HISTORY 2111: American History I

Instructor:  Steve Blankenship

Office:  F-147 (Rome campus)

Office phone:  706-368-7621

Office hours:  by appointment

Prerequisites
READ 0099 and ENGL 0099

Course Objectives:

This course is intended to enhance student performance in four distinct areas:  1)  Critical thinking.  To think critically is to question accepted premises & to investigate the ostensible inevitability of historical events & trends.  2)  Knowledge of historical arguments.  The students should understand that Historical Knowledge is not merely familiarity with the past(s), but with the arguments that have been put forward about past events.  It is these arguments that students have access to, not the past itself.  3)  Proficiency in oral presentations.  The ability to communicate is crucial to students’ success.  This class will require practice at this invaluable skill.  4)  Geographical knowledge.  It is futile to study history without knowledge of world geography.  A concentration on map studies will fulfill this requirement.  All of these course goals will increase student confidence & enhance skills applicable to all college courses and, indeed, life itself.

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Grading System 

Grades:  evaluation of each student will be based on an assessment of the following:

 

1)  Map quizzes                                               200 points (4 quizzes x 50 points)

2)  Exams                                                        500 points (2 exams x 250 points)

3)  Oral presentation                                       150 points

4)  Reflections/participation                            150 points

 

Grading scale:  A = 900-1000; B = 800-899; C = 700-799; D = 600-699; F = 599 or less

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend each and every scheduled class session. Since lectures begin promptly at the scheduled time, students are encouraged to avoid arriving late to class. Roll will be taken at each class session. There is no distinction between "excused" and "unexcused" absences.

Exam Make-Up Policy

No Make-Ups

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Textbooks and Materials

Joseph R. Conlin, The American Past, A Survey of American History, Volume I:  To 1877, 8th edition.



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Assignments:

Oral Presentations

Map Quizzes

Exams

Reflections


Policies on student conduct and academic integrity.
Student conduct must conform to the policy for student conduct and academic integrity which may be accessed on the web at: http://www.highlands.edu/subwebs/academicaffairs/academicintegritypolicy.htm

Disability Statement:
“Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with the College Access Center (706: 802-5003) to coordinate reasonable accommodations. You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your specific needs.”

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Financial Aid
This message applies only to students receiving financial aid: Federal regulations state that if a student did not attend classes and received failing grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs to be reduced accordingly. Please be advised that any student receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing requirements for each class. Students who have earned at least one passing grade for the semester will not be affected by this regulation. If a student has properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid should be adjusted from the time they signed the withdrawal form.

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Course Outline

Week 1:  Introduction;

  all map quiz items;

  diagnostic test;

  Conlin, chapter 1

 

Week 2:  Conlin, chapters, 2, 3, 4

                 Oral presentation explanation

 

Week 3:  Conlin, chapters, 5, 6, 7

                 1st & 2nd map quizzes

 

Week 4:  Conlin, chapters, 8, 9, 10

                 3rd & 4th map quizzes

 

Week 5:  Conlin, chapters, 11, 12, 13

 

Week 6:  Mid-term exam

 

Week 7:  Conlin, chapters, 14, 15, 16

 

Week 8:  Conlin, chapters, 17, 18, 19

 

Week 9:  Conlin, chapters, 20, 21, 22

 

Week 10:  Conlin, chapters, 23, 24, 25

 

Week 11:  Oral presentations

 

Week 12:  Oral presentations

 

Week 13:  Final exam & teacher evaluations



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Extended Absence Policy 
    “Students, who have circumstances that prevent them from continuing to attend classes over an extended period of time, sometimes request that the faculty member permit them to submit work in absentia to receive credit to complete the course.
If the concurrent absences will constitute more than 15% of the class sessions for the term, then written permission from the Division Chair is required before any course assignments can be completed while missing class.  The student must be in good academic standing in the course to make the request.  All approved coursework must be completed by the end of the semester in which the course was begun.”