Lone
Star College-North Harris HIST.
1301
David
L. Davis
August
26-December 14
Office:
A 264-H
281-618-5543
History
office: 281-618-5590
Office Hours:
Mondays:
9-1, A 264-H
Wednesdays:
10-1
By
appointment
U.S
History to 1877
Fall
2013
Introduction & Objectives
This course will
cover selected themes of U.S. History from ancient empires through
Reconstruction in the latter part of the 19th century. The first objective of
this course is to provide you with an overview of American history before 1877.
We will study selected political, economic, social, and cultural developments
during this period so that you will have a basic understanding of the
chronology of early U.S. history from a diverse, international perspective.
Another objective is to enhance your ability to evaluate sources of information.
An adequate overview of any historical period requires a balance of factual
knowledge and critical analysis. Memorization of facts is useless without an
understanding how they fit into a bigger picture. We will pursue these goals
through a mixture of reading (textbook and online), video, and online
discussions.
Required Readings to Purchase (choose one version) - All other readings provided online & free.
Bound Version: George Tindall and
David Shi, America: A Narrative History, 9th Edition, Vol. 1, W.W.
Norton .ISBN: 9780393912630.
Contact/ Communication: Click on the Communication tab frequently to check your mail and read announcements. If you have technological questions contact the Help Desk immediately. If you have a question about the class, send me a mail message from within this class. In most cases, you will receive a response within 24-48 hours.
Technology
This course is supported by the LSC-Online system. You will need to use LSC-Online to access quizzes, discussions, and exams. It is essential that you log into the course frequently to receive announcements, take assessments and participate in various assignments. You will need to be able to check your mail messages and be online on a regular basis throughout the course to receive announcements and participate in course assignments. If you have any problems using LSC-Online, contact the Help Desk immediately.
Civil Communication
This
class is intended to be a safe space for the exchange of ideas. Therefore, it
is necessary for everyone to treat everyone else with courtesy and respect, at
all times, no matter what. Online, as well as in person, the golden rule should
apply: treat others as you would want to be treated yourself.
Here are a few guidelines to help with this.
Here are a few guidelines to help with this.
· Remember that the person you are talking to is human, and like you, is worthy of respect, courtesy, and compassion, at all times.
· Never accuse the person. Never insult others or make broad or sweeping generalizations about a particular group, or even a historical character.
Academic Integrity:
Every student in this class is required to know what is in
the LSCS Academic Integrity Brochure located in the “Start Here” folder for
this class. Read the entire brochure before you begin working on any of the
assignments in this course. Even one instance of plagiarism or cheating of any
kind can result in an F for the course. I expect honesty and integrity from all
students. Many students do not realize that copying only a few words from
someone else’s work constitutes plagiarism but it does. You must write all of
your own words from your own ideas, from your notes you have taken from the
assigned sources. If you do not have the skills to do that, I will help you
develop those skills. Do not be seduced by websites that promise easy A’s. What
they frequently deliver are hard F’s.
Six Drop Rule
Students who
enrolled in Texas public institutions of higher education as first-time
college students during the Fall 2007 term or later are subject to section
51.907 of the Texas Education Code, which states that an institution of higher
education may not permit a student to drop (withdraw with a grade of “W”) from
more than six courses, including courses that a transfer student has previously
dropped at other Texas public institutions of higher education that have
already been counted against their six drop limit. Each student should
fully understand this drop limit before you drop any course. Please see a
Counselor or Advisor in our Student Services area for additional information
and assistance.
Statement Regarding Disability
The American Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination
statute that provides civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. If
you have a disability that requires accommodation(s) to participate in this
course, please contact the LSC-North Harris Learning Accommodations Center
Office as soon as possible (Winship 120, 281-765-7940). The office will provide
you with documentation I need to provide your accommodation(s). Failure to
handle this in a timely manner may delay your accommodations.
Visit the site online at :http://www.lonestar.edu/disabilityservices.htm or call (281) 312-1453. Course
Requirements & Evaluations
We will
have four exams. They will all be essay exams. You will choose one question
from a selection of options and compose a 3-5 paragraph essay in response.
These questions will grow directly out of our classroom discussions. For that
reason, it will be wise for you to take notes during our classroom discussions
and to practice with the online discussions. Bring a Blue Book to class. Your exams must be taken in a Blue Book.
Make-Up Exam Policy
Your
lowest exam score (excluding the final) will be dropped. If you miss an exam,
that exam will be dropped. If you miss two exams, you will have missed too
many, and you will need to repeat the course.
Participation
=
10 percent
Participation
is defined as showing up for class on time, as well as actively and
respectfully participating in
all class activities.
Online Discussions = extra credit
Throughout
the course, we will have several online discussions. These discussions are an
opportunity for you to engage with me and your fellow students outside of
class, while also practicing for your essay exams These discussions will not be
given a percentage grade. You can have 1-2 extra points added to your exam
score for each online discussion you complete on time.
Reading and Unit Schedule
|
DAY
|
DATE
|
TOPICS AND EVENTS
|
READINGS
|
|
Orientation
|
August 26-31
|
During this first week, you should complete the
following:
|
|
|
UNIT
1
|
|
NEW WORLD
|
|
|
|
September 3
|
Collision
of Cultures
|
Ch. 1
|
|
|
September 5
|
Britain
and Its Colonies
|
Ch.
2
|
|
|
September 10
|
Colonial
Ways of Life, International Presence in the Americas
|
Ch. 3
|
|
|
September 12
|
The
Imperial Perspective
|
Ch.
4
|
|
|
Monday, September 23
|
UNIT 1 Exam, Extra Credit
|
Chapters 1-4
|
|
UNIT 2
|
|
BUILDING A
NATION
|
|
|
|
October 1
|
American
Revolution
|
Ch.
5
|
|
|
October 3
|
Shaping
a Federal Union
|
Ch. 6
|
|
|
October 8
|
Federalist
Era
|
Ch.
7
|
|
|
October 10
|
Early
Republic
|
Ch. 8
|
|
|
Monday, October 21
|
UNIT 2 Exam, Extra Credit
|
Chapters 5-8
|
|
UNIT 3
|
|
AN EXPANSIVE NATION
|
|
|
|
October 22
|
Dynamics of Growth
|
Ch. 9
|
|
|
October 24
|
Nationalism and Sectionalism
|
Ch. 10
|
|
|
October 29
|
The Jacksonian Era
|
Ch. 11
|
|
|
October 31
|
The Old South
|
Ch. 12
|
|
|
November 5
|
Religion, Romanticism, and Reform
|
Ch: 13
|
|
November 13
|
W Day
|
Last day to withdraw
with a grade of W
|
|
|
|
November 12
|
UNIT 3 Exam, Extra Credit
|
|
|
UNIT 4
|
|
THE HOUSE DIVIDED AND REBUILT
|
|
|
|
November 19
|
An Empire in the West
|
Ch. 14
|
|
|
November 21
|
The Gathering Storm
|
Ch. 15
|
|
|
November 28
|
Thanksgiving Holiday
|
|
|
|
December 3
|
The War of Union: Cotton
and the World Market
|
Ch. 16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 5
|
Reconstruction: North and
South
|
Ch. 17
|
|
|
Check Final Exam
Schedule
|
UNIT 4 EXAM (FINAL
EXAM )
Extra Credit
|
|
