El Camino Compton Center
History 102 Online Sections 9109 and 9110
History of the United States from 1865
Rick Murray
310-660-3593 ext. 4327
historyrmurray@aol.com
In the subject line of e-mail, please write 102-9109
This course covers the main events, actors, and themes of United States History from 1865.
While doing this we hope to develop and improve critical thinking, analysis, and writing skills
through the study of American social, economic, and political development.
AFTER REVIEWING SYLLABUS ON EDUTES YOU MUST CLICK ON "YES" AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE SYLLABUS TO CONFIRM YOU HAVE READ AND
UNDERSTAND EXPECTATIONS. MODULES, QUIZZES AND DISCUSSIONS WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO BE OPENED UNTIL YOU DO.
READINGS:
America Past and Present by Robert Divine, vol. II, 9th edition. (older editions ok but don't get
a brief edition) 9th edition ISBN 0-205-69995-2
Getting Started:
After you have read the syllabus, go to the class shell in Etudes, go to Discussion and Private
Messages and in Cyber Café CAREFULLY read Getting Started, Discussion Postings, First
Week and System Requirements and Plagiarism Certificate.
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism site for overview, test and completion certificate:
https://www.indiana.edu/~istd/plagiarism_test.html
You need to take the test until you pass and then email the completion certificate to me at
historyrmurray@aol. Due June 24
GOALS:
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
• Identify the major events and actors in United States History since 1865
• Summarize the major debates over the course of US History since 1865
HOW THIS COURSE WORKS:
Although this is a regular history class, with readings and exams that you might find in any class,
you will be accessing my ‘teaching’ and contributing your ‘learning’ via the Internet. Although I
will be accessible, you will not have the luxury of hearing someone explain everything to you.
You will be able to direct your own learning and do so at your own pace more so than in a
traditional class. YOU MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN PROGRESS.
• You will access information and share your learning through the website, at the time and place
of your choosing (within certain limits). Since you will need to check the website regularly, you
should bookmark it.
• You will contribute to class discussions by posting your thoughts and comments on our
discussion board. Because no one will know you are attending class if you don’t “say” anything,
your active participation in writing is crucial.
• You can access our online classroom by going to http://myetudes.org
• User id is your first name_last name. Ex. John Smith would be john_smith all lower case.
• Password is the month and day of your birthday. April 1 would be 0401
GRADES AND REQUIREMENTS:
Class discussion 26%
Chapter quizzes 24% (includes survey and first week quiz)
Mid-term exam 25%
Final Exam
25%
Grading scale
900-1000= A
800-899 = B
700-799 = C
600-699 = D
below 60 = F
Grades will be posted under Gradebook in Etudes. Quizzes will be posted after completion. See
Chapter Quizzes below for more information. I will post remainder of grades. Discussion points
will be posted by chapter the day after the deadline. As discussed below, there are about 54 extra
points available (for a total of 1054). As a result, the grading scale will be strictly followed. 899
points is a B (899 of 1054 = 85%). You must earn at least 900 points for an A, 800 for a B, etc.
Due to the nature of this course under no circumstances will students be able to be given an
Incomplete. The Discussion Board cannot be made up at a later date.
DISCUSSION BOARD:
Participation / discussion is crucial to your success. If you do not contribute to the class
discussion in writing, no one will know that you are attending class.
You should participate by posting comments to the Discussion Board. At the minimum, you
should respond to the study questions that I post and respond to at least two of your classmates
for each question. For each segment, you may earn a maximum of twenty points for discussion
(up to 10 points for each posting/response to my original questions and up to 5 points for each of
two responses to classmates; total possible 20). Full credit is not given just for participation.
Understand that postings will be ‘graded’ based on timeliness and content. You are required
to read ALL postings on Discussion Board. This is how we “attend” class. Except in original
response to me, you should begin your responses the person’s name you are responding to. This
will make reading posts less confusing.
Introduction/Picture
20 (ten points each)
12 Segments x 20 pts. = 240
There are a total of 260 possible discussion points (26% of final grade).
Note that one response to each question and two responses to classmate’s postings is the
minimum. Feel free to respond as often as you wish. You will find that the more we all
participate through the Discussion Board, the better prepared we will be for the exams.
In order to earn full credit for each of your postings, you should be sure to follow the guidelines
below.
1. Distribute postings evenly during the discussion period (not concentrated all on one day
or at the beginning and/or end of the period). Discussions are on going for 3-4 days. Those
that only post on one day of a segment will not earn higher scores.
The discussion period of material ends at 11:59 pm on the date listed. Except for the
Introductions and Final Exam the due dates are Sundays and Thursdays. For example, the
discussion period for chapter 17 ends at 11:59 pm Thursday, June 21. Thus, in order for you to
gain points for contributing to this chapter’s discussion you must post your comments and replies
by 11:59 pm June 21. Deadlines and evenly distributed postings will be strictly adhered to. Late
postings are unacceptable as we will be discussing topics together. After the deadline the class
will have moved on to the next topic. If you wait until 11:55 to post each time you will not be
giving your classmates a chance to respond to your posting and you will be penalized. You
MUST keep up!
NOTE: I have posted all discussion questions for the entire course. DO NOT post ahead of time.
We need to discuss topics together. You may begin to post for the next segment on the last day
of the current segment. There should be no more than a one day overlap.
2. Post at least one paragraph when responding to others (125+ words) and about three
paragraphs for original response to one of my posted questions (400+ words). Be familiar
with New Topic and Post Reply tabs (see Discussion Postings in Cyber Café). Keep posting
focused on one topic. The questions posted on the Discussion Board will require more than three
paragraphs to thoroughly discuss but don’t take on too much at once. As various students post
responses, we will completely discuss the topic by the deadline for that particular question. The
Content Modules break down the material with Learning Objectives and Important Terms. I
would recommend that you review the chapter discussion questions, review the Learning
Objectives in Module and then read the chapter. You should then be prepared to complete
discussion and chapter quiz.
3. The textbook is a starting point for information. There are unlimited online resources for you
to draw from. There is a list of additional online sources below. Be sure to use other sources and
websites in addition to the textbook.
4. Quote from assigned readings to support your postings. Include links when you quote from
outside sources.
5. Build on the responses of others to further develop threads. Refer to what your classmates
have written. Be aware that scores for discussion are based on your words. If you copy and
paste from a source such as Wikipedia you will earn no points. Only your analysis or words
earns points. This is not to say you can't copy and paste from outside sources to share with the
class. But you need to include your own comments. Scores are only based on your words. Also,
don't change a couple of words from the text and post. Posts must be completely original to
earn credit.
6. Bring in related prior knowledge (work experience, other readings, etc.).
7. Avoid postings that are limited to ‘I agree’ or ‘great idea’, etc. If you agree or disagree with a
posting then say why. In other words, contribute not what you feel, but what you think. Posting I
agree or don’t agree without a more in depth response will earn no points. Be sure to add
something of substance.
8. Use proper Netiquette (proper language, tone, mechanics). For example, to WRITE IN ALL
CAPS is rude, for it is the equivalent of shouting. Further, in this academic setting, you should
use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
9. Be extra-nice. Your words are frozen here. Sarcasm and irony are difficult to convey in
writing. No one can tell whether you were smiling or frowning when you wrote your
contribution. This does not mean you can’t disagree, just be careful (considerate) of how you
disagree. Be aware that once you post you may not remove.
10. Technical questions (or any not related to topic questions) can be asked on the Discussion
Board under Cyber Café. Students should feel free to ask and answer each other in this forum.
CHAPTER QUIZZES:
Quizzes provide a regular way for you to check your comprehension of the written material. The
quizzes are completed on Etudes and are due when the discussion for each chapter is due. You
will access the quizzes in Assignments, Tests and Surveys. There is no time limit and you can
exit and reenter quizzes up to the deadline or until you click on Finish. Once you click on Finish
the quiz will be immediately scored and posted to Gradebook. The quizzes will contain 15
multiple choice questions (17 on chapter 27). Each correct answer will earn 1.2 points. There
will be a total of 167 questions for a possible 200 points. In addition there are 20 points available
for the First Week Quiz and the Survey. As stated above under “Grades,” quizzes are worth 24%
of your grade. 1000 possible points in class; 240 on quizzes/survey. You will be able to review
your quiz for the correct answers after the deadline.
Although we are not discussing chapters 19, 20, 25 there are optional quizzes you can take for
extra points. Each is worth up to 18 points for a total of 54 extra points. There is NO other extra
credit.
MID-TERM EXAM: July 14 or 15
• Mid-term will cover chapters 17-18; 21-24). Study Guides are in Resources. From the six
questions on the study guide, Etudes will randomly place four of the six on the exam. You will
pick two of the four on the exam to write on (to cover yourself you should prepare for four of the
questions on the Study Guide). I don’t assume you know anything if you don’t write it. Drawing
from the text book and discussions you should answer the questions in your own words as
thoroughly and detailed as possible. The most common question from students is the required
length of the essay. Answer: I am not looking at quantity. I am looking for quality. The better
you illustrate a thorough understanding of the topic, the better your grade. Again, BE
THOROUGH and detailed. Optional: you may submit an outline of essays (not rough draft) for
my review and feedback. Deadline for outlines is midnight July 12.
• The exam will be conducted online. You will have three hours to complete. Submission
MUST be in your words or it will not be accepted. Once you start the exam the clock is
ticking and cannot be stopped. If you exit the exam the clock is still ticking and the exam will no
longer be able to be accessed three hours after you first opened it (or after you finish and submit
it). You will access in Assignments, Tests and Surveys where you access quizzes. The midterm
will be available from 12:01 am July 14 to 11:59 pm July 15. Be sure you have three hours of
uninterrupted time when you begin. Optional but recommended is that you pre-write four essays
as we discuss the material. It takes some work but will relieve pressure and stress at exam time.
You can copy and paste into the exam if your browser is compatible with Etudes (See System
Requirements on the log in page).
• Technical problems are unusual but do occur. Don’t open Etudes in more than one window
while taking the exam to reduce errors. It is recommended that you use a recent version of
Firefox. If a page locks up while you are taking the exam exit Etudes and then reboot and reenter
and you should be ok. Also, you might want to write your exam in a word program and copy
and paste into Etudes so you don’t lose it if Etudes kicks you out. Any problems during the
exam email me at historyrmurray@aol.com
FINAL EXAM: August 7 or 8
• Same as above except chapters 26-30. Essay choices are under Resources. There are three essay
options from which I will place two on the exam. You will then pick one to write on. See above
for IDs. Deadline for outlines for review is midnight August 5.
• NO LATE EXAMS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Writing persuasively and speaking clearly are fundamental skills that should emerge from
your college education. College level writing is expected.
B. Withdrawal is the responsibility of the student. If for some unforeseen reason you are not able
to complete the course, YOU must drop through the Admissions Office. If you don’t, I am forced
to give you an F, and neither one of us wants that.
C. Classroom Conduct and Academic Honesty: In class behavior is expected to be considerate of
others (including me). Adult, mature behavior can consist of disagreeing points of view, but
should not criticize another student’s ideas. Also, cheating (plagiarizing) will not be tolerated
and will result in failure and be reported to the administration. Note that postings and exams will
be checked for plagiarism. To protect yourself cite anything that is not original.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe and assess the process by which the United States was economically transformed and
modernized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. Analyze the role of industrialists and inventors during the era of the American Industrial
Revolution.
3. Evaluate major American political, religious, and cultural values for the 1877 to 1914 period.
4. Compare and contrast the changing demography of America in the 1877 to 1914 and 1945 to
present periods.
5. Determine the processes of assimilation and acculturation expected of immigrants to the
United States from 1900 to the present.
6. Discuss and evaluate the interaction of majority and minority groups during the 20th century.
7. Identify and analyze various American political reform movements such as Populism,
Progressivism, the New Deal, the air Deal, Civil Rights, and the Great Society in terms of
causation, sequence of events, concepts and development.
8. Conceptualize and discuss the meaning of conservatism, liberalism, and radicalism in
American history from the post World War II era to the present.
9. Summarize and analyze the development of American foreign policy since 1945 including the
rise of the United States as a world power and leader among a large community of nations.
10. Trace and evaluate United States diplomacy and armed conflict through isolationism,
imperialism, and collective security policies of the 20th century.
11. Compare and contrast the core political and philosophical ideas and modes of expression in
American culture in the 20th century.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of United States History 1877 to
the present, students will be able to develop and persuasively argue a historical thesis in a written
assignment that identifies and explains major social, economic, political and/or cultural historical
themes or patterns in United States history from 1877 to the present and apply appropriate
historical methods to analyze and use primary and/or secondary sources as evidence to support
the thesis.
ADA Statement: Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this
course are encouraged to contact the Special Resource Center at 310-660-3295 as soon as
possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. As well,
please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Library: http://www.compton.edu/library/index.aspx
Student Support: http://www.compton.edu/studentservices/supportservices/index.aspx
Distance Education link with help desk contact information (contact me first with technical
questions as I may be able to answer more timely): http://www.compton.edu/academics/distanceed/index.aspx