Trinity Valley Community College

COURSE SYLLABUS

HISTORY 1301:  UNITED STATES HISTORY TO 1877

Professor: E. Michael Young

Office Hours / Contact Information: My office is T101. Office hours are 10-12, Monday through Friday. Additional office hours are posted on my door. Please contact me if you would like to visit at some other time. The best way to contact me is via email at eyoung@tvcc.edu. My office phone number is (903) 729-0256 extention 261.

Textbooks: Give Me Liberty!: an American Story, Second Edition, by Eric Foner. 

Withdraw Policy: If the student decides to not complete the course, it is his or her responsibility to officially withdraw. The last day to withdraw with a “W” on your transcripts is November 21, otherwise you will receive an “F.”

How to Succeed in the Class: Read the handout “Ten Tips for Student Success.”

Course Objective: The overall objective of this course is for the student to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the material covered in the course. History I surveys the major political, social, cultural, military, economic, constitutional, and intellectual developments of the United States from colonization to Reconstruction. The best way to learn history is to understand why events occurred, not simply to memorize names and dates. So, this course will focus on the various historical interpretations of events and look for patterns of cause and effect. Also, the students will do independent research in history in order to complete two writing assignments.

Course Methodology: Lectures will be the primary instructional method, but I strongly encourage questions and class discussion.

Course Rationale: The Texas legislature requires students to take 6 hours of American history to graduate from an institution of higher learning in Texas. The rationale being that a more educated individual, cognizant of the major events, persons, and trends in American history, will become a better, more responsible, citizen and voter. This course is also designed to help the student improve his or her reading, writing, critical thinking, and research skills. I believe that the study of history, and the academic skills and knowledge it develops, are intellectually fulfilling and aid the student to succeed in other academic and professional endeavors.

Course Grade: Your grade will be calculated by a point system. There are a maximum of 290 points, not including extra credit.

A (90 -100% or 261-290 points) B (80-89% or 232-260 points) C (70-79% or 203-231 points) D (60-69% or 174-202) F (59% or 173 and below)

Four Unit Exams (50 points each): Each test will cover four chapters and consist of 40 multiple choice questions and two short essay questions.

Two Writing Assignments (30 points each): 1) Book Review, 2) Civil War Letter Project

Three Class Activities (10 points each): These will take place in class unannounced. You can only make up one class activity by writing a page and a half biography of a historical figure covered in this class.   

Exams: The four unit exams, usually covering 4 chapters each, will consist of 40 multiple choice questions and two short essay questions. The exams will test your knowledge of material covered in the Foner textbook and the lectures. To focus your test preparation, a list of the terms you can expect to see on the exam and the essay question are in the Study Guide. I will pass out a study for each section.

Make-up Tests: If you must miss class on a test day, and you notify me before the test and later present me with documentation to support your absence (such as a doctor’s note), then I will allow you to take the make-up the exam. Make arrangements with me as soon as possible by emailing me or talking to me after class.

Book Analysis: From the Book Analysis Assignment, you will choose one book from a list of six. The student must follow the exact paragraph format for this writing project as described in the assignment.  The paper is due Thursday, October 16. The maximum score for this project is 30 points. .

Civil War Primary Source Project:  I will distribute to the class a collection of Civil War era primary source documents and you will use these to complete a 4 to 5 page paper. I will distribute a hand-out providing the exact guidelines for this project. The Civil War project is Due Tuesday, December 4.

Attendance Policy: You are expected to attend class everyday on time. If you miss class or are late 4 times you will be deducted 5 points. But if you maintain perfect attendance you will receive 5 points. Experience has shown me that students with good attendance almost always get high grades.    

Extra Credit: For 10 points, write a 1 ½ to 2 page summary of the “Ten Tips for Student Success.” In your concluding paragraph, describe the area you personally need to improve the most. It must be turned in before Exam II (October 23). You can also get 5 points for perfect attendance.

Deadlines: No late papers will be accepted. I will not extend exam or re-test deadlines.

Incompletes: The grade of I (Incomplete) will only be awarded for medical reasons verified by a satisfactory letter from a physician. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Academic Dishonesty: Anyone caught looking at a fellow student’s test paper, cheating on the tests, or caught plagiarizing (not writing one’s own essay), will receive an F in the course and be referred to the Student Affairs Dean for disciplinary action.

Academic Freedom: The free and open exchange of ideas is vital to the pursuit of learning. No student should feel inhibited from expressing his or her opinion on any subject. In the Socratic fashion, I may challenge your views if only to provoke thought, but it should not be construed that I agree or disagree with you. The opinions you express in your essay will be graded on how well you support your arguments with objective facts, not if I agree or disagree with your opinion. I encourage bold and independent thinking.

Course Calendar: Attached.