History of the United States through 1865
History 108 (HIS 108) #44137
Three (3) Credit Hours
Fall 2011
SomersetCommunity College
Clinton Center, Tuesday/Thursday 8:30-9:45 am
Instructor:Kara S. Conner
Telephone:606-306-2172 personal
Monday-Sunday 5:00 am-5:00 pm ONLY
Email:
Email will be checked daily.
Division Chairperson:Jon Burlew
Telephone:606-451-6748
Office:Somerset Community College, Cooper 131
Email:
Course Description:
This course traces the nation’s development through the Civil War. It is designed to meet the demands for a general understanding of American history.
*This course is a web-enhanced study. A web-enhanced course means that you will submit all course assignments, tests, essay, and PowerPoint presentation online through BlackBoard.
Prerequisites
None.
NEW Textbook Information
Carnes, Mark C. and John A. Garraty. American Destiny: Narrative of a Nation. Volume I: to 1877. Fourth edition. New York: Pearson Education, 2012.
Course Competencies
1.Demonstrate understanding of human behavior, individually or collectively, and think critically in an historical or geographical context and think critically in a political or economic context.
2.Demonstrate basic historical literacy in the context of early American history to 1865.
KCTCS General Education Competency Statements
I.Communicate Effectively
1.Read and listen with comprehension.
2.Speak and write using standard English.
3.Interact cooperatively with others using both verbal and non-verbal means.
4.Demonstrate information processing through basic computer skills.
In History 104, History 105, History 108, and History 109, students will accomplish and meet these skills by reading varied texts, discussing those texts, and writing about them.
Students will be encouraged and given opportunities to speak in class through discussion questions as well as in a required presentation. Students will utilize peer groups for cooperative learning. Interaction in class and in peer groups will require both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
All written work will be processed using technology.
II.Think Critically
1.Make connections in learning across disciplines and draw logical conclusions.
2.Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and/or integrating a variety of materials.
3.Use mathematics to organize, analyze, and synthesize data to solve a problem.
In History 104, History 105, History 108, and History 109, students will learn to make connections across disciplines as they read and interpret varied primary and secondary sources. Students will use problem solving to manage their individual history project. Students may be required to interpret mathematical and statistical data in their readings and writing projects.
III.Learn Independently
1.Use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use information.
2.Make choices based upon awareness of ethics and differing perspectives/ideas.
3.Apply learning in academic, personal, and public situations.
4.Think creatively to develop new ideas, processes, or products.
In History 104, History 105, History 108, and History 109, students will use a variety of print resources to complete class work. Students will be encouraged to consider all aspects of ethical decision making before forming opinions. Students will be encouraged to see the applications of class learning experiences in academic, personal, and public situations. Researching, writing, and reading will encourage students to develop creative ideas, processes, and products.
IV.Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex Environments
1.Recognize the relationship of the individual to human heritage and culture.
2.Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to biological and physical environments.
3.Develop an awareness of self as an individual member of a multicultural, global community.
In History 104, History 105, History 108, and History 109, diversity will be stressed as students work in groups, read diverse materials, acquire diverse resources, and discuss the elements of a diverse culture and a global community. Students will be encouraged to reflect upon these points.
Special Accommodations – ADA Statement of Procedure
Disabilities Statement:
Students with disabilities or special needs are encouraged to contact the Student Disability Coordinator, Mary Petry, (606)451-6706, Somerset North, Room 122D as early in the semester as possible in order to begin the process of determining appropriate educational accommodations. This also helps to insure that the faculty and staff are aware of the student’s needs in case of emergency evacuation of the premises.
Student Code of Conduct – Academic Honesty and Rights
Every student is expected to abide by the KCTCS Student Code of Conduct in all matters dealing with his/her specific rights, appeals, and academic honesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating of any kind including plagiarism. Plagiarism is of paramount concern because of access to technology and resource materials. It is the student’s responsibility to review the Student Code of Conduct in all its parts. Incidences of either cheating or plagiarism may result in failure of the work assigned or failure in the class at the discretion of the instructor. The KCTCS “Community College Code of Student Conduct” is available on the KCTCS website ( Students are responsible for all material in the Code.
Course Requirements
You are required to maintain the KCTCS student email account provided to you. Students are required to prepare and submit all assignments and tests on time. Students are required to have the textbook listed for this class.
All written work must have your name and date at the top of the paper. All written work must be typed in Microsoft Word and/or saved as RTF (Rich Text File).
All assignments have a due date and a due time. You may be in a different time zone than this. If you are not sure of your time zone, let me know and we will figure it out. All assignments may be submitted prior to their due dates but not after. See late work policy.
Attendance Policy
You must attend at least one class during the first week of classes or you will be marked as a no-show.
Assignments
Chapter Examinations:
Each chapter exam tests lecture and reading materials. Each chapter exam is worth 100 points. Each chapter exam is restricted to that particular week’s reading assignment. Do not wait until the last minute to take the exam. Once you begin the exam, you must finish. You may take the chapter exam only one time. Each chapter exam has a time restriction.
Final Exam:
The final exam is comprehensive. Watch for the Announcements for the exact date when the final exam will be posted.
Essay:
You will write a three-page, typed, double-spaced essay on an assigned topic. You must use in-text citations for all sources (including your textbook and classroom notes). In addition, you must include a works cited page, which is not inclusive to the three pages. Follow MLA rules for citations.
Topic:Slavery in the United States left an unforgettable mark on American society. Research slavery in the Old South. In your essay on slavery in the United States, respond to the following questions:
- How did the slaveholding class maintain a façade of absolute control over the slave system?
- How did slaveholders justify the realities of slavery against the Declaration of Independence?
- What facet of slavery caused the strongest reaction in you? Explain your thoughts and feelings in detail.
Your essay is worth 200 points. See the grading form for more information about how your paper is graded.
Miscellaneous Projects:
You will be given miscellaneous assignments to complete as supplemental grades. These assignments will have date restrictions to that particular week. Do not wait until the last minute to begin work on those assignments.
Course Evaluation
You are required to complete the course evaluation, which should be posted sometime near the end of the semester. You will be awarded participation points for your completion of the evaluation. However, I WILL NOT see the results of the evaluations until after the semester has ended and final grades have been posted.
Grading
Your grade is based on the percentage of points earned from the total points available:
Total Points EarnedGrade
90-100%A
80-89.99%B
70-79.99%C
60-69.99%D
0-59.99%E
Your assignment and exam grades will be maintained in the grade book accessible from your homepage.
Late Work
All assignments must be submitted on time. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON! If you experience technical difficulties with your computer, internet, or BlackBoard, you must immediately contact me via telephone.
Drop/Add Policy
The drop/add policy for this class shall follow the guidelines set forth by the registrar as to dates and times. See the fall 2011 calendar for all important dates concerning the drop/add policies and deadlines.
Schedule of Classes and Assignments (Subject to Change)
DATE / LECTURE / ASSIGNMENTWeek 1
August 15-21 / Course Introduction: Syllabus, Grading Guides, General Information
Age of Exploration PowerPoint
Reading: Prologue and Chapter 1 / Syllabus Quiz
Meet and Greet Activity
Week 2
August 22-28 / Age of Exploration
Colonial America
Reading: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 / Activity
Week 3
August 29-September 4 / Colonial America PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 2 / Chapter 1 Exam
Chapter 2 Exam
Activity
Week 4
September 6-11 / Discontent and Revolution PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 3 / Activity
Week 5
September 12-18 / Discontent and Revolution PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 4 / Chapter 3 Exam
Activity
Week 6
September 19-25 / Constitution PowerPoint
Age of Federalism PowerPoint
Reading; Constitution of the United States (see appendix); Chapter 5 / Chapter 4 Exam
Activity
Week 7
September 26-October 2 / Age of Jefferson PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 6 / Chapter 5 Exam
Activity
Week 8
October 3-5 / Age of Jackson PowerPoint
Old South PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 7; Chapter 8
FALL BREAK – OCTOBER 5-8 / Chapter 6 Exam
Activity
Week 9
October 10-16 / Age of Jackson PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 9 / ESSAY DUE
Chapter 7 Exam
Week 10
October 17-23 / Age of Jackson PowerPoint / Chapter 8 Exam
Activity
Week 11
October 24-30 / Age of Jackson PowerPoint
Westward Expansion PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 10; Chapter 11 / Chapter 9 Exam
Activity
Week 12
October 31-November 6 / Westward Expansion PowerPoint
Mexican-American War PowerPoint
Old South PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 12 / Chapter 10 Exam
Activity
Week 13
November 7-13 / Crises of the 1850s PowerPoint
Secession and Declaration of War PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 13 / Chapter 11 Exam
Chapter 12 Exam
Activity
Week 14
November 14-20 / Civil War PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 14 / Chapter 13 Exam
Activity
Week 15
November 21-23 / Civil War PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 14
Thanksgiving Break – November 24-26 / Chapter 14 Exam
Activity
Week 16
November 28-December 4 / Ending the War and Reconstruction PowerPoint
Reading: Chapter 15 / Chapter 15 Exam
Activity
Week 17
December 5-10 / Final Exam – Watch the Announcements for the exact date when the final exam will be posted. / Final Exam
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