History H106
Spring 2008
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Instructor: Jill Nussel, Ph. D.
CM 035 Office: 481-6895 Department Phone: 481-6686 Cell Phone: 260-494-2497 Preferred Email through Blackboard Or in emergency: nusselj@ipfw.edu |
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Class Meets Section 05: T/R 3:00-4:15pm CM 112 Section 09L: T/R 3:00-4-15pm CM 112
Office Hours · T/R 1:00-2:45pm · Or by appointment based on instructor availability |
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Understand the basic narrative of events of the United State s after 1877 in historical context. |
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Understand how some people were kept from the “American Dream” and why people still seek this dream. |
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Understand the major issues that stirred up argument and debate among Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries. |
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Understand present-day controversies over how to interpret and use America’s past. |
· American History from the end of Reconstruction to current events.
· Covering these topics in a thematic approach that is organized chronologically and topically from the 1877 to the present.
· Uniting these topics is the general theme of the study of how the American past is reflected in the present and how it can shape the future.
· Introductions to historical literature, source material, and scholarly criticism.
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Lectures |
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Discussion |
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Exams |
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Reading |
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Exercises& Quizzes |
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Essays |
Grading
There are three examinations and two analytical papers. If you receive a “0” for missing any of these major parts, you will receive an automatic failing grade for the course! Make-ups will be granted only in very rare situations. It is your responsibility to communicate with the instructor if you cannot meet deadlines. Plusses and minuses will be given on the assignments and exams so you can see where your grade fits on the continuum. More importantly, I never, never, never, curve.
Exams. There will be two exams and one final. Both will consist of at least one essay question as well as matching, multiple choice and/or short answers. The essay portion will be worth at least 40% of each exam. Exams will cover all reading, including the primary documents, and all material covered in lectures.
Analytical Papers: There are two analytical writing assignments. Each must be three to five pages in length and the assignment specifics can be found on Blackboard. Both papers are based on YOUR interpretation of primary sources or events. Over-reliance on secondary sources or veering away from the assignment without my consent will be costly. Presentation counts and I will subtract one point for every misspelled word and grammar error. Papers will turned in online through Turn-it-in AND a copy submitted in class.
Late Assignments. Printers break; computers crash; things happen: chaos is commonplace. Plan for it accordingly by saving frequently and making back-ups of your work. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to set aside enough time for these bits of the unforeseen.
Homework and In-Class Assignments. There will be frequent in-class assignments and quizzes. Not all quizzes will be announced. There are no make-ups on any in-class assignments, quizzes, or homework. There will be regular homework assignments where directions will be found on Blackboard or given in class. These assignments may consist of readings, quizzes, document reading, discussion boards, and evaluation of web sites. All web assignments must be posted to the web site before class time on the assigned day in order to get credit. No late work will be accepted. All written work completed outside of class that is turned in must be typed. There are 247 computers available free for student use and the computer lab at Helmke Library is open 24-hours a day. Homework and in-class assignments will constitute 20% of the final grade.
Extra Credit. There will be an occasional opportunity for additional extra credit that will be announced in class and/or posted on Blackboard. Extra credit will be averaged into the homework grade. No extra credit will be given if it is e-mailed to me during class time or if you are absent on the day of the extra credit.
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Grades: Exam I = 15% Exam II = 15% Final = 20% Paper I = 15% Paper II = 15% Web and In-Class = 20% |
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Grading Scale: 90-100 = A 80-90 = B 70-80 = C 62-70 = D 0-61 = F
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Classroom Policies
Attendance: Your education costs money. Therefore, attendance will be mandatory. Attendance will be by a sign-in sheet. You will be allowed four absences for the entire semester. There are no excused absences! Exceeding the allowable absences will result in five points for each absence subtracted from your total score of your homework grade at the end of the semester. A regular pattern of late arrival, leaving early, or sleeping in class will also adversely impact your grade. Signing in for someone who is not in attendance is considered academic dishonesty and will result in your failure of the class!
Academic Honesty: Honesty and integrity are important character traits for the serious historian and they are expected in the history classroom as well. See http://www.ipfw.edu/academics/regulations/honesty.shtml for the IPFW policies on academic honesty. Academic honesty also covers plagiarism, which can be defined as passing off someone else’s work or ideas as the student’s own. A note on web plagiarism: if a student purposefully takes a paper or someone else’s historical work from the web and turns it in as his/her own work, this will be easily detected, and the student will face charges of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty will result in the failure of this class and possible expulsion from IPFW.
Issues of Accessibility: If you have a disability, which may require a classroom accommodation, you MUST register with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), if you have not already done so. Their phone is 260-481-6657 and they are in Walb Student Union, Room 113. Information shared with SSD will be kept confidential to the extent consistent with State and Federal law. Every effort will be made to assure that you have the best educational experience possible. I cannot make exceptions for students who have not registered with SSD. Note to SSD students: you must notify me in writing at least one week before any scheduled exam if you plan to take your exam there.
Drops or Withdrawals. If for any reason you are unable to complete this course, it is YOUR responsibility to adhere to all university policies and procedures to drop this class. Failure to comply will result in a failing grade for the course. “Incompletes” are granted only under the rarest of circumstances. Participation in the Week 1 Discussion Board indicates that you are planning to complete this course and I will not give any student an IW after that date.
Classroom rules: Students must conduct themselves in a manner which in conducive to learning for themselves and others. This includes clothing and discussion. Humor and discussion is encouraged if appropriate to the class. Turn off your cellular phones and pagers. In short, observe adult behavior.
Class Cancellation Policy.
In the event that class is cancelled for any reason, class work is still
expected and it is YOUR responsibility to check WebCT
for instructions. If IPFW is closed for a prolonged period of time, such as an
Asian flu pandemic, this course will continue online through WebCT. It will be YOUR responsibility to check WebCT in the event of school closure for instruction and
any changes in syllabus.
Contacting the Instructor
See me anytime you have questions regarding the material or assignments. I am almost always available during my stated office hours and I will gladly make appointments to see you on some evenings. However, since there are few history emergencies, I will not make appointments on Friday afternoons except in extreme cases.
While you may feel free to call me at my office or on my cell phone, the best way to get my attention is through e-mail. Use the classroom email first. I can also be reached at nusselj@ipfw.edu. You may call my home or cell phone, but do not leave urgent messages on my cell phone unless you have also called 911.
Required Reading
There is only one required text for this class. You will also be required to complete additional assigned reading as well as two outside writing assignments using additional materials available through the instructor or the library (hopefully online). Reading assignments should be completed prior to class. Reading Assignments will be posted to the classroom WebCT.
The required text is Alan Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation: Brief Edition, Volume II (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005).
There will be additional readings that for the most part will be accessible through the class web site on Web CT. Additional reading that cannot be digitized will be duplicated and handed out in class. It is your responsibility to keep track of these.
Using WebCT
IPFW policy states that email communication will be done through your IPFW account or WebCT. IPFW cannot possibly keep up with student email addresses outside of our system. Therefore, it is YOUR responsibility to have your IPFW e-mail forwarded to your preferred account. I will contact you through WebCT and it is YOUR responsibility to check this site regularly. I will not accept an excuse that says you could not access WebCT or that you did not check your email here.
This course will make regular use of WebCT for e-mail, handouts, quizzes, and other materials important to your success in this class. In short, there will be few handouts in class and instead, you will retrieve them from WebCT. It is YOUR responsibility to learn how to use this system. If you need help, contact the IT Help Desk at 481-6030 or at http://www.its.ipfw.edu/helpdesk/default.htm. CASA, on the lower level of Kettler, can also help you. See me if you have questions specific to the course.
Schedule: America AFTER 1877
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1 |
January 8-12 |
Course Overview/How Historians Work Read Chapters 16, 17, 18 |
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January 15-19 |
No class January 15. Clearing the West Read: Chapter 16, 17, 18 Essay One Selection Due to Discussion Board 1/17 |
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January 22-26 |
Industrial Capitalism, The New City, and an Immigrant Nation Take online reading quiz |
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January 29-February 2 |
Industrial Capitalism, The New City, The Immigrant Nation Internet Article Due: January 31 |
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5 |
February 5-February 9 |
Progressives and the Social Gospel Read Chapter 19, 20, 21 and take online quiz |
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6 |
February 12-16 |
Progressives Internationally: America/Great War Read Chapter 22, 23 Exam I on February 14 Covers all lectures/readings and text 16- 23 |
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February 19-23 |
The Roaring 20s: Depression and New Deal Read chapter 24, 25, 26 and take online quiz Essay I Due February 21 |
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8 |
February 26-March 2 |
Road to World War II Read Chatpers 27, 28 and take online quiz |
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9 |
March 5-9 |
No School Spring Break |
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10 |
March 12-16 |
World War II Read Chapters 27, 28 |
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11 |
March 19-23 |
World War II Essay Two Selection Due to Discussion Board 3/21 Read Chapters 27, 28 and take online quiz |
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12 |
March 26-30 |
Exam II on March 28 Covers all lectures/readings/text chap 24-28 The Cold War and the 50s |
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13 |
April 2-6 |
New Liberalism and Civil Rights Read Chapters 30-31 and take online quiz |
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14 |
April 9-13 |
Vietnam and the Counterculture Read Chapters 30-31 Essay II Due April 18 |
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15 |
April 16-20 |
TBA |
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16 |
April 23-27 |
TBA |
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FINAL EXAM Semi-Comprehensive |
Section 1: Monday, April 30, 8:00am-10:00am Section 3: Wednesday, May 2, 8:00am-10:00am Section 7: Monday, May 1, 10:30 am-12:30pm |