SAMPLE
ONR 12-0001: Introduction to History
108 Jenness Hall
M/W/F
Instructor: Sara Lello Sheppard, M.Ed.
E-mail: sara.sheppard@maine.edu
Text:
Fall 20XX
9:00 – 9:50
Phone: 581-2312
Office Hours: M/W/F 10:00 – 10:50; 2:00 – 3:00
or by appointment
A People And A Nation: Brief 10th edition ISBN:978-1-285-43085-0
Mercury Reader ISBN:9780536143280
Course Description:
This course is designed to help you become better at analytical reading, as well as to prepare you for the CLEP
History exam should you choose to take it. Many of the readings, exercises and assignments will offer you the
opportunity to develop new reading strategies, improve reading comprehension as well as develop a deeper
understanding of history and maximize your college learning experience.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will demonstrate:
1. The ability to identify themes, main ideas, and significant details from history.
2. The ability to write notes and summarize reading assignments and classroom lectures.
3. Knowledge of test-taking strategies for both objective and essay exams.
4. Knowledge of techniques for surveying and outlining textbook materials.
Requirements:
1. Active participation in all class activities and discussions.
2. Completion of all assignments on time.
3. A spiral bound notebook.
4. A positive attitude and a willingness to learn!
Grading: Grades will be determined based on the following:
Tests – 40%
Online Class Discussion - 20%
Class Participation/Homework/Writing Assignments – 20%
Final Exam – 20%
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is critical for success in this class. I expect students to be on time. You are
responsible for all course requirements, regardless of reason(s) for absences. If for some reason you cannot be in
class please make sure that you email or leave a message for me before class begins. If you have not notified me,
and you are more than 15 minutes late to class it will be treated as an absence.
Make-up Policy: Students are expected to turn in all assignments on time. If you are aware that you will be
absent and something is due you may turn it in ahead of time. If you miss a class where an exam, quiz or important
activity is taking place, the ability to make it up will be at my discretion. I will not accept any work if there
has been no previous notification of the student's absence, so make sure to either leave an email
or a message on my office phone or with Beth. Any assignment passed in late (after class has been
dismissed) will be docked a ½ letter grade each day.
Cell Phones: Once you enter the classroom, please shut off your cell phone and store it completely out of sight. If
for some reason you need to leave it on, please put it on vibrate and leave it in your pocket or book bag.
Academic Honesty (Plagiarism, etc.): Academic honesty is very important, especially in writing academic
papers. It is dishonest to cheat on exams, to copy term papers, to submit papers written by another person, to fake
experimental results, or to copy or reword parts of books or articles into your own papers without appropriately
citing the source. Students committing or aiding in any of these violations may be given failing grades for an
assignment or for an entire course, at the discretion of the instructor. In addition to any academic taken by an
instructor, these violations are also subject to action under the University of Maine Student Conduct Code. The
maximum possible sanction under the conduct code is dismissal from the University.
Students with Disabilities Statement: If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an
accommodation, please contact Ann Smith, Director of Disabilities Services, 121 East annex, 581-2319, as early as
possible!
CLEP Test: If you have an A in ONR 12, there’s a good chance you can take the CLEP exam and test out of
History 107 and receive three credits for that class.
A weekly discussion topic will be posted on Blackboard every Monday. Students must post to the
discussion no later than 11:00 pm the following Thursday. Students’ posts must be 50 words or
greater in length.
Course Activities and Assignments
Date
9/3
Introduction Review syllabus, goals of the course, etc. Homework: Access First Class for you
inventory that is due Friday.
9/5
Importance of Reading and Reading Inventory.
9/8
Effective Readers - How to approach a textbook.
9/10
The Reading Process: How We Learn to Read and Different Types of Writing. Chapter 1: Three Old
Worlds Create A New 1492 – 1600 Reading Assignment: PP 1–28 Come ready to discuss how
the reading went for you. Difficulties you had, vocabulary you didn't understand etc.
9/12
Reading Process/Chapter 1 Continued
9/15
Reading Assignment: MERCURY READER: How to Mark a Book by Mortimer Adler PP 71 - 75
Write a one page reaction paper to this article. This paper is your opinion/reaction to the article
and your reaction to what the article is saying - do you agree or disagree with this piece? Why?
9/17
Annotating Chapter 2: Europeans Colonize North America 1600-1640
Reading Assignment: PP 29 –56 Preview the chapter. Annotate while reading, write vocabulary
you don't know. Use Adler's techniques and suggestions while reading. Come to class ready
to discuss.
9/22 EXAM #1
9/24 Finding the Topic and Main Ideas Chapter 3: North America in the Atlantic World 1640 - 1720
Reading Assignment: PP 57 - 81
9/26 Chapter 4: Becoming America 1720 - 1770 Reading Assignment: PP 82 - 108
9/29 Reading Assignment: MERCURY READER: What is Intelligence, Anyway? By Isaac Asimov PP 5-6
Write a reaction paper to this article. Come to class ready to discuss.
10/1 Locating Details Chapter 5: The Ends of Empire 1754 - 1774 Reading Assignment: PP 109 - 136
10/3 Chapter 5 Continued
10/6 Specifics of Textbook Reading Chapter 6: American Revolutions: 1775 - 1783
Reading Assignment: PP 137 - 160
10/8
Chapter 6 Continued
10/10 Chapter 6 Continued
10/15 Review for test
10/17 EXAM #2
10/20 Chapter 7: Forging a Nation: 1783 - 1800 Reading Assignment: PP 163 - 195
10/22 Chapter 7 Continued
10/24 Chapter 7 Continued
10/27 Chapter 8: Defining the Nation 1801 - 1823 Reading Assignment: PP 198 – 229
10/29 Chapter 8 Continued
10/31 Chapter 8 Continued
11/3
Chapter 9: The Rise of the South: 1815 - 1860 Reading Assignment: PP 232 – 261
11/5
Chapter 9 Continued
11/7
Reading Assignment: MERCURY READER: Learning to Read & Write by Frederick Douglas
PP 29 - 35 Write a reaction paper to this article. Come to class ready to discuss.
11/10
EXAM #3
11/12 Chapter 10: The Restless North 1815 – 1860 Reading Assignment: PP 264 - 296
11/14 Chapter 10 Continued
11/17 Chapter 11: The Contested West 1815 - 1860 Reading Assignment PP 299 - 324
11/19 Chapter 11 Continued
11/21 Chapter 12: Politics and the Fate of the Union 1824 - 1859 Reading Assignment PP 327- 360
11/24 Chapter 12 Continued
12/1
Chapter 13: Transforming Fire: The Civil War 1860 - 1865 Reading Assignment: PP 363 – 400
12/3
Chapter 13 Continued
12/5
EXAM #4
12/8
Reading Assignment: MERCURY READER: Speech on the Signing of the Treaty of Port Elliot, 1855
by Chief Seattle PP 21- 24 Write a reaction paper to this reading.
12/10
Reading Assignment: MERCURY READER: I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King PP 66 - 70
Go to the following Youtube sight and read along while watching http://youtu.be/smEqnnklfYs
Write a reaction paper to this video and the reading.
Last class
12/12