AMERICAN HISTORY 1 Dual Credit Course

AMERICAN HISTORY 1 – Dual Credit Course

BSU American History 201

Spring Semester, 2018, Monday/Thursday 4-5:30pm

Mr. Stuart

Office phone #: 765-285-7462;

Office hours (subject to change):

Monday: 8:10-8:40am, 2-3:45pm

Tuesday: 11:30am-12:30pm

Wednesday: 8:10-8:40am, 1-3pm

Thursday: 10-11:30am, 1-3:30pm

Friday: 8:10-8:40am, 1-3pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

American History 1 explores the foundations and development of the American experiment from 1400s to 1877. Through the examination of political, literary, historical, economic, mythic, theological, cultural, and intellectual expressions, students will come to understand the background and contexts for historical and contemporary human dilemmas, conflicts, and solutions. This course confronts varied questions humans have posed regarding the meaning and value of their existence since the beginning of recorded thought. Each text read and studied stands as a document recording the prevailing struggles of societies and individuals to establish a coherent method of organizing human thought and/or for formulating important questions germane to the course. As humans struggle to form communities that contain and reflect specific values, they struggle simultaneously to understand the importance of the individual within the group context.

The primary texts for this course will be assigned readings and those texts will occupy our fullest intellectual and scholarly attention. Laptops will be used only upon instructor command.

COURSE PREREQUISITE: Foundations of American Experience

GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES:

~to afford students a structured opportunity to become literate about varied elements of culture in human society which included but not limited to an articulate knowledge of essential economic, political, mythic, literary, theological, intellectual, and civic institutions which have significantly influenced the American development;

~to develop skills of analysis and evaluation required for the interpretation of complex written and non-written texts and sources;

~to develop a sophisticated sense of the chronological unfolding of the American historical story;

~to develop an ability to identify recurrent themes, concepts, and ideas in American history, and to analyze and articulate relationships between and among them through historical research and scholarship;

~to develop oral and graphic skills required to express convincing arguments about American institutions, practices, and problems;

~to become familiar with the structure, function, and history of American institutions;

~to develop an historical sense of the time-relatedness of ideas and events;

~to come to appreciate more fully, and participate in, the inevitable reciprocal relationship between rights and duties, privileges and responsibilities, out of which the fabric of social life is woven, and onto which, in the United States, the politics of a democratic republic have been sewn.

COURSE CONTENT
A. Colliding worlds: Europe, Africa, Americas, 450-1620

B. Invasion and settlement of North America, 1550-1700

C. British Empire in America, 1660-1750

D. Growth and crises in colonial society, 1720-1765

E. Toward independence, 1763-1775

F. War and revolution, 1775-1783

G. New political order, 1776-1800

H. Dynamics of western settlement and eastern capitalism, 1790-1820

I. Quest for a republican society, 1790-1820

J. Economic revolution, 1820-1860

K. Democratic revolution, 1820-1844

L. Religion and reform, 1820-1860

M. Crisis of the Union, 1844-1860

N. Two societies at war, 1861-1865

O. Reconstruction, 1865-1877

TEXTS {subject to alteration}

*After the Fact – Lytle and Davidson

*Great Issues in American History, volumes 1 & 2 – Hofstadter, edited by

*The Americans: The Colonial Experience – Boorstin

COURSE METHODOLOGY

#reading of historical texts and primary/secondary sources on which regular, structured, in-class interpretational discussion will be based;

#experiencing and evaluating processes of historical inquiry and interpretations through the use of role playing, simulations, debates, play-acting, modeling, etc.;

#use of film, TV and other media forms working toward interpreting, analyzing, and summarizing the significance of available and relevant evidence.

METHODS OF STUDENT EVALUATION: As part of the Ball State University History Department assessment format, the following learning outcome objectives will be utilized: 1)knowledge and comprehension of diverse peoples and conflicts; 2) ability to acquire and critically evaluate information, facilitating discernment of patterns, nuance, and context amidst complexity; and 3) ability to communicate knowledge, information, and conclusions.

The following tools of assessment to meet the above objectives will be used, and unless otherwise specified, assigned a numerical value between 5 (quizzes) and 20 (formal papers) points, and generally the overall total amount points in the course does not exceed 250 points.

&essay writings [4-6 for the semester] @20 pts per essay

&book, document, and media analysis writings [3-5 for the semester] @15pts per writing

&periodical quizzes [4-6 for the semester] @5 pts per quiz

&creative assignments [2-3 for the semester] @15 points per assignment

&other assignments deemed pertinent [2-4 for the semester] with varying point ranges

GRADING SCALE

100-93% A

92-90% A-

89-87% B+

86-83% B

82-80% B-

79-77% C+

76-73% C

72-70% C-

Below 70% D*

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students will be expected to attend all class sessions. All class work will be completed if an absence occurs with penalties for unexcused absences. The policies in the Student Handbook will be in full effect for this semester. In case of a pre-arranged absence, the instructor expects to be notified in advance so assignments may be submitted in an appropriate manner mutually agreed upon by student and instructor. Students are responsible for assignments due during an absence which includes group projects assigned prior to and due during the absence. Penalties for late work will be assessed in the following manner: 1-5 hours late a 2% deduction of grade; 5-24 hours late earns a 10% deduction; after 24 hours, not accepted for a grade but the work will be assessed by the instructor to provide guidelines for improvement.

The policy for Academic Dishonesty as written in the Student Handbook will be in force during this course. Honesty, trust, and personal responsibility are fundamental attributes of the Academy community. Academic dishonesty by a student will not be tolerated for it threatens the foundation of this institution dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and critical thinking. To maintain credibility and reputation, and to equitably assign evaluations of scholastic and creative performance, The Indiana Academy and this instructor are committed to maintaining a climate which upholds and salutes the highest standards of academic integrity.

Equity Statement: Ball State University and The Indiana Academy aspire to be a university and gifted high school that attracts and retains a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We are committed to ensuring that all members of the community are welcome through valuing the various experiences and worldviews represented at Ball State and The Indiana Academy and among those we serve. We promote a culture of respect and civil discourse as expressed in the Beneficence Pledge and through resources found at http://cms.bsu.edu/campuslife/multiculturalcenter.

METHODS OF COURSE EVALUATION: This course will be evaluated at the conclusion of the semester through a process of standardized questions and prepared questions by the instructor.