[Type text]
History 101
Instructor: Joseph Bell
Office Hours: TBA
Contact Info: joseph.bell@wnc.edu
General Course Information*
Name: United States History to 1865
Discipline: History (HIST)
Units (Credits): 3
Transfer Information: Courses with numbers 100 to 299: This course is
designed to apply toward a WNC degree and/or transfer to other schools
within the Nevada System of Higher Education, depending on the degree
chosen and other courses completed. It may transfer to colleges and
universities outside Nevada. For information about how this course can
transfer and apply to your program of study, please contact a
counselor.
Academic Division: Liberal Arts
Prerequisites: None
General Course Outline
I: Catalog Course Description
Offers a survey of American history and civilization from the time of
the first European settlement to about 1865.
II: Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
Gain factual knowledge (terminology and trends) about the field of
American history and civilization to 1865.
Learn fundamental principles, causal factors for change, theories, and
generalizations from the field of American history and civilization to
1865.
Learn to apply course materials and presentations to improve
analytical skills and rational thinking.
III: Course Linkage
Students who complete HIST 101 are expected to demonstrate they:
1.Have college-level skills in reading, writing, and oral
communication appropriate to their degree and/or emphasis.
2.Have problem solving, critical and creative thinking skills.
3.Have effective and efficient learning skills, including the
location and evaluation of information.
*
All general information and course outline materials may be found in the Western Nevada College catalogue
online at http://www.wnc.edu/academics/catalog/hist/101/.
[Type text]
4.Understand and apply social science principles, including an
appreciation of participation in civic affairs.
Required Text
Philip Jenkins, A History of the United States (New York: St. Martin’s
Press, 1997).
Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 7th, 6th,
5th, or 4th ed. (Boston: Bedford/St Martins,
2012;2012;2007;2004).
Requirements
1. Attendance – Students must attend every class. The instructor is
heartless when it comes to attendance. Should you need to miss a
class due to serious illness/bodily injury, it is your
responsibility to ascertain the class material covered during
your absence from another student.
2. Respect in the classroom environment – Students, by nature, are
here to learn. A respectful environment is necessary for
learning. Students must be civil to the instructor and to one
another. At certain times during the semester we may discuss
sensitive and/or controversial issues. It is especially
necessary that students remain respectful at all times. Students
who engage in any questionable, inappropriate, or offensive
behavior/language/attitudes will be asked to leave, and may be
subject to disciplinary action.
3. Reading - A reading assignment is assigned for every class and
must be completed beforehand. There are two types of reading for
which students will be responsible.
a. Text book reading – Most class periods, students will be
responsible for reading the Jenkins or Rampolla text. It
will give the student a basic background about the lecture
of the day and hopefully generate insight and poignant
questions for the instructor
b. Article reading – Every two weeks students are expected to
read an assigned article in preparation for a classroom
discussion. These may be actual articles, excerpts or
chapters from books, or other materials that the students
must read before the classroom discussion.
4. Writing – There will be one three (3) to five (5) page essay
assigned during the semester. This one essay will reflect a
large percent of your grade, so please put proper thought and
care into your work.
5. Midterm – A midterm exam will be given during week 8 of the
course. It will cover all material studied up to that point.
6. Classroom Discussions – Periodically students will be expected to
have classroom discussions based on an assigned reading.
Participation in the discussion is mandatory.
[Type text]
7. Final – The final
cumulative.
8. Checking e-mail –
frequently. This
class, and I will
through e-mail.†
exam will fall on ___________.
It will not be
Students will be expected to check their e-mail
is the best method of communication outside
send out any notices pertaining to the class
Assignments
1.
Research essay
A well written three (3) to five (5) page essay discussing a
topic pertinent to the scope of the course. A successful
essay will demonstrate clear knowledge of the subject, discuss
the topic in a cogent and logical manner, and be free from
factual errors as well as grammatical and all other editing
errors.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
†
On the first day of class, students will be given a list
of topics to choose from for their research essay.
Students may choose one of the topics provided, or they may
research a topic of their own choosing, provided it is
approved by the instructor.
On the first day of week 3, students must have a topic
ready for submission along with a brief one (1) to three
(3) sentence abstract of what they expect to find.
On the first day of week 6 students are required to turn in
an annotated bibliography of no less than five (5) sources,
two (2) of which must be books, and at least one (1)of
which must be a primary source. All other sources must be
reputable and peer reviewed. Annotations should be Three
(3) to five (5) sentences long describing the value of the
source and how/why you think you will use it.
During your writing the instructor welcomes submissions of
rough drafts, and will happily meet with any student who
would like help. There will be no rough draft due, but the
judicious student will take advantage of the instructor’s
offer.
On the first day of week 12, the final draft will be due.
You must submit a Blue Book with your name on it with your
essay. Late submissions will not be accepted unless
documentation can be provided for extreme circumstances.
Before the final exam the instructor will hand back your
essays with notes. Pay careful attention to the notes as
If at any time during the semester you are struggling with coursework or would like any extra help whatsoever,
please do not hesitate to get in touch with me by e-mail, or before or after class. The sooner I am informed of any
issues, the sooner they can be resolved.
[Type text]
2.
3.
4.
5.
you will have an essay question related to your topic as
part of your final exam.
Midterm and Final
a. The midterm will be held on the first day of week 8. It
will include questions from all of the material covered up
to that point. It will consist of multiple choice,
chronology, matching, and fill in the blank.
b. The final will be held __________. It will be broken into
two parts. The first section will be multiple choice,
chronology, matching, and fill in the blank. The second
half will be an essay question pertaining to your research
essay. You will get the blue book that you turned in with
your essay back. Inside the blue book will be a prompt to
which you must respond.
Classroom discussions
a. Periodically we will have a classroom discussion pertaining
to a reading article. Please come to class prepared,
meaning that you have read the article, taken notes, and
generated questions. All students are expected to
participate, and will be graded accordingly. There will be
seven (7) discussions in total.
Book Quizzes
a. At the completion of a section in the text book, a short
book quiz will be assigned.
Extra Credit
a. There will be no extra credit.
Grading
Midterm
Final
Research essay
Classroom discussions
Book Quizzes
(20%)
(30%)
(25%)
(20%)
(5%)
Grades are assigned using this percentage scale:
94-100
A
90-93
A87-89
B+
84-86
B
80-83
B77-79
C+
74-76
C
70-73
C67-69
D+
64-66
D
60-63
DUnder 60
F
[Type text]
Late Work and Make-Up Policy
Late work will not be accepted without a prearranged extension granted
by the instructor, except in extraordinary circumstances accompanied
by documentation (i.e. doctor’s notes, police reports, etc. The
instructor may or may not choose to grant an extension; there is no
guarantee. The same rule applies for make-up examinations.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to know and uphold high standards of Academic
integrity. Information pertaining thereto may be found in your
Rampolla book, The WNC course catalogue, at
https:www.indiana.edu/~istd/, or by doing a simple google search. The
instructor will address any and all violations of academic integrity
with the strictest possible measures. Violations of academic
integrity include but are not limited to cheating and plagiarism.
Students who engage in such activities shall receive an F on the
assignment. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the student
may also fail the course, receive disciplinary admonition and warning,
disciplinary probation, suspension from Western Nevada College for a
definite period of time, or expulsion from Western Nevada College.
For more information about academic dishonesty please visit Western
Nevada College’s policy page at: http://www.wnc.edu/policymanual/3-45.php.
Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability for which you will need accommodations,
please contact the Disability Support Services office as soon as
possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations. Contact Susan
Trist (susan.trist@wnc.edu), Bristlecone 305.
Section
Week 1
Introductions and PreColumbian North America
Date and Reading
Assignments
August 25
Reading Assignments:
Syllabus.
August 27
Reading Assignments:
Jenkins,
Introduction
Week 2
Pre-Columbian North
America Contd.
September 1
September 3
Reading Assignments:
Classroom Activities
Introductions;
Syllabus review;
course overview;
What is History.
Lecture: Geography,
Climate, Ecology,
and first
Populations of North
America.
No School (prepare
for 1st discussion
day)
1st discussion day
Please read the
[Type text]
Week 3
Colonial America
Krech excerpt, from
Eden
article, take notes,
and generate
questions for your
peers.
September 8
Read: Jenkins 1-23
Topic for essay due
along with a 1-3
sentence abstract
about what you
expect to find.
Lecture: Colonizing
the Americas:
Columbus to Raleigh.
Lecture: The history
of the 13 colonies
to 1750.
Lecture: The
American Revolution:
1776-1781.
Second Discussion
Day
September 10
Read: Jenkins 23-39
Week 4
The American Revolution
September 15
Read: Jenkins 40-52
September 17
Read article:
Week 5
The Early Nation
Week 6
Age of Jefferson
September 22
Read: Jenkins 52-59
Study: Rampolla on
citations
September 24
Read: Jenkins 59-62
Study: Rampolla on
citations
September 29
Read: Jenkins 62-69
October 1
Read: Jenkins 69-74
Week 7
Westward Movement
Week 8
Religion and Industry in
the Early United States
Week 9
Lecture: The
Articles of
Confederation, and
framing the
Constitution.
Lecture: The infant
Republic: 1789-1800.
Annotated
Bibliography for
research essay Due.
Lecture: The Nation
under Jefferson.
Lecture: American
Indians.
October 6
Read: Jenkins 75-79
October 8
Read: Jenkins 70-84
October 13
Lecture: Beyond the
Appalachians.
Lecture: Louisiana.
October 15
Read: Jenkins 84-90
October 20
Lecture: Factories
and Evangelicals.
Lecture: Old Hickory
Mid Term
[Type text]
Age of Jackson
Week 10
Jackson and his
successors 1830-1842
Week 11
Polk and expansion
Week 12
Sectionalism
Week 13
The Peculiar
Institutions
Week 14
The Beginning of the
Civil War
Week 15
The end of the Civil War
Week 16
Read: Jenkins 90-94
and the common man.
October 22
Read:
Third Discussion
Day: The first
secession crisis
please read and be
prepared to discuss
Lecture: Crises in
the 30’s
October 27
Read: Jenkins 94-104
October 29
Read: Jenkins 104107
November 3
Read: Jenkins 107113
November 5
Read:
Lecture: Van Buren
and Calhoun.
November 10
Read: Jenkins 113114
Final Draft of
research essay Due
Lecture: New States
and New Problems
Lecture: Compromises
November 12
Read: Jenkins 114120
November 17
November 19
Reading Assignment:
Excerpts from
Finkelman
November 24
Read: Jenkins 120126
November 26
NO SCHOOL
December 1
Read: Jenkins 126137
December 3
Read:
Finals schedule TBA
Lecture: The Mexican
American War.
Fourth Discussion
Day
Lecture: Slavery in
the American South.
Fifth Discussion Day
Lecture: Lincoln’s
election to the
Battle of Antietam
No School. Eat
turkey and maybe
start studying for
the final.
Lecture: Crushing
the Confederacy.
Sixth and Final
Discussion Day
Finals
All information contained in this syllabus is considered tentative and
is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.