to answer the questions. Make-up tests
will be allowed only when the student demonstrates a compelling reason for not being able to take the test on
the assigned date. Make-up tests must be completed within 3 days of the scheduled test date and will not be the
same one given in class. Make-up tests will be given at a time agreed upon by student and instructor.
Grading:
6 Tests @ 30 pts. (30 questions/test)
Final Exam (50 questions worth 4pts. each)
Individual Assignments (5 assignments @ 50 pts ea.)
Total possible points
Letter Grades by Points:
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
=A (567-630 points)
=B (504-566 points)
=C (441-503 points)
60-69%
>60%
= 180 points
= 200 points
= 250 points
= 630 POINTS
=D (378-440 points)
=F (>378 points)
REMINDER: More than 4 class absences will be considered excessive and result in a failing course grade no
matter what your point total.
SYLLABUS CHANGES: Occasionally, changes to the syllabus may be necessary. Students will be notified of
any changes to the syllabus in writing.
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
Following are the reading assignments for each class period and the topics covered. MAKE SURE TO READ
ASSIGNMENTS PRIOR TO THE CLASS so you will be prepared to participate in class discussions. Review
maps, charts and material in your text related to the assignment. Make sure to bring your text to each class as
we may refer to it from time to time for class discussion purposes.
January 14- Read Chapter 15-Reconstruction and the New South
 Introduction to the Course
January 22-Read Chapter 16 -The Conquest of the Far West
 Individual Assignment One due Sunday, January 27, 11:59pm via Assignments in Blackboard
January 29-Read Chapter 17-Industrial Supremacy
 TEST ONE (Chapters 15,16)
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February 5-Read Chapter 18-The Age of the City
February 12-Read Chapter 19-From Crisis to Empire
 TEST TWO (Chapters 17,18)
February 19-Read Chapter 20 -The Progressives
 Individual Assignment Two due Sunday, February 24, 11:59pm via Assignments in Blackboard
February 26-Read Chapter 21-America and the Great War
March 5-Read Chapter 22-The New Era
 TEST THREE (Chapters 19, 20)
March 12-Read Chapter 23 -The Great Depression
March 19-NO CLASS- SPRING BREAK
March 26-Read Chapter 24-The New Deal
 TEST FOUR (Chapters 21,22)
 Individual Assignment Three due Sunday March 31, 11:59pm via Assignments in Blackboard
April 2-Read Chapter 25-The Global Crisis 1921-1941 & Chapter 26-America in a World at War
 TEST FIVE (Chapters 23,24)
April 9-Read Chapter 27-The Cold War
 Individual Assignment Four due Sunday April 14, 11:59pm via Assignments in Blackboard
April 16-Read Chapter 28 -The Affluent Society
 TEST SIX (Chapters 25, 26)
April 23-Read Chapter 29-Civil Rights, Vietnam, and the Ordeal of Liberalism
 Individual Assignment Five due Sunday April 28, 11:59pm via Assignments in Blackboard
April 30-Read Chapter 30-Crisis of Authority
May 7-Final Test (Chapters 27, 28, 29, 30)
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