1302 Syllabus Spring 2008
Time: Monday/Wednesday 9:30 – 11:00
Instructor: Christopher Scott
E-mail:
Phone: 713-862-5583
Course description: This course is a survey of
Credit: 3.0 hours, transferable to any 4-year institution in the state of
Purpose: 1302 studies the broader questions and trends in American History. We will learn certain historical facts and analyze the impact of governmental decisions made since 1877 that impact our lives today. We’ll focus on the world wars and other “eras” and how these events have shaped
Course outcomes:
1. Identify the reasons for and assess the social, economic and political consequences of the rise of American power in the late 19th century.
2. Identify the reasons for and assess the social, economic and political consequences of the Progressive movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
3. Identify the causes of American entry into World War I and analyze the goals of the
4. Analyze the 1920’s and identify the causes and consequences of the Great Depression.
5. Analyze the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt with emphasis on “New Deal” economic measures.
6. Account for
7. Discuss post-World War II America, particularly focusing on the Cold War.
8. Analyze the “Great Society” of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Textbook: The American Story, Volume II. Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, and Williams, Gross, Brands, authors.
contact the disability counselor at your college.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend class regularly and are responsible for materials covered during any absences. Class attendance is checked each class, and a student may be dropped from the course for excessive absence (excessive absence is missing five (5) or more class meetings). Please see me if you are having problems attending regularly and keep me posted regarding any extended absences you may have because of work, family, etc. Please note that if you decide to drop the course, you should do so by the drop date. Failing to drop by the drop date keeps you on the class roster. In the past, students have stopped attending, believing the instructor would automatically drop them. They were not always dropped (it is not the instructor’s responsibility) and received and F for the course. Don’t jeopardize your transcript/GPA by failing to turn in the proper paperwork on time.
Classroom Conduct: Please be courteous to your fellow students and refrain from disruptive behavior. Disruptive behavior includes walking around, talking to other students, talking out loud, taking/making phone calls, having beepers go off, text-messaging, swearing/cursing, kissing/hugging other students, etc. Water, soda, hi-energy drinks, etc. are allowed in the classroom; no food allowed, however.
Don’t forget! Eat in designated areas throughout the building, not in the classroom.
Exams: Exams may be a combination of multiple-choice questions and essays or only multiple choice questions. One or two exams may be a combination, and one or two may be multiple choice only. A combination of material from class lectures and the notes you take during those lectures, in addition to handouts and the chapter review sheets, will be used to formulate exam questions.
• Do not just read the chapters. Use the textbook as a reference. Only those
points made during the lectures, in addition to information on handouts and
the chapter review sheets, should be referenced in the textbook. Their will be some small portions of each chapter not covered, so reading each chapter is not a good idea.
During exams, all pagers/cell phones must remain off and completely out of site. Try to be quiet during each exam so you don’t disturb other students. If you come to an exam more than ten (10) minutes late, you will not be admitted. You will have to take a makeup if you are more than ten (10) minutes late. Also, do not leave the classroom during an exam. If you miss an exam, make arrangements with me to take a make-up. If you miss the make-up exam, you will receive a grade of “F” for that exam.
Course Requirements/Grading: You are required to take three (3) exams and complete two (2) book reviews/papers. The weight of these requirements in calculating your final grade is as follows:
Exam #1 25%
Exam #2 25%
Exam #3 25%
Book Review/Papers 25% (each review/presentation is worth 12.5%)
• Please note that all of the above are requirements. Failure to fulfill any one or more of the requirements translates to an “F” for the semester.
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Please note that all students must pass at least one exam with a minimum score of 65. Failure to achieve a score of 65 on at least one exam will result in an “F” for the course. |
Grading Scale:
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 65-69 F Below 65
• Please note that an “I” grade (incomplete) can only be given if there are extenuating circumstances. In other words, a student has done considerably well all semester and has completed at least 80% of the course work and exams and then something happens (illness, accident, family problem, etc.). Then, and only then, after proper documentation, can an “I” be given.
Exam questions are written based on information from a few sources:
Lecture + chapter review sheets + handouts
Explanation: An exam question may come from: 1) something said during a lecture, 2) information written on the board during a lecture (most often 1 & 2 are the same), 3) information from a handout, and 4) information acquired by answering the questions on the review sheets (indicating some self-study is to be done by the student).
Book Reviews/Presentations: Each student must read two (2) books and hand in a four (4) page-paper on each in addition to making a presentation in class for each book. For the first book review you may choose any topic in American History (after 1877) that interests you. The second book review must be related to the World War II. Each book must be non-fiction; show me the book when you obtain it so I can record it in my records and check whether it is a suitable book for review (see the dates on the calendar when you must sign up. Failure to meet the deadline will result in a deduction of 5 points per class that you are late). Your class presentation should be about five minutes long and include the following:
1) A summary of the book, noting its historical significance (this part is extremely important and is the bulk of your presentation).
2) Some historical facts that you think may be of interest to the class.
3) What you learned from the book (what impacted you the most).
4) Whether or not you liked the book.
5) Whether or not you would recommend the book to someone else.
NOTE: Be careful when selecting your book. Take your time with this task. Students often select books that are not interesting and/or too difficult. Students also select books that are too broad (for example, you can’t do a five minute presentation on the entire Revolutionary War – it’s just too much information to cover). Be careful! There is a list of some books for you to choose from at the end of this syllabus. You don’t have to choose a book from this list, but you may do so if you’d like.
Make sure you don’t pick a book that is “edited by” someone. That kind of book is simply a collection of articles or chapters by different authors. Also, no diaries, books of famous documents, or political science (government) books, and no online books. Books must be a minimum of 225 pages (not counting glossaries, indexes, etc.) and be a minimum of 5 ¾ wide by 8 ½ inches long.
Students will be required to turn their papers in to turnitin.com. This website will check your paper to determine whether or not any portion of the paper has been downloaded from a website or turned in as another paper by another student somewhere else (high school and college). Please make sure all papers are in your own words. There should be a 0% score on your paper from turnitin.com, and there should be absolutely no reference to any internet resources when your paper is scored. A reference to a website will mean that you will have to do your paper over again.
NOTE: Exam #3 must be taken during final exam week. No exceptions. The Second Book Review/Presentation must be given during the last class of the semester. No exceptions.
Your paper format is double-spaced, 12 font, and 1” margins all around; use Arial, Times New Roman, or Tahoma as a font. A cover page should include your name, course time, and title with author of your book. No plastic covers, and please staple!
The Learning Web. Students can access my folder on The Learning Web to print handouts, chapter reviews, sample exam questions, etc. A copy of this syllabus is also available on The Learning Web. Go to the HCC website at hccs.edu, then click on Southwest (up at the top). The left hand column is for Students; go down and click on The Learning Web SWC. Then click on: Get Information About a Course, Department, or Subject Area. Then go to page 2 and click on History. Find my name on the right hand side and click on it. You’re then on my homepage.
Academic Conduct: At all times act with the utmost honesty and integrity when fulfilling the requirements of this (and all) your college courses. Cheating, plagiarism, etc., even if very slight, will result in a student being turned in to the college for academic dishonesty and/or given an “F” for the course. Do your own work, not the work of a fellow student or the work of an individual with something to say or sell on the internet. Avoid the temptation of plagiarism! Each semester at least a few students are dealt with harshly because of cheating and/or plagiarism. Save yourself the embarrassment and refrain from any unworthy acts.
Withdrawal from the class. Every semester there are a few students who are doing poorly so they no longer show up. They assume I will drop them from the course. This is not true. If you decide to no longer show up because your grades are too low (or for any other reason), you must drop the course yourself. Go to the registrar and get the appropriate form and I will sign it. If you don’t withdraw, the only grade I can enter at the end of the semester is an F. Avoid the F because it hurts your grade point average. If for any reason you can no longer continue, drop the class yourself. Be sure you are aware of the final day you can withdraw from classes (see Class Schedule).
Keys to Success
1. Come every class period, on time, and take a lot of notes.
2. Refresh (study) class lecture notes every day for 20 minutes.
3. Use chapter review sheets in conjunction with lecture notes and any handouts.
4. Pick books early and read immediately. Write a good paper and make a great
presentation.
Study Tips
The best way to effectively study for each exam is to refresh your memory each day, going over the notes in class. If you do not, and instead “cram” the night before, your grade will most probably be lower. You only have to spend about 20 minutes a day going over the material. If you review the information presented in class within 72 hours, your brain cells remember the information, even two or three weeks down the road. “Cramming” unappealing information (and pulling an “all-nighter”) into your head the night before almost always results in lower grades.
It is highly recommended that you use flash cards to study. They’re cheap and effective. Review the cards you prepare while at a stop light, on a break at work, etc. Just making the cards is helping you study. A very effective tool that “A” students use quite often.
Class Schedule
Date Day Activity/Reading Assignment
January 14 Monday Introduction to class, cover syllabus and
schedule. Introduction to Chapter 17.
January 16 Wednesday Chapter 18
January 21 Monday Chapter 18
January 23 Wednesday Chapter 19
January 28 Monday Chapter 19
January 30 Wednesday Chapter 20
February 4 Monday Chapter 21 First book review topic due
February 6 Wednesday Chapter 22 -5
February 11 Monday Chapter 22 -10
February 13 Wednesday First Examination -15
February 18 Monday President’s Day Holiday
February 20 Wednesday Chapter 23 -20
February 25 Monday Chapter 23 Books no longer accepted
February 27 Wednesday Chapter 24
March 3 Monday Chapter 25
March 5 Wednesday First Book Review/Presentation
March 10 – 14 Spring Break – no class
March 17 Monday Chapter 25
March 19 Wednesday Chapter 26 Second book review topic due;
attendance mandatory
March 24 Monday Chapter 26 -5
March 26 Wednesday Chapter 27 -10
March 31 Monday Chapter 27 -15
April 2 Wednesday Second Examination -20
April 3 Thursday Last day to drop with a “W”
April 7 Monday Chapter 28 Books no longer accepted
April 9 Wednesday Chapter 28
April 14 Monday Chapter 29
April 16 Wednesday Chapter 30
April 21 Monday Chapter 30
April 23 Wednesday Chapter 31
April 28 Monday Chapter 32
April 30 Wednesday Second book review/presentation;
attendance mandatory
May 5 - 9 Final Exam Week
