NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	Texas History
Course Prefix & Number:		HIST 2301	Section Number:	402	Semester/Year:	Fall 2018
Semester Credit Hours:		3	Lecture Hours:	3	Lab Hours:	0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): A survey of the political, social, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of Texas from the pre-Columbian era to the present.  Themes that may be addressed in Texas History include: Spanish colonization and Spanish Texas; Mexican Texas; the Republic of Texas; statehood and secession; oil, industrialization, and urbanization; civil rights; and modern Texas.
Course Prerequisite(s): None
Required or Recommended Course Materials: Howell, Kenneth.  Beyond Myths and Legends: A Narrative History of Texas. 4th edition.  Abigail Press. ISBN #978-1-890919-78-8

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Robin Cole-Jett
Campus/Office Location:	COR 335
Telephone Number:	940-498-6437
E-mail Address:	Contact me through CANVAS; rjett@nctc.ed

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8 am to 3 pm	8 am to 3 pm	8 am to 3 pm	8 am to 3 pm
Class: 9.30 to 11 am & 11 am to 12.30 pm	Class: 9.30 to 11 am & 11 am to 12.30 pm	Class: 9.30 to 11 am & 11 am to 12.30 pm	Class: 9.30 to 11 am & 11 am to 12.30 pm

 

 

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 Texas History

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
Varies	In-class quizzes, short answer prompts,	40%
3	Exams	30%
1	Primary Source essay	15%
1	Heritage Tourism paper and brochure and presentation	15%

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

3 Exams  = 30% of grade.

The exams may be multiple choice, short, and long answer questions based on the objectives of each lecture. The exams will be timed. Reviews are available for you to peruse and use before the exam (review mirrors the exam). Reviews can be used during the exam.

Varied in-class activities = 40% of grade.

Throughout the course, unscheduled and unannounced quizzes and responses to prompts based on lectures, readings and additional materials will be given. Some of the prompts may stem from a guest speaker. These in-class activities are graded from 50-100 (lowest score is 50). They CANNOT BE MADE UP if a student is absent when the activity is offered. 

1 Primary Source Essay = 10% of grade.

Objective: Historians use first-hand accounts of events and observations to determine subsequent actions in history. This allows historians to understand the motivations behind decisions made by governments and people. Understanding these motivations assist historians in interpreting contemporary as well as, to an extent, current events. Primary Source analysis is a method that futurists use to develop ideas, possibilities and trends.

You will write a 750 word essay (less is bad, more is better) in which you will examine an aspect of history using the Primary Source Materials (these are marked as "Primary Source" in each lecture) available to you in the lectures. Using three primary sources, two lectures, and one textbook chapter, you will answer the question: How do these primary source documents help students learn Texas history?

WRITING GUIDELINES

Heading on the top of the 1st page (no cover pages):

Topic                 Title                   Word count                 Your name

• Must be formatted correctly: 12 pt font, "normal" margins, Times New Roman.
• Must be submitted through the provided drop box. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted.
• Must use at least three (3) primary sources (available to you in the MODULES of this course).
• Must use at least twp (2) lectures as sources.
• Must use at least one (1) chapter from our textbook as sources.
• DO NOT USE ANY OUTSIDE MATERIALS.
• Sources MUST be cited (quotes as well as where you got the information):
  • When citing from the textbook, note title and page number in parentheses: (A Narrative History of Texas, p.##)
  • When citing from Primary Sources/ additional readings, note author or title of reading in parentheses: (Texas Declaration of Independence)
  • When citing from a lecture, note lecture in parentheses (Lecture 5)
  • DO NOT overuse quotes – use your own words.
  • Any instance of plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment.

HINTS: Note that this is not an opinion paper/ persuasive paper. Avoid the use of personal pronouns such as "you" "we" "our." Make sure your conclusion matches your thesis. Show evidence that you read the primary sources. Do NOT project the topic into "modern day" problems (don't rationalize or use the evidence to fit your biases or pre-conceived notions). To gain an understanding of your topic, first choose your set of documents (more than 3); then, consult the book (use the index to located your topic); then look at your notes from the lectures that explain the topic. Ask yourself these questions: what do you want students to learn about the topic? How will the documents explain the history?

What the essay should look like:

1st paragraph: Thesis statement. Explain in a sentence how the documents you chose will help students understand an aspect of Texas history. Make sure to mention the topic of Texas History and also list the primary sources you will be using.

2nd - 4th (or more) paragraphs: Using the sources (lectures, book, and primary sources), examine the topic. Always keep your thesis in mind.

Last paragraph: Draw a conclusion based on the thesis (Hint: I tend to write my thesis after I write the body and the conclusion so that my essay is cohesive).

Grading rubric:

Heading (5 pts) / Word count (5 pts) / Thesis & Conclusion congruence (20 pts) / Lectures used & cited (10 pts) / Textbook used & cited (10 pts) / Primary source appropriate, used, & cited (15 pts) / Language usage (15 pts) / Argument made (20 pts)

1 Heritage Tourism short paper, brochure, and presentation = 15% of grade.

Objective: One of the growing industries in Texas is heritage tourism. Heritage tourism uses history to promote visitation, commercial development, preservation, and new settlers into towns and/or regions. Organizations such as museums, historical societies, convention and visitor's bureaus, economic development corporations, Texas Historical Commission, Texas Department of Transportation, and Texas Parks and Wildlife hire historians who understand how to use history to economically promote cultural resources. This assignment will provide you with an initial understanding of the skills needed for this kind of profession.

You will choose a medium to small-sized town or small attraction (state park, museum) in Texas to create a "heritage tourism" campaign. This includes: a 450 word essay (with thesis, body, an conclusion) based on the strategy you choose to promote the town to visitors/tourists/potential residents; a brochure for the place of interest; and a five-minute presentation to give to the class about the town.

Essay Formatting

Heading on the top of the 1st page (no cover pages):

Topic                 Title                   Word count                 Your name

• Must be formatted correctly: 12 pt font, "normal" margins, Times New Roman, left aligned.
• Must be submitted through the provided drop box. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted.
• All material must be listed in either APA or MLA format at the end of the paper  under the heading, "Works Cited."
• Must include at least three (3) referenced sources. For example: websites, entries in Handbook of Texas History, blogs.
• DO NOT overuse quotes – use your own words.
• Any instance of plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment.

Brochure Formatting

• A one page, six-panel brochure that is fold-able, with data, photographs, and other information
• Must be submitted as a PDF

Presentation

A five minute Power Point (or similar) presentation regarding your the town/attraction you chose to promote. This show will be presented to the class. All students must show for all presentations. Students who are absent during any and all presentations [unless severe circumstances] will not receive credit for this assignment.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

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)

Attendance is taken each class period. There is NO grade for attendance and NO extra credit for perfect attendance. Attendance is also measured by the unscheduled, unannounced in-class quizzes & responses. There is NO MAKE-UP policy for missed in-class activities.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 8, 2017.

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         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

 

COURSE TYPE

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

X          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)]”. 

 

Any instance of plagiarism, collusion, or cheating will result in a 0 for the assignment. If this is your 2nd offense in the class, you will fail the entire class, and will be reported to the Division Chair.