HIST 101-1003
United States History up to 1877
Number of Credits: 3
Transferability of Course within Nevada: Transfers to all NSHE institutions
Prerequisites: No course prerequisites.
Instructor:AutumResney
Contact Info:
TuTh:4:00 to 5:15
NO TEXTBOOK
Course Details
I.Course Description
Columbus' First Voyage in1492 through the American Civil War and Reconstruction
II.Course Objectives and Linkage to General Education Program
The purpose of this course is provide a foundation of knowledge that allows students to further their study of American History and/or apply this knowledge to meet their personal and professional needs. The information in the parenthesis after a course objective refers to the specific general education (GE) learning outcome that the objective meets. Objectives without this information are not linked to WNC’s general education program.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated they can:
- Exhibit factual command of American History, including economic and military issues of the time period (GE 1).
- Examine historical and cultural changes through the location and evaluation of information including primary and secondary sources (GE 4).
- Describe diverse historical and/or contemporary positions on selected democratic values or practices (GE 5).
- Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking in fluid prose suitable in style and content to the purpose of the document (GE 2, 9).
- Draw a conclusion about a contemporary or enduring issue in American History and support the conclusion with appropriate reasoning and evidence (GE 10).
Attendance is recommended. Assignments are due at the start of class.Late classwork will not be accepted for full credit. A paper copy is required at the start of class. Homework is assigned during class, changes to assignments will also be announced during class. If you don't attend make sure you check in to get that info.
Assessments
Assessment Overview: Course evaluations will be based upon a mid-term and a final exam, 3 internet research projects, 2 article reviews, 2 position papers, 5 biographical summaries, 3 movie fact check assignments and 2 documentary note takers. (Lots of short one page assignments to hone your research and writing skills).
UNPROOFREAD WORK WILL BE REFUSED, if your paper contains grammatical or spelling errors that are excessive, I will not accept it. Please use Word orGrammarly to check for errors and read your paper OUT LOUD. (You get three re-writes in total). If you do not have a APA format bibliography, I will REFUSE your paper. If Easy Bib works for you -- use it.
Exams are essay and short answer in format, they are pre-scheduled.
Midterm Exam300 points
Final Exam300 points
17 short assignments @ 50850 points
Total:1450 points
Grade Scale
100-90%A
89-80%B
79-70%C
69-60%D
59-00%F
+_ Grades will be assigned based on in class presentations/discussions.
A+ grades do not exist, so an A is the highest possible mark you can receive.
Withdrawals are the sole responsibility of the student. The last day for a student to withdraw from the class is March 28th
Office Hours: I will come to class early and stay after to take time with students.
FREE TUTORING: Available in the library at scheduled times.
Written Assignments:
Bibliography Format is APA:
If you use google apps to write papers, footnote citations are automatic, I will demo this in class so you know how it works.
Short Papers (50 points each)
Papers should be one to three pages in length. You need to have at least 3 sources for each paper, and annotated bibliographies are required for most assignments. Annotated means that you literally note what information came from the article or book.
Position Papers, Article Reviews, Biographical Summaries, and Internet Research Projects will be covered in class: Each is one to three pages in length, each requires an annotated bibliography with academic sources. I am a huge fan of Wikipedia, it is an excellent starting place to get your sea legs, but it is not an academic source. Google's "scholarly journals" is the other resource you should visit frequently. WNC has an online library link that will take you to Academic sources and the EBSCO database. If you go to Google and search for "library database WNC" it will take you right to the page for everything-- it is titled WNC Library & Media Services Home. I will assign all topics.
If you completely flop on a given writing assignment, don't worry, I do permit rewrites. You get three rewrites each semester, you can choose when to exercise that privilege. A rewrite is a complete do-over, the original grade is completely replaced. The purpose of this class is to teach you to write well and effectively. I understand that this process may require more than one attempt.
Biographies-- include 3 anecdotes and 3 quotes. I do not want a list of dates and achievements Tell me about the person, what did he think about, what did other people think of him/her. Give me a sense of the person. Select 3 stories and 3 quotes to include in your paper. Your bibliography must have 3 sources that have an AUTHOR. Feel free to read biography.com for background, then find three sources that have an AUTHOR.
Movie Review: You need to select one of the following movies for this assignment. What I'd like you to do is run a fact check. Write down 20 facts from the movie and fact check them. Note what is true or false, exaggerated or minimized, please cite your sources. Since each fact must be cited, no bibliography, just a citation after each fact.
Movies:
Far and Away, Gettysburg, Gods & Generals, Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor, Glory, Young Mr. Lincoln, Lincoln (Spielberg's), The Alamo, 1776, Geronimo, I Will Fight No More Forever, The Last of His Tribe: Ishi, Amistad, The Patriot, John Adams (First half or second half),
Documentary Note Taking Assignment: Your job is simply to take notes. I prefer the Cornell layout with a subject heading on the margin and details indented beneath. But as long as your notes are thorough-- I'm flexible. Beneath are the titles I recommend. If you have something you'd like me to consider-- discuss it with me after class.
Documentaries:
American Experience: The Duel, Lafayette, Reconstruction, The Abolitionists and We Shall Remain. The Conquistadors with Michael Wood (Incas or Aztecs), Indians of North America (2 or more from these titles: Seminoles, Sioux, Apaches, Cherokee, Iroquois or Nez Perce),The War of 1812-PBS, Andrew Jackson: Good and Evil and the Presidency, Lewis & Clark- PBS, The Story of Us (1&2 or 3&4)
TURNITIN
- ALL written work can to be submitted to Turnitin. You will have received an invitation to join the course prior to the start of the semester.Turnitin has a grademark feature that allows you to grammatically check and revise your work. You can access your grade and class status at any time on Turnitin.
Week I:January 26- 28
Columbus, Elizabeth & Phillip, Reformation Review
North American Indians
Week II:Feb 2-4
The Conquistadors: Mayas, Aztecs, Incas
Cortez, Pizarro, Montezuma, Athaulpa
Week III:Feb 9-11
Early Colonies & Pequot/Powhatan Indians
Pilgrims, Puritans, Jamestown, Massacre at Mystic
Week IV:Feb 16-18
French & Indian War, War Debt
British Citizens on this side of the pond
Week V:Feb 23-25
A Civil War Wrapped in another Civil War
Week VI:Mar 1-3
Articles of the Confederation & Constitution
The First Presidencies
Week VII:Mar 8-10
Political Parties Begin, Hamilton V Jefferson,
Alien & Sedition, French Revolution, Embargo Act,
Week VIII:Mar 15-17
Napoleonic Wars & American Politics
Impressment of Sailors, Insurance Costs, Trade Regulation
Week IX:Spring Break No Classes
Week X:Mar 29-31
War of 1812 and Battle of New Orleans "In 1814 We Took a Little Trip"
Midterm Exam: March 31st 3:30p to 5:30p Three In Class Essays
Week XI:Apr 5-7
King Andrew, Nullification, Secession, Trail of Tears
The Triumvirate: Webster, Clay & Calhoun
Week XII:Apr 12-14
Panic of 1836, Tejas, The Alamo, Santa Anna
San Jacinto, Sam Houston & The Accidental Presidency
Week XIII:Apr 19-21
Mexican War, Pres. Taylor's Son-in-Law, The Missouri Compromise
John Brown, Frederick Douglass, The 2 Harriets & Justice Taney
Week XIV:Apr 26-28
Lincoln & Davis, Civil War Battle Strategy
Civil War Tech and Gettysburg
Week XV:May 3-5
Reconstructionand the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
"The Only Good Indian is a Dead Indian"
Week XVI:May 10-12
FirstBlack Congressman, President Grant and the KKK
Hayes & Tilden~ The Scandal of the Century
Geronimo, Cochise, Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph & Crazy Horse
Week XVII: May 17-19
Final Exam Week (3:30p to 5:30p)
In Class Essay Exam
Revised 8/10/161