COURSE OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: This course surveys the major developments in the history of the United States and its people from 1492 to 1877  and partially fulfills the legislative requirement.  It also includes examples of conflicting interpretations of the progress of that history and a program of historical research. this course offers students opportunities to pursue historical topics of individual interest and enhance their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. You should be aware of the expectations that the History Department has for all students.

COURSE ORIENTATIONS:  Each student MUST COMPLETE Online Orientation within the FIRST WEEK of class. Failure to do so may IMPERIL YOUR STUDENT AID.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This section is a self-paced version of the standard United States History survey course.   The student will be required to do the same amount of work and the same quality of work as students enrolling in the classroom equivalent of the course.   This self-paced course is designed for mature and capable students endowed with a great degree of self discipline and responsibility.  If this description does not sound like you, then you should consider dropping this section. YOU WILL NEED maturity, ability, and self-discipline to successfully complete the requirements of any self-paced  course. You might want to also look at the Common Course Objectives listed on the Master Syllabus. On BLACKBOARD I will post occasional notices and your grades once I receive them. 

TEXTBOOK: Robert A. Divine, et al, America: Past and Present, Volume 1, 9th OR 10th edition.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: The student's final course grade is determined by the quality and quantity of the student's work.   The following requirements are non-negotiable: For the grades of D, C, B, and A YOU MUST CONTACT ME, by email, phone, or in person TWICE during the semester: once after the completion of Test #3 and once after the completion of Test #5.  The purpose of these contacts is to make sure that you understand your position in this course. If you leave a message (phone or email) make sure to 1.)  tell me your  full name 2.) tell me which class you are in 3.) indicate whether or not you are clear about your position in the course and that  you understand what you need to do to make the grade that you are trying to achieve. Anyone failing to make these contacts may not receive credit for the course.

For the grade of D:

In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 tests and make an overall course average of 60% (18 correct out of 30 questions). Failure to meet these requirements will result in the grade of F.  There are no further requirements. but you should recognize that a D may not transfer to other colleges as a history credit.

For the grade of C:

In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 tests and make an overall course average of 70% (21 correct out of 30 questions).  There are no further requirements.

For the grade of B:

Option One:   In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 tests, and make an overall course average of 80% (24 out of 30 questions) AND complete one B-level objective: the Analytical Book Review.

Option Two: In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 tests, and make 24 or better ON EACH TEST.

For the grade of A:

In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 tests, and make an overall course average of 80% (24 out of 30 questions) AND produce one A-level Objective: Research Paper.

DEADLINES:  All tests must be taken in the ACC Testing Centers.  I encourage you to take the exams BEFORE THE DEADLINE so you may re-test if necessary. You may take the tests as soon as you are  ready, however, YOU MUST take the tests by the following DEADLINES:

YOU MUST have the topic for your A-Level Objective (the term paper) approved by me on or before  NOVEMBER 11.

YOU MUST turn in your B-Level Objective (the analytical book report) OR your A-Level Objective (the term paper) by DECEMBER 9.

All these DEADLINES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED!  If an exam is taken after the deadline FOR ANY REASON the highest grade you can earn is a 21/30 (70%). All exams must be taken by MAY 2. Any exam taken after that date WILL NOT BE COUNTED.

TESTING POLICY:  Each unit has a 30 question test that focuses on the Learning Objectives found in the History 1301 STUDY GUIDE.   You may TAKE EXAMS AS SOON AS YOU ARE READY. You do not have to wait until the deadline to take exams. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to take exams ASAP so you are clear about your position in the course.   (Remember it is your overall course average which determines your final grade.  In that sense, you may fail one test and still pass the course if the average of all 5 grades is 21 or better.) If you do not pass the test the first time you take it, then you may retest, but you may re-test only once per exam.  The highest grade possible on the retest is 70%.  Therefore, if you have passed the test the first time, there is no point in retaking it. YOU CANNOT make a score higher than 70% on the retest.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:  If you determine during the course of the semester that you will not be able to successfully fulfill the requirements for this course, YOU SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM THE COURSE!   The deadline for withdrawing is DECEMBER 9. No withdrawals or re-instatements may be made after this deadline. The instructor WILL NOT retroactively withdraw students from this course FOR ANY REASON.

COURSE COMPLETION VERIFICATION:  Each student is REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR, either in person, by telephone or email, after they have completed test #3 and test #5.  If you contact me by email, make sure to include your name, which course you are in, and whether or not you are clear about your position in the course. The contact after test #5 will serve as a course completion verification and must be done no later than DECEMBER 12.   FAILURE TO COMPLETE THIS CONTACT REQUIREMENT MAY IMPERIL THE PROMPT REPORTING OF YOUR GRADE!!!   This is as much a requirement of the course as any other grading requirement.

INCOMPLETES:  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.

NOTE: Academic dishonesty WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! The college policy states: "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." Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty (cheating or plagiarism) will automatically be assigned a failing grade for the course.

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: 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.

STUDENT PRIVACY: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that student privacy be preserved. Grades can not be given over the phone, through a fellow student, spouses, parents or by email.

USE OF ACC EMAIL: ACC sends all email communication solely to the student's ACCmail account and expects students to read the messages in a timely manner. So that means all important information and emergency details will go only to your ACCmail . Students should expect to receive from, and send email to, their instructors from their ACCmail account. To set up an account, students can go to ACCmail for instructions.

SAFETY STATEMENT: ACC is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. Students are expected to learn and to comply with ACC environmental, health, and safety procedures and to follow ACC safety policies. See the Environmental Health and Safety link for more details. The College also asks that each student become familiar with the Emergency Procedures and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. See ACC Emergency Alerts to sign up for electronic notices in the event of a serious emergency.

BUILDING REGULATIONS: ACC regulations prohibit smoking, drinking, and eating in classrooms.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Learning is a skill. The more you practice, the easier and more enjoyable learning becomes. Learn all you can. Ask questions. Challenge yourself. Stay informed. While we will not meet as a class I do want to remind you that in our discussions and conferences there are bound to be differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics students may sometimes disagree not only with each other, but also with the instructor. It is to be expected that faculty and students will respect the views of each other when expressed in classroom discussions. We will, therefore, vigorously defend the principles of free speech so every student should feel comfortable in expressing his or her opinions.

LAST WORDS OF CAUTION:  If you use the RGC Testing Center for this self-paced course, please be sure to mark the Testing Center Student Request Form for "Distance Learning".  Otherwise, you may receive my classroom test that is all essay.

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