SPRING 2017 SYLLABUS

American History I
21044 HIS 201-03 Lecture
Wallace Dr Campus Naylor Hall, Room 105
9:30am 10:44am, TR

Instructor: Rebecca Duke, ABD, rduke@gadsdenstate.edu

Office Hours: office hours by appointment
Academic Division Information:
Division Chair, Social Sciences
Dr. Richard A. Dobbs
rdobbs@gadsdenstate.edu
256-549-8495

Dean of Academic Programs and Services

Dr. Leslie Worthington
lworthington@gadsdenstate.edu
256-549-8256

Course Description: This course surveys United States history during the colonial, revolutionary, early
national, and antebellum periods. It concludes with the Civil War and Reconstruction.
3.000 Credit Hours
Required Textbook:
America: The Essential Learning Edition, David Shi and George Tindall, Volume One, 2015, W.W.
Norton & Company
Optional books, supplies, materials, or software:
Students must bring notetaking materials to class every day. In order to provide a distraction free learning
environment for all students, laptops/tablets may only be used for taking notes or accessing assigned
readings in class. Cell phones should be placed on silent. Inappropriate use of a cell phone (repeatedly
forgetting to silence it, texting in class, etc) or laptop will result in you being asked to leave the
classroom.
Important Websites: https://gadsdenstate.blackboard.com/
Class updates and materials will be posted on the class blackboard page.
Last Day to Withdrawal: April 17, 2017
Withdrawing can adversely affect financial aid, especially if done before completing 60% of the term.
Final Examination: Thursday, May 4th from 9:30-11:30am
Assignments and Assessment:
Dates subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. All changes will be announced in class and
posted on the class Blackboard page.
Assignment
Exam #1 CH 1-5
Exam #2
Final Exam
Annotated Bibliography
Research Project
Participation Points

Points
100
100
100
75
100
200

Due Date
Thursday, February 16th
March 22nd
May 4th from 9:30-11:30am
April 27th
Various times throughout the
semester

Total points possible: 675

A note about participation points: Participation points are given throughout the semester in the form of
pop quizzes, in-class assignments and discussions, and online work. Participation points may NOT be
made up unless you contact me prior to the the class missed with a VALID excuse.
Grade Averages:
Percentage Grade
Letter Grade
90-100
A
80-89
B
70-79
C
60-69
D
59 and below
F
To figure your grade divide your points earned by the total points possible.
Make-up Policy: Late assignments are subject to grade reduction as determined by the instructor. In
order to be extended the privilege of making up missed assignments, you must contact me prior to the
scheduled event and offer a compelling excuse for your absence or for your inability to complete the
assignment as scheduled.
Email Etiquette and Expectations: You are encouraged to email me at any time. I teach several courses
and in order to keep me organized, please put the course number or title of the course in the subject of the
email. I am committed to responding to emails within 48 hours. I will often get back to you much more
quickly, but keep that in mind when asking questions about assignment that are due and plan ahead. You
should sign your emails with your first and last name.
Blackboard Information: If you need assistance with Blackboard, please submit a request to the Help
Desk at helpdesk@gadsdenstate.edu or call 256-549-8341 during business hours.
Blackboard Guides: www.gadsdenstate.edu/elearning/student-guides
Computer System Requirements: www.gadsdenstate.edu/elearning/system-requirements
Academic Misconduct: Academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarism is not permitted.
Suspected cases of academic misconduct or dishonesty will be reported to the appropriate dean and may
result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course. Plagiarism is a serious offense. Students
caught plagiarizing will receive a grade of 0 for the assignment.
Citations: You will follow the Turabian documentation system in all of your work. A link to sample
citations can be found here: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html
Attendance and Withdrawal: www.gadsdenstate.edu/attendance-withdrawal
I will take attendance each class period. Not coming to class *will* negatively impact your grade. I will
not provide you with notes for class missed, nor will lecture notes be posted on Blackboard. If you miss a
class, get notes from a classmate. Attendance policies will follow the Gadsden State attendance policy.
College General Regulations: www.gadsdenstate.edu/sites/default/files/u25/College%20Regulations.pdf
Harassment and Discrimination policies: www.gadsdenstate.edu/sites/default/files/u23/swpolicy.pdf
Disability Services (ADA): www.gadsdenstate.edu/ada/home
Copyright Information: www.gadsdenstate.edu/copyright/copyright-information
General Student Services: www.gadsdenstate.edu/current-students
Student Support Services: www.gadsdenstate.edu/sss/home
Complaint Processes: www.gadsdenstate.edu/complaint_process/complaint-process

Course Schedule
Note: This is a tentative plan for the semester. I will do my very best not to change dates. I reserve the
right, however, to make changes as necessary. It is your responsibility to pay attention to announcements
both in class and via Blackboard. All assignments are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise
noted.
All readings are to be completed before each class.
Week One
Week Two

Tuesday
1/10 Class Expectations; Syllabus; What
is historical thinking?
1/17 cont CH 1

Week
Three
Week Four
Week Five

1/24 Cont CH 2

Week Six
Week
Seven
Week Eight
Week Nine

2/14 Ch. 5 cont Test One Review

2/21 Chapter 6 Creating a More
Perfect Union 1783-1800
2/28 Chapter 7 The Early Republic
3/7 NO IN-CLASS MEETING (AMA
Conference) Online Assignment - Chapter
8
3/13 Chapter 8 cont

Week Ten
Week
Eleven
Week
Twelve
Week
Thirteen
Week
Fourteen
Week
Fifteen
Week
Sixteen

1/31 Cont CH 3
2/7 Ch. 4 cont -

Thursday
1/12 Discuss Chapter 1 The Collison of
Cultures in the 16th Century
1/19 Chapter 2 England and Its
American Colonies
1/26 Chapter 3 Colonial Ways of Life
2/2 Chapter 4 From Colonies to States
2/9 Chapter 5 The American
Revolution
2/16 Exam One Chapters 1-5
2/23 Ch. 6 cont
3/1 Ch. 7 cont
3/9 Ch. 8 - The Emergence of a Market
Economy

3/20 Ch. 9 cont; test review

3/16 Chapter 9 Nationalism and

Sectionalism
3/22 Exam Two Chapters 6-9

3/28 Spring Break No Class

3/30 Spring Break No Class

4/4 Chapter 10 The Jacksonian Era

4/6 Ch. 10 cont

4/11 Chapter 11- The South and Slavery

4/13 Ch. 11 cont

4/18 Chapter 12 Religion,

Romanticism, and Reform
4/25 Chapter 13 Western Expansion

4/20 Ch. 12 cont

4/27 last class day; Chapter 14 The
War of the Union