History 3316
Texas: From Statehood to
National Prominence
Professor Donald S. Frazier, Ph.D.
Office: 410 Appleton, Buffalo Gap, Texas
Phone: 793-3861 office/ 668-6222 cell
Class Meetings: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., from March 20-May 8.
BOOKS: Buffalo Gap Historic Village Sound Wands;
Frazier, Pace, and Wettemann. The Texas You Expect
CLASSROOM: The Ann and Lee Rode Gallery at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village in Buffalo
Gap, Texas, 79508.
Enter at the South Gate before 6 p.m. Only water in closed containers is allowed. We will have
two breaks during the course of class. Snacks and soft drinks may be consumed on the grounds
during the course of these breaks. There is no smoking on the grounds of the Buffalo Gap
Historic Village.
DIRECTIONS FROM McMURRY UNIVERSITY:
From campus, turn left onto Sayles Boulevard and head south in the direction of the Mall of
Abilene. This road becomes Buffalo Gap Road (FM 89) just a few blocks south of campus.
Continue on for about a dozen miles. When you arrive in town, turn right on North Street (you
will see several signs directing you to the Buffalo Gap Historic Village) and proceed one and one
half blocks. Parking is on the margins of the road.
The South Gate will be our access point.
McM
Buffalo Gap Road
North
Street
BGHV
My
office
MAP
Statement of Purpose:
Students should anticipate learning and demonstrating their enhanced





Knowledge of core factual data including major Mexican history trends, figures,
concepts, and events;
Ability to conduct research and collect data on major Mexican history trends, figures,
concepts, and events, then analyze, draw conclusions, and make interpretations from this
research;
Reading/writing/editing/composition skills;
Effective public presentation skills;
Personal discipline and study habit skills.
Grading sources:





Content Mastery (multiple choice tests, PowerPoint demonstrations, Fora)
Research and Interpretation Mastery (PowerPoint, Fora)
Demonstration of written communication skills (Fora)
Public Presentation (PowerPoint)
Intellectual discipline and study skills (attending class, preparing assignments)
60%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Grading Weights:




Multiple Choice Exams
Classroom Presentations
For a (plural of Forum)
Regimental History
30%
30%
30%
10%
A NOTE ON ATTENDENCE and COMMITTMENT
This is a mini-term class. Each class period is the equivalent of an entire week in the long
semester. I understand missing one class period; two under unusual circumstances. If you miss
three, I must drop you from the class. The nature of this class is about the interaction of the
students with the professor and fellow students.
There are many, many online class options (University of Phoenix comes to mind). You are
paying for access to an expert in this field and to a learning community all engaged in a specific
study with articulated outcomes. There is no online equivalent to that.
Therefore, if you cannot commit to the meeting requirements of this class, don’t take it. This is
critical for planning purposes and for the educational atmosphere and ambience of the class. If
you have decided that this opportunity is really beyond your level of maturity or commitment, no
hard feelings, just don’t burden this class, its professor, or its attendees with your vacillation.
Social activities and work are not excused reasons for non-attendance.
Do the right thing. Don’t take the class if you aren’t serious about mastering the subject and
participating fully.
In return for your commitment, the professor of this course will affirm to present engaging,
thoughtful, and provocative classroom activities designed to help you achieve mastery of the
subject.
Classroom supplies:
Bring a laptop computer (or equivalent smart phone, tablet, etc.) to class. You will need these to
prepare presentations, look up information on the provided WiFi network, access online exams,
or collaborate with fellow students.
BOOKS and ASSIGNED READINGS:
There is one very brief book assigned to this class that is designed to provide maps and strategic
overview for student edification. The philosophy of teaching in this class is heavily focused on
the students’ ability to take their own intellectual curiosity in directions of their own choosing
under the careful guidance and tutelage of the professor. Therefore, be prepared to use free
resources like the library, websites, study guides, and the like to harvest information from which
to draw your interpretations and conclusions. This unbridled access to content information
should be reflected in superior and thoughtful postings in the assigned discussion forums and
presentations.
Students will also use the Sound Wand files from the Buffalo Gap Historic Village as a way of
understanding the places and times covered in this class.
ASSIGNMENTS:
PowerPoint Presentations
In today’s world, the ability to make a cogent and engaging presentation to peers, potential
customers, or designated constituencies is a fact of life. The lingua franca of this exchange of
ideas and information is PowerPoint or similar presentation software. As such, students will be
assigned topics for which they will prepare a brief media presentation of no longer than 10
minutes. Every presentation should end with a panel that lists the sources used to prepare the
presentation.
Online Examinations
This class will be facilitated with its own MOODLE site. Students will take their exams on this
site. They will be timed. Collaboration on these exams is acceptable. Life is often about
teamwork and resourcefulness. So it is in this class. However, remember this exam is timed,
and every participant will be taking a unique exam.
Online Forums
On Moodle, students will be tasked with participating in discussion for a where they will wrestle
with particular questions posed by the professor. The forum assigned with an opening and
closing date. These forums will not be reopened for any reason. If you did not take advantage of
the opportunity during the time allotted, it will have a negative impact on your grade.
HIS 3316
State Board of Educator Certification Standards for Teacher Education Candidates
If you plan to minor in Curriculum and Instruction, with a teaching concentration in History 8-12, or in
Social Studies 8-12, or to major in Curriculum and Instruction with a teaching concentration in Social
Studies 4-8, this course provides partial fulfillment of the following standard of the TEKS competencies:
Standard IV. History: The social studies teacher applies knowledge of significant historical events and
developments, as well as of multiple historical interpretations and ideas, in order to facilitate student
understanding of relationships between the past, the present, and the future.
INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR
RED indicates Student Assignment; BLUE indicates media presentation
DATE
March 20
In Class
Gone To Texas
(2.5 Hours)
March 22
Texas in the 1850s
March 27
King of Texas
(1.75 Hours)
Texas in the 1860s
Texas in the Civil
War (30 minutes)
Outside of Class
Study the Syllabus and buy
the book
LECTURE
Prepare Brief PowerPoint
Presentations (timed to 5-10
minutes):
Texas in the Civil War
March 29
Resources
BGHV
SOUND
WAND FILES
LECTURE
World Wide
Web
(Photos,
illustrations,
and
information);
Library
Student Power
Point Presentations
(1.5 hours)
Old Yeller
(1.5 Hours)
April 3
Texas in the 1870s1880s
Prepare Brief PowerPoint
Presentations (timed to 5-10
minutes):
April 5
Red River (2.5 Hours)
SOUND WANDS, 1880s
April 10
Texas in the 1890s1900s
Prepare Brief PowerPoint
Presentations (timed to 5-10
minutes):
April 12
Student Power
LECTURE
World Wide
Web
(Photos,
illustrations,
and
information);
Library
LECTURE
Texas in the 1890s-1900s
MIDTERM
EXAM
Point Presentations
(1.5 hours)
April 17
Texas in the 1900s
Prepare Brief PowerPoint
Presentations (timed to 5-10
minutes):
Texas at the Beginning of the
20th Century
April 19
April 24
Student Power
Point Presentations
(1.5 hours)
Texas in the 1910s
Prepare Brief PowerPoint
Presentations (timed to 5-10
minutes):
April 26
Student Power
Point Presentations
(1 hour)
SOUND WANDS, 1920s
May 1
Texas in the 1920s1930s
Prepare Brief PowerPoint
Presentations (timed to 5-10
minutes):
May 3
May 8
Student Power
Point Presentations
(1 hour)
The Great Debaters (2
hours)
Final Exam
World Wide
Web
(Photos,
illustrations,
and
information);
Library
SOUND WANDS, 1900s
Reconstruction and the
Frontier
Bonnie and Clyde
(2 hours)
LECTURE
Reconstruction and the
Frontier
LECTURE
World Wide
Web
(Photos,
illustrations,
and
information);
Library
LECTURE
World Wide
Web
(Photos,
illustrations,
and
information);
Library