HISTORY 1301-077 (#61447)

HISTORY 1301-066 (#61437)

HISTORY 1301-197 (#75764)

 

 

(IN CLASS)

 

Dr. Allan Purcell

 







COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a study of the history of the United States to 1877.
 

COURSE RATIONALE:  This course provides a basic survey of U.S. History to 1877 and satisfies three semester hours of the Legislative Requirement in U.S. History.
 

COURSE METHODOLOGY: This is primarily a lecture course with opportunity for student discussion.
 

COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES:http://www.austincc.edu/history
 

TEXTBOOK: Robert Divine et al, America: Past and Present Volume I (Ninth or Tenth Edition) or W.H Brands et al, American Stories Volume I (Fourth Edition)

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. The material in America: Past & Present or American Stories is to be read and studied according to the attached schedule.

2. Punctual and regular attendance is required. Any student accumulating three (3) or more UNEXCUSED absences MAY be dropped from this course. This is at the discretion of the instructor.

3. The quality and quantity of the work done by the student determines his/her final grade:

For the grade of "A", the student must complete all four unit exams with an overall average of 90 or above AND write two analytical book reviews (at least one of which must be graded "EXCELLENT" and the other at least "ACCEPTABLE") AND pass the course map test.

For the grade of "B", the student must complete all four unit exams with an overall average of 80 or above AND write one analytical book review (which must be graded at least "ACCEPTABLE") AND pass the course map test.

For the grade of "C", the student must complete all four unit exams with an overall average of 70 or above AND pass the course map test.

For the grade of "F", the student who fails to take all four unit exams or who fails to maintain an overall average of 70 on these four unit exams or who fails the course map test or who commits any act of scholastic dishonesty will earn the grade of "F".

For the grade of "I", the student must have a medical excuse certified by a physician. All "Incompletes" must be completed within the first four weeks of the following semester. There are no exceptions to this policy.
 
 








UNIT EXAMS: ONE of the four unit exams may be taken twice. The first time will be in class on the day mentioned in the attached semester schedule. If the student wishes to retest, they may take the exam one more time in the Testing Center the following Friday. THE RGC TESTING CENTER IS ONLY OPEN ON FRIDAYS! However, there are two restrictions on the retest: first, the HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE RETEST IS 70 and second, THIS RETEST MUST BE TAKEN THE FRIDAY AFTER THE UNIT EXAM IS GIVEN IN CLASS. The higher of the two grades will be the one recorded for the student for that unit exam. (If a student misses the unit exam in class for good cause- as determined by the instructor- they may then take the unit exam in the Testing Center for the first time with no restrictions on the grade.) The unit exams consist of multiple-choice questions covering the textbook material and classroom exposition as highlighted by the learning objectives issued for each chapter.

There is no comprehensive final exam in this course.

AL'S SPECIAL DISPENSATION: If I have scheduled my exam on a day on which you already have one or more other exams scheduled, you may take my exam a day or two later, provided you tell me before the test day.










MAP TEST: Because United States history is shaped and influenced by the geography of the continent, it is imperative that the student knows the basic facts of United States geography. Therefore the student will be required to pass a geography map test. This test will require the student to locate on an outline map of the United States twenty of the features named on the attached list. A passing score is 80. The test will be taken in class on the same day as Unit Exam #1. This map test must be passed by the mid-semester point.

COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION:This is entirely voluntary. All of the learning objectives for this course have been programmed at http://www.austincc.edu/purcell. Further instructions on the use of this material as one means of learning course material will be provided during an in-class demonstration period at the beginning of each semester. I wish to make two important points concerning computer-assisted instruction: first, this is completely voluntary- the student is NOT required to use computer-assisted instruction, however experience has shown those students who do use it tend to score higher on the unit exams and second, computer-assisted instruction supplements but DOES NOT REPLACE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. Even if students use computer-assisted instruction, they must still attend class.
 
 
 
 

ANALYTICAL BOOK REVIEWS:

Rationale: This analytical book review will critically examine an important scholarly book covering some aspect of United States History from 1492 to 1877.

The purpose of this review is twofold: first, to acquaint the student with a classic volume of historical scholarship and second, to allow the student to think critically about an important facet of American history and then to organize your thoughts in clear, cogent prose. You should not view this simply as a hurdle which you must overcome in order to earn a grade of "A" or "B" in this course, but rather approach it as an opportunity to expand your creativity in thinking and writing, two very important aspects of any individual's necessary life skills. Therefore, be advised that I consider this a VERY important aspect of this course and your reviews will be read and graded VERY carefully.

Form: Each book review will be approximately 1000 words long, although this is a general guideline and not an absolute requirement. The main objective of this analytical book review should be to comprehensively cover the three sections of the following book report outline:

Part I: This is a brief outline of the contents of the book. In the space of one or two paragraphs you should be able to convey the parameters of the book's contents. DO NOT simply reproduce the book's table of contents.

Part II: Here is the place for a careful summary of the author's thesis. The thesis is the primary idea the author is trying to prove and convince the reader to accept. You must first identify the thesis and then show how the author either substantiates or fails to substantiate this thesis. This will undoubtedly take you a page or two to do a good job.

Part III: This is the most important part of your book review. Here is where you describe your reaction to the book. Some of the questions you must answer include: Do you agree or disagree with the book's conclusions? Why? Did the book support or contradict what you read in your textbook on the same subject? (You MUST quote some of the relevant passages from both books.) Did you detect any biases on the part of the author? What was the author's background and why did he or she write the book? How in your opinion could the book have been improved? You must be specific and keep in mind there are NO perfect books. Did you enjoy reading the book? Why or why not? Would you recommend it to others?

Grading: The book reviews will be graded "EXCELLENT", "ACCEPTED", or "NOT ACCEPTED". The second book review, required only of those seeking the grade of "A", must be graded "EXCELLENT". The first book review, required of those seeking the grades of "A" and "B", must be graded at least "ACCEPTED". Any "NOT ACCEPTED" book reports will be returned to the student to be rewritten.
 
 








Due Dates: The first analytical book review is due October 18, 2018.

                       The second analytical book review is due December 6, 2018.

Books: The following books may be read for the analytical book review. If you wish to substitute another book for one of these, YOU MUST RECEIVE THE PROFESSOR'S PRIOR APPROVAL. All of the following books are found on the shelves of the RGC Library. They are listed in the order they are cataloged on the shelves.
 
 

Carl Bridenbaugh. Cities in the Wilderness

Gary Nash. Red, White, and Black

John E. Pomfret. Founding the American Colonies

Wesley Craven. The Colonies in Transition

Norman Gelb. Less Than Glory

Piers Mackesy. The War For America

Marshall Smelser. The Winning of Independence

Don Higginbotham. The War of American Independence

Peter Thomas. Tea Party to Independence

William Dwyer. The Day Is Ours

William Randall. Benedict Arnold

James Flexner. The Traitor & the Spy

Charles Royster. A Revolutionary People at War

William Fowler. Rebels Under Sail

Catherine Drinker Bowen. The Most Dangerous Man In America

James Flexner. The Young Hamilton

James Flexner. Washington : The Indispensable Man

Thomas Slaughter. The Whiskey Rebellion

Phyllis Levin. Abigail Adams

Lynne Witney. Dearest Friend

Fawn Brodie. Thomas Jefferson

Dumas Malone. Jefferson and His Time (Any Volume)

Alexander DeConde. This Affair of Louisiana

Michael Kitzer. Tripoli and the United States at War

Larry Tise. Proslavery

Merrill Peterson. The Great Triumvirate

Robert Remini. Henry Clay

Drew McCoy. The Last of the Fathers

George Dangerfield. The Awakening of American Nationalism

Marvin Meyers. The Jacksonian Persuasion

Edward Pessen. Jacksonian America

Irving Brandt. The Fourth President

George Dangerfield. The Era of Good Feelings

Samuel Flagg Bemis. John Quincy Adams & the Foundations of American Foreign Policy

Robert Remini. Andrew Jackson & the Course of American Freedom

__________. Andrew Jackson & the Course of American Democracy

John Belohlavik. Let the Eagle Soar

John Niven. Martin Van Buren

Richard McCaslin. Tainted Breeze

Robert Johannsen. To the Halls of the Montezumas

John Weems. To Conquer A Peace

Allan Nevins. Ordeal of the Union Vols. 1, 2, or 3

Robert Ilisevich. Galusha A. Grow

Craig Simpson. A Good Southernor

Kenneth Stampp. And the War Came

John Boles. Black Southernors 1619-1869

Eugene Genovese. Roll, Jordan, Roll

Peter H. Wood. Black Majority

Winthrop Jordan. The White Man's Burden

Martin Duberman. The Anti-Slavery Vanguard

Robert Fogel & Stanley Engerman. Time on the Cross

Gerda Lerner. The Grimke Sisters

Richard Sewell. Ballots For Freedom

Hans Trefousse. The Radical Republicans

Robert Abzug. Passionate Liberator

Jean Baker. Mary Todd Lincoln

Carl Sandburg. Abraham Lincoln: One Volume Edition

Benjamin Thomas. Abraham Lincoln

David Potter. The Impending Crisis

William Davis. Jefferson Davis

Clement Eaton. Jefferson Davis

William Marvel. Burnside

Byron Farwell. Stonewall

Thomas Connelly. The Marble Man

James Robertson, Jr. General A. P. Hill

Emory Thomas. Bold Dragoon

Bruce Catton. The Coming Fury

__________. Terrible Swift Sword

__________. Never Call Retreat

__________. This Hallowed Ground

Allan Nevins. The War For the Union, Vols. 1, 2, 3, or 4

Gerald Linderman. Embattled Courage

Joseph Glatthar. Partners in Command

Paul Escott. After Secession

David Dewitt. The Impeachment & Trial of Andrew Johnson

W.E.B. DuBois. Black Reconstruction in America

Richard Abbott. The Republican Party & the South
 
 












Course Schedule

In Class History 1301

Date

Classroom Activity

Textbook

Aug 28

Introduction

 

Aug 30

Indians, Vikings, & Europe

Chapter 1

Sep 4

Sep 6

English Reformation

Virginia

 

Chapter 2

Sep 11

New England

 

Sep 13

Colonial Society

Chapter 3

Sep 18

Colonial Administration

Chapter 4

Sep 20

English-French Rivalry

 

Sep 25

UNIT EXAM #1 & MAP TEST

 

Sep 27

French & Indian War

 

Oct 2

Coming of the Rev

Chapter 5

Oct 4

American Revolution

Chapter 6

Oct 9

Articles of Confederation

 

Oct 11

Constitution

 

Oct 16

Washington & Adams

Chapter 7

Oct 18

Jefferson & Madison

Chapter 8

Oct 23

UNIT EXAM #2

 

Oct 25

Westward Expansion

Chapter 9

Oct 30

Andrew Jackson I


Chapter 10

Nov 1

Andrew Jackson II

 

Nov 6

Manifest Destiny

Chapter 13

Nov 8

Mexican War

 

Nov 13

Slavery

Chapter 11

Nov 15

UNIT EXAM #3

 

Nov 20

Territorial Slavery

Chapter 14

Nov 22

 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

 

Nov 28

Coming of Civil War

Chapter 15
Nov 30 Civil War I  

Dec 4

Civil War II

 

Dec 6

Civil War III

 

Dec 11

Reconstruction

Chapter 16

Dec 12

UNIT EXAM #4

 


 
 

OFFICE HOURS:

M W 6:30AM - 12 :00PM in ATT 214

  T H 6:30AM - 7:30AM & 9:00AM- 10:00 AM in ATT 214

TELEPHONE: 223-3398
 

E-MAIL: apurcell@austincc.edu
 
 

DUE DATES:

1st Book Review for "B" and "A" October 18, 2018

2nd Book Reveiw for "A" December 6, 2018








LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW: November 26, 2018
 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:  Punctual and regular attendance is required. Any student accumulating three (3) or more UNEXCUSED absences MAY be dropped from this course. This is at the discretion of the instructor.
 
 
 

COURSE COMPLETION DEADLINE: December 13, 2018 at the end of the class period
 

ADA: “Each ACC Campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester." (ACC Student Handbook)
 

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY: “Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression.  Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects,
either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework."  (ACC Student Handbook)
Anyone committing any of these acts in this course will receive the grade of "F" for the course.
 

TESTING CENTER POLICY: http://www.austincc.edu/testctr
 

ACADEMIC FREEDOM: The free exchange of information is vital to the pursuit of learning.
 

PRIVACY: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of educational records. Grades cannot be given over the phone, through a fellow student, or by e-mail in this course.
 
 

BUILDING REGULATIONS: RGC building regulations prohibit smoking, eating, or drinking in the classrooms.