| American History Since 1865 | AMH 2020 Spring 2014: Session 3 | Term and Reference Number |
Table of Contents
| Office Phone: | 954-240-9166 | |
| Department Phone: | 954-201-2958 | |
| Email: | All communication should be through the course email tool. Use my BC email ONLY if you are unable to access the course email: ssimpso2@broward.edu | |
| Office Hours: | During the hours of xxxx to xxxx, on xxxx days and xxxx days, I will be in my office on xxxx campus, room xxxx, if you would like to see me in person. | |
| Virtual Office Hours: | I will be available live from xxxx to xxxx on xxxx days and xxxx days when you can expect to contact me by phone or email and expect a real-time response. | |
| BC Safety Phone#: | 954-201-HELP (4357) |
Course Description
This is a course in US history covering major historical periods from the Reconstruction era to the present. The course is a general survey of the basic forces shaping American life including: The development of modern industrialism; the organization of laborers and farmers; immigration; the Progressive Era; World War I; the Roaring Twenties; the Great Depression and New Deal; the origins and impact of the Second World War; the advent of the Cold War; post war domestic tensions; the complacent 1950's; social/political unrest of the 1960's; disillusionment and search for new directions since 1970.
This course meets Area 3A general education requirements for the A.A. degree. This course meets Area 3 or 5 general education requirements for the A.S. degree.
This course meets Area 3A general education requirements for the A.A. degree. This course meets Area 3 or 5 general education requirements for the A.S. degree.
General Course Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Identify and employ the components of historical research and analysis.
2. Produce clearly organized, thoroughly developed writing assignments, including but not limited to short answer response assignments, short essays, research assignments, or research papers, which express defensible conclusions based on historical analysis.
3. Identify and evaluate the motivations, characteristics, and consequences of U.S. westward, industrial, urban, and imperial expansion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Chapters 16-21
4. Assess the major figures, organizations, goals, and outcomes associated with progressivism. The students shall analyze the origins, progression, and outcomes of World War I. Chapters 22-25
5. Analyze the origins, progression, and outcome of World War II. The students shall assess the development and characteristics of the Cold War in its first decades, including its impact on U.S. foreign and domestic policy and practices. Chapters 25-26
6. Analyze the causes and consequences of the major social movements of the 1960s and identify and evaluate the political, social, economic, and diplomatic developments between the 1970s and early 1990s and their relationship to earlier decades. Chapters 27-29
7. Assess the political, social, economic, and international events that shaped American life in the early 1990s and beyond. Chapters 29-32
Course Prerequisites
To maximize your chances for success in this course, make sure that you meet the following course course prerequisites:
- Course Prerequisites and Co-requisites: n/a
- Computer Knowledge and Skills:
- Students in this course should be familiar with the following computer skills.
- File Management - You should be familiar with finding and saving files on your computer.
- The Internet - You should be familiar with connecting to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider or Network Connection.
- Web Browser Software - You should be familiar with using web browser software to navigate the Internet and locate information.
- Email - You should be familiar with sending and receiving email messages.
- Discussions - You should be familiar with posting and reading discussion messages in a threaded format.
- Attachments - You should be familiar with sending email messages with attached files.
- Word Processing - You should be familiar with creating, editing, saving, and printing documents using Microsoft Word.
- Students in this course should be familiar with the following computer skills.
- Other Requirements
- You'll need a BC email address to access the online portion of this course.
- Obtain a County Library Card or University/College Library Card. You will need either a County Library Card which you may obtain at either North Campus or South Campus Library or a University/College Library Card from the Central Campus Library. These cards will allow you to use select library databases. (optional)
- Log into Course
- The direct link for login is https://bconline.broward.edu.
Course Attendance and Participation Policy
Attendance/Withdrawal Policy:
| During the first week of class, you must complete the online orientation or you will be withdrawn from the course. Simply logging into the course will not satisfy your attendance during this time. As with on-campus courses, students who are reported for non-attendance in an online course and are withdrawn are still responsible for paying for the course. If you do not complete the requirements of the first week of class, you should drop the course by the official drop/add deadline or expect to pay for the course. It is very important for you to actively participate in this online class. If you stop participating in class discussions, do not submit assignments, or fail to take quizzes or tests prior to the withdrawal date, you will be withdrawn from class and receive a W or, if it is your third attempt, an F. If you stop participating after the withdrawal date, you will receive an F. To avoid this situation, you should remain an active learner in this class and always communicate extenuating circumstances to me. Ongoing communication with the instructor is critical to your course success. Completion of tests, assignments, and other class activities are used as indicators of your participation in order to satisfy this reporting requirement. |
Participation:
Regular, active, and meaningful participation in online learning activities is a critically important component of this course and is essential to your success. It is recommended that you log into the course several times during the online week. Frequency and quality of participation may affect your grade.
- Active participation is expected of all students in this course.
- Check your email and course discussions regularly. Ask questions.
- Post and respond to messages.
Computer Requirements
To complete the online segments of this course, you must have access to computer hardware and software that meets or exceeds BC's minimum hardware and software standards for e-learning courses. It is strongly recommended that you check your computer to verify that its hardware and software configuration meets or exceeds the BC standard.
- Is your computer ready for online learning? Click here to check it out.
- Additional Software required for this Course (optional) Assignments that require word processing must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. Documents created using Microsoft Works, or files that have ".txt", ".pdf", or ".asci" extensions will not meet course requirements. If you do not have proper software on your computer, you can use the Microsoft Word program on any of the "open lab" computers at any BC Learning Resource Center or in public libraries.
- Only word processing documents in Microsoft Word format will be accepted. Please virus check documents before sending them. AVG offers a free online virus check.
Required Course Materials
Required course materials include the textbook which can be purchased at the Central Campus bookstore.
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Text
Brands, Breen, et. Al. American Stories: A History of the United States, Vol II.
ISBN-10: 0205073352 ISBN-13: 9780205073351
For more information on the text: pearsonhighered.com
|
Methods of Instruction
This is a 3-credit hour course and normally, a 3-credit hour course would meet two or three times each week (during a 16 week term) for a total of 3 hours per week or 48 hours per term. However, this is an online course, meaning that the course is conducted completely online providing learning modules, your syllabus, an online orientation assignment as well as written assignments, examinations, and supplemental information on the Desire2Learn system. You will be required to complete all of the required work on Desire2Learn in order to successfully complete this course.
The course has been planned to provide a variety of written assignments as well as online quizzes and examinations and discussions. Each tool used in this course is provided to train you to enhance your written communication skills as well as learn about the history of America. The discussions are planned in order for you to discuss the weekly topics with your classmates. The quizzes and examinations are planned for you to test your mastery of the weekly readings. The short answer response assignments and essay assignments are used as critical thinking tools to both test your mastery of the information as well as apply the information to a particular scenario. Hopefully, through these tools, you will have gained a deeper understanding of the evolution of the history of the United States and roles people and events played in its evolution. Even more importantly, hopefully, you will have continued to master your academic skills. Remember, in order to be successful, you, the students, are responsible for regularly reviewing the Course Schedule and completing all required class assignments.
Course Schedule and Assignments
1. DISCUSSIONS:
Participating in the course discussions is an important part of your final grade. There is at least one class discussion for every chapter in the course. These assignments are found in the “discussion” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) In your discussions, you cannot simply reply to someone's posting with "ditto" or "I agree with you". You must both answer the question asked and respond to at least one classmate's posting. Your responses must also demonstrate that you have read and understood the topic addressed. Remember - we are all in this together and we can learn from each other. Remember that the discussion tool is public - everyone will be able to view posts and responses. There are three extra credit discussion topics worth five points each.
Participating in the course discussions is an important part of your final grade. There is at least one class discussion for every chapter in the course. These assignments are found in the “discussion” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) In your discussions, you cannot simply reply to someone's posting with "ditto" or "I agree with you". You must both answer the question asked and respond to at least one classmate's posting. Your responses must also demonstrate that you have read and understood the topic addressed. Remember - we are all in this together and we can learn from each other. Remember that the discussion tool is public - everyone will be able to view posts and responses. There are three extra credit discussion topics worth five points each.
2. SHORT ANSWER RESPONSE ASSIGNMENTS:
Short Answer Response assignments are writing assignments that test your mastery of the information as well as serve as exercises in critical thinking within the context of history. These assignments are found in the “assignments” widget ( on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) For short answer response assignments, it is important that:
Short Answer Response assignments are writing assignments that test your mastery of the information as well as serve as exercises in critical thinking within the context of history. These assignments are found in the “assignments” widget ( on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) For short answer response assignments, it is important that:
- Your answers are in complete sentences.
- You make sure to cite all of your sources. See the citation guide embedded in the Course Content Browser for examples.
- You make sure to proofread your entries.
You must use the information provided (learning modules, textbook) and submit your SAR assignments as a Word 2007 (or the latest version) attachment. Wikipedia is not considered an acceptable source for this course and should not be included in your assignments.
Plagiarism Policy: There will be no rewrites for cases of plagiarism. At a minimum, you will receive a "0" for any incidents of plagiarism and you will forfeit any extra credit points earned in the course.
3. ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS:
This course requires you to write three short essay assignments that will require you to analyze, summarize and synthesize information given throughout the semester. The essay assignments are found in the “assignments” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) With each assignment, you will be asked to answer any two “2” the essay questions from a list provided. Each essay should be 2 pages long maximum, 1 page minimum. You will be required to answer the questions as completely as possible in clear, concise language. The information for every question provided will be found in your textbook, the provided document collections (found in the content browser) and in the learning modules. Those are the only sources you may use to complete these assignments. You will be required to cite those sources correctly using both footnotes and bibliographies (see the citation guide found in the content browser for examples). The essays should be double-spaced in 10-12 point font type only. Your essays must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents (2007 or later version) and attached in the “assignments” section.
This course requires you to write three short essay assignments that will require you to analyze, summarize and synthesize information given throughout the semester. The essay assignments are found in the “assignments” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) With each assignment, you will be asked to answer any two “2” the essay questions from a list provided. Each essay should be 2 pages long maximum, 1 page minimum. You will be required to answer the questions as completely as possible in clear, concise language. The information for every question provided will be found in your textbook, the provided document collections (found in the content browser) and in the learning modules. Those are the only sources you may use to complete these assignments. You will be required to cite those sources correctly using both footnotes and bibliographies (see the citation guide found in the content browser for examples). The essays should be double-spaced in 10-12 point font type only. Your essays must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents (2007 or later version) and attached in the “assignments” section.
4. CHAPTER QUIZZES
Chapter quizzes will be in a multiple choice and/or true and false formats. These 20-point quizzes are found in the “assessments” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) test your mastery of the information found in the textbook chapters and the learning modules. Please refer to the course schedule for more which chapter quizzes are assigned and their due dates. These chapter quizzes are not timed but you will have only ONE attempt to take them.
Chapter quizzes will be in a multiple choice and/or true and false formats. These 20-point quizzes are found in the “assessments” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) test your mastery of the information found in the textbook chapters and the learning modules. Please refer to the course schedule for more which chapter quizzes are assigned and their due dates. These chapter quizzes are not timed but you will have only ONE attempt to take them.
5. EXAMINATIONS:
There are two exams for this course. They are non-cumulative. These exams are found in the “assessments” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) and will consist of multiple choice questions only. The questions will be based on information in your text, your previous assignments, and your course learning modules. Your examinations will be administered online and may be taken at home. You are not required to go to the Testing Center to complete these exams. The scheduled dates for these exams are provided above. These examinations will be timed. Look out for announcements to be posted just before your examinations.
There are two exams for this course. They are non-cumulative. These exams are found in the “assessments” widget (on the blue navigation bar at the top of the course homepage) and will consist of multiple choice questions only. The questions will be based on information in your text, your previous assignments, and your course learning modules. Your examinations will be administered online and may be taken at home. You are not required to go to the Testing Center to complete these exams. The scheduled dates for these exams are provided above. These examinations will be timed. Look out for announcements to be posted just before your examinations.
| January 23-27: Introduction to the Course and Orientation | |
| Learning Outcomes After completing the Orientation module, the students will be able to:
| Assignments: Orientation Activities:
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| January 27-Feb 1: The Agony of Reconstruction | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| Feb 2 -8: Exploiting an Empire, 1849-1902 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| February 9-February 15: The Industrial Society, 1850-1901 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| February 16-22: Toward an Urban Society, 1877-1900 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| February 16-23: Political Realignments, 1876-1901 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| February 23-March 1: Toward Empire, 1865-1902 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| February 23-March 2: The Progressive Era, 1895-1917 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| March 3-9: Spring Break | |
| Learning Outcomes None | Assignments: NONE…ENJOY YOUR SPRING BREAK |
| March 9-15: From Roosevelt to Wilson in the Age of Progressivism, 1900-1920 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| March 9-16: The Nation at War 1901-1920 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| March 16-22: Transition to Modern America, 1919-1928 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| March 16-23: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1929-1939 And America and the World 1921-1945 | |
| Learning Outcomes For Chapter 26:
| Assignments:
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| March 23-29th: The Onset of the Cold War, 1945-1960 And Affluence and Anxiety, 1945-1960 | |
| Learning Outcomes For Chapter 28:
| Assignments:
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| March 30--April 5th: The Turbulent Sixties | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| April 6-13: To a New Conservatism, 1969-1988 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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| April 13-19: To the Twenty-First Century, 1989-2009 | |
Learning Outcomes
| Assignments:
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Grading and Exam Policies
Writing Assignment Submissions:
- Assignment deadlines are posted in the Course Schedule table. Assignments must be submitted through the course as a Microsoft Word attachment. No assignments will be accepted via email.
- Assignments submitted after the due date and time will only be accepted if prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.
- Discussion postings are expected to be posted according to the Course Schedule table.
Course Quizzes and Examinations:
- Module quizzes will be available during the week they are assigned. They may be taken via any computer with an Internet connection. Course exams will be available during the week they are assigned and will close on the closing date.
- Collaboration between students and discussion of quiz and examination answers is NOT permitted.
- You will only be able to attempt each quiz once. Allow time to complete each quiz before the closing date and time. Make sure you have a solid Internet connection. If your ISP disconnects you during a quiz, that will count as an attempt and you will not be able to repeat the quiz.
- Please allow ample time to complete quizzes and examinations. Technical issues can happen and excuses about technical problems will not be accepted from students who wait until the last minute to take exams.
View your Grades
- Online quiz and exam grades will be available after finishing the quiz or exam. View "Grades" from the course homepage.
- Grades for written assignments will be posted within 7 BC working days of the closing date of the assignment.
- Grades for discussion postings will be posted within 3 BC working days after the due date. Final grades will be received based on the BC registration dates.
How your Grade will be Determined
Assessment
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Points
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Total points per assignment
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| Discussions | 17 @ 10 points each | 170 points |
| Quizzes | 15 @ 20 points each | 300 points |
| Short Answer Response Assignments (SAR) | 3 @ 100 points each | 300 points |
| Essay Assignments | 3 @ 100 points each | 300 points |
| Examinations | 2 @ 100 points each | 200 points |
| Extra Credit Discussions | 3 @ 5 points each | 15 points |
| Total | 1270 points |
Grading Scale
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Grades
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Points
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Grade = A
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1270-1143
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Grade = B
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1142-1016
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Grade = C
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1015-889
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Grade = D
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888-712
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Grade = F
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711 and below
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Communication Policy
Expectations for Course Communication
- Email: Use the email tool only for private, personal, one-to-one communication with a specific individual or groups of individuals. Please do not send course related emails to the instructor's BC email address. Solicitations will not be tolerated. Assignments sent to the instructor's BC email will not be accepted.
- Alternate Communication: In the event that the course communication tools are unavailable for more than 24 hours, the instructor will communicate with students (if necessary) via their BC email addresses. Access your BC email account athttp://www.outlook.com
- Discussions: Use the "generic" discussion thread to post questions that might be of general interest to all students such as questions about assignments, tests, etc. Feel free to respond to other students if you think you can help them. Proofread the content of your posts before making them public; proper grammar and sentence structure are expected. Remember that the discussion tool is public - everyone will be able to view posts and responses. See the Netiquette section below for expectations regarding appropriate behavior in online discussions.
- Faculty Response Policy: Your instructor is not online 24 hours per day, so please allow time for responses. I will attempt to answer any questions and return emails that are posted after virtual office hours within 48 hours, Monday - Friday, NO WEEKENDS! It is recommended that you post course-related questions in the discussion area. If you need info related to a test or assignment, plan ahead and submit your questions well ahead of the due date. Your instructor is not online 24 hours per day, so please allow time for responses.
- Netiquette: In all online communication, it is expected that all students will follow rules of online "netiquette". Netiquette is a set of rules for polite online behavior that all members of this class are expected to follow. Read some general netiquette rules here. Basically, these rules say "be respectful and be polite to each other" and "be patient," etc. No one is perfect and we all have different approaches to life, work, and school.
- Individuals who violate the netiquette policy or engage in disruptive online behaviors such as flaming (posting disrespectful or hostile comments), posting inappropriate comments, or shouting (posting messages using all capitals) may have their course access privileges revoked and/or they may be referred to the Student Dean. Students who continue to engage in unacceptable online behavior after being warned, may be permanently denied access to the course and/or may receive an F for the course.
- Please don't use email shorthand like ROTFL (rolling on the floor laughing) or BTW (by the way) - not everyone knows what these abbreviations mean. If you want to use emoticons (smileys) to convey feelings, please stick with the basics happy :-) sad :-( or wink ;-). Others are less well known and are subject to different interpretations. The idea is to be clear in your communications.
- Privacy Notice: Course access records, quiz scores, email postings, discussion postings, and chat room conversations will be stored. This is one more reason to make sure that your communications adhere to the netiquette policy.
Other Policies and Procedures
Special Needs - Students having special needs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act should:
- Notify the Office of Disability Services as early in the term as possible. It is the student's responsibility to contact the Disability Support Office prior to document disability prior to receiving services.
- Notify the instructor after you have contacted the Office of Disability Services so that the instructor can consult with the Office of Disability Services to discuss what reasonable accommodations would be appropriate for your situation.
Academic Honesty
- Each student's academic work must be the result of his or her own thought, research, or self-expression.
- Cheating includes, but is not limited to copying the work of another person (Student Handbook p. 49) or permitting your work to be copied by another person, discussing test answers or questions with people who have not completed the test, distributing assignment materials to other students, possessing course materials that have not been formally released to students in the course, and collaborating on the completion of assignments not specifically designated in the syllabus as being group projects".
- Cheating will be considered a breach of BC's Code of Conduct Policy and may result in academic penalties (zero points on the assignment/test in question, a failing grade for the course), disciplinary action, and/or a referral to the Dean of Student Affairs. Examples 1) If it appears that two or more students have submitted the same material for any solo assignments, each student involved will receive zero points for that assignment. 2) If it appears that a student has copied an assignment from published material (including Internet sites), the student will receive zero points for that assignment.
Critical Event Procedure
- In the event of a school closing due to weather or other major event that might impact class schedules, the instructor will post an announcement indicating what changes, if any, the event will have on the course schedule and due dates.
Logging Off
- Security Warning: If you don't close your browser or log off, a person using that machine after you will have access to your course materials, could send e-mail to me in your name, and view your confidential student record. Protect your password. Click "Logout."
Changes to the Syllabus
- The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus. In the event that changes become necessary, students will be notified through course email.
24/7 Helpdesk Information
- For year-round, 24 hour technical assistance use the information below to reach the BConline.
- Phone number: 1 866 468-0009
- Chat: https://chat.perceptis.com/c/broward
- You can also open your own ticket online and can track any of your open help desk tickets at the BConline Support Center.
Student Success Tips
In order to be successful in this course, you need to be organized and manage your time well so that you can complete all assignments and assessments on time.You will need to devote 10 hours per week to complete the learning activities required in this course. Make sure that you do not allow yourself to procrastinate, and that you communicate with the instructor or your classmates via the course email if you have any questions on any course materials or need assistance completing any assignments.
Online Resources for Students
- Click here to access a wide variety of support resources for students enrolled in online and blended courses, such as library services, advising and counseling, tutorials, tutoring services, disability services and more.
