History 3352 The American Civil War 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 October 20 through December 13. BOOKS: Available from the Texas History Store at Buffalo Gap Historic Village McWhiney, Grady. The Civil War: A Concise Account by a Noted Southern Historian Waugh, John C. 20 Good Reasons to Study the Civil War. 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) 60% Research and Interpretation Mastery (PowerPoint, Fora) Demonstration of written communication skills (Fora) Public Presentation (PowerPoint) 10% 10% 10% Intellectual discipline and study skills (attending class, preparing assignments) 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 are two very brief books assigned to this class that are 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. 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. Civil War Unit Histories: Doing original research involving a variety of sources, students will prepare a unit history/dossier of a regiment, ship, battery, or battalion from the American Civil War. Each dossier will consist of the following: PAGE ONE: A. Name of the Unit B. IMAGE OF SOMETHING PERTAINING TO THE UNIT (flag, men who served, etc.) C. Brief synopsis of the unit, one paragraph or so: (Example: The 1st Texas Camel Lancers was a mounted unit of circus performers raised in the vicinity of Rusk, Texas. Organized in September 1862, Colonel Marvin Brokeback commanded the unit and led it to the mountains of Kentucky. Here the unit performed admirably in a variety of functions, mostly involved in scouting the rear of enemy formations and looking for vulnerabilities that could be tactically and strategically exploited. By the war's end, the unit had mostly served with the Army of Tennessee, had lost few men in combat, and returned to Texas. They surrendered on June 7, 1867, clearly unaware of their surroundings. PAGE TWO: A. A resume or timeline form of a unit history and chronology B. A map showing where they fought PAGE THREE: A. A one page assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, and participation in the war. (Example: One of the most bizarre of Civil War Units, the 1st Texas Camel Lancers were atypical in their tactics and approaches . . . . The baptism of fire came for the 1st Texas Camel Lancers at the Battle of Big Cobb Creek. There, Colonel Brokeback, in a gallant gesture, . . . . By the end of the war, the 1st Texas Camel Lancers had proven that the idea of mounted pig stickers on desert creature was an idea that . . . . 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. INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR DATE October 20 In Class Introduction to Class Causes of the War “Chapter 1: A MORE PERFECT UNION” Outside of Class Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes) : SECTIONAL CRISES World Wide Web (Photos, illustrations, and information); Library Jefferson Davis Episode One (1.5 hours) October 25 (Tuesday) Resources 20 Good Reasons to Study the Civil War Student Power Point Presentations (1.5 hours) Bad Blood (1.5 Hours) October 27 “Chapter 2: New Nations” Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes): “Chapter 3: “The American Profession of Arms” STRATEGY, WEAPONS, TACTICS World Wide Web (Photos, illustrations, and information); Library “Chapter 4: Organizing Armies” November 1 (Tuesday) Jefferson Davis: Episode Two (1.5 Hours) Civil War Regimental Project Launches McWhiney, The Civil War Researching the Civil War November 3 “Chapter 5: The Rush to the Colors” World Wide Web (Photos, illustrations, and information); Library Student Power Point Presentations (1.5 hours) November 8 (Tuesday) Ride with the Devil (2.5 Hours) Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes): BATTLES AND LEADERS November 10 “Chapter 6: A Winter of Waiting” Student Power Point Presentations (1.5 hours) November 15 (Tuesday) November 17 Pharaoh’s Army (1.5 Hours) Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes): “Chapter 7: Serious Killing” BATTLES AND LEADERS Skirmish Drill COURT HOUSE Student Power Point Presentations (1.5 hours) November 22 (Tuesday) “Chapter 8: Rebel Parry, Rebel Thrust” November 29 (Tuesday) “Chapter 9: The Will to Fight” Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes): BATTLES AND LEADERS “Chapter 10: American Communities at War” Student Power Point Presentations (1.5 hours) December 1 Glory (2 hours) December 6 “Chapter 11: The Year (Tuesday) of Decision, 1863” “Chapter 12: War is Killing, War is Hell” Chapter 13: Breaking the South December 8 December 13 (Tuesday) Shenandoah (2 hours) “Chapter 14: Lessons of War” Jefferson Davis Episode 3 (1.5 Hours) Unit Histories are Due