MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE
Behavioral & Social Science
History 113 – American Social & Cultural History prior to 1900
Instructor: Al Smith Founder’s Hall 120 E Office Hours: MTWTH 11 – 12:30 and by appointment (occasionally, I am out of town).
Ph.#, 575-6153 (don’t use it!)
Texts: American Cultures, by Al Smith & A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Three (3) unit historical surveys of the development of American society and culture focusing primarily on the United States. History 113 surveys American social and cultural history through the beginning of the 20th century. The U.S. is presented as a nation of immigrants - a kind of stew that is at once multicultural and uniquely mono-cultural.
This course will analyze the social, political, economic, and technological contributions to the multi-cultured American system by various indigenous, European, African, and Asian peoples. Specific aspects of cultural expropriation, as well as cross-cultural diffusion will be examined. Discrimination based on gender, politics, and economics will be discussed, as will issues of ethnic assimilation. These co-educational courses partially fulfill general educational, transferability, and degree requirements.
Social-Cultural 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.
History 113 Course Learning Objectives
ALL WORK MUST BE TYPED. All papers and discussions (except classroom notes) will be sent in to the Blackboard shell for your class. Each Modesto Junior College student has access to the Blackboard through the MJC / Pirate’s Net Homepage. Keep copies of all your work. Students will receive periodic feedback on their work through Blackboard.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF.
A - Readings: listings and links on the readings from all sources that are due each week is below in the READING SCHEDULE. The Reading Response: history is a discussion in print. Each week’s readings and assignments are discussed in writing in the MODULE ASSESSMENT* at the end of each Module. ALL readings are required to be integrated into your assessments.
TESTING AND ASSESSMENT
5 MODULES = 5 ASSESSMENTS. These are:
1 – One 200-point Reading Response: covering your developed understanding and comprehension of the reading materials and video. This typed Module assessment is in the following 5 paragraph / sections: race, gender, class, culture and political economy. See the template for instructions.
2 – One 200-point Midterm Essay: this is a five-paragraph essay that will be due on the last class day of week #8. You will select the historical topic from a list that I provide. Instructions are linked into the schedule. The essay will be in standard five-paragraph (5) form. The essay will have a five-source (5) bibliography.
3 – One 200-point Multiple Choice Test: to be accomplished for both assessments skill-building and recognition of historical particulars (names, dates, concepts of linear history).
4 – One 200-point Final Exam: is your completed Course Learning Objectives (listed above). 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 objective).
5 – One 200-point Final Discussion: History is a discussion in print. Each week’s readings and assignments are discussed. ALL readings are required to be integrated into your Discussions. This means discussion – interaction; written and verbal, etc. - is 20% of your grade. When you ask questions, when you discuss issues, when you talk among yourselves in class during a group project, or when you use any out of class tutorial it all counts. I have individual and group tutorial sessions sometimes available.
We will also have a Final Discussion during Finals week. The Topic is listed in the 5th Module – although this is subject to change and modification by the class during the course of the semester.
A NOTE ON READING: Your performance relating to weekly reading is directly linked to your success with course assignments. If you do not read the course material you will not succeed on the writing, testing, or discussion/participation levels.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Writings (Reading Responses) = 200
Class Discussions = 200
Mid Term Exam = 200
CLO Final Exam ( take home) = 200
possible points 1000
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.
Behavioral & Social Science
History 113 – American Social & Cultural History prior to 1900
Instructor: Al Smith Founder’s Hall 120 E Office Hours: MTWTH 11 – 12:30 and by appointment (occasionally, I am out of town).
Ph.#, 575-6153 (don’t use it!)
Texts: American Cultures, by Al Smith & A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Three (3) unit historical surveys of the development of American society and culture focusing primarily on the United States. History 113 surveys American social and cultural history through the beginning of the 20th century. The U.S. is presented as a nation of immigrants - a kind of stew that is at once multicultural and uniquely mono-cultural.
This course will analyze the social, political, economic, and technological contributions to the multi-cultured American system by various indigenous, European, African, and Asian peoples. Specific aspects of cultural expropriation, as well as cross-cultural diffusion will be examined. Discrimination based on gender, politics, and economics will be discussed, as will issues of ethnic assimilation. These co-educational courses partially fulfill general educational, transferability, and degree requirements.
Social-Cultural 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.
History 113 Course Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to demonstrate factual knowledge of key political, economic, social and cultural events and issues in Social & Cultural United States History prior to 1900.
- Students will be able to apply critical thinking (including causal analysis and skeptical inquiry) to historical concepts and developments in Social & Cultural United States History prior to 1900.
- Students will be able to evaluate, analyze and interpret primary and secondary historical sources and make historical arguments based on these sources about Social & Cultural United States History prior to 1900.
ALL WORK MUST BE TYPED. All papers and discussions (except classroom notes) will be sent in to the Blackboard shell for your class. Each Modesto Junior College student has access to the Blackboard through the MJC / Pirate’s Net Homepage. Keep copies of all your work. Students will receive periodic feedback on their work through Blackboard.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR GRADE, KEEP TRACK OF IT YOURSELF.
A - Readings: listings and links on the readings from all sources that are due each week is below in the READING SCHEDULE. The Reading Response: history is a discussion in print. Each week’s readings and assignments are discussed in writing in the MODULE ASSESSMENT* at the end of each Module. ALL readings are required to be integrated into your assessments.
TESTING AND ASSESSMENT
5 MODULES = 5 ASSESSMENTS. These are:
1 – One 200-point Reading Response: covering your developed understanding and comprehension of the reading materials and video. This typed Module assessment is in the following 5 paragraph / sections: race, gender, class, culture and political economy. See the template for instructions.
2 – One 200-point Midterm Essay: this is a five-paragraph essay that will be due on the last class day of week #8. You will select the historical topic from a list that I provide. Instructions are linked into the schedule. The essay will be in standard five-paragraph (5) form. The essay will have a five-source (5) bibliography.
3 – One 200-point Multiple Choice Test: to be accomplished for both assessments skill-building and recognition of historical particulars (names, dates, concepts of linear history).
4 – One 200-point Final Exam: is your completed Course Learning Objectives (listed above). 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 objective).
5 – One 200-point Final Discussion: History is a discussion in print. Each week’s readings and assignments are discussed. ALL readings are required to be integrated into your Discussions. This means discussion – interaction; written and verbal, etc. - is 20% of your grade. When you ask questions, when you discuss issues, when you talk among yourselves in class during a group project, or when you use any out of class tutorial it all counts. I have individual and group tutorial sessions sometimes available.
We will also have a Final Discussion during Finals week. The Topic is listed in the 5th Module – although this is subject to change and modification by the class during the course of the semester.
A NOTE ON READING: Your performance relating to weekly reading is directly linked to your success with course assignments. If you do not read the course material you will not succeed on the writing, testing, or discussion/participation levels.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Writings (Reading Responses) = 200
Class Discussions = 200
Mid Term Exam = 200
CLO Final Exam ( take home) = 200
possible points 1000
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.