AMH 2010 American History Part II -

Instructor / Cynthia Fox
Adjunct Faculty
OfficeHours / Based on student request.
E-mail /
Location / LI270
Times / Monday-Wednesday, 12:30 – 1:45
StartDate / August 15, 2016

Blueprint for earning a good grade:

  1. Communicate with the class professor and other students. This is the key to success!
  2. Come to class.
  3. When in class, make an effort to participate in discussions and conversations. Students making the effort to be an active member of class will almost always be successful.
  4. Take notes in class - we will be discussing ideas in class that may not be emphasized in your text.
  5. When considering discussions or outside work (book review, reaction paper) please think critically!
  6. When prepping for exams, use Powerpoint presentations, text, and class notes.
  7. When writing papers, I strongly suggest that you use the writing center to improve your work.

Required Text

Of the People, Volume II from 1865, James Oakes, Oxford University Press, Copyright 2010, ISBN #978-0-19-537094-2 (v. 2).

Course Description

This class is a textbook based face-to-face class which strives to bring students to a better and deeper understanding of American History. It utilizes embedded videos and suggested websites to further clarify and illuminate the excitement of American History. We also are utilizing a new textbook which allows you as students to read the most up to date interpretations of American History.

Course Objectives:

A student will be able to:

  1. Describe the reasons Reconstruction was an era of conflict and controversy.
  2. Describe the major issues and results of the political elections of the Gilded Era (1876-

1900).

  1. Describe the impact of the transcontinental railroads and industrialization on American

life in the Gilded Era.

  1. Describe the major factors in the rapid westward expansion and closing of the Western

frontier in the last half of the 19~h century.

  1. Explain the causes and goals for the Populist Movement and other farm groups.
  2. Describe the causes and results of the Spanish-American War.
  3. Describe the rise of labor unions and the influence of rapid immigration into the UnitedStates.
  4. Describe the achievements of the Progressive Movement.
  5. Explain the causes and results of World War I.
  6. Describe the contrasts of political conservatism and social conflict in the 1920’s (Jazz

Age).

  1. Describe the major programs of the New Dea! and their impact upon the American

people.

  1. Describe the causes and results of World War I1.
  2. Describe the changing role of the United States as a world leader in the Cold War Era.
  3. Compare the achievements and goals of Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  4. Describe the Civil Rights Movement - its major laws and events.
  5. Describe the impact of the Vietnam War on American society.
  6. Describe the impact of the Watergate Crisis upon American politics.
  7. Describe the end of the Cold War and the changing role of the United States in face of

terrorism.

  1. Compare and contrast the Republican and Democratic Parties in the last thirty years. Describe the

Election of 2000.

Course Links: This is the course syllabus addendum which is updated by SPC each semester.

Grading Policy:

Grade Weighting: Reaction Papers 10%; Participation and Effort 25% ; Exams 40%; Book Review 20%; Quizzes 5%

Grading Criteria and Instructor Expectations:

Complete all assignments on time

Attend and participate - Attendance based on completion of activities and exams.

Using good "netiquette" in all posts and emails and assignments

Provide adequate and supportive references for work when necessary - Please do not cut and paste responses, all work in your own words

Written work is free of errors in grammar, punctuation, word choice, spelling and format.

Grading Scale:

90 -100% A
80 - 89% B
70 - 79% C
60 _ 69% D
Below 60% F

Attendance Policy:

Attendance and class participation are a significant part of your grade. You will find it difficult to succeed in this class if you do not attend. Excessive and unexplained absences will have a significant impact on your grade as will in-class participation. Please contact me with any issues about this topic.

Exam Policy:

There are exams in this class, based on the textbook, lecture, and in-class discussions and Powerpoints.

Academic Integrity:

All work is to be in your own words. Please respect the idea of Academic Integrity. If students cut and paste their work from other sources this is a form of plagiarism. In the first instance students will get a warning and a "0" on that assignment. If this happens again, students will be dropped from the class and their name will go before the Academic Integrity Committee. Students may quote work from other sources including their textbook but a reference and in text citation both in MLA or APA style must accompany those quotes.

Disability Policy:

See SPC Student Handbook

Electronic Devices: Laptop Computers are permitted in class by instructor approval. Cell phones are to be turned OFF, and no texting will be allowed. Violations of the computer, cell phone, and texting policy will result in the student being asked to leave the room and student will be considered absent.

IMPORTANT COLLEGE POLICY REGARDING COURSE DROP/ ADD PERIOD AND AUDIT INFORMATION

StudentsCANNOTadd a course following the 1st day the class meets prior to the second class meeting. StudentsCANdrop a course through Friday of the first week of classes and be eligible for a refund. Except by appeal to an associate provost, students may not change from credit to audit status after the end of the first week of classes. Online classes may be added through the standard drop/add period for that course.

GRADING AND REPEAT COURSE POLICIES

State policy specifies that students may not repeat courses taken at SPC for which a grade of “C” or higher has been earned except by appeal to an associate provost. Students may repeat a course one time without penalty. On the third attempt, students will pay the full cost of instruction. In addition to any required lab or special fees, the full cost of instruction rate for2015-2016 is $386.90per credit hour. In addition, on the third attempt students may NOT receive a grade of “I,” “W,” or “X,” but must receive the letter grade earned. The grade on the final last attempt with the exception of a “W” grade will be the grade that will be calculated into the overall grade point average. (Developmental courses do not average into the grade point average).

Courses taken at another college or university, and later repeated at SPC, are also subject to the College’s academic average and repeat course policy, meaning that the most recent attempt shall prevail, regardless of the earned grade at SPC.

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ATTENDANCE / ACTIVE PARTICIPATION / WITHDRAWAL POLICIES

Faculty publish their own participation/attendance policies in their syllabi. Instructors verify that students are in attendance during the first two weeks of class. Students classified as “No Show” for both of the first two weeks are administratively withdrawn from any class which they are not attending. The student’s financial aid is adjusted based on their updated enrollment status. If a student is administratively withdrawn from a class because they were a “No-Show” during the first two weeks of class, financial aid will not pay for the class and the student will be responsible for paying for that class.

Students who are not actively participating in class as defined in an instructor's syllabus are reported to the Administration during the week following the last date to withdraw with a “W” on theAcademic Calendar. A grade of “WF” will be assigned to students who are not actively participating during the week following the last day to withdraw with a W grade.

Students can withdraw themselves at any time during the term. However, requests submitted after the last date to withdraw with a “W” on theAcademic Calendarwill result in a “WF.” Students and instructors will automatically receive an email notification through their SPC email address for withdrawals.

Withdrawing after the “Last Date to Withdraw with a Grade of ‘W’” can have serious consequences. If the student withdraws from a class after the deadline, on theAcademic Calendarthe student will receive a final grade of ‘WF,' which has the same impact on the student's GPA as a final grade of “F.” A “WF” grade also could impact the student's financial aid, requiring repayment of financial assistance. Students should consult with an academic advisor or financial assistance and counselor prior to withdrawing from a class.

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FEDERAL GUIDELINES RELATED TO FINANCIAL AID AND TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE

The U.S. Department of Education requires students who completely withdraw prior to the 60% point of the term and who receive Federal financial aid i.e., Federal Pell Grant, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Federal Stafford Loan, and/or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant SEOG--to repay a portion of their financial aid.

Students considering a withdrawal from all classes before the published withdrawal dateshould consult a financial assistance counselor to understand their options and the consequences of the total withdrawal.

For further information regarding this policy and other financial assistance policies we encourage you to visit our website at:

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COLLEGE LEVEL ACADEMIC SKILLS (CLAS) GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

College Level Academic Skills

DUAL ENROLLMENT, EARLY ADMISSIONS, & EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS

A Dual Enrollment, Early Admissions, or Early College student may not withdraw from any college course without permission from the Early College/Dual Enrollment office. Withdrawal from a course may jeopardize the student's graduation from high school. The Dual Enrollment office can be reached at 727 712-5281 (TS), 727 791-5970 (CL) or 727 394-6164 (SE).

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