University of North Texas
History 2610.031 and 2610.888 (combined course)
United States History to 1865
Summer 2016 5W1 Course Syllabus
ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY CONTACT BLACKBOARD
Email: Phone: (940) 565-2324
This class operates best with Firefox. Do not take quizzes using Internet Explorer
Instructor: Dr. Deborah Liles. Office is in Wooten Hall 229
E-Mail:
Office Hours: June 14, 17, 21, and 24 from 9am – 12 pm. Via email throughout the semester.
Teaching Assistant (TA): Please put HIST 2610 Online in the subject heading of all emails.
A – F your TA is Aaron Miller
G – R your TA is Tiffany Smith
S – Z Kylie Woodlock
Course Goal: The objective of this course will be to provide the student with a basic knowledge of American History to 1865.
Mandatory Texts:
The American Journey: A History of the United States, Vol 1. 7th Edition. (ISBN: 9780205971855)
American History Reader Vol 1 (ISBN: 9780738074641)
Grading:
15 weekly quizzes. (100 points each). 1,500 points
4 quizzes over readings in Reader in American History (200 pts each) 800 points
Four discussion postings (50 points each) 200 points
Mid Term (500 points) 500 points
Final (500 points) 500 points___
3,500 points total
Point breakdown (your final numeric grade/3500):
A= 3,150 – 3,500 pts. B= 2,800 – 3,149 pts. C= 2,450 – 2,799 pts. D = 2,100 – 2,449 pts.
F= less than 2,099 pts.
Weekly Quizzes: Weekly quizzes come from Goldfield’s The American Journey. Each quiz is available from the beginning of the semester, but closes permanently at 11:59pm according to the schedule on the syllabus. You will have two hours and two chances to take each of them.
Reading Quizzes: These questions come from American History Reader. There are 4 of these quizzes worth 200 points each. They all have different due dates--see schedule at end of this syllabus--but open on the first week of class so that you can take them early. You will have two hours and two chances to take them.
Discussion postings: There are four discussion postings during the course of the semester. Several primary (first hand) document postings have be made by the instructor in the appropriate discussion forum. You will write a posting (approximately 200 words) that explains how that document compares or contrasts to readings in your text book, reader, or both. You will also reply to a classmate’s posting. Your posting is worth up to 25 points and your reply is worth up to 25 points; no late postings will be accepted.
Mid-Term and Final Exams: You will be given the choice of three essay questions for each exam based on your readings from The American Journey and American History Reader. You are required to answer two of these questions. No multiple choice questions from weekly quizzes are included in the exams. The mid-term will cover the first half of the class; the final will cover the last half of the class. You will have 2 hours to take your exams. You will get one attempt. Consult the schedule at the end of the syllabus for due dates. Keep up with postings in the Professor’s Forum for important exam postings and instructions.
Taking Exams: Before each exam, instructions will be posted about taking and submitting them on the class home page. We use a program called Turnitin, which checks extensively for Plagiarism. If you are caught using someone else’s work (cheating) you will fail the exam and possibly this whole course. Per the University of North Texas Undergraduate Catalog “Code of Student Conduct and Discipline,” incidents of cheating, plagiarism (presenting another person’s work as one’s own), or other academic misconduct may be punishable by the assignment of a grade of zero, failure in the course, or expulsion from the university. Don’t do it, it’s just not worth it.
Returning Exams to Students: Students will receive access to graded exams and comments when all of the exams are graded. Any questions concerning your exam score must be made during the one day period after results are released. Please make sure you check daily to know when that day occurs.
Make-Ups: Due to the simple fact that programming is involved in every aspect of this class, no make-up quizzes are offered. An extra credit quiz is offered at the end of the semester, which can substitute for one missed chapter quiz or can serve to boost your grade. A mid-term exam make up is offered BUT only at my discretion, only for two days after the exam is over, and with a possible letter grade penalty. There will be no make-up exam for the final.
Disabilities: “The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. Students are strongly encouraged to deliver letters of accommodation during faculty office hours or by appointment. Faculty members have the authority to ask students to discuss such letters during their designated office hours to protect the privacy of the student. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.”
Additional Resources: The University of North Texas provides students a number of resources to enable them to succeed in their studies. The Department of History also provides the History Help Center and History Department Library that are staffed by graduate students who can assist students with tutoring and essay writing advice. Below is contact information for helpful student resources: History Help Center, Wooten 220, (940) 565-4772. History Dept. Library, Wooten 267, (940) 369-7681
Assignment Schedule – Please pay attention to the due dates!
Readings and Quizzes Due Date
Ch 1: Worlds Apart------June 15
Ch 2: Transplantation and Adaptation 1600-1685 ------June 15
Ch 3: A Meeting of Cultures ------June 15
Ch 4: English Colonies in an Age of Empire 1660s-1763------June 15
Discussion forum posting #1------June 15
**Reading quiz #1. Chapters 1 – 5 in American History Reader------June 15
Ch 5: Imperial Breakdown 1763-1774------June 22
Ch 6: The War for Independence 1774-1783------June 22
Ch 7: The First Republic 1776-1789 ------June 22
Ch 8: A New Republic and the Rise of Parties 1789-1800------June 22
Discussion forum posting #2------June 22
**Reading quiz #2. Chapters 6 – 10 in American History Reader------June 22
****MID-TERM (Over Ch 1– Ch 8 and disc forums) Open June 22-23*****
Ch 9: The Triumph and Collapse of Jeffersonian Republicanism 1800-1824-- June 29
Ch 10: The Jacksonian Era 1824-1845 ------June 29
Ch 11: Slavery and the Old South 1800-1860 ------June 29
Ch 12: The Market Revolution and Social Reform 1815-1850------June 29 Discussion forum posting #3------June 29
**Reading quiz #3. Chapters 11 – 15 in American History Reader------June 29
Ch 13: The Way West 1815-1850 ------July 6
Ch 14: The Politics of Sectionalism 1846-1861------July 6
Ch 15: Battle Cries and Freedom Songs: The Civil War 1861-1865 ------July 6
Discussion forum posting #4 ------July 6
**Reading quiz #4. Chapters 16 – 20 in American History Reader------July 6
Extra credit quiz------July 6
****************FINAL (Covers Ch 9- Ch 15) Open July 6-7*************
****Important****
· Please pay attention to due dates. Remember no make-ups once the assignment is closed.
· All work may be turned in early but if it is late you will earn zero credit. No exceptions.
· You are given 2 chances on quizzes in case you have technical problems. If you have technical problems, please do not email me asking for a third chance.
· The Extra Credit quiz is not mandatory; it is worth 100 points. Questions on the quiz come from all of the chapters read in the class. This is a great option to use if you miss a quiz or need a few extra points to boost your grade to the next level. J It is only open on the last week of class-work, and due at the same time as chapter 15. Plan ahead and you should have no trouble. Your grade is still calculated out of 3,500 points.