NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	United States History II
Course Prefix & Number:		HIST1302	Section Number:	0417	Semester/Year:	S2020
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 Civil War/Reconstruction era to the present.  United States History II examines industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and post-Cold War eras.  Themes that may be addressed in United States History II include:  American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the federal government, and the study of U.S. foreign Policy.
Course Prerequisite(s): None
Required Course Materials: Brinkley, Alan.  The Unfinished Nation:  A Concise History of the American People. 9th edition. McGraw-Hill. 2019 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:	Dr. Graham Cox
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth 331A & FM 107
Telephone Number:	940-498-6450
E-mail Address:	gcox@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:30a-11:00a FM	11:00a-3:30p COR	8:30a-11:00a FM	11:00a-4:30p COR

 

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 the United States History.

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
1	Survey	5%
Best 12	Quizzes	10%
Best 12	Textbook	10%
1	Exam I	20%
1	Exam II	20%
1	Exam III	20%
1	Essay	15%

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

Course Introduction

• In Canvas, Read the Course Syllabus
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• Submit the “About You” Survey.

Module 1-Reconstruction

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 15 "Reconstruction and the New South."
  • Complete the associated questions in MH Connect.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 1.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 15 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt Chapter 15 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 2-Parallels and Populism

• In The Unfinished Nation, review Chapter 15 "Reconstruction and the New South" p. 369-380, read Chapter 17, "Industrial Supremacy," and read Chapter 19, "From Crisis to Empire," p. 459-467.
  • Complete the associated questions in MH Connect for Chapter 17.
  • Begin the associated questions in MH Connect for Chapter 19.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 2.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 17 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 17 Map Activity on MH Connect.

 Module 3-Life and Death in the South and West

• In The Unfinished Nation, review Chapter 15, "Reconstruction and the New South" and read Chapter 16, "The Conquest of the Far West."
  • Complete the associated questions in MH Connect for Chapter 16.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 3.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 16 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 16 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 4-The Dawning of a New Century

• In The Unfinished Nation, review Chapter 17, "Industrial Supremacy,” read Chapter 18, "The Age of the City," and read Chapter 19 "From Crisis to Empire," p. 472-473.
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 18.

• • Begin the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 19.

• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 4.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 18 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:

Module 5-Becoming a World Power

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 19 "From Crisis to Empire" and Chapter 21, "America and the Great War," p. 517-520.
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 19.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 5.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 19 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 19 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 6-The Progressive Era

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 20 "The Progressives."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 20.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 6.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 20 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:

• • Attempt/Complete Chapter 20 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Exam I – February 25 (date subject to change)

This exam covers all assigned content in Modules 1 through 6 and is delivered in three parts as follows:

• Part 1: Multiple Choice (online; 50 points possible)
• Part 2: Short Answer (in class; 25 points possible)
• Part 3: Identification Essay (in class; 25 points possible).

Module 7-The United States and World War I

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 21 "America and the Great War."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 21.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 7.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 21 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:

• • Attempt/Complete Chapter 21 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 8-The Roaring 20s and the Great Depression

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 22 "The New Era" and Chapter 23 "The Great Depression."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 22 and 23.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 8.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 22 and 23 Quizzes on MH Connect.

Module 9-FDR and the New Deal

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 24 "The New Deal Era."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 24.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 9.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 24 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 24 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 10-The United States and World War II

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 25 "America in a World War."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 25.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 10.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 25 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 25 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 11- The Origins of the Cold War

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 26 "The Cold War."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 26.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 11.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 26 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 26 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 12-Ike’s America

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 27 "The Affluent Society."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 24.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 12.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 27 Quiz on MH Connect.

Exam II – April 7 (date subject to change)

This exam covers all assigned content in Modules 7 through 12 and is delivered in three parts as follows:

• Part 1: Multiple Choice (online; 50 points possible)
• Part 2: Short Answer (in class; 25 points possible)
• Part 3: Identification Essay (in class; 25 points possible).

Module 13-The Foreign and Domestic Policies of JFK

• In The Unfinished Nation, begin reading Chapter 28 "The Turbulent Sixties."
  • Begin the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 28.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 13.
• Begin Chapter 28 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Begin Chapter 28 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 14-LBJ, His Great Society, and the Vietnam War

• In The Unfinished Nation, Chapter 28 "The Turbulent Sixties."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 28.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 14.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 28 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 28 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Essay – April 16

This Essay evaluates student competency in the areas of Critical Thinking, Communication, Personal Responsibility, and Social Responsibility.  It will also gauge student understanding of key concepts in the discipline, specifically those defines as Learning Outcomes in the syllabus.

• Students will submit a two to five pages in length, type-written, response to the prompt posted in Canvas.
• Students will analyze primary source document(s) in connection with lectures, discussions, and readings; as part of their answer, students will place their response within the context of social responsibility.

Module 15-Nixon, Watergate, and the “End” of the Vietnam War

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 29 "The Crisis of Authority" p. 743-760.
  • Begin the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 29.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 15.
• Begin Chapter 29 Quiz on MH Connect.

Module 16-The Radicalism of the 1960s

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 29 "The Crisis of Authority" p. 730-743.
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 29.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 16.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 29 Quiz on MH Connect.

Module 17-Carter, Reagan, and the End of the Cold War

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 30 "From “The Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 30.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 17.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 30 Quiz on MH Connect.
• OPTIONAL:
  • Attempt/Complete Chapter 30 Map Activity on MH Connect.

Module 18-The Post-Cold War World

• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 31 "The Age of Globalization.”
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 31.
• Attend Lecture/Discussion, taking comprehensive notes.
• After you have read (or, better, as you are reading) the materials, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 17.
• Attempt/Complete Chapter 31 Quiz on MH Connect.

Exam III – May 14

This exam covers all assigned content in Modules 13 through 18 and is delivered in three parts as follows:

• Part 1: Multiple Choice (online; 50 points possible)
• Part 2: Short Answer (in class; 25 points possible)
• Part 3: Identification Essay (in class; 25 points possible).

Due Dates (Subject to Change-announcements will be made in-class and in Canvas)

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

In general, your written work will be evaluated based on your performance in these three areas:

1. Organization: your ability to organize your ideas coherently and present your arguments in a logical sequence of steps employing, where appropriate, an introduction, summary, and statement of conclusions.
2. Selection of Evidence: your capacity to demonstrate accuracy, range, relevance, historical significance, and discrimination in selecting the specific examples that you use to support your generalizations.
3. Presentation: your skill and effectiveness in using well-structured paragraphs, topic sentences, good grammar, correct spelling, legible handwriting, etc.

The following specific criteria will be used for assigning scores to your written work. The point spread shown here as an example is for a 25-point problem.

1. • Excellent (23-25 points): a well-organized, grammatically correct essay that clearly presents the material with accurate and appropriate supporting evidence or examples. In other words, essay is excellent in terms of organization, argument, and presentation.
   • Good (20-22): almost excellent, but with one or two minor mistakes or omissions, fewer examples, or some slight blurring; or leaves out an important point or two.
   • Satisfactory (17-19): has several errors or omissions, etc. Also, essay not well balanced.
   • Poor (14-16): badly unbalanced or made up almost entirely of generalities with little substantial factual supporting evidence. Logic is weak; organization unclear; etc.
   • Unacceptable (0-13): misses the point; fails to deal with the examination problem.

 

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy: Over the semesters, the most reliable predictor of someone’s final grade in this course has always been their attendance. Exam questions and essays draw from lectures supported by the textbook; so, I urge you to attend as regularly as possible. As such, a 5 percent bonus to your semester grade is possible for attendance. I will assess attendance based on the sign-in sheets passed out at the beginning of each class. And because the unexpected still happens, I will give everyone three “free” absences throughout the semester which will not deduct from your grade. After that, each day you are absent subtracts one of your five possible bonus points. Because this is a bonus, there are NO excused absences. You do not need to email me in advance if you are going to be absent. I will do what I can to help you when you miss a class, but it is your responsibility to reach out to a fellow student to get notes and then, after that, to schedule a meeting with me to discuss what you missed.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 3, 2020.

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         American History

 

X             Critical Thinking

X               Communication

o            Empirical and Quantitative

 

o            Teamwork

X               Personal Responsibility

X               Social Responsibility