GREAT BASIN COLLEGE—PAHRUMP CAMPUS
HISTORY 102—U.S. HISTORY SINCE 1877
SPRING 2010
TUES. – THUR. 9:30 – 10:45
PVC 121
Instructor:
Phone:
Dr. Mary-Susan King
GBC – PVC: 775-727-2000
Home: 702-723-1152 FAX: 702-723-1862
celticcats@hotmail.com
Cell:702-285-2679
Office Hours: By Appointment
Texts:
America Past and Present (Combined Volume 8th edition) by
Divine. Et.al
ISBN 9780321446633
Catalog Description:
Survey of U.S. political, social economic, diplomatic, and cultural development from
Reconstruction to the present. Includes examination of Nevada Constitution and, when taken
with HIST 101, satisfies the Nevada Constitution requirement. Prerequisite: ENG 101 reading
level. (3 + 0)
Course Content:
History 102 covers the period of American history beginning with the end of Reconstruction
and extending to the present. As with most history classes, it requires a knowledge of dates,
events, trends, and people in the past. But more importantly, it will give you an insight into
what makes us Americans – why we think the way we do, why we act the way we do, and why
we RE-act the way we do.
The history of the United States is the history of greatness (the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights) as well as iniquity (the treatment of
minorities, wars of extermination); both positive and negative aspects will be covered in the
interest of an honest assessment of our American society.
This second section of the American story involves the continuing industrialization of
the national economy, the influx of immigrants after the Civil War, increasing urbanization,
racism, the rise of the U.S. as a world power, the Great Depression, the end of the Cold War,
the end of “the American Century”, and what it means to be an American in the 21st Century.
Student Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
*demonstrate a knowledge of the important dates, events, and movements of American
history from 1877 to present day and understand some of the differing
interpretations of those facts; (Measurement: written assignments, exam scores)
HISTORY 102
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*make connections and see relationships between historic and currents events and
movements; (Measurement: essay questions on exams, written assignments)
and * better understand what goes into the writing of history. (Measurement:
written assignments and class discussions)
Assignments and Expectations:
Reading and Writing: Students taking History 102 are expected to keep up with the
assigned reading schedule. Students will also be asked to write a short paper, which will give
them practice in the methods of historical analysis.
Exams: Exams will be based on the texts, required reading, in-class films, and notes
from lectures. There will be two exams. Exams are open book, open note, and must be
written in ink or typed in the computer lab. You have been given a number of questions
covering each assigned chapter of America Past & Present. You are to research and answer
the questions on your own time. Sharing information for study is encouraged. Chapter
questions on the exams will be taken from these study questions. NOT ALL QUESTIONS
WILL APPEAR ON THE EXAMS. Lecture questions will be given at the end of each
lecture.
Attendance and Participation: Attendance is required and is part of your grade. You
are allowed 3 EXCUSED ABSENCES without penalty. Every UNEXCUSED ABSENCE is
–10 points.. After the allowed excused absences, every excused absence is –5 points. If an
absence is unavoidable, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you have missed and master
the material.
If you have to miss a scheduled exam, you MUST notify the instructor before the
exam in order to take a make-up. Call the PVC office and leave a message or call my cell
phone. Make-up exams will NOT be the same as regular exams. (GBC attendance policies
allow up to three absences in a three-credit class. Instructors may drop students for excessive
absences. See the appropriate section of GBC’s General Catalog 2009-2010 for the complete
attendance policy.)
Expectations for Written Work: A copy of GBC English Department’s Grading
Standards for College Writing is available in the GBC/PVC office.
Written assignments are to be double spaced, word-processed using 12-point font and
standard script, with regular margins, on white letter sized paper.
Reading and Writing Assignments:
The requirements for the paper will be discussed in detail in separate handouts and in class.
The attached course schedule lists the specific dates on which writing assignments will be due.
HISTORY 102
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Evaluation and Grades:
Final grades for the course will be computed as follows:
Two exams, 175 points each
Film analysis paper
Attendance
350 points
200 points
150 points
700 points
The following table shows how the different grade systems equate to each other.
GRADE
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
GRADE POINT
VALUE
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.7
0.0
%
100-95
94-90
89-87
86-83
82-80
79-77
76-73
72-70
69-67
66-63
62-60
59 and Below
Withdrawals: Students who wish to withdraw from the course may do so by the end of the
13th week of the semester. Withdrawal information is available through the GBC-PVC Office /
Student Services. Students who do not officially withdraw will receive an F.
Incomplete: The Incomplete (I) is assigned in special circumstances (serious illness, death in
the family) when a student who has completed ¾ of the course with a C or better cannot
complete the course. An I must be arranged in advance with the instructor.
Grade Appeals: GBC has a standard policy for grade appeals, which is given in detail in the
GBC General Catalog 2009-2010. Note that the first step is to meet with the instructor.
POLICY OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
GBC subscribes to the traditional policy of academic integrity: students are expected to
be honest. This means that students are expected to do their own work. In work that utilizes
HISTORY 102
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The sources written by others, those sources must be given credit for exact words and ideas.
Students who plagiarize (copy the work of others and pass it off as their own) are violating the
standards of academic integrity and are subject to punishments ranging from failing the
assignment to dismissal from the institution.
Other Issues:
Cell phones are disruptive to other students and your instructor. Make sure your cell phone is
turned off before class. (Exceptions can be made for emergency workers or others on a classby-class basis.)
Small children cannot be expected to remain quiet during class. Please make your own babysitting arrangements.
Students who are late also present a disruption. If you are late, please enter quietly and with
the least possible disruption to others.
This class meets twice a week for 75 minutes (or until the instructor dismisses you). If you
must leave early, inform the instructor beforehand and sit in the back so that your leaving will
not interrupt the class.
Many of our first impressions of American History are derived from Hollywood movies
(Pocahontas) and TV (Rin Tin Tin—Ok, I’m dating myself: Deadwood). Some of it is fairly
accurate and some of it is….well, Mel Gibson.
Your assignment is to pick an era of American History covered by this course—End of
Reconstruction to Present Day. Some examples might be:
Indians and Other Aliens; Nobody Here But Us Progressives; The War to End War;
… and Why It Didn’t; Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?; “The Good War”; Wars-Cold and Hot--At Home and Abroad; “,GOOOOD Morning, Vietnam!”; Into the 21st
Century…. Or some other topic that strikes your fancy. (Clear it with me first!).
Pick at least 3 videos or DVDs (preferably fictional Hollywood or made for TV—i.e., HBO,
Showtime, or network—productions) covering the period or topic of American History102
you chose.. (See Dr. King for suggestions.)
Discuss each film in detail. Each discussion MUST include:
1. When the film was released, and what was going on in the US and the World
while the film was in production (2-3 years before release as well as previous events) and
how this may have influenced the treatment of the topic.
2. Producers, directors, main stars (not every single player!)
3. BRIEF description of the plot [do NOT retell the storyline].
4. How HISTORICALLY accurate it was or wasn’t. BE SPECIFIC!
One page minimum for each film, typed, double-spaced, with margins.
If you decide to view a series, such as Ken Burns’ World War II, you must watch and report
on the ENTIRE series.
DUE: April 27, 2010
HISTORY 102: READING AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
2010
SPRING
This is a tentative schedule. You will be notified beforehand if there are any changes.
In order to best comprehend the reading and lecture material, students are advised to
complete the reading assignment before the topic is covered in class. History 102 will
cover 17 chapters of America Past and Present, 8th edition.
DATE
TOPIC/READING ASSIGNMENTS
EXAMS/ASSIGNMENT
DUE DATES
1/26
INTRODUCTION
____________________________________________________________________________
1/28
Reconstruction
Ch. 16 AP&P
FE-474
____________________________________________________________________________
2/02
Westward the Course of Empire
Ch. 17 AP&P
2/04
“Battle Born”
FE-488
_________________________________________________________________________
2/09
2/11
2/16
2/18
Men, Machines, and Socialism
Ch. 18 , AP&P
Continued
Ch. 19, AP&P
FE-524; P&P-518
FE-544; L&S-562
“…Down on the Farm…”
Ch. 20 AP&P
A Splendid Little War…
FE-592
2/23
Indeed
FE-622
____________________________________________________________________________
2/25
Nobody Here But Us Progressives
FE-636
Ch. 22 AP&P
3/02
3/04
Continued
Ch. 23, AP&P
The War to End War…
Ch. 24 AP&P
FE-678; P&P-657; L&S-683
HISTORY 102: READING & ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
3/09
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…And Why It Didn’t
FE-704
3/11
Crime Spree
Ch. 25 AP&P
FE-730; L&S-743
3/16
Continued
____________________________________________________________________________
3/18
EXAM I
AP&P 16-25; Lectures; in-class films
3/22 – 3/27
SPRING BREAK
____________________________________________________________________________
3/30
“Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?”
Ch. 26 AP&P
FE-770; P&P-763
____________________________________________________________________________
“The Good War”
Ch. 27 AP&P
FE-802
4/06
Continued
____________________________________________________________________________
4/08
Last Man Standing….
Ch. 28 - 29 AP&P
FE-822; P&P-821
4/01
4/13
Continued
4/15
Wars Cold…And Hot
4/20
Continued
4/22
“Gooood Morning, Vietnam!!!”
Ch. 30 AP&P
…And Beyond
4/27
FE-846
FE-876
FILM PROJECTS DUE
4/29
Continued
____________________________________________________________________________
5/04
Watergate
Ch. 31 AP&P
5/06
Continued
FE-918; L&S-927
____________________________________________________________________________
HISTORY 102: READING AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
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5/11
The End of the American Century
FE-954
Ch. 32 AP&P
5/13
Where do we go from here?
____________________________________________________________________________
5/18
EXAM II
AP&P 26-32; Lectures; In-Class Films
5/20
ICE