MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE
Behavioral & Social Science
History 101 – United States prior to 1877 Instructor: Al Smith
Texts: American Cultures, by Al Smith & A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
Office: Founder’s Hall 120E
Office Hours: MTWTH 11 – 12:15 (and by appointment) Ph.#, 575-6153 (Don’t use it)
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: History 101 is a three (3) unit historical survey of the development of the United States from pre-Columbian times until 1877 (the end of post-Civil War Reconstruction).
This co-educational course partially fulfills general educational, transferability, and degree requirements.
History requires students to actively participate in topical class discussions and to apply critical thought in writing logical, focused arguments. Exams will require short essay answers. English 101 is recommended for success, but not required.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF – number your work!
WEEKLY HOMEWORK (due each week)
A - Discussion Question: due weekly - This means discussion is a percentage of your grade. Each week you are responsible for sending me a question about History into Blackboard. It may be about the readings / video assigned. But, it may also be about anything historical that you were interested in. At the beginning of the first class of the week, I will bring up Blackboard in class and answer your question. These are worth 20 points each.
SEMESTER EXAMS
B – Professor’s Choice Essay. I will select a topic or topics for a five (5) paragraph analytical essay on readings from the first section of class. Instructions are posted in the syllabus/calendar. The essay is due into Blackboard the end of week #4. We will review the week prior to due date.
C – Social Justice Student Choice Project. Each student will propose a Social Justice / Community Service project. One-paragraph proposals are due week #8. Project completion must be by semester’s end – week 15.
D – Student Choice Essay/Video. Students will select either the option of doing an eight-to-ten minute video (with caption), or an essay on a topic of student choice. Either must take a position on a historical person, event or phenomenon.
E – Course Learning Objectives Project. This will be done using a form called an Annotated Bibliography. By the end of the semester, you should have completed one (1) Annotated Bibliography sheet for each CLO.
Course Learning Objectives
A through E @ 200 ea = 1000 possible points
100 point Final Discussion: We will have a Final Discussion during Finals week. The Topic is listed in the Syllabus – although this is subject to change and modification by the class during the course of the semester. This is worth 100 points extra credit.
There is homework due weekly so familiarize yourself with the format
GRADES: Basically, there are points available each week – you can keep easy track of your progress on Blackboard as well.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Weekly Questions (sent to Blackboard) =200
Professor’s Choice Essay = 200
Community Service / Social Justice Project = 200
Student’s Choice Essay = 200
Final Course Learning Outcomes Exam = 200
Final Class Discussion =100
possible points 1100
Point scale
900 - 1000+ = A Percentage 90%+ = A
800 - 899 = B 80-89% = B
700 - 799 = C 70-79% = C
600 - 699 = D 60-69% = D
599 & below.....F
A NOTE ON ATTENDANCE:
As it is necessary to include aspects of class discussion for the most desirable grade, I recommend full attendance. More than two (2) consecutive absences will result in impaired understanding of course specifics, but I will not drop you. If you are having any kind of problems, let me know and we can work around them if possible. Remember: IT IS THE STUDENTS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY WITHDRAWN FROM CLASS should this become necessary.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF.
Behavioral & Social Science
History 101 – United States prior to 1877 Instructor: Al Smith
Texts: American Cultures, by Al Smith & A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
Office: Founder’s Hall 120E
Office Hours: MTWTH 11 – 12:15 (and by appointment) Ph.#, 575-6153 (Don’t use it)
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: History 101 is a three (3) unit historical survey of the development of the United States from pre-Columbian times until 1877 (the end of post-Civil War Reconstruction).
This co-educational course partially fulfills general educational, transferability, and degree requirements.
History requires students to actively participate in topical class discussions and to apply critical thought in writing logical, focused arguments. Exams will require short essay answers. English 101 is recommended for success, but not required.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF – number your work!
WEEKLY HOMEWORK (due each week)
A - Discussion Question: due weekly - This means discussion is a percentage of your grade. Each week you are responsible for sending me a question about History into Blackboard. It may be about the readings / video assigned. But, it may also be about anything historical that you were interested in. At the beginning of the first class of the week, I will bring up Blackboard in class and answer your question. These are worth 20 points each.
SEMESTER EXAMS
B – Professor’s Choice Essay. I will select a topic or topics for a five (5) paragraph analytical essay on readings from the first section of class. Instructions are posted in the syllabus/calendar. The essay is due into Blackboard the end of week #4. We will review the week prior to due date.
C – Social Justice Student Choice Project. Each student will propose a Social Justice / Community Service project. One-paragraph proposals are due week #8. Project completion must be by semester’s end – week 15.
D – Student Choice Essay/Video. Students will select either the option of doing an eight-to-ten minute video (with caption), or an essay on a topic of student choice. Either must take a position on a historical person, event or phenomenon.
E – Course Learning Objectives Project. This will be done using a form called an Annotated Bibliography. By the end of the semester, you should have completed one (1) Annotated Bibliography sheet for each CLO.
Course Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to demonstrate factual knowledge of key political, economic, social and cultural events and issues in U.S. history prior to 1877.
- Students will be able to apply critical thinking (including causal analysis and skeptical inquiry) to historical concepts and developments in U.S. history prior to 1877.
- Students will be able to evaluate, analyze and interpret primary and secondary historical sources and make historical arguments based on these sources about U.S. history prior to 1877.
A through E @ 200 ea = 1000 possible points
100 point Final Discussion: We will have a Final Discussion during Finals week. The Topic is listed in the Syllabus – although this is subject to change and modification by the class during the course of the semester. This is worth 100 points extra credit.
There is homework due weekly so familiarize yourself with the format
GRADES: Basically, there are points available each week – you can keep easy track of your progress on Blackboard as well.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Weekly Questions (sent to Blackboard) =200
Professor’s Choice Essay = 200
Community Service / Social Justice Project = 200
Student’s Choice Essay = 200
Final Course Learning Outcomes Exam = 200
Final Class Discussion =100
possible points 1100
Point scale
900 - 1000+ = A Percentage 90%+ = A
800 - 899 = B 80-89% = B
700 - 799 = C 70-79% = C
600 - 699 = D 60-69% = D
599 & below.....F
A NOTE ON ATTENDANCE:
As it is necessary to include aspects of class discussion for the most desirable grade, I recommend full attendance. More than two (2) consecutive absences will result in impaired understanding of course specifics, but I will not drop you. If you are having any kind of problems, let me know and we can work around them if possible. Remember: IT IS THE STUDENTS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY WITHDRAWN FROM CLASS should this become necessary.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF.