Course Syllabus

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Mr. Lucier’s History 101 (online) Syllabus

History 101 Section 80 (Ref# 4650) United States History: 1865 to Present

San Bernardino Valley College | Spring 2021

Social Sciences, Human Development & Physical Education Division

North Hall Room 345 | (909) 384-4413

Instructor: Bradley Lucier

Email: Blucier@sbccd.cc.ca.us

Room: Online

Office Hours: Apt. Only M/W 1:45-3:15 PM

Time: 6.75 hours each week

Preferred contact: Inbox in canvas

Start date: 3/29/21

End date: 5/21/21

 

Course Description:

This course covers a general survey of United States history with an emphasis on social, political, cultural, and economic developments from the Reconstruction period to present times.

Course Student Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify and explain the historical significance of key terms, events or movements in United States history from 1877 to present
  2. Critically evaluate and interpret key themes in social, cultural, political, and/or economic movements in United States history from 1877-present
  3. Applying the specific knowledge of key events and themes in United States history from 1877-present, students will demonstrate their understanding of the course material using evidence based writing (using 2 or more sources).

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course the student should be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate the challenges presented by the Reconstruction Period as well as the social, political, and economic consequences that this period had on whites and African Americans in the South
  2. Discuss the impact that Westward expansion and industrialization had on Native American populations, including the shifting government policies
  3. Explain the significance of natural resources, immigrant labor, urban factories and housing, and the role of the federal government in industrial development, while also developing an understanding of the impact that the industrial revolution had on various populations
  4. Compare and contrast the various methods of political, economic, and social reform movements (including gender and racial) developed by the Populists and Progressives
  5. Critically evaluate the impact of key economic, technological and scientific developments
  6. Describe the imperialistic goals and foreign policies of the United States government, such as expansion in the Pacific, increased foreign trade, and US participation in the Spanish American War and World War I
  7. Identify key social, political, and economic shifts that occur in the interwar years, including the "roaring twenties," the suffrage movement, and the Great Depression
  8. Evaluate the causes of World War II, the challenges of fighting a two-front war, and the social, political, and economic changes on the homefront that occur during the war
  9. Identify key civil rights groups and critically compare their goals, methods and achievements in their attempts to gain racial, gender, and political equality
  10. Construct a theory discussing the impact of the Cold War and the philosophy of containment on the United States foreign policy and our direct or indirect involvement in conflicts such as Eastern Europe, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War
  11. Construct a theory considering the impact of globalization in the 21st century, in terms of our economic interdependency with other nations, and the effects that this development has had on our foreign and domestic policies
  12. Differentiate our pre- 9/11 foreign policy with our post- 9/11 foreign policy, considering participation in and reactions to global crises
  13. Demonstrate the ability to interpret primary and secondary sources and to compose an argument which uses them, as appropriate, for support
  14. Analyze the relevancy of history in today's world

COURSE CORE COMPENTECIES:

  • Read and retain information
  • Write clearly
  • Locate and interpret information
  • Evaluate authority and bias of information
  • Locate, evaluate and select evidence to support/discredit an argument
  • Construct a persuasive argument
  • Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, other cultures
  • Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, one’s own culture

 

Required LMS:

Canvas

Required Texts:

Textbook is 100% free and online at: https://openstax.org/details/books/us-history

Corbett, Scott P., et. al. U.S. History by Openstax (XanEdu Publishing Inc; 1st edition December 30, 2014) ISBN: 978-1506698151

*Additional required readings will be made available online through Canvas

Course Requirements:

                                                                                    Grade breakdown:

Weekly Chapter Assignments                                    340 points (points vary per week)

Midterm + Final Exam                                                 360 points (180 points each)

Two Historical Biographical Discussions:                   180 points (90 points each)

Four Primary Source Discussions:                              120 points (30 points each)

________________________________________________________________________

Total points:                                                               1000 points                                                   

 

Grade Scale:

1000-900 points = A

899-800 points = B

799-700 points = C

699-600 points = D

599-0 points = F

 

Weekly Chapter Assignments: 

(340 points total, points vary per week) Each week students will be required to complete readings, watch videos, and take notes on the chapters covered for that week. Chapter assignments will mostly include short quizzes and creating multiple choice questions on content covered but may also include other types of assignments. Due dates for chapter assignments are each week by Sunday night @ 11:59 PM (week 1 due dates are extended to the end of week 2 due to late adds to the class). Late submissions are only accepted up to one week past the due date, after that they will not be accepted and are scored as 0. Any late submissions will have scores reduced by 50%.

 

Midterm + Final Exam: 

(360 points, 180 points each) Students will be required to complete a midterm and final exam.  Exams will test your knowledge on the chapters covered in the textbook. Exams will consist of 25 questions (multiple answer, matching, dropdown) that you will be required to answer in 60 minutes.  Questions are chosen from a pool and shuffled, meaning each exam attempt will generate a different exam.  There are two attempts to account for any technical glitches or internet issues during your initial attempt.  Even if you experience no technical issues on the first attempt, feel free to take advantage of both attempts. No late section Exams will be accepted.

                           

Historical Biography Assignment:

(180 points, 90 points each) During the semester students will complete 2 biographical assignments. Each assignment will require each student to participate in two separate discussions. The first; everyone will choose a different person for which they will write a discussion post detailing that individuals’ biography. Participating in the first discussion will avoid two or more students choosing the same person. Duplicate posts receive no credit.

 

The second; there will be a series of questions for which you will answer.  Research will be based from online sources as these assignments will require a deeper understanding than the textbook or videos can provide.  Biographical posts must be put into your own words to avoid plagiarized work. Any work copied and pasted and/or not put into your own words will be considered plagiarism and will be graded as a 0.  Each student must also reply to at least 2 other students posts comparing biographical figures through a series of follow up questions that will be posted.  The specific format for these assignments will be made available on Canvas. Late assignments are only accepted within 1 week of their original due date and will be reduced by 50%.

 

Primary Source Discussions:

(120 points total, 30 points each) Four primary sources discussions will be made available on canvas.  Primary source discussions will require the reading of selected primary sources posted on to canvas.  You will be given a series of questions which you must answer in your discussion.  It is important to include in your initial reply: 1) the primary source read and 2) the question you are answering. Source discussions will be graded on the initial post and the two required peer replies. Late assignments will only be accepted within one week of the original due date.  Late assignments are reduced by 50%.

 

What is a primary source?  A source is anything that informs us about the past.  A primary source is a source that comes directly from the time period/place of historical inquiry. 

 

Ethics, plagiarism, and cheating policy:

A WORD OF CAUTION: Plagiarism includes copying or re-mixing someone else’s work – either from the textbook or the internet - and passing it off as your own. Additionally, the use of a paraphrasing tool, thesaurus, and other text modifiers is also plagiarism. Do not be seduced into using the Internet as a crutch instead of using your own thoughts/words.  Simply changing a few words or punctuation is NOT using ones own thoughts/words, and will be considered plagiarized work.

 

The PLAGIARISM PENALTY: Students who plagiarize will receive a ZERO for the assignment and WILL NOT be able to make it up.  Any secondary incident will lead to additional loss of points, including a FAILING grade for the class. Repeated incidents of plagiarism to the Dean for student code of conduct violations.

 

Good practices to avoid plagiarism: Some advice/best practices to avoid submitting plagiarized work: Do not use words/terms/places that you are personally unfamiliar with, or do not understand. Read first, close browser/book, then write – Do NOT read/write simultaneously.  Work to minimize the content of your sources ie: For every 5 sentences of information read, write 1 sentence on your assignment. Proof-read, proof-read, and proof-read before you submit.

 

Late Work Policy:

No late exams are accepted.  Because the answers are public after exam sessions, no late exams are accepted.  Exam sessions are open for 7 days, if an exam has not been attempted within the exam period, it will be scored as 0.  

 

All other late assignments will only be accepted within one week of the original due date.  After 7 days from the due date, assignments will be closed for submissions and graded as 0. No late assignments are accepted after the end of the semester.   Late assignments will have their scores reduced by 50%.

 

Online Participation/Drop Policy: Students can be dropped for the following reasons:

  1. Failure to attempt the Syllabus Quiz within the first 7 days of the course
  2. Failure to submit any work for any given 2-week period.
  3. Inappropriate, harassing, or offensive comments/statements made to the professor or other students in public discussions

Drop date: 4/06/21. Withdraw date: 4/29/21. Students are responsible for dropping by the posted deadlines.

 

Resources:

ADA Accommodations: If you require a disability-related accommodation, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can assist you in a timely manner. You must also register with the college’s Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS). You will be required to provide DSPS with professional verification of your disabling condition(s). The phone number for DSPS is (909) 384-4443.

 

Course Calendar:

All assignments are due on Sunday by 11:59 PM.  No late assignments accepted for Exam Assignments. No late assignments accepted after 5/23/21

 

Week 1 (March 29th  – April 4th)

  • Reading: Chapter 16-17
  • Complete Syllabus Quiz + Introduction Assignments

 

Week 2 (April 5th – April 11th)

  • Reading: Chapter 18-20
  • Chapter 16-20 Assignments
  • Complete Primary Source Discussion – Gilded Age

 

Week 3 (April 12th – April 18th)

  • Reading: Chapter 21 – 22
  • Chapter 21-22 Assignments
  • Complete Historical Biographical Discussion 1

 

Week 4 (April 19th – April 25th)

  • Reading: Chapter 23 - 24
  • Chapter 23 - 24 Assignments
  • Complete Primary Source Discussion – America Overseas
  • Complete Midterm Exam

 

Week 5 (April 26th – May 2nd)

  • Reading: Chapter 25 – 26
  • Chapter 25-27 Assignments

 

Week 6 (May 3rd – May 9th)

  • Reading: Chapter 27-28
  • Chapter 27-28 Assignments
  • Complete Primary Source Discussion – World War II

 

Week 7 (May 10th – May 16th)

  • Reading: Chapter 29-30
  • Chapter 29-30 Assignments
  • Complete Primary Source Discussion – Civil Rights/Vietnam

 

Week 8 (May 17th – May 23rd)

  • Reading: Chapter 31-32
  • Chapter 31-32 Assignments
  • Complete Historical Biographical Discussion 2
  • Complete Final Exam
  • Complete semester survey

 

Note: semester technically ends 5/21 but I will still accept work up to 5/23

* NO assignments will be accepted after May 23rd *  

Course Summary:

Date Details Due