HIST 1301 CRN 15107 American History to 1877 Essays - Education

HIST 1301 CRN 15107 American History to 1877 Spring 2017 TR 9:30 to 11:00 Houston Community College Southwest-West Loop Campus, Room C252 Instructor: Dr. Rogan Ellen Brunet Email: [emailprotected] Website: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/rogan.brunet Office: C256, Phone: 7137182084 Course Description: History 1301 is a survey of United States history from Native American cultures to 1877. It will focus on the evolution of the economic, social/cultural and political institutions which define the development of the modern United States and its people. Although this course is built around historical events and processes, it is much more than a simple recitation of facts. Students will learn and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and will work with historical documents, maps and economic and demographic models. History 1301 is a 16 week, 48 contact hour course which fulfills three hours of the state-mandated six-hour history requirement. Completion of this class will also improve performance in reading, writing, critical thinking, communication, and computer skills. Prerequisites: Must be currently enrolled or have completed ENGL 1301. Learning Outcomes: a. To create an argument through the use of historical evidence b. The ability to analyze and interpret primary and secondary source documents c. The capability to analyze the effect of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global forces on different eras of history d. To explain the importance of chronology and how earlier concepts and actions shaped later events STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss the Age of Exploration Explain Colonization Identify the causes and effects of the American Revolution Explain the origins and impact of slavery Analyze the formation of the Republic Summarize the effects of expansion and innovation Explain Nationalism and Sectionalism Discuss the Civil War Evaluate the effects of Reconstruction Texts: Recommended: America, A Narrative History, v. 1, brief 10th edition, George Tindall, David Shi Recommended: www.digitalhistory.uh.edu, Stephen Mintz (recommended) Required-Love and Hate in Jamestown, David A. Price Required-His Excellency: George Washington, Joseph Ellis Purchasing a textbook for this class is not required. If you want a textbook for this class, my recommendation is America, A Narrative History, v1. There is also an online textbook available at www.digitalhistory.uh.edu. This course is lecture intensive however and reading a textbook will not replace lecture notes. Any textbook should be used as a supplement to the information presented each day in class. This is a working syllabus and remains flexible. Please feel free to ask questions and remember that participation is crucial to your grade in this class. The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus at any time, with notification to the students. Discussion/Lecture Format Class: This class is both a standard lecture format and a discussion based class. Each class period, we (actually you) will discuss the written lecture assigned for that day or we will have a lecture. On the Course Calendar you will see that I have divided up our subjects by topics, not by chapters. This is because I do not follow any textbook; my lectures are my own. Every topic has a lecture that is available on my LW site. I will either lecture on the topic or you will discuss the lecture that you have read in advance. Your participation in the class discussion is noted. Students who participate in the day's discussion receive one participation point. Exams: There will be two exams in this course, a midterm and a final. Each exam will consist of twenty-five identifications and one essay and will be typed in the computer lab. A study guide to the exam will be given prior to the exam date. Each exam is worth 100 pts. No student will be admitted to the classroom twenty minutes after the exam has begun. It is assumed that all students will take all exams at the assigned times, unless you make arrangements to the contrary ahead of the scheduled exam time. Students will be required to put away all electronic devices, including cell phones, during exams. No blue book is required for your exams. Please be warned. I do NOT want to see my own lecture notes in ANY of the exams that you hand back to me. One, it counts as plagiarism. Two, this class is designed to develop YOUR critical thinking skills. If you need help, if you feel overwhelmed, if you feel that you cannot do this, come and talk to me. Do not, however, regurgitate the facts that I give you. They are to be used as a springboard for your own thoughts and opinions. Reading Assignments: There will be two monographs (books) that will be given in addition to your regular exams.