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Sunset Vista, Fort Davis, Tx.

Course Guide

History 2301 PCM

2^nd Summer 6 Week Session Syn 31025 Lec 002

Larry Willoughby | phone: 223-6686 | No Answer? Leave Message on Voice Mail.

E-mail: jlw@austincc.edu

Web Site: http://www2.austincc.edu/jlw

Office: Bldg. A, Room 2283, RVS | Office Hours: TW 11:00 – 2:00 (Or by Appointment)

Text: The History of Texas , 4th Ed., Calvert, DeLeon, and Cantrell

Mandatory Orientation

Students must complete online orientation at http://www2.austincc.edu/jlw/Texas2301PCM%20orientation.htm during the first week of classes.

General Comments about Independent Study

There are many valid reasons for taking a course on an independent study basis including work schedules, family responsibilities, etc. Seeking to minimize effort, however, is not one of them. I believe that this course on an independent study basis is more, not less, difficult than the regular in-class version. You will be called upon to read the same amount of text material and lecture material, take the same exams, etc. as the students in my regular classes. You, however, will have to do this largely on your own. While the instructor will be available to answer questions, explain material, etc., you will have to make yourself prepare course material thoroughly and take required exams by stated deadlines. Procrastination greatly reduces your chances of successfully completing the course. Make up your mind now to get started immediately so you can complete the course with a passing mark.

Course Materials

This course is divided into four units of instruction. The unit study guides identify specific items you must learn and upon which you will be tested. You will note that one section (Reading Objectives) of each unit study guide deals with textbook reading assignments, and one section (Lecture Objectives) deals with printed copies of lectures usually given in class. Test questions come directly from the textbook readings and the lecture readings. These objectives must be prepared fully and in detail if you hope to do well on the exams. Please contact me during my office hours or by e-mail if you have questions…I am here to help you do well in this class!!

Copies of the lecture material can be accessed in several different ways. First, this material is located on this website. Second, electronic copies of all lectures are available online through the ACC Learning Resource Center's web site under "reserved materials," "L. Patrick Hughes," "His 2301," and the exact title of the lecture. You may use the computer terminals and printers at each of the LRC locations to access the material in this fashion if you do not have your own personal computer with access to the Internet.

Again, let me emphasize…I am here to answer any questions you have and assist you in doing well in this course. STAY IN CONTACT.

Grading System

Your grade in this course will be determined by your performance on FOUR UNIT EXAMINATIONS and ONE CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW. (Refer to Book Review section).

Exams:

Each exam is composed of forty multiple-choice questions (worth 2.5 points each) based on the reading and lecture objectives printed in the appropriate unit study guide.

NO RETESTING OF THESE EXAMINATIONS IS ALLOWED.

Exams must be taken by the deadlines listed below. If you fail to comply with a deadline, a grade of zero will be assigned for that particular unit. If you cannot meet one of these deadlines for a legitimate reason, contact the instructor immediately.

The exams can be taken at any of the following Testing Center locations: Northridge, Rio Grande, Riverside, Pinnacle, Cypress Creek, Eastview, South Austin, Round Rock, San Marcos, and Fredericksburg. In order to take the exams, you must present the Testing Center personnel with a valid ACC identification card (or paid fee receipt) and some other form of photo identification.

Please make certain you are given the correct examination to take. Make sure that my name appears on the first page of the test. After grading your exam, Testing Center personnel will give you a feedback sheet showing you took the exam by the deadline and how many questions you missed. BE SURE TO RETAIN THESE FEEDBACK SHEETS UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR FINAL GRADE IN THE MAIL FOLLOWING THE SEMESTER. Tests have been known to disappear in the ACC mail system; you'll need your feedback sheet if this happens to one of your tests.

Testing center hours, locations, and policies are on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/

Final Grade:

At the end of the semester, I will average the four exam scores and the book review grade and assign final course grades on the following scale: 100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59 and below=F.

Exam Deadlines

Unit 1	July 16
Unit 2	July 24
Unit 3	Aug 1
Unit 4	Aug 9
Note!	BOOK REVIEW DUE AUGUST 10

Withdrawal Policy: The responsibility for submitting a withdrawal form to the Admissions & Records Office (and thus protecting your own academic record) is yours. I will withdraw a student only for failure to fulfill orientation requirements (as mandated by college policy) or upon request. The withdrawal deadline is July 31.

Policy on Incompletes

Grades of "Incomplete" (I) are for emergency situations only, i.e. where hospitalization or a family emergency at the very end of a semester prevents completion of course requirements. I rarely submit a grade of Incomplete. The decision is solely at the discretion of the instructor.

Mandatory Contacts

While you certainly should contact the instructor as often as you need, you must contact the instructor at least twice during the semester. This will give you the chance to verify exam scores, check progress, or discuss course material. This is not only a course requirement; the Texas Education Agency mandates these contacts and your grade depends upon it. So stay in touch!

Student 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 of 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.

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 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.

The instructor will simply not tolerate academic dishonesty, an educational euphemism for cheating. Space is provided in the Testing Centers for storage of textbooks, notebooks, etc. Such items should not be taken to the Testing Center carrel with you. The only item going into the carrel along with the examination and scantron answer sheet is a No. 2 pencil. No slips of paper with numbers, letters, symbols, etc. will be permitted coming into or leaving the Testing Center. If you have any question about an examination or its grading by Testing Center personnel, come directly to me. I will be happy to answer your questions, go over an examination with you, and double check the grading of your examination from the answer sheet that the Testing Center sends directly to me.

Under college regulations, a student found guilty of academic dishonesty may be withdrawn from the course, assigned a failing grade, and/or expelled from the College. BE FOREWARNED, I ABHOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND WILL DEAL WITH IT ACCORDINGLY.