NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	United States History II
Course Prefix & Number:		HIST1302	Section Number:	0620	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
Telephone Number:	940-498-6450
E-mail Address:	gcox@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9am-5pm	9am-5pm	9am-5pm	9am-5pm	9am-5pm
Please Note: I will make myself available as needed every day and evening, including weekends by appointment!

 

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%
2	Discussions	5%
Best 13 of 18	Quizzes	20%
17	Textbook	15%
1	Midterm Exam	20%
1	Final Exam	20%
1	Essay	15%

 

Grade Scale

A	89.5-100%
B	79.5-89.4%
C	69.5-79.4%
D	59.5-69.4%
F	0.0-59.4%

 

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

PLEASE NOTE: This is an intensely accelerated class; this is a fifteen-week course compressed into five weeks. Do not fall behind!

 

Course Introduction

• Read through all important information listed in the Syllabus and posted in the Canvas Module.
• View Course Introduction Video.
• Participate in the Introductory Discussion by the due date posted in Canvas.
• Submit the "About You" Survey by the due date posted in Canvas.

Module 1-Reconstruction

• View Module Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 15 "Reconstruction and the New South."
  • Complete the associated questions in MH Connect.
• View Module 1 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 1 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 1.
• Complete Module 1 Quiz.

Module 2-Parallels and Populism

• View Module Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 2 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 2 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 2.
• Complete Module 2 Quiz. 

Module 3-Life and Death in the South and West

• View Module Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 3 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 3 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 3.
• Complete Module 3 Quiz.

Module 4-The Dawning of a New Century

• View Module Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 4 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 4 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 4.
• Complete Module 4 Quiz.

Module 5-Becoming a World Power

• View Module Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 5 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 5 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 5.
• Complete Module 5 Quiz.

Module 6-The Progressive Era

• View Module Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 20, "The Progressives."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 20.
• View Module 6 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 6 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 6.
• Complete Module 6 Quiz.

Module 7-The United States and World War I

• View Module Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 21 "America and the Great War."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 21.
• View Module 7 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 7 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 7.
• Complete Module 7 Quiz.

Module 8-The Roaring 20s and the Great Depression

• View Module Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 8 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 8 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 8.
• Complete Module 8 Quiz.

Module 9-FDR and the New Deal

• View Module Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 24 "The New Deal Era."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 24.
• View Module 9 Video Lecture.
• 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.
• In preparation for Module 9 Quiz and the Midterm Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 9.
• Complete Module 9 Quiz.

MIDTERM Exam

This exam is available from 8:00 am Saturday, August 1 through 11:59 pm Sunday, August 2 and covers all assigned content in Modules 1 through 9. The exam is delivered in one part as follows:

• Fifty (50) multiple-choice problems (2 points each; 100 points total).
• Once started, this portion of your exam MUST be completed in one sitting.
• You have sixty (60) minutes to complete each attempt.
• You will be given one question at a time.
• You may attempt this portion of your exam up to three (3) times. Your score will be the HIGHEST of your attempts.
• This part of your exam MUST be submitted by the due date and time.

Essay

Read Huey Long's speech, “Every Man a King.”  As you read this primary document, be sure to think about not only what the document says, but the context in which the document was written (lecture and textbook will help with this!). After you have carefully read the document and contextualized its content with lecture, the textbook, you will need to write a 3 to 5-page essay.  You MUST consider the speech in context of this larger theme of American history: the promise of democracy, individualism, and egalitarianism for all. And you MUST specifically consider how this speech and its meaning is valuable for us to understand today. Your essay must be structured along the following lines:

• Essays REQUIRE assertions supported with best evidence, paragraphs, proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and citations.
• Your Essay must be submitted as an MS-Word file attachment using the provided sample file.
• This Essay MUST be submitted through Turnitin in the Canvas portal by the due date and time. 

Module 10-The United States and World War II

• View Module Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 25 "America in a World War."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 24.
• View Module 10 Video Lecture.
• Attend/Participate in the Canvas Conference.
• In preparation for Module 10 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 10.
• Complete Module 10 Quiz.

Module 11- The Origins of the Cold War

• View Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 26 "The Cold War."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 26.
• View Module 11 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 11 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 11.
• Complete Module 11 Quiz.

Module 12-Ike’s America

• View Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 27 "The Affluent Society"
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 27.
• View Module 12 Video Lecture.
• Attend Canvas Conference.
• In preparation for Module 12 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 12.
• Complete Module 12 Quiz.

Module 13-The Foreign and Domestic Policies of JFK

• View Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, begin reading Chapter 28 "The Turbulent Sixties."
  • Begin the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 28.
• View Module 13 Video Lecture
• In preparation for Module 13 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 13.
• Complete Module 13 Quiz.

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

• View Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, Chapter 28 "The Turbulent Sixties."
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 28.
• View Module 14 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 14 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 14.
• Complete Module 14 Quiz.

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

• View Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 15 Video Lecture
• In preparation for Module 15 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 15.
• Complete Module 15 Quiz.

Module 16-The Radicalism of the 1960s

• View Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 16 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 16 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 16.
• Complete Module 16 Quiz.

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

• View Preview Video.
• 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.
• View Module 17 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 17 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 17.
• Complete Module 17 Quiz.

Module 18-The Post-Cold War World

• View Preview Video.
• In The Unfinished Nation, read Chapter 31 "The Age of Globalization.”
  • Complete the associated questions in the MH Connect for Chapter 31.
• View Module 18 Video Lecture.
• In preparation for Module 18 Quiz and the Final Exam, you should take the time to work through the Study Questions for Module 18.
• Complete Module 18 Quiz.

Final Exam

This exam is available from 8:00 am Wednesday, August 19 through 11:59 pm Thursday, August 20 and covers all assigned content in Modules 10 through 18. The exam is delivered in one part as follows:

• Fifty (50) multiple-choice problems (2 points each; 100 points total).
• Once started, this portion of your exam MUST be completed in one sitting.
• You have sixty (60) minutes to complete each attempt.
• You will be given one question at a time.
• You may attempt this portion of your exam up to three (3) times. Your score will be the HIGHEST of your attempts.
• This part of your exam MUST be submitted by the due date and time.

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: This course is fully online. Students are expected to login to the course regularly and complete all assignments in a timely manner and by the due date.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is August 6, 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

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