San Joaquin Delta Community College
History 17A – Summer 2008
U.S. History from Settlement of the Americas to the Civil War
Class Information Sheet
Instructor:
George Megenney
Contact info: e-mail –gmegenney@deltacollege.edu
Voice mail – (209) 954-5886 Ext. 45381
Classroom: North Forum
Lecture:
Mon/Wed 6:00–9:15 PM
Section #: 24425
Description
History 17A is an examination of American history from the settlement of the
Americas to the Civil War. This course fulfills the social science group “A” requirement
for an associate degree and it applies toward completion of the California state
requirements in United States history and institutions. A study of the U.S. government
and Constitution is included in this course.
Required Text
Introduction to United States History, Vol. 1, Sixth Edition to 1877, by Carl
Degler, Vincentb De Santis, Glenna Matthews, and Clarence Ver Steeg, Best Value
Textbook, LLC 2007. (ISBN# 1-932856-54-4)
Additional reading assignments will be periodically distributed in class.
Course Goals
1. To survey American history from settlement to the Civil War.
2. To become familiar with key themes, events and persons in American history.
3. To critically examine popular preconceptions, myths and misconceptions
about American history.
4. To understand the contributions of minorities and women to American
history.
5. To develop critical reading, writing and thinking skills in order to improve
professional and academic success.
Attendance
Students should be in class and prepared to begin at the scheduled beginning time,
at which point roll will be taken. Because class will include materials not covered in the
textbook and video presentations it is highly recommended that you attend every class. In
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Please note: I don’t check my voice mail as often as I should, so the best way to get in
touch with me is via e-mail.
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addition, since this is an evening course, if you miss one session, it would be the
equivalent of missing one week of a M-W-F class. If you need to drop the class it is
your responsibility to do so by filing the proper paperwork in the registration office.
If you do not officially withdraw from the course you may receive an “F,” so please be
sure to take care of the necessary forms in the event of a withdraw. The last day to
withdraw from class without a “W” is June 30th, and the last day to withdraw with a “W”
is July 23rd. Additionally, you will be dropped from the course if you miss more two
consecutive sessions without informing the instructor.
Grade Brake-down
Assignments
2 Quizzes
1 Midterm or Term Paper
1 Final Exam
Percentage of Grade
(2 x 20%) = 40%
30%
30%
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C= 70-79
D= 60-69
F= below 59%
The quizzes (2 total, each worth 20% of the grade), midterm or term paper (30%)
and final exam (30%) will be of a consistent format: a series of multiple choice questions,
followed by terms you will be expected to define and explain (I call them
“Identifications”), and essay questions in which you will be expected to write out an
explanation to questions regarding more detailed answers. Essay questions will only be
included on the midterm and final exams.
Summer Session Paper/Project/Exam Options
OPTION 1: Midterm Exam (July 7th)
OPTION 2: Traditional Term Paper (July 2nd)
You may think of your term paper as a “critical thinking” assignment, which is
designed to give you the opportunity to study a subject of your choosing, and write up an
essay on that subject in a critical manner. In other words, you are to select a topic and
ask some important and relevant questions in regard to that subject. You may choose any
topic you wish, so long as it has something to do with U.S. history before 1865. My
suggestion is that you pick a topic that suits your interests; in that way you’ll be more
motivated to study it and think about it critically. For example, you might be interested
in writing about The French and Indian War, the Salem witch trials, or Alexander
Hamilton’s role in the American Revolution, whatever it is, go for it! Pick a person
you’re interested in learning more about, or an event or some aspect of the topic that you
think is interesting. However, the topic does not need to revolve around the more
“traditional” subjects of history, like wars, politics, or presidents. If you would rather
conduct research on something you think is strange or funny, such as the importance of
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beer in colonial America, go on right ahead and do it. Just do it with passion and heart,
and you should be on the right track. If you are concerned with your topic, or can’t come
up with something I’ll be happy to discuss it with you at further length.
You may research your topic of choice by any of a variety of methods; the more
traditional is to go out and read a book, however you may choose to use the Internet,
watch some documentaries or films, or look at newspaper and magazine articles. Once
you have gathered information on your topic of study your job is to sort through it and
learn about your topic in more detail. You should strive to ask questions as you go
along: that is a demonstration of your critical thinking skills. For example, if you decide
to study the adventures of Lewis and Clark you might ask yourself, “Why did Lewis
choose to do this…?” or “why did Clark do that…?” The more questions you ask, the
more you will develop your critical thinking skills, and they happier you’ll make me!
After you complete your studies your task is to write a 4-5 page essay which is intended
to accomplish a few things: (1) Provide the reader with a brief summary of the important
points of your topic, (2) engage the reader in your critical analysis of the topic (by
asking numerous questions), and (3) Make your opinion known. Critical analysis should
involve criticism, so voice your opinion and discuss your point of view. Just make sure
that you support any arguments or points you attempt to make with facts and examples.
Term Paper Guidelines
1. The paper must be typed, double-spaced and be 4-5 pages in length. Cover pages,
bibliographies, pages full of photos, etc. do not count as a full page. (And believe
me, I’ll be counting!) I prefer the use of footnotes or endnotes as opposed to the
MLA or APA style of writing a formal research paper, however any method will
do as long as it is consistent. A cover page is not required. A works cited page
should not be necessary if you properly cited using footnotes or endnotes.
2. The paper should have a 1 inch margin all the way around. It should be written in
“Times” or “Times New Roman” (the font style of this document) and use a font
size no higher than “12.” There should be no extra spacing between paragraphs,
and each paragraph should be indented at the beginning. Cover pages are neither
necessary nor desired.
3. You must cite any quotations or paraphrased materials that you use in your work
with the author and title, page number, or www address, or title of film, etc.
Footnotes are the preferred method. Please do not plagiarize, as any plagiarized
work will count as a zero grade on this assignment at a bare minimum, with an
“F” for the course and possible suspension from SJDCC being the other options.
(Plagiarism, for those of you that don’t know is when you copy other people’s
work and turn it in as your own work.) In other words, don’t cheat on this. In
order to cheat really well you’ll have to work hard, so you might as well do the
work that’s required of you.2 Your citations should appear in the body of your
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During the last spring semester I had a total of 2 plagiarized term papers turned in, each
student got a zero on the assignment, and as a result of this, an “F” for the class. (By the
way, you are now looking at an example of a footnote! 
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written work, not as a bibliography or works cited page at the end of your
essay.
4. An important note about online sources and internet citations:
Be sure that your source is reliable. PLEASE STAY FAR AWAY FROM
WIKIPEDIA! Please do not rely on personal web pages as legitimate sources.
University and government websites are usually good places to look for
information. Also, be sure that your web citations include the name of the article
you are using, its date of publication, and its author. Your paper should include
at least 3 DIFFERENT sources, at least one of which should not come from
the Internet.
5. Quotations that are longer than three standard lines of text should be indented and
single-spaced in order to save space for your own writing. Using quotations in
order to embellish your own work is a great way to improve your work, but it
shouldn’t be overdone, and it should only be done if it adds to the ideas you are
trying to convey. In addition, quotations should be preceded or followed by your
own comments that indicate the importance and relevance of the quote. Don’t
just quote for the sake of quoting, or to try and make your paper longer!
6. Reusing your own work. OK, lets be straight, we have all re-used our own work
in other classes. It’s a part of going to school, and I don’t see anything particularly
wrong with it as long as it’s done in a proper manner. Just be sure that if you are
taking an older assignment that you produced for another class that you make the
necessary modifications to fit this class and my requirements. More often than not,
if you just wait to the last minute, re-print it and turn it in, you will find that your
score may not meet your expectations.
7. Spelling, grammar and punctuation are important – since this assignment won’t be
due until the beginning of July, I expect that you will have the time to proofread it
for mistakes. Please make use of the Writing Lab on the first floor of Cunningham
if you wish, or take the paper to someone whom you know can find spelling and
other types of errors in order to clean up your writing. If you are an ELL student
you should take the extra time necessary to double and triple check your written
work.
8. Don’t forget to put your name and the course number on the paper.
9. The Paper should not be placed into a folder or binder of any kind; just one staple
in the upper left hand corner is adequate.
10. Have some fun with the assignment if you can. I realize that this is “school work,”
and usually by definition “School work” is boring, etc. but you have the option of
working on something exciting if you wish. You can make this as boring or as
interesting as you want it to be. I suggest the former rather than the latter.
OPTION # 3: MOVIE/”REAL HISTORY” COMPARISON & CONTRAST (July
2nd)
This assignment is for you movie lovers out there. Over the years movie studios
have produced numerous films that deal with various aspects of American history.
History and Hollywood don’t always agree with one another however, so this assignment
is meant to help you think about and explain the differences between various
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interpretations of history. Below you will see a list of movies. This is my approved list of
films that you may choose to view. Your job is to select one of these and then write a 4-5
page paper in which you compare and contrast the film’s version of history to the actual
historical events that were portrayed in the film. This means that you will be expected to
conduct some research involving both the production of the film as well as the historical
circumstances around which the film you choose to view takes place. This research
should probably begin with the basics in your textbook, and then move outward into
other books, Encyclopedias, the Internet, etc.
Remember, the key to this assignment isn’t to summarize the movie, or the
historical event. The point is to compare and contrast the similarities and differences
between the two. You should also explain whether or not you agree with the “creative”
decisions made by the directors and producers with regard to how they changed their
version of history to suit their purposes. Your writing should be critical and analytical, as
described above for the term paper assignment. The same general rules that apply to the
term paper, in terms of style and organization will apply to this written assignment as
well, except for the overall length. (See above instructions.) If you can think of another
movie that fits this course (Settlement to 1865, you may of course suggest it to me and
I’ll consider adding it to the list.)
Film List:
- Clan of the Cave Bear
- 1492: Conquest of Paradise
- The New World
- Pocahontas (yes, the Disney animated feature)
- The Scarlet Letter
- The Crucible
- Last of the Mohicans (1992)
- The Patriot
- 1776 (yes, the musical)
- The Alamo
- Amistad
- Glory
- Dances With Wolves
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin
- Gettysburg
- Gods and Generals
- Gone with the Wind
- Cold Mountain
OPTION # 4: ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS OF HISTORY (July 2nd)
This option is designed for those of you whose talents and interests lie in the
world of art. Your assignment, should you choose this option, is to create a drawing,
painting, collage, mosaic, sculpture, carving, or other form of visual art that represents an
event, person, theme or idea that has something to do with American history between the
time of settlement and 1865. Your artwork should reflect the fact that you have
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approximately 6 weeks in which to complete this assignment and, like a term paper,
reflect thoughtfulness, care and time. In other words, you shouldn’t slap it together at the
last minute. Your artwork should be accompanied by a 2-3 page explanation of the art
you have created detailing in what way the art reflects an aspect of history that you have
chosen to study. Again, the same rules described above for writing apply to this
assignment as well. The grading for this assignment will be divided equally between the
art and the written work. (15% of your total grade for each.) The art will be graded on its
creativity, overall quality, and its connection to a relevant historical topic.
The above is an example of art connected to history…
The Founding Fathers sign the Declaration of Independence
If You Miss Exams and other Frequently Asked Questions
Make-up exams are made available to you as a courtesy by me, I have no
obligation to do so, nor is it required that I do so. However, I want to give you as much
opportunity as I can to pass my class. The midterm and quizzes may be made up if you
miss them. Your job if you miss one of them is to contact me and let me know that you
need a make up exam. Make-ups will be arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Because the summer project is your only “homework” for the summer session
(excluding reading assignments) I expect that it will be turned in on time. This is an
assignment designed to test your studying, writing and reading abilities as well as your
ability to meet a deadline (you know, those things that bosses impose on you in the “real
world”…) For that reason I will not accept late assignments, period, end of discussion.
You have approximately 1 month in which to complete this assignment, so I’m not likely
to look kindly upon last minute hang ups and excuses. You should turn your paper into
me on its due date (July 7th) during class3, however I have an “out” for those who choose
complete the term paper or film review assignments, and who choose to procrastinate.
You may submit your paper via e-mail if you wish. Papers submitted via e-mail should be
sent as an attachment and written in Microsoft Word. Papers submitted this way will be
accepted until 11:59, and 59 seconds on the night of the 7th. However, be warned, I’ll not
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If for some reason class is cancelled on the date the term paper is due, it should be
turned in the following business day, July 8th, at Holt 240.
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be held accountable for screw-ups in computer formatting, late delivery or garbled emails etc. So if you choose this option, do it at your own risk. Papers dropped off in my
in-box through Delta Campus mail will not be accepted. If you need to turn it in
before class, you may drop it off at Holt 240, the Social Science Department Office on
the second floor of Holt. However, I’m not responsible for their operating hours, so if you
show up at 3:00 PM to turn it in, and no one is there to take it, its not my fault.
All art projects must be turned in on the due date since you can’t e-mail them to
me!
Cell Phones
I realize that people have lives beyond the confines of the classroom, and I also
understand that some of you are parents, or have people who depend upon you directly
for care and help. This is the primary reason why I permit students to carry active cell
phones in my classes. However, in order to keep this policy an open one I would ask you
to keep a couple of things in mind: 1) please turn the volume of your cell phone ringer to
a low setting or to the “vibrate” setting in order to keep disruptions to a minimum, 2) If
you determine that you must take a call, simply get up, walk outside, take your call, and
then return to class when you are done. If you can, turn your phone off while you are in
class unless you need the phone for emergency purposes.
Films
I will be presenting several films during the spring on a variety of topics. The
films are intended to bolster the materials presented in lectures and in the textbook, and
highlight the important themes of the class. The films will also occasionally contain
information not directly covered in the textbook or lectures that you will be expected to
know. We’ll be watching some of the “Founding Fathers” series (3 episodes in all), along
with a variety of other documentaries and portions of dramatic films. It is my hope that
you view these films with the same degree of seriousness and attention you would if you
were listening to one of my lectures. Please note: you may periodically be tested on the
content presented in the films for extra credit.
Class Calendar
Date
Topic
Readings
6-9
Introduction to Course
Life in early North America
Documentary Film: “Nova: The First Americans”
6-11
When Worlds Collide: 1492 – 1590
Documentary Film: “Conquistadors: Battle of the Gods”
Ch. 1
6-16
Planting Colonies in North America
Film: “Moments in Time: Jamestown”
Ch. 2
7
6-18
Slavery and Empire: 1441-1770
Documentary Film: “Africans In America”
6-23
QUIZ #1
Cultures of Colonial North America: 1700-1780
Ch. 3
6-25
From Empire to Independence: 1750-1776
Documentary Film: “Founding Fathers,” Part I
Documentary Film: “Founding Fathers,” Part II
Ch. 4
6-30
The Creation of the United States: 1776-1786
Documentary Film: “Moments in Time: Valley Forge”
7-2
A New Government & New Nation: 1787-1800
Documentary Film: “Founding Fathers,” Part IV
Optional Term Papers or Art Projects Due
Ch. 5
7-7
MIDTERM EXAM
Ch. 6
7-9
An Agrarian Republic
Documentary Film: “Invasion – The War of 1812”
7-14
The Growth of Democracy: 1824-1840
Documentary Film: “The Presidents” 1820s – 1840s
7-16
The South and Slavery: 1790s-1850s
7-21
Quiz #2
Industry and the North
Immigrants and Big Cities
Documentary Film: “Biography of America”
Ch. 7 – 8
Ch. 10
7-23
Territorial Expansion of the United States
Ch. 9
Film: Selections from “Ken Burn’s The West, Episode II”
7-28
Territorial Expansion of the United States (Continued)
Film: “Ken Burn’s The West, Episode III: Speck of the Future”
7-30
The Coming Crisis
8-4
The Civil War
Documentary Film: “Loss of Innocence: The Battle of Manassas”
8-6
Final Exam
Ch. 11 - 12
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Please note: The above schedule is meant to reflect an ideal progression of topics and
themes. We may not get to everything on the schedule if for some reason we get caught
behind. In addition, I might change the film schedule as the need arises.
Course Tally Sheet
For those of you who like to keep track of your grade, here is a built in grade
roster for you.
Assignment
Total Points Possible
My Score
Quiz #1
100
________
Quiz #2
100
________
Midterm
150
________
Term Paper
150
________
Final Exam
150
________
Total Possible
500
________
OR
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