Angelina College
Liberal Arts Division
Spring 2015
History 1301
United States History To 1877
l. BASIC COURSE INFORMATION:
A. COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual
history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United
States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and
sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United
States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human
rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and creation of the federal
government.
B. INTENDED AUDIENCE:
This course will meet the certification requirement for prospective
teachers, as required by Texas law. Required of all students seeking an Associate in Arts or
Science degree or who plan to transfer to a four year school.
C. Instructor:
Gene Yates, Instructor
of History
Office Location: SSS 202C
Phone (936) 633-5381
Office Hours
By Appointment
Monday
7:45-8:00
9:15-9:25
10:50-11:10
12:50-1:30
Tuesday
7:45-8:00
9:15-9:25
10:50-11:10
12:50-1:30
Wednesday
7:45-8:00
9:15-9:25
10:50-11:10
12:50-1 :30
Thursday
7:45-8:00
9:15-9:25
10:50-11:10
12:50-1 :30
Friday
By Appointment
II. INTENDED STUDENT OUTCOMES:
A. Core Objectives Required for this Course
1. Critical Thinking
Skills to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and
synthesis of information.
2. Communication
Skills to include effective development,
interpretation
and expression
of ideas through written, oral and visual communication.
3. Social Responsibility
to include intercultural competence,
knowledge of civic
responsibility and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global
communities.
4. Personal Responsibility
to include the ability to connect choices, actions and
consequences to ethical decision-making
B. Course Learning Outcomes for all Sections (Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board, LowerDivision Academic Course Guide manual)
1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period
of United States history.
III. ASSESSMENT MEASURES:
A. Assessments for the Core Objectives:
1. Critical Thinking Skills-Students
will research an assigned topic emphasizing Critical
Thinking Skills. Students will write an essay on the assigned topic. The essay will be assessed
using a rubric which incorporates the Angelina College Institutional Rubric for Critical Thinking
Skills. (Assignment attached)
Page 2
2. Communication
SkillsStudents will research an assigned topic. Students will write an
essay on the assigned topic. Students will present their findings in small group settings
(Discussion Board replies are utilized in internet courses). Communication skills will be assessed
using a rubric which incorporates the Angelina College Institutional Rubric for Communication Skills.
(Assignment attached)
3. Social Responsibility-Students
will research an assigned topic exploring Social
Responsibility.
Students will write an essay on the assigned topic. The essay will be
assessed using a rubric which incorporates the Angelina College Institutional Rubric for Social
Responsibility. (Assignment attached)
4. Personal Responsibility-After
reading the course syllabus, instructions, and course rules,
students will design a Personal Responsibility Contract between student and instructor. The
contract will be assessed using a rubric which incorporates the Angelina College Institutional
Rubric for Personal Responsibility.
(Assignment attached)
B. Assessments
for the Exemplary
Objectives
Specific
to the Course
1. Students will demonstrate the ability to create an argument through the use of historical evidence by writing
weekly analytical discussion posts.
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources through
exams and other classroom assignments.
3. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural,
and global forces on this period of United States History through discussion posts, classroom discussion and
other assignments.
IV. INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES: This course will be taught using a combination of
lectures, group exercises, and major exams. Internet research will be required
for this course.
v.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
AND POLICIES:
A. Required Textbook and Recommended Readings, Materials, and Equipment
Text: America - A Narrative History - 9th Ed.
Tindell- Shi
B. Course Policies: This course conforms to the policies of Angelina College as stated in the
Angelina College Handbook.
1. Academic Assistance-If
you have a disability (as cited in Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990) that may affect your participation in this class, you should see Karen
Bowser, Room 208 of the Student Center. As a post-secondary institution, you
must self-identify as a person with a disability; Ms. Bower will assist you with
the necessary information to do so. To report any complaints of discrimination
related to disability, you should contact Dr. Patricia McKenzie, Administration
Building, Room 105 or 936-633-5201.
2. Attendance - Attendance is required by the college and will be taken EVERY day. Any
student with three (3) consecutive absences may be reported to Angelina College for possible
dismissal from class; (4) cumulative absences may be judged as excessive absences from the
class and the student may be dropped from the class.
It is the responsibility
of the student to
drop the course. You must officially drop a class or risk receiving an F in the course.
3. Additional Policies Established by the Instructor
a. Respect Issues. Disrespect for the instructor or fellow classmates will not be tolerated.
b. CELL PHONES. CELL PHONES, PAGERS, RECORDERS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES ARE
NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS. Phones must be off in class. This does not mean on vibrate. Any
student with a cell phone on in class, or texting during class will be asked to exit the class until
further notice. Turn off all cell phones before an exam. If a cell phone vibrates or rings during
an exam, the student will receive a zero on the exam.
c. Late work. Late work is unacceptable. Ample time is given for work to be completed and
posted for each section. Emergency situations require documentation for late work to be
accepted, and that will be at the discretion of the instruction.
d. Plagiarism.
Students are NOT allowed plagiarism in any form. This applies to all work. Each
student is responsible for answering questions and all other work in his/her own wording.
Duplication of the work of others will result in a Zero (0) for the work. Any work which
requires research also requires documentation. All sources must be documented with both
parenthetical referencing (author, date) and sources cited. Coping and Pasting without quotation
marks is plagiarism, which is cheating. Work containing cut and paste will not be graded
(resulting in a zero on the assignment). If you need a quote (for emphasis only) - make SURE
you have provided quotation marks. Failure to do so will result in a zero on the assignment.
e. Cheating. Cheating includes copying the work of classmates on assignments or exams.
Cheating includes copying and/or collusion by the work of any other person. Cheating will
result in a zero for the assignment/exam and possible failure of/expulsion from the course.
plagiarism (cheating) includes copying the work of others without quotation marks and proper
citations.
f. Participation by each student in class discussion is expected. Each student is expected to
complete all written and reading assignments as instructed.
g. Respect for fellow class members and the instructor is expected at all times.
h. Take notes on the lecture or discussion until the instructor dismisses class.
Do not prepare to leave classroom until class is dismissed.
I. No eating, drinking, dipping, or smoking in class.
j. Visitors are not allowed in class without special permission.
k. It is appropriate to talk in response to questions or statements made during class, but it is
inappropriate to conduct social conversations during class. Do not work on studies from other
classes during this class.
VI. COURSE OUTLINE:
Description of the Course Activities:
One test per unit approximately
every four weeks. Subject to Change
Unit I
Chapters 1-4
Test Week of February 9
Unit II
Chapters 5-8
Test Week of March 16
Unit III
Chapters 9-13
Test Week of April 13
Unit IV
Chapters 14-17
VII. EVALUATION
Final Exam Schedule
AND GRADING
Personal Responsibility
Contract Deadline February
All papers must be handed in Person ------ In Class.
16. Paper Deadline April 1.
TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS:
Four Major Exams--------------------Papers------------------------------------Attendance and participation--------
=
100 points each 400 points
40 points
= 40 points
70 points
70 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
=
=
510
No Late Papers Accepted
Page 4
Make-up exams will require a doctor's notellegitimate excuse. Your make-up exam will be all
essay and you will not want to take it. Do not be late for exams. After the first person turns in
their test, no more will be handed out. No make-up for final exam.
Grades will be based on the following: Four (4) major exams and papers.
Grading Scale for Final Class Letter Grade:
459 - 510 POINTS
=A
408 - 458 POINTS
=B
357 - 407 POINTS
=C
306 - 356 POINTS
=D
305 PTS AND BELOW =F
The Instructor may modify the provisions of the syllabus to meet individual class needs by informing the class in advance
as to the changes being made.