MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE
Behavioral & Social Science
History 112 – 20th Century United States History
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: The Twentieth Century, by Howard Zinn, & American Cultures, by Al Smith
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Three (3) unit historical survey of the development of the United States focusing primarily on the twentieth century. The course explores the political, economic, social and cultural developments of twentieth century United States history. Periods covered include, but are not limited to, imperialism, the progressive impulse, world wars, the depression, cold war, the civil rights movement and diverse trends in modern American society. Field trips are not required. (A-F or P/NP) Transfer: (CSU, UC) General Education: (MJC-GE: B) (CSUGE: D6) (IGETC: 4F) (AI: Group a)
This co-educational course partially fulfills general educational, transferability, and degree requirements. 20th Century United States 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.
COURSE WORK
WEEKLY HOMEWORK (…due each week)
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 - Reading Response: In the READING SCHEDULE (below), you will find listings and links on the readings from all sources that are due each week. Each week’s readings and assignments are responded to using the standard template provided on the syllabus. These will be sent in to the Blackboard for your course by Sunday night of the week when assigned. ALL readings are required to be integrated into your Reading Response. These are worth 25 points each.
B – Discussion Question: due weekly - This means discussion is a percentage of your grade. Each week at the beginning of the first class of the week – you are responsible for bringing me a typed question about History. It may be about the readings / video assigned. But, it may also be about anything historical that you were interested in. These are worth 25 points each.
Remember: you also have access to many Student Support Services, such as the Tutorial Center. The Library & Learning Center has resources that can make or break an assignment. The Writing Center is open, as is the Office Administration Center -- all of these counts towards helping with your success. ONLY YOU can access them!
TESTING AND ASSESSMENT (…due mid-term & Final week only)
1 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 (below). This is worth 100 points.
1 Final Exam: is your completed Course Learning Objectives. 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). This is worth 200 points.
History 112 Course Learning Objectives
1 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.
1 Community Service Project: this is just as it states - any service to the community (however your community is defined). Service must be unpaid / compensated. The professor will suggest opportunities. This is worth 100 points.
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.
There is homework due weekly so familiarize yourself with the format
GRADES: Basically, there are 50 points available each week – you can keep easy track of your progress on Blackboard as well.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Weekly Writings (Reading Responses) =250
Class Discussions (questions) = 250
Mid Term Essay Exam = 100
Community Service Project = 100 Final Course Learning Outcomes Exam = 200 Final Class Discussion =100
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 112 – 20th Century United States History
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: The Twentieth Century, by Howard Zinn, & American Cultures, by Al Smith
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Three (3) unit historical survey of the development of the United States focusing primarily on the twentieth century. The course explores the political, economic, social and cultural developments of twentieth century United States history. Periods covered include, but are not limited to, imperialism, the progressive impulse, world wars, the depression, cold war, the civil rights movement and diverse trends in modern American society. Field trips are not required. (A-F or P/NP) Transfer: (CSU, UC) General Education: (MJC-GE: B) (CSUGE: D6) (IGETC: 4F) (AI: Group a)
This co-educational course partially fulfills general educational, transferability, and degree requirements. 20th Century United States 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.
COURSE WORK
WEEKLY HOMEWORK (…due each week)
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 - Reading Response: In the READING SCHEDULE (below), you will find listings and links on the readings from all sources that are due each week. Each week’s readings and assignments are responded to using the standard template provided on the syllabus. These will be sent in to the Blackboard for your course by Sunday night of the week when assigned. ALL readings are required to be integrated into your Reading Response. These are worth 25 points each.
B – Discussion Question: due weekly - This means discussion is a percentage of your grade. Each week at the beginning of the first class of the week – you are responsible for bringing me a typed question about History. It may be about the readings / video assigned. But, it may also be about anything historical that you were interested in. These are worth 25 points each.
Remember: you also have access to many Student Support Services, such as the Tutorial Center. The Library & Learning Center has resources that can make or break an assignment. The Writing Center is open, as is the Office Administration Center -- all of these counts towards helping with your success. ONLY YOU can access them!
TESTING AND ASSESSMENT (…due mid-term & Final week only)
1 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 (below). This is worth 100 points.
1 Final Exam: is your completed Course Learning Objectives. 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). This is worth 200 points.
History 112 Course Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to demonstrate factual knowledge of key political, economic, social and cultural events and issues in 20th Century United States History.
- Students will be able to apply critical thinking (including causal analysis and skeptical inquiry) to historical concepts and developments in 20th Century United States History.
- Students will be able to evaluate, analyze and interpret primary and secondary historical sources and make historical arguments based on these sources about 20th Century United States History.
1 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.
1 Community Service Project: this is just as it states - any service to the community (however your community is defined). Service must be unpaid / compensated. The professor will suggest opportunities. This is worth 100 points.
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.
There is homework due weekly so familiarize yourself with the format
GRADES: Basically, there are 50 points available each week – you can keep easy track of your progress on Blackboard as well.
GRADING SCALE
Points possible
Weekly Writings (Reading Responses) =250
Class Discussions (questions) = 250
Mid Term Essay Exam = 100
Community Service Project = 100 Final Course Learning Outcomes Exam = 200 Final Class Discussion =100
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.