WCJC Student Syllabus

June 2017 Revision

Semester and Year

Fall 2018

CRN

CRN 10879

Course Prefix, Num. and Title

HIST 1301-404 - United States History I

Instructor

C.J. Bibus, Ed.D.

Telephone

281.239.1577

Email / Webpage

bibusc@wcjc.edu

Faculty Web Page (opens in same window/tab) http://facultyweb.wcjc.edu/cbibus/

Office Hours / Location

Richmond, 240G: 10:20-10:50 AM (Monday, Friday), 9:50-10:50 AM, 1:00-1:30 PM (Wednesday). Sugar Land, 234: 9:25-10:40 AM (Tuesday, Thursday), 12:15-2:15 PM (Tuesday), 12:15-1:15 PM (Thursday). Or by appointment.

Class Days / Time / Location

Monday, Wednesday, Friday / 12:00 PM-12:50 PM / Richmond 211

Course Catalog Description

 

A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and creation of the federal government.

Instructor’s Grading Formula

Objective work includes Learning Quizzes on concepts, Evidence Quizzes, 3 Unit Exams, and a Departmental Final Exam. Written work is a 3-part writing assignment to develop your skills by using prior feedback and working with evidence and primaries. See the syllabus for course policies, exam dates, grading policies, and points for types of assignments and for the final letter grade.

Instructor’s Grading Scale

895 – 1000, A (exceptional)

795 – 894, B (above average)

695 – 794, C (average)

595 – 694, D (below average)

Below 595, F (failing)

Instructor’s Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of the class using a seating chart.

ADA Statement

 

The college will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students wishing to receive accommodations must contact the Office of Disability Services, located in the Pioneer Student Center, Room 313, at the Wharton campus or by phone at (979) 532-6384. Students must request accommodations from the Office of Disability Services prior to each semester. Please note that accommodations provided are not retroactive. Additional information can be found on the web at the Office of Disability Services (opens in same window/tab). Link Address: http://wcjc.edu/About-Us/administration/offices/student-services/disability-services.aspx.

Misconduct Statement

Misconduct for which discipline may be administered at WCJC includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college (plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test, copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers).

Last Day to Drop with a “W”

November 16, 2018

Course Information

Prerequisites:

TSI satisfied in Reading and Writing

General Education Core Objectives:

·         Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information

·         Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication

·         Social Responsibility (SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities

·         Personal Responsibility (PR) - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making

History Department Student Learner Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1.       Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.

2.       Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.

3.       Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period of United States history.

For definitions of the terms above, use the Syllabus & Success Assignment.

Required Course Materials:

This textbook is required for all written assignments: David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Mel Piehl, The Brief American Pageant: A History of the Republic, 9th edition. It is the one-volume edition containing 41 chapters and is used for both History 1301 and History 1302. The ISBN is 9781337124645; however, that ISBN is a “bundle” and includes both the textbook and an online program called Mindtap. In this course, we will not use Mindtap.

Method of Instruction:

This course uses Learning Quizzes, Lessons, writing assignments, and other course work to help you learn the essentials of history, but also to prepare you for the world of work or, if that is your goal, for further academic study. You can:

·         Master basic concepts and content that help you figure out what is happening in the world you live in

·         Practice skills at learning new and varied things, something essential in a rapidly changing world where workers may have to retrain many times

·         Develop skills necessary as a successful decision maker about your own life and about your own vote

·         Strengthen practical skills in reading, problem-solving, and writing that are necessary for all those roles.

I reserve the right to modify the syllabus during the semester.