History 3310

Survey of Texas History

Professor Donald S. Frazier, Ph.D.

Office: 410 Appleton, Buffalo Gap, Texas

Phone: 793-3861 office/ 668-6222 cell

Class Meetings: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., from January 17-March 7.

BOOKS: Available from the Texas History Store at Buffalo Gap Historic Village

Archie P. McDonald. Texas: A Compact History

CLASSROOM: The Ann and Lee Rode Gallery at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village in Buffalo Gap, Texas, 79508.

Enter at the South Gate before 6 p.m. Only water in closed containers is allowed. We will have two breaks during the course of class. Snacks and soft drinks may be consumed on the grounds during the course of these breaks. There is no smoking on the grounds of the Buffalo Gap Historic Village.

DIRECTIONS FROM McMURRY UNIVERSITY:

From campus, turn left onto Sayles Boulevard and head south in the direction of the Mall of Abilene. This road becomes Buffalo Gap Road (FM 89) just a few blocks south of campus. Continue on for about a dozen miles. When you arrive in town, turn right on North Street (you will see several signs directing you to the Buffalo Gap Historic Village) and proceed one and one half blocks. Parking is on the margins of the road.

The South Gate will be our access point.

MAP

Statement of Purpose:

Students should anticipate learning and demonstrating their enhanced

  • Knowledge of core factual data including major Mexican history trends, figures, concepts, and events;
  • Ability to conduct research and collect data on major Mexican history trends, figures, concepts, and events, then analyze, draw conclusions, and make interpretations from this research;
  • Reading/writing/editing/composition skills;
  • Effective public presentation skills;
  • Personal discipline and study habit skills.

Grading sources:

  • Content Mastery (multiple choice tests, PowerPoint demonstrations, Fora)60%
  • Research and Interpretation Mastery (PowerPoint, Fora)10%
  • Demonstration of written communication skills (Fora)10%
  • Public Presentation (PowerPoint)10%
  • Intellectual discipline and study skills (attending class, preparing assignments)10%

Grading Weights:

  • Multiple Choice Exams30%
  • Classroom Presentations30%
  • For a (plural of Forum)30%
  • Regimental History10%

A NOTE ON ATTENDENCE and COMMITTMENT

This is a mini-term class. Each class period is the equivalent of an entire week in the long semester. I understand missing one class period; two under unusual circumstances. If you miss three, I must drop you from the class. The nature of this class is about the interaction of the students with the professor and fellow students.

There are many, many online class options (University of Phoenix comes to mind). You are paying for access to an expert in this field and to a learning community all engaged in a specific study with articulated outcomes. There is no online equivalent to that.

Therefore, if you cannot commit to the meeting requirements of this class, don’t take it. This is critical for planning purposes and for the educational atmosphere and ambience of the class. If you have decided that this opportunity is really beyond your level of maturity or commitment, no hard feelings, just don’t burden this class, its professor, or its attendees with your vacillation. Social activities and work are not excused reasons for non-attendance.

Do the right thing. Don’t take the class if you aren’t serious about mastering the subject and participating fully.

In return for your commitment, the professor of this course will affirm to present engaging, thoughtful, and provocative classroom activities designed to help you achieve mastery of the subject.

Classroom supplies:

Bring a laptop computer (or equivalent smart phone, tablet, etc.) to class. You will need these to prepare presentations, look up information on the provided WiFi network, access online exams, or collaborate with fellow students.

BOOKS and ASSIGNED READINGS:

There is one very brief book assigned to this class that is designed to provide maps and strategic overview for student edification. The philosophy of teaching in this class is heavily focused on the students’ ability to take their own intellectual curiosity in directions of their own choosing under the careful guidance and tutelage of the professor. Therefore, be prepared to use free resources like the library, websites, study guides, and the like to harvest information from which to draw your interpretations and conclusions. This unbridled access to content information should be reflected in superior and thoughtful postings in the assigned discussion forums and presentations.

ASSIGNMENTS:

PowerPoint Presentations

In today’s world, the ability to make a cogent and engaging presentation to peers, potential customers, or designated constituencies is a fact of life. The lingua franca of this exchange of ideas and information is PowerPoint or similar presentation software. As such, students will be assigned topics for which they will prepare a brief media presentation of no longer than 10 minutes. Every presentation should end with a panel that lists the sources used to prepare the presentation.

Online Examinations

This class will be facilitated with its own MOODLE site. Students will take their exams on this site. They will be timed. Collaboration on these exams is acceptable. Life is often about teamwork and resourcefulness. So it is in this class. However, remember this exam is timed, and every participant will be taking a unique exam.

Online Forums

On Moodle, students will be tasked with participating in discussion for a where they will wrestle with particular questions posed by the professor. The forum assigned with an opening and closing date. These forums will not be reopened for any reason. If you did not take advantage of the opportunity during the time allotted, it will have a negative impact on your grade.

HIS 3310

State Board of Educator Certification Standards for Teacher Education Candidates

If you plan to minor in Curriculum and Instruction, with a teaching concentration in History 8-12 or Social Studies 8-12, this course provides partial fulfillment of the following standard of the TEKS competencies:

Standard IV. History: The social studies teacher applies knowledge of significant historical events and developments, as well as of multiple historical interpretations and ideas, in order to facilitate student understanding of relationships between the past, the present, and the future.

If you plan to major in Curriculum and Instruction, with a teaching concentration in Social Studies 4-8, this course also provides partial fulfillment of the following standard of the TEKS competencies:

Standard V. Geography: The social studies teacher applies knowledge of people, places, and environments to facilitate students= understanding of geographic relationships in Texas, the United States, and the world.

INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR

DATE / In Class / Outside of Class / Resources
January 17 / Geography and Prehistory
Texas Land and Indians / Study the Syllabus and buy the book / Texas: A Compact History
LECTURE
January 19 / Spanish and Mexican Texas / LECTURE
World Wide Web
(Photos, illustrations, and information);
Library
January 24 / Revolution and Republic / Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes):
Revolution and Republic / LECTURE
January 26 / Student Power Point Presentations (1.5 hours)
Annexation, Texas, and America / LECTURE
World Wide Web
(Photos, illustrations, and information);
Library
January 31 / Statehood and Civil War / Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes):
Texas Statehood and the Civil War
February 2 / Student Power Point Presentations (1.5 hours)
The Texas Rangers
(1.5 Hours) / LECTURE
World Wide Web
(Photos, illustrations, and information);
Library
February 7 / Reconstruction and the Frontier / Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes):
Reconstruction and the Frontier / LECTURE
February 9 / Student Power Point Presentations (1 hour) / MIDTERM EXAM
February 14 / A New Century: Oil, Depression, and War / Prepare Brief PowerPoint Presentations (timed to 5-10 minutes):
Early 20th Century / LECTURE
World Wide Web
(Photos, illustrations, and information);
Library
February 16 / Historic Ranches of South Texas (2 hours) / FRAZIER IN LOUISIANA
February 21 / Student Power Point Presentations (1 hours)
The Stars Fell on Henrietta
(1.75 Hours) / LECTURE
February 23 / Notable Texans
Nowhere but Texas
(2 hours) / LECTURE
February 28 / Texas in the Late 20th Century
Hud (2 hours) / LECTURE
March 1 / The Border with Mexico
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2 hours) / LECTURE
March 6 / Final Exams

RED indicates Student Assignment

BLUE indicates media presentation