HIST 1301 – United States History I
Section 31, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00pm to 2:15 pm in Room BB 133
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Name: Dr. Keith Volanto
Office Number: L-206 (2nd floor of new library)
Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10:00-12:00 pm (& by appointment)
Office Phone: (972) 578-5531
Email:
PROFESSOR’S WEB PAGE: http://iws2.collin.edu/kvolanto
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and creation of the federal government.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES - Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:
1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period of United States history.
Course Credit Hours: 3 Lecture Hours
Prerequisites: Meet TSI college-readiness standard for English; or equivalent.
Course Resources:
TEXTBOOK --
The American Challenge: A New History of the United States, Volume I, 3rd Edition, by Moretta, Phillips, et al. (Abigail Press)
SUPPLIES –
Bring a pen and paper for note taking to each class; also, you must bring a #2 pencil and a Scantron Form 882-E (small, rectangular, green & white) available at the vending machine in front of the bookstore in case we have a review quiz on that day.
You will also need one Scantron Form and a Blue Book for each exam.
ATTENDANCE POLICY/WITHDRAWAL:
Though we will not take formal attendance in this class each day, your attendance is expected every day the class meets. We will be having 7 review quizzes throughout the semester (You are allowed to drop your lowest quiz score, thus you may miss one quiz entirely without your course grade being affected.)
***I do not give out lecture notes nor make PowerPoint slides available on the web site. It is the student’s responsibility to get notes and other information from any missed class.
If you are unable to complete the course, you must withdraw by Friday, October 17.
Withdrawing from a course is a formal procedure that you must initiate. If you stop attending class and do not withdraw, you will receive the grade you earn, usually an F. If you withdraw from the course, you will receive a grade of W. Withdrawal forms can be found in the Admissions and Records Office.
GRADING/METHOD OF EVALUATION --
EXAMS
***There will be four exams. The 1st three exams will be worth 100 points each.
The final exam will be non-cumulative but will be worth 135 points.
For the exams you will be responsible for lecture and textbook material, including assigned textbook readings that cover material not mentioned during class.
The exams will usually consist of:
a) multiple choice & true/false questions from lecture terms and textbook terms not covered in class
b) an essay question on a major theme covered in class and the textbook.
Note: 3 or 4 essay possibilities will be posted ahead of time—one of these will be placed on the test.
Make-up Exams:
Students who failing to take an exam at the regularly scheduled time MUST inform the professor before the class meets again by email or phone, then provide a valid, documented reason for missing the test. If allowed, students have seven calendar days to make up the exam or they get a zero for that test score.
The makeup exams are generally longer and more detailed than the regular exams. They have essays in addition to other challenging questions that are generally harder than the regular exams, so it is probably in the best interest of students to take all exams at the regularly scheduled times.
THERE ARE NO MAKEUPS FOR MISSED MAKEUP EXAMS—if you schedule a make-up, stick to the date and time we arrange.
REVIEW QUIZZES
***We will have 7 review quizzes taking place on dates specified in your course calendar (reminders will be posted on my instructor web site). They will be worth 15 points each and your lowest score will be dropped.
*** Remember to bring a Scantron Form 882-E (small, rectangular, green & white) to class on quiz days.
These quizzes will be given at the beginning of the specified classes and will consist of 7 to 10 multiple choice/true-false questions on major points covered in the previous lecture and textbook reading (see the posted terms list for what may be asked).
You will be given 10 minutes to complete the quiz. Any quizzes not turned in after the 10 minutes will result in a score of zero, thus it is important to get to class on time every day. There are no makeups for the quizzes (either because of lateness or a missed class) – you can use your free one to cover any missed quiz..
HOMEWORK
There will be three homework assignments worth 25 points each. These assignments will involve reading an article or visiting a historical website and usually involve writing a 3-4 page (double-spaced) essay following guidelines laid down by the instructor.
All homework not turned in at the beginning of class on the due date will be considered late and will suffer a 10-point penalty. You have plenty of time to do each assignment and are encouraged to turn them in before the due date. After the next class meeting, late HW will no longer be accepted.
GRADING SCALE:
Exam #1 100 pts. 600 - 540 = A (100-90%)
Exam #2 100 pts. 539 - 480 = B (89-80%)
Exam #3 100 pts. 479 - 420 = C (79-70%)
Final Exam 135 pts. 419 - 360 = D (69-60%)
Homework 75 pts. Below 359 = F
Review Quizzes 90 pts.
600 total points
Suggestions on how to read the textbook chapters:
Ø When reading & re-reading the chapters, USE THE LIST OF TERMS I POST ON MY WEB SITE AS YOUR GUIDE. When it comes time to making up textbook questions for the quizzes and tests, I will look to those terms. Narrow down the information by highlighting what you think are the key points and major supporting information. Now, rather than memorizing every word in the chapters, you can focus on the most important info as you review.
Ø I don’t ask questions about specific dates, nor do I ask questions about specific numbers or statistics. Your text will give you a lot of both, but do not get bogged down trying to memorize when someone was born, how many tons of steel was produced in Pittsburgh in a given year, how many men were killed in this or that battle, etc. Stick to the major points rather than such details.
OTHER POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS:
Laptop Computers
No laptop computers are allowed in class (unless students have a documented disability that necessitates their use in the classroom).
No Cell Phones/Text Messaging in Class
Turn off your cell phones before coming to class.
No text messaging is allowed in class. One student in the class shall get a warning for all as a reminder, afterwards I will take off 10 points off the final course score for each violation of this policy.
Tape Recorders
You have my permission to tape my lectures as long as you are using it for yourself and/or a classmate. Lectures are legally copyrighted material, therefore they cannot be sold, bartered, etc. without expressed written permission.
Leaving Class Early:
Students must inform the professor before class begins if they cannot stay for the entire class period. Students who need to leave early will be placed in an open seat or chair near the door so they cause a minimum distraction upon leaving.
As with the text messaging policy, after an initial reminder/warning to an individual, any student who disrupts class by leaving class and not returning without giving prior notice will have 10 points taken off their final course score for each occurrence. (Repeated disruptions of this variety may be reported to the Dean of Student Development for disciplinary action).
You do not have to ask permission to leave the classroom temporarily to go to the bathroom, clear your throat, etc. Just leave your stuff on your desk so we know that you will be returning.
Seating Chart:
There will be a seating chart for all class meetings and exams. The seating assignments will be decided on a first-come/first-served basis at the 1st class meeting of the 2nd week, so get to class early that day if you have a strong preference for a specific seat. If you miss class when seats are assigned, you will get placed in a seat on your first day back.
Collin College Academic Policies:
Academic Ethics Statement
Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Collin College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission of one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means:
Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination; collaborating with another student during an examination without authority; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet files, using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own; or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.
Those found to have taken part in academic dishonesty will receive a zero on the assignment or exam and the instructor will report the event to the Dean of Students Office.
RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS:
Refer to the current Collin Student Handbook
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Collin College will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the ACCESS office, SCC-G200 or 972.881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950) to arrange for appropriate accommodations. See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.
Course Calendar on the back page à
TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR (subject to slight modification)
LIST OF LECTURE TOPICS [WITH TEXTBOOK READINGS (3th ed.) IN BRACKETS]
(Each topic/readings represents approximately one class day)
Course Introduction [no readings]
Native Americans/Exploration/The “Columbian Exchange” [Chapter 1, pp. 1-20, 22-25]
** Seating Chart + The Reformation/England vs. Spain rivalry/the Roanoke colonies [Chap.1, pp. 20-22; Ch. 2, pp. 29-30 on Roanoke]
** Review Quiz #1 on previous reading and lecture + Jamestown & Early Virginia [Chap. 2, pp. 30-46]
The Puritans/Founding of Plymouth & the Massachusetts Bay Colony [Chap. 3, pp. 67-88]
** Review Quiz #2 on previous reading and lecture + Pennsylvania/the Carolina Colony/Slave Trade
[Ch. 2, pp. 46-59; Ch. 3, pp. 88-105]
** HW #1 Due + English Colonies, 1700-1763/French and Indian War [Chapter 4, all pages—pp. 109-29]
MID-TERM EXAM #1 àApprox. Thursday, Sept. 18
Coming of the American Revolution I [Chap. 5, pp. 133-41]
Review Quiz #3 on previous reading and lecture + Coming of the Am. Revolution II + Start of the Revolution [Chap. 5, pp. 141-51]
American Revolution/Articles of Confederation [Chap. 6, all—pp.155-79; Ch. 7, pp. 183-94]
** Review Quiz #4 on previous reading and lecture + Constitutional Convention/Ratification of the Constitution [Ch. 7, pp. 194-201]
Washington’s Presidency/Jefferson vs. Hamilton [Chap. 8, pp. 205-16]
** HW #2 Due + Political Parties Form/Adams Presidency/Election of 1800 [Chap. 8, pp. 216-25]
MID-TERM EXAM #2 àApprox. Tuesday, Oct. 14
Jefferson in Power [Chap. 9, pp. 229-40]
Last Day to Withdraw is Friday, October 17
Quiz #5 on previous reading/lecture + Madison in Power/War of 1812 [Chap. 9, pp. 240-47]
The Market Revolution [Ch. 10, pp. 251-64; Chap. 12, pp. 311-13]
Postwar Politics and the Rise of Andrew Jackson [Ch. 10, pp. 264-71; Ch.11, pp. 275-87]
Jackson’s Presidency/Whigs vs. Democrats [Ch. 11, pp. 287-303]
MID-TERM EXAM #3 à (Approx. Tues., Nov. 4)
American Slavery & the Old South [Chap. 12, pp. 318-23]
Review Quiz #6 on previous reading and lecture + Abolitionism/Free Northern Blacks [Ch. 12, pp. 314-17; Ch. 13, pp. 342-49]
Mexican War/The Compromise of 1850 [Chap. 14, all pages—pp.355-73; Ch. 15, pp. 377-85]
Kansas-Nebraska Act/Coming of the Civil War [Ch. 15, pp. 385-99]
Civil War I [Chap. 16, pp. 403-20]
Review Quiz #7 on previous reading and lecture + Civil War II [Chap. 16, pp. 420-32]
Thankgsiving Break about here
** HW #3 Due + Postwar Reconstruction [lecture only, but see Chapter 17 for reference…]
** Review Game for Extra Credit
** The FINAL EXAM is on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 1:00 pm