Below the line is an exact copy of the file you will download.

 

Here is what you do:

  1. Read this webpage and click on its links to the Internet so you make decisions that match your needs.
    Tip: You cannot enter on this webpage. This is not that fancy. I am also not that good with computers.

  2. After you have read this webpage and used its links, download the file below this link. The file has the same information as in this link. Place it on your computer where you can find it.

  3. In the downloadable file, fill in every line marked with yellow. Email in Blackboard Messages or call my office number (available during office hours on MWF) if you have any questions. Glad to help.
    Tip: I am not worried about it being pretty, but useful for you to decide and for me to understand your decisions.

Example 1: I’m fine if you type in your last name and it looks like this.  If your name is Ana Joy, you can type:

 

Last Name: Joy ____ 1st Name_Ana_______________  

Example 2: On the questions where you place a √, I’m fine if you copy and paste the √ and it looks like this.

 

_√

Course Objectives for the History Department - Click

 

  1. Before the DUE date, submit the file using the Turnitin Assignment that is in this folder. If you have never used Turnitin, WCJC’s Distance Learning Department provided us with instructions.

 

When I grade the plans, I will read it and I will do one of these things:

·         If I am concerned about your success, I will enter a 1.11 (a temporary placeholder) for the grade and add a Comment next to this grade asking you to talk to me ASAP or I will tell you what to fix.

·         If I am not concerned, I will enter the full points listed in Course Orientation.

 

FYI: about the emergency contact information, I do not plan to contact any of you. On the other hand, I have been able to help students by being able to contact them quickly, especially just before grades for the term were due.

 

Exact Copy of the File You Will Download in Step 2

 

Your Emergency Contact Information and Your Plan for the Grade You Want to Earn                 Date __/__/___

If you have questions, please ask. A careful plan, combined with following the Course Schedule at the end of the syllabus, can make success easier.

 

1.     Type your name as shown in Blackboard, your phone number, and an alternative email address so I have additional ways to reach you in an emergency. (An emergency is something where it is in your interest if I contact you. For example, you did not complete your Final Exam.)

 

Last Name: _________________ 1st Name________________   Phone # ____- ____-_____  Alternative Email: ____________________

 

2.     Place a check (√) in the __ to the left of EACH of the sections in the syllabus to confirm you understand and agree. Do not √ without reading.

__

Course Objectives for the History Department - Click here for explanations of historical concepts within those Course Objectives.

__

Academic and Personal Integrity - including a 0 for assignments if you do not follow these requirements

__

Classroom Civility

__

Attendance Policy and Due Dates and Your Responsibilities – including no make-ups and having to have verifiable, written excuses

__

Six Course Drop Limit

__

Dropping a Course with a Grade of “W” – including how instructors in the History Department cannot drop students (Students must do that.)

__

Communication with Your Instructor – including how often to log in, especially given the speed of doing 16 weeks of work in 8 weeks

 

3.     This is a 1000-point course. Place a check (√) to the left of YOUR planned grade.  Notice the difference in 895 points and 894 points.

_ an A (895-1000 points)  _ a B (795-894 points)  _ a C (695-794 points)  _ D (595-694 points)  _ F (594 or less)

 

4.     Place a check (√) to the left of EACH of the objective and written assignments you plan to do so you earn the grade that you plan.

Tip: If you want an A, you need to select them all.

 

The objective work, Getting Started activities, or Forums supporting objective work consists of 700 regular points for these assignments.

 

 

Work You Do Before the Due Date Listed in the Course Schedule

Regular Points

Extra Credit Points

__

Required Getting Started tasks listed on the last page of the link Course Orientation. That last page of the link also lists extra credits that tend to help people be more successful—not just make more points.

50

10

__

8 Quizzes (Unit 1 and Unit 2 only) on requirements for evidence in this class (and on many jobs that pay well) @ 5 points each.

40[i]

30[ii]
16[iii]

__

3 Unit Topics to Collaborate on Concepts for History @ 20 points each. See Discussion Topics and instructions for this discussion, including why it is what Blackboard calls a managed discussion and how that works.

60

30[iv]

__

3 Unit Concepts Exams @ 50 points each – These include varied types of questions, including short essay.

150

0

__

3 Unit Objective Exams @ 100 points each.     

300

0

__

Departmental Final Exam @ 100 points–Departmental policy is an F for the course if you do not take the Final.

100

0

 

The written work consists of these 300 points, with 220 of it being formal writing.

 

 

Work You Do Before the Due Date Listed in the Course Schedule

Regular Points

Extra Credit Points

__

Introduction to Primaries, to the 5 Good Habits for Evidence, and to Key Concepts for Unit 1.  See the Discussion Topics and the instructions for each thing that you do. This is an opportunity to figure out lots of things about primaries, evidence, and concepts at no risk to your grade as the possible extra credit explains.

80

40[v]

__

2 Unit Written Exams (Unit 1 and Unit 2 only) @ 50 points each. Your grade is @ 25 points for content and 25 points for following all 5 Good Habits for Evidence.

100

0

__

Proposal for the Analysis of Primaries covering at least 2 Units @ 30 points for content and 30 for following all 5 Good Habits for Evidence. (The 5 Good Habits for Evidence grade for the proposal is determined by the 5 Good Habits for Evidence for the paper itself.) The proposal requires careful reading of the primaries and selection of pages from the textbook that are appropriate for your planned analysis.

60

0

__

Analysis of Primaries @ 30 points for content and 30 points for following all 5 Good Habits for Evidence.  

60

0

 

5.     Place a check (√) in the __ to the left of EACH of the statements to confirm you understand and agree:

__

The Departmental Requirement is a minimum of 25% of your grade being written work.  With 30% specific written work, you must do some written assignments—or—only want a C for the course and always make 100% on each objective assignment (a risky plan). If you don’t understand, click here to see examples of the math.

__

On the other hand, if you follow the 5 Good Habits for Evidence, you can make a decent grade even if you are not skilled or comfortable with writing. Click here for required Course Objectives, the separate Good Habits for Evidence grade, and how it can help you.

__

If you think you do a job that does not require the 5 Good Habits for Evidence, try this link. Unfortunately, most students do not realize they are not being careful enough with evidence. For example, over 60% of students since 2011 usually did not know basics such as being factually accurate when writing about real things until this course. Click here to see what past students said they did not know before. 

__

If there is a problem with following the Good Habits for Evidence or with anything incomplete about an assignment (including your needing to respond to feedback), your instructor enters 1.11 as a temporary placeholder for the grade and posts a comment with that grade telling you what you need to do.

 

6.        __ This is an optional question, but it does help me a bit. Place a check (√) to the left if you have had a class with me before.

 

7.        If there is something you want for me to know about you, please start it here: __ (Tip: The endnotes will automatically move down as you type.)

 

 

 

WCJC Department:

History – Dr. Bibus

Contact Information:

281.239.1577 or bibusc@wcjc.edu

WCJC Home:

http://www.wcjc.edu/

 

2013


[i] If you miss question(s) on an Evidence Quiz, you may earn full points by talking to your instructor about the missed questions a) if you took the quiz by the recommended date in the Course Schedule and b) if you contact your instructor within 1 week of your taking that quiz. Why this extra credit? Talking to your instructor helps you get straight essential requirements for evidence so you are successful with evidence. It also increases your points.

[ii] If you make over 70% (or 14 points) on the Evidence Quizzes for each Unit, you earn 15 points extra credit. If you meet those requirements for both Units, the total is 30. Caution: To keep those extra credit points and to see the upcoming written assignment, you must apply the 5 Good Habits for Evidence to each writing project. Why this extra credit? If you make yourself have good habits for about 3 times, those habits will be part of you.

[iii] If you do an Evidence Quiz by the recommended date in the Course Schedule, you earn 2 points extra credit. Why this extra credit? If you stay current in your work, you are more likely to succeed.

[iv] If your Collaboration on Concepts for a Unit is over 70% (or 14 points) and if the grade for the Unit’s  Concept Exam is over 70% (or 35 points), you earn 10 extra credit points for that Unit. If you meet those requirements for all 3 Units, the total is 30. Why this extra credit? If you follow the instructions, you will help reduce the work each of you have to do and you will practice with those concepts enough that you know them naturally.

[v]If you follow all of the 5 Good Habits for Evidence with each required task, you get 40 extra credit points. Why this extra credit? The sooner you figure out that a history class is about verifiable evidence from a reliable source (and not your—or my—opinions), the sooner you will be successful.