Southwestern A/G University

His 3333-00 Advanced Topics in American History I

Professor Gary D. McElhany, Ph.D. Fall 2001

Course Syllabus

Course Description:

A Study of the most important issues of American history from colonial times through 1900. Topics that receive major emphasis include interaction between Native Americans and European settlers, American political ideology, the frontier, manifest destiny, industrialization, slavery, reform movements, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and segregation. (Prerequisite: HIS 1113).

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to

1. Trace the historical roots of America including: the arrival of Native Americans, steps leading to European colonization, and early efforts at government.

2. Explain the process by which the framers of the Constitution drafted and ratified the document.

3. Describe the settlement of the West, manifest destiny, and the rise of industry in the United States.

4. Discuss slavery, abolition, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

5. Identify the major religious movements in the United States and the impact of religion and reform movements on American life.

6. Compare and contrast life in New England, the South, and the West during colonization, on the brink of the Civil War, and in the post Civil War period.

7. Identify selected individuals, concepts, terms, and events significant to the nation.

Textbook:

Reich, Jerome R. Colonial America. 5^th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice

Hall, 2001.

Course Plan

Readings from the textbook, lectures, journal articles, videos, and book reviews will provide the information for which students will be responsible.

Course Requirements

1. Careful reading of the text and study of the notes

2. Successful completion of two open-note exams covering material in the textbook, articles, lectures, and book reviews

3. Two oral and written book reviews

4. Article Reviews

Course Outline

Unit 1: Colonial America

Chapters 1-27 Colonial America

Reading 1:

"Moral Dimensions of 1492"

"Men, Women, and Children at Jamestown: Population and Gender in Early Virginia, 1607-1610"

Reading 2:

"Church Trial of Mistress Ann Hibbens"

"Examination of Mrs. Ann Hutchinson"

Book Review 1

Exam 1

Unit 2: The United States to 1900

Reading 3:

"A Confederate Lady's Diary"

Reading 4

"Antebellum Southern Fathers and the Health Care of Children"

"Housewives and their Helpers"

Book Review 2

Final Exam

The professor reserves the right to change assignment dates contingent upon the needs of the class.

Exams

Exam 1 September 17

Final December 12 (10:00-11:20)

Grading

Exam 1 25%

Exam 2 25%

Book Review 1 15%

Book Review 2 15%

Readings 15%

Reading Statement 05%

Final Exams

During the final exam week, a final exam will be administered in class at the time that the university has established as printed in the class schedule. No final exam will be given prior to Final Exam Week. Students with scheduling problems may arrange with the professor (subject to the professor's approval) to take an exam at an alternate time. The arrangement must be done the week prior to exam week. The alternate exam time is scheduled on Monday and Tuesday nights from 6:00- 7:20 p.m. of the Final Exam Week.

Graduating seniors with a grade of B or higher my be exempted from the final if all assignments have been completed with a passing grade AND no more that two absences have occurred after the second exam.

Class Policies

Attendance:

Southwestern's on-campus academic program is designed as an in-class learning experience. In this type of instructional setting, the ability to pass examinations and complete outside projects is only a partial measure of the student's knowledge, skills, understanding, and appreciation of the subject matter. Therefore, students are required to maintain regular and punctual class attendance.

Absences which exceed twenty percent (20%) of the number of times that a class meets per semester, (9 absences for classes meeting 3 times per week; 6 absences for classes meeting 2 times per week; and 3 absences for classes meeting 1 time per week), regardless of the nature or reason for the absences, will result in the student being administratively dropped automatically from the course, receiving a grade of "W". The student will be assessed the established course withdrawal fee.

A student who is absent from a class is totally responsible to make the appropriate advanced arrangements with the faculty member for possible make up work. The faculty member will have the prerogative to determine if a student may make up any examinations or outside assignments based upon the reason for a student's absence and when the make up work must be completed. However, no point reduction will be assessed to a student's final grade for absenteeism.

Tardy

Student's missing fifteen minutes of a class will be counted absent for that session. Every three tardies acquired in classes that meet three times a week and every two tardies acquired in classes that meet twice a week will be considered as an absence. The student is responsible, at the end of class, to identify his/her tardiness to the professor.

NOTE: the assessment of a tardy also applies to students who leave class early.

Assignments

All class assignments should be completed with due consideration for the professional work expected of students of this university. Work should be neat, organized, typewritten (when appropriate) with double line spacing, pages properly joined and numbered, and an appropriate title page. Students should as a matter of course proofread their work prior to turning it in to the instructor so that typographical, grammatical, and syntactical errors may be corrected. It is also advisable that students make a photocopy of work being turned in to provide for coverage of potential error in processing.

Late Work

Late work will be accepted, but the grade will be lowered by ten percent for each class day the assignment is late.

Academic Dishonesty and Cheating

Students are expected to be honest in fulfilling all academic requirements and assignments. This pertains to examinations, themes, book critiques, reading reports, etc. A student will not be allowed to withdraw from a course if he/she is under investigation for academic dishonesty. In the event that the students is determined guilty of academic dishonesty, then the student will not be allowed to withdraw from the course and will receive the grade determined by the faculty member, either "F" for the assignment and/or and "F" for the course. Dishonesty could possibly result in further disciplinary action. Refer to Major infractions in the Student Handbook.

Plagiarism, the use of another's uncited material, as one's own, is not permissible. Reproducing material from other students by photocopy, computer media transfer or by rewriting or cheating.

Miscellaneous

Students must wait 15 minutes for a faculty member before leaving class unless they have been notified otherwise.

Study Tips

Take careful notes in class. Set aside uninterrupted time to regularly review your notes. Type your lecture notes while they are fresh. Note area that are incomplete and use your textbook to fill in the gaps. If you are unable to find the answer, ask the professor. Complete all reading assignments and study helps as scheduled. The process of reading, applying, and review will enhance your ability to retain the material. Do not wait until test time to prepare. This adds pressure and seldom results in long-term memory. Be prepared for matching, multiple choice, and completion.

Office Hours (A113-D)

MWF 10:00-11:00, 2:00-3:00; Th 9:15-11:00, or by appointment.

E-mail is the best means of contact (gmcelhany@sagu.edu). Students may call via 1-888-937-7248 ex. 3231.