Spring 2020 Syllabus

 

Course Title:

US History I-US History to 1865

Course Prefix & Number: 

1301

Section Number: 

343

Semester/Year:

Spring, 2020

Semester Credit Hours:

3

Lecture Hours:

3

Lab Hours:

0

Course Description (NCTC Catalog):

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.

                                                       

Course Prerequisite(s): none

Required or Recommended Course Materials:

Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 9th edition. 2019. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-1264031924

The web-based material is unique to NCTC.  You must purchase it from the NCTC bookstore or directly through Canvas, to the McGraw-Hill publishing Connect website.

 

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

James Page

Campus/Office Location:

 

Telephone Number:

 

E-mail Address:

jpage@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. -
2:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

 



 




Every Wednesday
Live Chat
8:00 - 8:55 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

 

 

 

Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.

 

Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.

 

Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period of United States history.

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

4

Tests

100 points each
400 points total

10

Activities

10 points each
100 points total

1

Writing Assignment

100 points

 

 

 

 

GRADE DETERMINATION:  Your final grade will be determined by using the following scale.

There is a total of 600 points available for this class. 

540 +   points = A
480 – 539 points = B
420 – 479 points = C
360 – 419 points = D
Below 360 points = F

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates)

Spring 2020 Calendar

The Calendar below has the due date of every assignment for this class.  Only dates when an assignment is due are listed.  Every assignment is due on the due date at 11:59 p.m.  Assignments will not be accepted late.  I expect you to be familiar with this Calendar. 

There are several things you should realize about the assignments in this class.  First, all tests will be available to you on Wednesday and Thursday of test week.  Test 1 will be available to you from Wednesday, February 12 beginning at 12:01 a.m. until Thursday, February 13 at 11:59 p.m.  Test 1 will cover chapters 1, 2, and 3.  I expect you to read those three chapters before you take the test.  I expect you to study those three chapters before you take the test.  While I recommended a reading schedule on the Calendar, when you read and study those chapters is up to you.  You should follow that pattern for Test 2 (chapters 4, 5, and 6), Test 3 (chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10) and Test 4 (chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14).  Due dates for each of those tests is on the Calendar so you should figure out how to pace your reading/studying.  Please note that the questions on the tests in this course are based on information in the textbook we use and anything else I might ask you to read or study.  You should notice that the tests are spaced about every four weeks so you will have approximately the same amount of time to prepare for each test.

Second, since one of the skills this department focuses on is writing, you may lose some points on any assignment that requires writing because of grammar issues.  I expect everything you write in this class to be well written.   You have studied English grammar since you began school many years ago.  This is the time and place to demonstrate what you have learned in all of those years.  This is not an English class.  This is an opportunity to use what you learned in English class. 

Third, with the exception of tests, I do not accept assignments late.  The ten activities and the one writing assignment must be turned in on time or you will not receive credit.  You know now when each of those assignments is due.  I expect you to submit each assignment by the due date.  Until this past spring semester, I did not accept tests late.  I have changed with time.  If you cannot take the test by the due date (which is always Thursday of test week), you may take it up to two days late.  If you take a test on Friday, the penalty will be 10% of whatever grade you earn.  If you take a test on Saturday, the penalty will be 20% of whatever grade you earn.  You will receive a grade of 0 if you do not take a test within the four day window that it will be available to you (two regular days and two late days).  Also, you may only take one test late during the course of the semester.  You really should get in the habit of doing your work in a timely manner.  Test 4 cannot be taken late. 

Week 1     Tuesday, January 21 - Sunday, January 26

     Sunday, January 26:  Activity 1  Welcome to the Course due at 11:59 p.m. (10 points)

     Chapter 1 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 2     Monday, January 27 - Sunday, February 2

     Sunday, February 2:  Activity 2 due at 11:59 p.m.  (10 points)

     Chapter 2 should be read by the end of the week.
     
Week 3     Monday, February 3- Sunday, February  9

     Sunday, February 9:  Activity 3 due at 11:59 p.m.  (10 points)

     Chapter 3 should be read by the end of the week.

     Test 1 Practice Questions should be completed by the end of the week.

Week 4     Monday, February 10 - Sunday, February 16

     Wednesday, February 12:  Test 1 will be available to you beginning at 12:01 a.m.

    Thursday, February 13:  Test 1 is due at 11:59 p.m.  (100 points)

    Test 1 covers chapters 1, 2, and 3.

    Test 1 is due Thursday at 11:59 p.m.  If you miss this deadline, you may take the test late   
    either Friday or Saturday.  If you take the test Friday, the penalty is 10% of whatever grade
    you earn on the test.  If you take the test on Saturday, the penalty is 20% of whatever grade
    you earn on the test.  You will not be allowed to take the test after Saturday for any reason.

    Chapter 4 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 5     Monday, February 17 - Sunday, February 23

     Sunday, February 23:  Activity 4 is due at 11:59 p.m. (10 points)

    Chapter 5 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 6     Monday, February 24 - Sunday, March 1

    Sunday, March 1:  Activity 5 due at 11:59 p.m. (10 points)

    Chapter 6 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 7     Monday, March 2 - Sunday, March 8

    Sunday, March 8:  Writing Activity due at 11:59 p.m.  (100 points)

    Test 2 Practice Questions should be completed by the end of the week.

Week 8     Monday, March 9 - Sunday, March 15

    Wednesday, March 11:  Test 2 will be available to you beginning at 12:01 a.m.

    Thursday, March 12:  Test 2 is due at 11:59 p.m.  (100 points)

    Test 2 covers chapters 4, 5, and 6.

    Test 2 is due Thursday at 11:59 p.m.  If you miss this deadline, you may take the test late   
    either Friday or Saturday.  If you take the test Friday, the penalty is 10% of whatever grade
    you earn on the test.  If you take the test on Saturday, the penalty is 20% of whatever grade
    you earn on the test.  You will not be allowed to take the test after Saturday for any reason.

    Chapter 7 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 9     Monday, March 16 - Sunday, March 22

     This week is Spring Break.  No assignments are due this week.

Week 10     Monday, March 23 - Sunday, March 29

    Sunday, March 29:  Activity 6 due at 11:59 p.m.  (10 points)

    Chapter 8 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 11     Monday, March 30 - Sunday, April 5

    Friday, April 3:  Last day to withdraw with a grade of "W".

    Chapter 9 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 12     Monday, April 6 - Sunday, April 12

    Sunday, April 12:  Activity 7 due at 11:59 p.m.  (10 points)

    Chapter 10 should be read by the end of the week.

    Test 3 Practice Questions should be completed by the end of the week.

Week 13     Monday, April 13 - Sunday, April 19

    Wednesday, April 15:  Test 3 will be available to you beginning at 12:01 a.m.

    Thursday, April 16:  Test 3 is due at 11:59 p.m.  (100 points)

    Test 3 covers chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10.

    Test 3 is due Thursday at 11:59 p.m.  If you miss this deadline, you may take the test late   
    either Friday or Saturday.  If you take the test Friday, the penalty is 10% of whatever grade
    you earn on the test.  If you take the test on Saturday, the penalty is 20% of whatever grade
    you earn on the test.  You will not be allowed to take the test after Saturday for any reason.

    Sunday, April 19:  Writing Activity due at 11:59 p.m.  (100 points)

    Chapter 11 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 14     Monday, April 20 - Sunday, April 26

    Sunday, April 26:  Activity 8 due at 11:59 p.m.  (10 points)

    Chapter 12 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 15     Monday, April 27 - Sunday, May 3

    Sunday, May 3:  Activity 9 due at 11:59 p.m.  (10 points)

    Chapter 13 should be read by the end of the week.

Week 16     Monday, May 4 - Sunday, May 10

     Sunday, May 10:  Activity 10 due at 11:59 p.m.  (10 points)

    Chapter 14 should be read by the end of the week.

    Test 4 Practice Questions should be completed by the end of the week.

Week 17     Monday, May 11 - Thursday, May 14

    Wednesday, May 13:  Test 4 will be available to you beginning at 12:01 a.m.

    Thursday, May 14:  Test 4 is due at 11:59 p.m.  (100 points)

    Test 4 covers chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14.

    Test 4 is due Thursday, May 14, at 11:59 p.m.  Test 4 cannot be taken late.

Semester ends. 

 
ATTENDANCE POLICY

For online students, failure to log into the class at least two times each week will be considered unexcused absences.  The instructor reserves the right to drop students from class for failure to log in regularly.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Friday, April 3.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)        

 

o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

 

o         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

X         History

 

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

 

X         Critical Thinking

X         Communication

o         Empirical and Quantitative

 

o         Teamwork

X         Personal Responsibility

X         Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

X        Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

o        Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty, facilitation, and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

 

Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy:  Cheating of any kind will result in a grade of 0 on the assignment without any make-up.  This includes plagiarism.

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Crystal Wright

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 824

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4320

E-mail Address:

cwright@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus

Telephone Number:

940-668-4267

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

 
 
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