Class: History 2111 section 25H (81010) Email:
kpacholl@westga.edu
Time: TTh 9:30am-10:45am
(Fall 2005) Office Hours: TTh 8:00am – 9:30am
Room: TLC 3205 W
8:00am – 11:00am
Phone: (678) 839-6044 – office W 1:00pm – 2:30pm
(678) 839-6508 – history department (and by
appointment)
GOALS
& OBJECTIVES
Welcome
to History 2111H. This course explores
the major themes and issues in American history from early settlement through
the end of the American Civil War. The
goals & objectives of the class are as follows:
1. To understand critically the historical
development of American institutions and values and
their impact on the individual and collective lives of
Americans.
2. To understand critically the political
culture of citizen participation, including political parties,
pressure groups, public opinion, and the electoral
process.
3. To recognize the significance of
important cultural, intellectual, moral, and political struggles
that have shaped contemporary American society.
4. To recognize the significance of the
contributions of various ethnic and gender groups to
American history, political institutions, and values
within the contexts of cultural
accommodation and resistance.
By the
end of this course, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of historical
facts, themes, and ideas, as well as improve your ability to analyze and
evaluate historical evidence. Since this
is an honors course, the expectations and workload will be much higher than a
normal history survey course.
ASSIGNED
Henretta,
Brody,
William
Dudley, ed., Opposing Viewpoints in
American History, vol. 1
Robert Gross, The Minutemen and Their World
Peter Wood, Strange New Land
Lori Ginzberg, Women in Antebellum Reform
Michael Johnson, ed.,
Abraham Lincoln, Slavery, and the
Civil War
Class handouts (xeroxes handed out in class)
EXAMS: There will be two exams given throughout the
semester: a midterm and a final. All exams will be written (identifications
and various essay lengths) and will be based upon the lectures and assigned
reading materials. A study guide will be passed out prior to each exam, and at
that time I will tell you the exact nature of each exam. You will need bluebooks for the exams, which
I will collect from you no later than one
week before the exam date. Failure to
provide a bluebook means you will not be able to take the exam. Make-up exams are practically non-existent
and will be considered only in the most extreme emergency, which must be
documented (no documentation means no make-up). You must contact me before the
exam is over if such an emergency arises. Failure to show up means no (0)
points for that exam. You must take the exams on the day they are listed on the
course schedule (October 11 and December 15) – there are NO exceptions to this rule, so please don’t ask.
discussion: Class participation is an important part of
your grade, so be sure to show up having read the assignments (you are REQUIRED
to read all materials assigned for the course). Discussions will occur either
in groups or as a class and will be based upon the Opposing Viewpoints textbook, the four monographs, class handouts and
any videos/movies. You will also lead one class discussion based upon the
assigned discussion readings. Expect unannounced
quizzes on the various reading
assignments (which could include ANY of the assigned class material). Your
discussion grade includes: preparing
for, and participating in, and the quality of your class discussions; leading one class discussion; quizzes on discussion material; student conduct; and any other
material assigned throughout the course of the semester that is not listed on
this syllabus.
ANALYTICAL PAPER: You will write one paper based
upon one of the following two books: Strange New Land by Wood or Women in Antebellum Reform by Ginzberg. You get
to choose the book, and the due dates for each are listed in the syllabus under
the course schedule. Absolutely no late
papers – no paper, no grade. Further
instructions and guidelines concerning the papers will be handed out.
RESEARCH PAPER: You will write an 8-10 page (minimum)
research paper for this course on a subject of your choosing that is approved
by me. Handouts will be provided
outlining my guidelines for the research paper.
This paper will be due on November 29.
Absolutely no late papers – no paper, no grade.
attendance: Students are responsible for attending all
classes. This is extremely important,
particularly since we will be having discussions on a regular basis and you
will be participating in each of them.
Role will be taken at the beginning of each class. You will be
considered absent if you show up after role has been taken, so please be sure
to arrive on time (habitual lateness will thus be penalized). In addition, leaving early without permission
will also count as an absence. One
percentage point will be deducted from your overall final grade for each
absence. I will give you 2 “free spins” (meaning 2 absences won’t count against
you) before I start deducting points (meaning I will start deducting beginning
the 3rd absence). For example, if your final grade percentage was
91%, and you were absent for a total of 4 classes, your final grade would be
adjusted to a 89%. There are no
exceptions to this rule.
GRADING
Midterm exam: 20% Analytical
paper: 10%
Final exam: 20% Research
paper: 25%
Discussion: 25%
***There is NO EXTRA CREDIT accepted for this
course
GRADING SCALE
4.0 A
3.0 B
2.0 C
1.0 D
0.0 F
Assessment
Criteria for grades:
-precise
and comprehensive understanding of the material
-thoroughly
identifies, defines, and describes all key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the
course
-work
contains no factual inaccuracies
-excellent
writing, with little to no errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax,
etc.
-very
focused and organized
-correctly
identifies all key themes of the readings
-clear
understanding of the material
-identifies,
defines, and describes most key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the course
-work
contains few factual inaccuracies
-strong
writing, with few errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.
-well
focused and organized
-correctly
identifies most key themes of the readings
-adequate
understanding of the material
-identifies,
defines, and describes some of the key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the course
-work
contains factual inaccuracies
-average
writing, with some errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.
-somewhat
focused and organized
-adequately
identifies major key themes of the readings
-poor
understanding of the material
-identifies,
defines, and describes few key themes/concepts/issues/idea of the course
-work
contains many factual inaccuracies
-below
average writing, with some errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax,
etc.
-poorly focused and organized
-barely
identifies major key themes of the readings
Work
that fails to meet any of the standards set forth above, or which is
exceptionally inadequate
STUDENT CONDUCT
Students
are obligated to abide by the guidelines detailed in the university
catalogue. Respect and courtesy are
required of all students while in the
classroom. The following is mandatory:
1. No
arriving late or leaving early (unless you have checked in with me in
advance). Arriving late or leaving
early will count as one absence. Arriving late
is defined as arriving after role has been taken. Leaving early
is defined as leaving class once the class
has started. If you habitually arrive
late or leave early, you will be
asked to
leave.
2. Cell
phones, pagers, headphones, and all other electronic devices must be turned off
during class. I will confiscate
any I hear going off. Also, no tape
recorders. If you have any documentation
needs, please let me know.
3. Once
the exam has been given, there is no
leaving the room. Once you leave the
room, you are finished
taking the exam. Also, no dictionaries, thesauruses, or
electronic devices can be used for the exam.
Absolutely
no talking during the exam – if you do,
then your exam is finished at that exact point.
4. Any
form of academic dishonesty (including cheating and plagiarism) will result in a failing course grade as
well as possible additional action.
Definitions of academic dishonesty and plagiarism are defined in university
catalog, so please familiarize yourself
with them. I WILL CATCH YOU AND HAVE NO MERCY, SO
PLEASE DON’T DO IT!
If you
have any questions regarding the above, feel free to contact me at any time, or
read the university catalogue. Adherence
to the “common sense” law should prevent any of the above problems. Any
disruptive behavior or failure to adhere to these guidelines could result in
points deducted in your overall course grade, dismissal from class, in
addition
to other disciplinary action.
I reserve the right to modify this syllabus at any time
during the course of the term, particularly regarding the course schedule. If such a modification is substantial, I will
reissue a revised syllabus or course schedule.
COURSE SCHEDULE
August 23 Introduction
25 Background: American Indians, 2-14 (read pages in America:
A Concise History)
30 Background:
September 1 17th-century
- Discussion 1: Viewpoint
2A & 2B, 16-20
Views on Virginia (
6 [topic/thesis statement due] 17th-century
- Discussion 2: Viewpoint
5A & 5B, 30-39
Religious dissent in New England (
8 [
- Discussion 3: Viewpoint
7A & 7B, 50-57
The Great Awakening (Pastors of N.E. v.
Chauncy)
13 Prelude
to the American Revolution, 116-154
- Discussion 4: Viewpoint
11A & 11B, 82-92
Views on Parliament (
15 The
American Revolution, part 1, 160-178
- Discussion 5: Viewpoint
13A & 13B, 98-108
20 [bibliography due] The American Revolution, part
2, 179-193
22 The
Constitutional debates, 193-208
- Discussion 6: Viewpoint
16A & 16B, 117-124
What government is best? (Brutus v.
27 The
1790s, 208-218
29 Politics
in the Early Republic, 229-260, 309-336
-Discussion
7: Viewpoint
24A & 24B, 177-182
A real democracy? (
October 4 What role shall she
have? Women and
society in 19th-century
-Discussion
8: Viewpoint
27A & 27B, 197-202
Women’s status in
6 Native Americans & westward expansion, 219-229, 323-326
- Discussion 9: Viewpoint
25A & 25B, 182-190
Indian Removal (
11 Midterm Exam
13 Reforms
& revivals in 19th-century
October 18 Immigration &
nativism, 305-307
- Discussion 10: Viewpoint
26A & 26B, 191-197
Immigrants:
good or bad? (Nativists v. Nichols)
20 [Women in
Antebellum Reform paper due] Northern society and economic changes, 276-302
24 The
Southern way of life: cotton, class, and race, 260-268
- Discussion 11: Viewpoint
28A & 28B, 203-211
Slavery (Adams v.
27 Slave
life in
November 1 The Underground Railroad
3 North v. South: the rise of sectional tensions, 236-238,
257-260, 319-323
-Discussion
12: Viewpoint
22A & 22B, 159-167
Federal v. State sovereignty (
8 Manifest Destiny and the
Mexican-American War, 368-382
-Discussion
13: Viewpoint
30A & 30B, 217-222
The War with
10 Abolitionist
movement, 352-359
-Discussion
14: Viewpoint
33A & 33B, 252-257
Expansion of slavery (Douglas v.
15 1850s:
17 Crises
of the late 1850s
-Discussion
15: Viewpoint
32A & 32B, 242-251
Expansion of slavery (Douglas v.
22 The
coming of the American Civil War, 392-402
-Discussion
16: Viewpoint
34A & 34B, 257-265
Debate over secession (
24 NO CLASS: ENJOY THANKSGIVING!
29 [ Research paper due] The
American Civil War, 402-426
December 1 The
American Civil War, part 2
6
December 15 FINAL EXAM: Thursday, May 5, 8:00am – 10:00am