FACULTY SYLLABUS (Spring 2013)
HIST 1302 - United States History II
S 25
TR
11:30 am - 12:45 pm
Room BB 133
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Name:
Office Number:
Office Hours:
Dr. Keith Volanto
L-206 (Library), Spring Creek Campus
MW 9:30 am – 11:00 am
TR 9:30 am – 11:00 am
{& by appointment}
(972) 578-5531
kvolanto@collin.edu
Office Phone:
Email:
INSTRUCTOR’S WEB PAGE:
http://iws2.collin.edu/kvolanto
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the Civil
War/Reconstruction era to the present. United States History II examines industrialization, immigration,
world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in
United States History II include: American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change,
economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the
federal government, and the study of U.S. foreign policy.
Course Credit Hours: 3 Lecture Hours
Placement Assessments: Placement in ENGL 1301; College-Level Reading
Prerequisites:
none
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
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.
Course Resources:
TEXTBOOK
The American Challenge: A New History of the United States, Volume II, 1st Edition, authored by Moretta, et
al. (Abigail Press)
SUPPLIES:
Bring a pen and paper for note taking to each class; also, bring a #2 pencil and a Scantron Form 882-E
(small, rectangular, green & white) available at the vending machine in front of the bookstore in case we
have an unannounced quiz on that day – none will be provided by the instructor.
You will also need one Scantron Form and a Blue Book for each test
METHOD OF EVALUATION
EXAMS
***There will be four exams. The 1st three exams will be worth 100 points each.
The final exam will be non-cumulative but will be worth 150 points.
For the exams you will be responsible for lecture and textbook material, including assigned textbook
readings that cover material not mentioned during class.
The exams will consist of:
a) multiple choice & true/false questions from lecture terms and textbook terms not covered in class
b) an essay question on a major theme covered in class and the textbook.
Note: 3 or 4 essay possibilities will be posted ahead of time—one of these will be placed on the test.
Suggestions on how to read the textbook chapters:

When reading & re-reading the chapters, USE THE LIST OF TERMS I POST ON MY WEB SITE AS YOUR GUIDE.
When it comes time to making up textbook questions for the tests, I will look to those terms. Narrow down the
information by highlighting what you think are the key points and major supporting information. Now, rather than
memorizing every word in the chapters, you can focus on the most important info as you review.

I don’t ask questions about specific dates, nor do I ask questions about specific numbers or statistics. Your text will give
you a lot of both, but do not get bogged down trying to memorize when someone was born, how many tons of steel was
produced in Pittsburgh in a given year, how many men were killed in this or that battle, etc. Stick to the major points
rather than such details.
Make-up Exams:
Students who miss an exam need to provide the instructor with a valid, documented reason for missing an
exam in order to be allowed to take a make-up exam. If allowed, students have seven calendar days to
make up the exam or they get a zero for that test score.
The makeup exams are longer and more detailed than the regular exams. They have essays in addition to
other challenging questions that are generally harder than the regular exams, so it is probably in the best
interest of students to take all exams at the regularly scheduled times.
THERE ARE NO MAKEUPS FOR MISSED MAKEUP EXAMS—if you schedule a make-up, stick to the
date and time we arrange.
POP QUIZZES
***We will have 7 quizzes on random unannounced days worth 15 points each.
6 of the 7 will count towards your grade — your lowest score (or missed quiz) will be dropped.
**** Again, you need to bring a Scantron Form 882-E (small, rectangular, green & white) to
each class in case we have an unannounced quiz on that day
These quizzes will be given at the beginning of certain classes chosen at random and will consist of
7-10 multiple choice/true-false questions on major points covered in the previous lecture +
important terms from the textbook reading not covered in the previous lecture (see terms list).
You will be given 10 minutes to complete the quiz. Any quizzes not turned in after the 10 minutes
will result in a score of zero, thus it is important to get to class on time every day.
There are no makeups for the quizzes.
HOMEWORK
***There will be three homework assignments worth 20 points each. These assignments will involve
reading an article or visiting a historical website and usually involve writing a 3-4 page (double-spaced)
essay following guidelines laid down by the instructor.
All homework not turned in at the beginning of class on the due date will be considered late and will
suffer a 10-point penalty. You have plenty of time to do each assignment and are encouraged to turn
them in before the due date. After the next class meeting, late HW will no longer be accepted.
GRADING SCALE:
Mid-term #1
Mid-term #2
Mid-term #3
Final Exam
Pop Quizzes
Homework
100 pts.
100 pts.
100 pts.
150 pts.
90 pts.
60 pts.
600 total points
600 - 540 = A
539 - 480 = B
479 - 420 = C
419 - 360 = D
Below 359 = F
(100-90%)
(89-80%)
(79-70%)
(69-60%)
(59% and below)
ATTENDANCE POLICY/WITHDRAWAL:
Though we will not take formal attendance in this class each day, your attendance is expected every day the class
meets. We will be having random quizzes throughout the semester. You are allowed to drop your lowest quiz score,
thus you may miss one quiz entirely without your course grade being affected.
***I do not give out lecture notes nor make PowerPoint slides available on the web site.
It is the student’s responsibility to get notes and other information from any missed class.
If you are unable to complete the course, you must withdraw by Friday, March 22.
Withdrawing from a course is a formal procedure that you must initiate. If you stop attending class and do not withdraw, you
will receive the grade you earn, usually an F. If you withdraw from the course, you will receive a grade of W. Withdrawal forms
can be found in the Admissions and Records Office.
OTHER POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS:
Laptop Computers
No laptop computers are allowed in class (unless students have a documented disability that
necessitates their use in the classroom).
No Cell Phones/Text Messaging in Class/ Tape Recorders
Turn off your cell phones before coming to class.
No text messaging is allowed in class. After an initial reminder/warning, I will take 20 points taken
off the final course score for each violation of this policy.
You have my permission to tape my lectures as long as you are using it for yourself and/or a
classmate. Lectures are legally copyrighted material, therefore they cannot be sold, bartered, etc. without
my expressed written permission.
Leaving Class Early
Students must inform the instructor before class begins if they cannot stay for the entire class.
Students who need to leave early will be placed in an open seat near the door so they cause a minimum
distraction upon leaving.
After an initial reminder/warning, students who disrupt class by leaving class and not returning
without giving prior notice will have 20 points taken off their final course score for each occurrence.
You do not have to ask permission to leave the classroom temporarily to go to the bathroom, clear your
throat, etc. Just leave your stuff on your desk so we know that you will be returning.
Seating Chart
There will be a seating chart for all class meetings and exams. The seating assignments will be
decided on a first-come/first-served basis at the 1st class meeting of the 2nd week, so get to
class early that day if you have a strong preference for a specific seat. If you miss class when seats
are assigned, you will get placed in a seat on your first day back.
RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS:
Refer to the current Collin Student Handbook
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) STATEMENT:
It is the policy of Collin County Community College to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for
individuals with documented disabilities. This college will adhere to all applicable Federal and State laws, regulations,
and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational
opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the ACCESS Office (Office G200; 881-5898; TDD 881-5950)
in a timely manner to arrange for accommodations.
ACADEMIC ETHICS
Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity.
Collin College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the
award of a degree, and/or the submission of one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may
involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts
or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying
academic records. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty
may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means:
Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source,
including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination;
collaborating with another student during an examination without authority; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing,
or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet
files, using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own; or any other dishonest means of attempting
to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty,
including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student;
providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any
other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.
Those found to have taken part in academic dishonesty will receive a zero on the assignment or exam
and the instructor will report the event to the Dean of Students Office.
Course Calendar on the last page 
TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR (subject to slight modification)
LIST OF LECTURE TOPICS [WITH TEXTBOOK READINGS IN BRACKETS]
(Each topic/readings represents approximately one class day)
Course Introduction [no readings]
Industrialization/Rise of Big Business [Ch. 17, pp. 509-526]
Seating Chart on 1st class of 2nd week + Carnegie & the American Steel Industry/Labor Strife [Ch. 17, pp. 515516 again on Carnegie + pp. 530-535]
Rise of the Modern City/Immigration [Ch. 17, pp. 526-530]
American Overseas Expansion, 1865-1898 [(skip Ch. 18) Ch. 19, pp. 581-97]
Progressive Era I [Ch. 20, pp. 611-25]
Progressive Era II [Ch. 20, pp. 625-637]
MID-TERM EXAM #1 [Thurs., Feb. 14]
US Foreign Affairs (1898-1914)/US Neutrality in World War I [Ch. 19, pp. 597-607 + Ch. 21, pp. 641-52]
U.S. in World War I/Treaty of Versailles [Ch. 21, pp. 652-672]
Society & Politics during the “Roaring ’20s” [Ch. 22, pp. 680-701]
1920s economy/Hoover/Start of the Great Depression [Ch. 22, pp. 677-80; 701-03 + Ch. 23, pp. 707-712]
F.D.R. & the New Deal I [Ch. 23, pp. 712-732]
HW #1 Due + F.D.R. & the New Deal II [Ch. 23, pp. 732-743]
[Spring Break -- Mon. March 11 through Friday, March 15]
MID-TERM EXAM #2 [Tues., March 19]
Coming of WW II [Ch. 24, pp. 747-756]
Coming of WW II [Ch. 24, pp. 756-763]
WW II Home Front [Ch. 24, pp. 766-776]
World War II in Europe [Ch. 24, pp. 765-766; 776-783]
WW II in the Pacific [Ch. 24, pp. 763-765; 784-790]
Truman & start of the Cold War in Europe [Ch. 25, pp. 795-807]
HW #2 Due + Truman & expansion of the Cold War to Asia [Ch. 25, pp. 807-818]
MID-TERM EXAM #3 [Tuesday, April 16]
Eisenhower & the Cold War/Politics & Civil Rights in the 50s [Ch. 25, 818-834 + Ch. 26, pp. 839-856]
1950s Economy, Culture, and Society [Ch. 26, pp. 856-71]
Kennedy & the early 1960s [Ch. 27, pp. 875-899 + Ch. 28, pp. 921-928]
Lyndon Johnson & the 1960s: Great Society Reforms/Civil Rights [Ch. 27, pp. 899-917]
LBJ & the Vietnam War [Ch. 28, pp. 928-955]
The Pivotal Year of 1968 [Ch. 29, 961-996]
HW #3 Due + Nixon & the Vietnam War/the Watergate Scandal [Ch. 30, 1001-1027]
FINAL EXAM (taken in regular classroom—BB 133):
Thursday, May 16
11:30-1:00 pm