US History 111
Syllabus - Fall 2008
Instructor: Mr. Hamilton
Text: APeople anda Nation: Volume I to 1877 7th Edition
The Way We Lived
Class Times:HIST 111 C04 7-10:00 p.m. in Shields 106
HIST 111 M017-10:00 p.m. in MINCC A-08
Office hours: By Appointment
Contact Information: or
Work Phone 208-536-2100
Home Phone 208-324-6926
Pre-requisites: None
CSI Mission Statement
The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides quality educational, social, cultural, economic, and workforce development opportunities that meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. CSI prepares students to lead enriched, productive and responsible lives in a global society.
General Education Objectives and Goals: This course satisfies all eight criteria for general education. It is designed to:
1.Provide a broad-based survey of a discipline and show the interconnectedness of knowledge.
2.Develop a discerning individual.
3. Practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
4.Promote awareness of social and cultural diversity in order to appreciate the commonality of humankind.
5.Foster the balance between individual needs and the demands of society.
6.Reinforce reading, writing, speaking, and/or quantitative skills.
7.Encourage and inspire life-long learning.
8.Encourage creativity.
Social Science Department Mission Statement
The mission of the Social Science Department is to provide educational, social and cultural opportunities, which encourage enriched, productive and responsible lives primarily by instructing students to understand, interpret, and apply Social Science discipline coursework.
Social Science Department Objectives and Goals: This course also addresses the following Social Science Department goals:
1.Help students understand important facts, concepts and theories of Social Science subjects.
2.Help students acquire techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in the disciplines.
3.Help students learn to distinguish between fact and opinion.
4.Teach students to use evaluation, analysis and synthesis to interpret and solve problems.
5.Teach students to use different perspectives from the social sciences to make better-informed decisions
6.Help students acquire an informed understanding of various cultures.
7.Prepare students to transfer to a university.
History Program Mission Statement
In order to prepare learners to lead enriched, productive and responsible lives, the History Program prepares students to understand and interpret a variety of historical areas and perspectives with the intention of encouraging a lifelong love of the subject.
History Program Objectives and Goals: The student will:
1. Examine central themes of United States History and various cultures in Western Civilization and Latin America.
2. Use reading, lecture-discussion, and supplementary material to understand and interpret the past.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the past by writing interpretive essays.
4. Explore different perspectives about the past.
5. Acquire an appreciation of the historical process, which will encourage a lifelong study of the past.
History 111 Catalog Course Description
History 111 examines United States history from its beginning to the Civil War. An emphasis will be placed on tracing the development of the American political system, economic institutions, andU.S. culture during the Colonial Period, the Age of Revolution, the National Era, the Jacksonian Period, and the Civil War.
History 111 Course Outcomes and Assessment aligned with GE Goals, Social Science Goals and History Program Goals:
Students will: / G E Criteria / SS Goals / Hist Program Objectives1. demonstrate an understanding of important developments / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 / 1,3,4,6,7 / 1,2,4,5
2. write essay exams / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 / 1,2,3,4,5
3. write an analytical paper / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 / 2,3,4,5,7 / 1,2,3,4,5
4. participate in class / 2,3,6,8 / 1,3,4,6,7 / 1,2,4,5
History 111 Course Objectives and Goals
1. Students will demonstrate their understanding of important developments in US History from the Age of Discovery through Reconstruction.
2. Students will write essays, which interpret selected developments in US History.
3. Students will define through class discussion the thesis, the supportive arguments and strengths and weaknesses from textual readings.
4. Students will write a book critique, which develops the thesis, supportive arguments and strengths and weaknesses.
5. Students will attend class responsibly.
Course Outcomes Assessment: Alignment of above course outcomes with assessment methods:
Multiple Choice Exams / Essay Questions / Book Critique / Attendance1 / X
2 / X / X
3 / X / X
4 / X
5 / X
History 111 Course Requirements
Tests
Test material will be taken from the chapter readings, videos, study guide, and notes taken in class. Students are expected to take tests on the same day that it is scheduled. If a student misses a test for any reason it is his or hers responsibility to contact me and schedule a make-up time. All tests will be returned the following week. There will be two tests for this class worth 200 points each. Any student found cheating on a test will receive a Zero on the test and it will effect his or hers grade drastically. Cheating, Plagiarizing, or copying answers will not be tolerated and is grounds for failing the course. The midterm will be given in class on October14th or October16th and the final will be given on December16th or December18th.
Essay
Each student will write two different 2 ½ to 4-page typed essay on a prepared question that I will issue to you in class. Students are to use oneother source for their paperbesides their textbook and in class notes. The two papers will be worth 200 points each and will be due throughout the semester. Essay #1 will be due October 7th or9th and Essay #2 will be due December9th or December11th.
Book Critique
Analyze one historical book that is written about a historical subject that takes place between 1607 and 1877. It should be 3 to 4 pages in lengthtyped, double-spaced, ontop of the first page include the bibliographical information. While you are reading your book take some notes on key ideas, use these notes for interpreting the author’s thesis. Discuss the author’s thesis (central argument): Give the author’s thesis in the first paragraph, using the verb argues, be sure and underline the thesis. Discuss three supportive arguments: Develop each one with a good paragraph. Use evidence to demonstrate supportive arguments; do not summarize. Be faithful to the author’s arguments even if you disagree with them. This should be no more than one and a half pages. Also, discuss three strengths and three weaknesses of the book. This should have detail and require about two pages. Discuss whether the thesis was achieved successfully. The Book Critique is worth 200 points and due November 11thor 13th.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken every class session. Students can miss one class without losing any attendance points. Students will receive 10 points for attending each class and must stay the entire session.
Grade breakdown
Attendance150 points
Midterm(In class Oct.14 or 16)200 points
Essay#1(Due Oct. 7 or 9)200 points
Essay #2(Due Dec. 9 or11)200 points
Final Exam (In class Dec.16 or18)200 points
Book Critique (Due Nov. 11 or 13) 200 points
TOTAL 1150 points
Grading Scale
For the purpose of grading, a point's system will be used. All exams, essays, book critiques and
attendance will be assigned a point value. Points will be added and then placed on a percentage scale
which is:
Percent
100-97 A89-87 B79-77 C69-67 D
96-94 A86-84 B76-74 C66-64 D
93-90 A83-80 B73-70 C63-60 D
Honesty Policy
The CSI honesty policy explained on page 15-16 of the College Catalog applies to this class. Students must produce original work. Although the professor encourages the honor system, any cheating or plagiarism will result in failure for the class.
Late Paper Policy
Late work will receive a 10% point loss each class period that the paper is late. After 3 weeks, the paper will not be accepted unless you have made arrangements with the instructor.
CSI E-mail
E-mail is the primary source of written communication with all CSI students. Students automatically get a CSI e-mail account when they register for courses. Messages from instructors and various offices such as Admission and Records, Advising, Financial Aid, Scholarships, etc. will be sent to the students’ CSI accounts (NOT their personal email accounts).It is the students’ responsibility to check their CSI e-mail accounts regularly. Failing to do so will result in missing important messages and deadlines. Students can check their CSI e-mail online at Student e-mail addresses have the following format: . At the beginning of each semester free training sessions will be offered to students who need help using their CSI e-mail accounts.
On-line course evaluation statement
Students are strongly encouraged to complete evaluations at the end of the course. Evaluations are very important to assist the teaching staff to continually improve the course. Evaluations are available online at Evaluations open up two weeks prior to the end of the course. The last day to complete an evaluation is the last day of the course. During the time the evaluations are open, students can complete the course evaluations at their convenience from any computer with Internet access, including in the open lab in the Library and in the SUB. When students log in they should see the evaluations for the courses in which they are enrolled. Evaluations are anonymous. Filling out the evaluation should only take a few minutes.
Students with disabilities policy
Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class. Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the TaylorBuilding on the Twin Falls Campus. (208) 732-6260 (voice) or (208) 734-9929.
Class Schedule
August 26 or 28 – Syllabus. Introduction to the Course
September 2 or 4 – Age of Discovery, Columbus, Colonial America. Jamestown, and the Thirteen Colonies. Suggested Readings: pgs. 19-31, 35-57, 61-67. Also, The Way We Lived, Chapter 2: Conflicting Cultural Values in Early America.
September 9 or 11 – More on Colonial America, Puritans, Quakers, and the Reasonsfor the American Revolution. Suggested Readings: pgs. 35-57, 97-99, 110-112, 117-139.
September 16 or 18– The American Revolution, The Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of the Confederation. Suggested Readings: pgs. 117-139, 141-163. Also, The Way We Lived, Chapter 7: People at War; Society during the American Revolution.
September 23 or 25 – Constitutional Convention, Federalists andAnti-Federalists and Ratification, George Washington and the Establishment of theAmericanRepublic. Suggested Readings: pgs. 174-177, 183-191,195-201.
September 30 or October 2– Thomas Jefferson, TheLouisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. Suggested Readings: pgs. 217-222.
October 7 or 9–Marbury v. Madison, Jacksonian Democracy and the nullification crisis in South Carolina. Study Guide Review. Suggested Readings: pgs. 217-222, 244, 263-269, 283-287. Also, The Way We Lived, Chapter 9: The Cherokee Removal: An American Tragedy. Essay #1 Due
October 14 or 16-Mid Term Exam
October 21 or 23 - Oregon and CA Trail. Donner Party Video. Suggested Readings: pgs. 290-295, 302-304.
October 28 or 30- The Mexican American War and the Gadsden Purchase. Finishthe Donner Party video. The Way We Lived, Chapter 10: Moving West.
November 4 or 6– The events that lead to the Civil War, Slavery, Dred Scott, The Compromise of 1850, The Missouri Compromise. Uncle Tom’s Cabin. John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry. Suggested Readings: pgs. 355-379.
November 11 or 13 –The North and the South, Generals, Leaders, Lincoln’s Assassination video. The Way We Lived, Chapter 14: Plantation Society in the Antebellum South. Also, Book Critique Due.
November 18 or 20– The Civil War FortSumter to Chancellorsville. Suggested Readings: pgs. 382-400. Also, The Way We Lived, Chapter 15: A Soldier’s War.
November 25or 27– NO CLASS
December 2 or 4 – The Civil War Gettysburg to Appomattox. Suggested Readings: pgs. 400-416
December 9 or 11 – Reconstruction. Study Guide Review. Essay #2 Due Suggested Readings: pgs. 419-447. Also, The Way We Lived, Chapter 16:Reconstruction; Triumphs and Tragedies.
December 16 or 18 -Final Examination