HISTORY 1301, FALL 2009
U.S. History to 1877
Section 007
Synonym 41076
9:10-10:25 AM Tuesdays & Thursdays

Instructor: Jason Dikes
Office: 1104
Office Hours: Thursday 10:30-11:30 AM
Office Phone: 223-2000
Email: jdikes@gmail.com
Website: www.austincc.edu/jdikes

This is a survey course in U.S. history from pre-contact America to the end of Reconstruction. It is primarily a lecture-oriented course. This course will assess students' skills in two areas: one is substantive information that will be assessed through tests; the second is writing skills that are assessed through a written assignment. The grade you earn will depend on your performance in these two areas.

READINGS
Textbook: America, Past and Present, seventh edition, volume 1 by Robert A. Devine.
Selection of readings accessed through class website

Course Rationale: see http://www.austincc.edu/history
Course Description: see http://www.austincc.edu/history
Common Learning Objectives: see http://www.austincc.edu/history

Course Grade: You will take four objective tests, one for each unit in the course.
All objective tests contain 35 multiple-choice questions and a selection of identification and/or essay questions.

The last test is not comprehensive.
EXAMS
Please be on time for exams. You will not be allowed to start on an exam if any other student has completed his/her test and left the room. During tests, no hats, caps, visors, etc. are to be worn.

MAKEUP POLICY
Makeup tests will include more essays and short-answer identification. THERE IS NO RETESTING IF YOU TAKE A MAKEUP EXAM. Makeup exams will be taken in the CYP Testing Center at your discretion.
FOR TESTING CENTER RULES AND HOURS: Please consult
http://www.austincc.edu/testctr

RETESTS
If you score below a 70 the first time you take your exam, you may retest. There is a restriction on the retest: the highest grade possible on a retest is 70. If you score LOWER on the retest that you did on the original exam, then I will use your original exam grade as your grade for that unit exam. You may only retest on one exam. You may only retest on Exam 1, 2, or 3. There is no retesting for exam 4.  Retests will be taken in the CYP Testing Center.

BOOK REVIEW
Instruction for the book review assignment will be posted on the class website.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Regular attendance is an important part of the educational experience in any college-level class. In my experience, excessive absenteeism makes it difficult if not impossible to do well on exams. Excessive tardyism by students will result in the door being locked 15 minutes after class begins.

DISABILITIES
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.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM
 The free and open exchange of ideas is vital to the pursuit of learning. You are welcome, in a civil manner, to disagree with me or with your fellow classmates. I will not tolerate any disruptive techniques to prevent others from voicing their opinion.

TAPE RECORDERS
 I do not recommend tape recorders, but if you feel that a recorder is vital to your success, please sit in the front and use it without disturbing the rest of the class.

WITHDRAWAL
 If you choose to quit attending this course, the responsibility is yours to submit a withdrawal form to Admissions & Records. The last to withdraw is Monday, November 23rd.

STUDENT PRIVACY
The federal government requires that student privacy be preserved. Thus the posting of grades, even by the last four digits of the social security number, is forbidden. All communication will remain between the instructor and the student, and the instructor will not be able to share details of the student's performance with parents, spouses, etc nor can I release grades by telephone or email.

ACADEMIC 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 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. Under college regulations, a student found guilty of academic dishonesty will be assigned a failing grade for the semester and a mark on their transcript will prevent them from gaining entrance to any publicly funded university in the state of Texas.

INCOMPLETES
The grade of "Incomplete" exists so that students in emergencies may make up work after the semester ends. The "Incomplete" does NOT exist for the purpose of giving students who are overwhelmed by this course more time to reach a passing grade. Therefore, I will NOT even consider giving an "Incomplete" to any student who has a grade average below a "C". The grade of “I” (Incomplete) will only be awarded for medical reasons verified by a satisfactory letter from a physician. All “Incompletes” must be completed within four weeks in the following semester.
There are no exceptions to this policy.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
This is a college course and all students enrolled in this course will be treated as college students. All sections of this syllabus pertain equally to all students in this course, regardless of age or educational status. Regardless of their age, high school students who are enrolled in a college course are protected by Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. In compliance with this Act, I will not discuss your grades or your academic progress with your parent(s) unless you are present, or unless I have your written permission to do so. Email permission does not count.

GRADES:
Each exam and book review will be worth 100 possible points for a possible cumulative total 500 points.

For an A: You must get a cumulative score of 450 points.

For a B: You must get a cumulative score of 400 points.

For a C: You must get a cumulative score of 350 points.

For a D: You must get a cumulative score of 300 points.

For a F: Everything below 300 points will be failing.