INSTRUCTOR and CONTACT INFORMATION:
L. Patrick Goines. Unfortunately, we will not be able to
meet face to face this semester. The best way to contact me is by
emailing me at pgoines@austincc.edu. I will check my email
regularly and will respond as quickly as I can. You can also leave
a message on my office phone at 223-3121.
TEXTBOOK:
H.W. Brands, American Stories vol. I, 4th ed. This is an
electronic textbook which you can access through Blackboard. Go to
the "revel" link and follow the instructions. You have already
paid for the text when you paid your tuition. I will send you an
email "invitation" that provides an access code if you do not have
one already. I think most students will prefer the online e-text,
but you can opt out of the e-text, receive a refund, and then
purchase a loose leaf printed version of the text. Opt-out
requests must be received prior to the official reporting date for
a full refund. For more information on opting in and opting out go
HERE.
You can also find more information at www.austincc.edu/firstday.
Your text includes quizzes to check your knowledge of the material
that you have just read. While I encourage you to take these
quizzes they do not factor in to your grade.
COURSE ORIENTATIONS:
Each student MUST COMPLETE the
Online
Orientation
NO LATER THAN JULY 8. Failure to do this by the deadline
may lead to your WITHDRAWAL FROM THE
COURSE.
COURSE RATIONALE AND DESCRIPTION:
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. See the History Department
Webpage.
COURSE METHODOLOGY:
This is an online version of the standard 3 Credit Hour United
States History survey course. We will not meet as a class, but
students 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. Since this is a 5 week semester we
will move at an accelerated pace. This course is designed for
mature and capable students endowed with a great degree of self
discipline and responsibility. ACC has a FAQ page about Distance
Learning courses that you can access here.
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. I
will email reminders about Exams and post occasional notices on BLACKBOARD.
I will also post your grades on Blackboard once I receive
them. Consult the
History Department Webpage for more information.
COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Can be found here.
TESTING POLICY:
Exams will be taken online through Blackboard using Respondus
Lockdown Monitor on your own computer. Make sure to go
through the Distance
Testing Instructions to see the requirements
and procedures. Again, to take this course, you will
need access to a Windows, Mac, or iPad computer with a
WORKING CAMERA. Chromebooks are not compatible with the
Blackboard software and can not be used in this course. You may be
able to check out an iPad from ACC by going to the Student
Support page.
Each unit consists of 30 multiple choice questions that come
directly from 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 NOT
TO WAIT UNTIL THE DEADLINE to take exams. If you have
missed a deadline FOR ANY REASON, the highest grade you
can make is a 21/30. To that end, you should take exams ASAP so
that you do not miss a deadline. I recognize that we lead
complicated lives and there are often unforeseen challenges that
interfere with are planned schedules. Unfortunately, there will be
no excuses for missing a deadline. If you do not pass the test the
first time you take it (21/30 or 70%), then you may retest. You
may re-test only once per exam. The highest grade possible
on the retest is 21/30 or 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. Also,
recognize that Exams have a 30 MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
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. In your email make sure to:
1.) INCLUDE YOUR
FULL NAME
2.) WHICH COURSE YOU ARE IN (History 1301-097 for example)
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. I will respond to ALL EMAILS as quickly as I can. In
most cases, if you have not heard back from me in 24 hours you can
assume that I did not receive your email. You should then re-send
it.
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% (an average of 18 correct out of 30 questions on each test which is a a total of 90 points for the 5 exams). 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% (an average of 21 correct out of 30 questions on each test which is a total of 105 points for the 5 exams). 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 on each test which is a total of 120 points for the 5 exams) 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 out of 30 questions 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 on each test which is a total of 120 points for the 5
exams) AND produce one A-level Objective: Research
Paper.
Recognize that GRADES ARE NOT ROUNDED UP. You
must have a minimum of 105 points to earn a C in the class. You
must have a minimum of 120 points on the 5 exams to be eligible to
write either the A of the B papers. yIf you have 119 points you
are not eligible to write either paper. I STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE you to take exams ASAP so that you
know your position in the course and do not spend time wiriting
papers that will not be graded.
DEADLINES:
I encourage you to take the exams BEFORE THE DEADLINE to
make sure that unforeseen events do not prevent you from taking
the exam. If you miss the deadline, FOR ANY REASON, the
highest grade you can make is a 21/30. You may take retests at any
point until August 6. You may take the tests as soon as you
are ready, however, YOU MUST take the tests by the
following DEADLINES:
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YOU MUST have the topic for your A-Level Objective (the term paper) approved by me on or before JULY 21 Your topic must have WRITTEN approval from me before you may proceed with your paper. Any paper submitted to me on a topic that was not approved will not be graded.
YOU MUST turn in your B-Level Objective (the analytical book report) OR your A-Level Objective (the research paper) by AUGUST 7. Papers submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.
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%). Recognize that this is not a question of excused or
not-excused. For this reason I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE
EXAMS BEFORE THE DEADLINES. All exams must be taken no
later than AUGUST 6. Any exam
taken after that date, FOR ANY REASON, WILL
NOT BE COUNTED.
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 AUGUST 3. No withdrawals or
re-instatements may be made after this deadline. I WILL NOT retroactively
withdraw students from this course FOR ANY REASON. It is your responsibility to
understand the impact that withdrawing from a course has on your
financial aid, veteran's benefits, and/or international student
status. You may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than 6
courses during your undergraduate education. You should consult
with an advisor if you are thinking about withdrawing from this
course.
COURSE COMPLETION VERIFICATION:
The contact after test #5 will serve as a course completion
verification and must be done no later than AUGUST 8.
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.“Students
receiving an “I” for Summer 2020 may complete remaining course
requirements and convert the I to a completion grade no later than
November 191, 2020. Students receiving an “I” for Summer
2020 who have not completed course requirements by the November
19th, 2020 extended
conversion date may request that the I be converted to a W and
that they receive a voucher to take the course in Spring
2021. These requests will be considered by the COVID-19
Spring 2021 Hardship Review Committee. Approval would
require extenuating circumstances that did not allow the student
to complete the course requirements during the extended completion
time. You will retain access to the course Blackboard page
through the Fall semester in order to submit work and complete the
course. If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the
grade automatically converts to an “F.” Approval to carry an
Incomplete for longer than the following semester or session
deadline is not frequently granted.
CAMPUS OPERATIONS:
To limit the spread of COVID-19, ACC campuses remain
closed to students and the public. There are no
face-to-face classes or services.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! The college
policy states: Austin Community College values academic integrity
in the educational process. Acts of academic
dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a
disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the
academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of
fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals
and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher
learning to certify students' academic achievements, and
expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their
graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty
or designated college representatives when taking examinations,
placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.
Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not
limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion,
falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s
information technology resources. Further information is
available at
https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process.
Anyone found guilty of cheating on an exam or plagiarism on their
paper will will RECEIVE AN F 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 Student
Accessibility Services Office 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.
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Students at ACC have the same rights and protections under the
Constitution of the United States. These rights include freedom of
speech, peaceful assembly, petition and association. As members of
the community, students have the right to express their own views,
but must also take responsibility for according the same rights to
others and not interfere or disrupt the learning environment.
Students are entitled to fair treatment, are expected to act
consistently with the values of the college, and obey local, state
and federal laws. www.austincc.edu/srr As a student of
Austin Community College you are expected to abide by the Student
Standards of Conduct.:
https://www.austincc.edu/students/students- rights
and-responsibilities/student-standards-of-conduct
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:
Health and safety are of paramount importance in classrooms,
laboratories, and field activities. Students are expected to learn
and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures
and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Emergency
Procedures posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each
classroom and should be reviewed at the beginning of each
semester. All incidents (injuries/illness/fire/property
damage/near miss) should be immediately reported to the course
instructor. Additional information about safety procedures and how
to sign up to be notified in case of an emergency can be found at
http://www.austincc.edu/emergency Everyone is expected to conduct
themselves professionally with respect and
courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally
jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual may be
immediately dismissed from the day’s activity and will be referred
to the Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action. In the
event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an
emergency situation or a continuing illness outbreak, the format
for this course may be modified to enable completion of the
course. In that event, students will be provided an addendum to
the class syllabus that will supersede the original version.
BUILDING REGULATIONS:
ACC regulations prohibit smoking, drinking, and eating in
classrooms. This prohibition includes e-cigarettes.
LEGAL NOTICE:
All course materials, including the syllabus, study questions and
exam questions are copyrighted material. Copying or posting all or
part of these materials online to Facebook, Quizlet, or any other
site is a violation of copyright and is expressly forbidden.
HISTORY TUTORING:
ACC History Department faculty are available for additional
tutoring assistance at different Learning Labs at different times.
See the schedule.
ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. These
services, which include online tutoring, academic coaching,
and supplemental instruction, are free to enrolled ACC students.
Tutors are available in a variety of subjectsr anging from
accounting to pharmacology. Students may receive these services on
both a drop-in and referral basis. An online tutor request
can be made here:
https://de.austincc.edu/bbsupport/online-tutoring-request/
Additional tutoring information can be found here:
austincc.edu/onlinetutoring
LIBRARY SERVICES:
ACC has a full-service library at each of its campuses to support
ACC courses and programs and to provide students with research and
assignment assistance from expert faculty librarians. ACC students
have full rights and privileges to access Library Services online
24/7 via the ACC Library website and students can use their ACCeID
logins to access all online materials, including ebooks, articles
from library databases, and streaming videos. ACC Libraries
also provide an “Ask a Librarian” service, which allows students
to reach a librarian 24/7 through online chat “live.”
Faculty librarians are also available via email and phone seven
days a week during hours of operation. Visit:
Library Website: http://library.austincc.edu
Ask a Librarian: https://library.austincc.edu/help/ask.php
Library Hours of Operation by Location:
https://library.austincc.edu/loc/
Email: library@austincc.edu
In partnership with ACC’s Student Support Center, ACC Libraries
also maintain a limited collection of textbooks for students (made
available by Student Affairs) to borrow. Priority access to the
textbook collection is given to students receiving assistance.
More information is available on the ACC website by searching
“Student Support Center Textbook Collection.”
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:
ACC has over seventy student organizations, offering a variety of
cultural, academic, vocational, and social opportunities.
They provide a chance to meet with other students who have the
same interests, engage in service-learning, participate in
intramural sports, gain valuable field experience related to
career goals, and much else. Student Life coordinates many
of these activities, and additional information is available at
http://sites.austincc.edu/sl/.
PERSONAL SUPPORT:
Resources to support students are available at every campus. To
learn more, ask your professor or visit the campus Support Center.
All resources and services are free and confidential. Some
examples include, among others:
Food resources including community pantries and bank drives can be
found here:
https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/food-assistance/get-food-now
Assistance with childcare or utility bills is available at any
campus Support
Center: http://www.austincc.edu/students/support-center.
The Student Emergency Fund can help with unexpected expenses
that
may cause you to withdraw from one or more classes:
http://www.austincc.edu/SEF.
Help with budgeting for college and family life is available
through the
Student Money Management Office:
http://sites.austincc.edu/money/.
A full listing of services for student parents is available at:
https://www.austincc.edu/students/child-care
The CARES Act Student Aid will help eligible students pay
expenses
related to COVID-19:
https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/cares-act-student-aid.
Mental health counseling services are available throughout the ACC
Student
Services District to address personal and or mental health
concerns:
http://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .
If you are struggling with a mental health or personal crisis,
call one of the following numbers to connect with resources for
help. However if you are afraid
that you might hurt yourself or someone else, call 911
immediately.
Free Crisis Hotline Numbers:
Austin / Travis County 24 hour Crisis & Suicide hotline:
512-472-HELP
(4357)
The Williamson County 24 hour Crisis hotline: 1-800-841-1255
Bastrop County Family Crisis Center hotline: 1-888-311-7755
Hays County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: Text “home” to 741741
o Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Helpline:1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
ILLNESS:
Any ACC student or employee with symptoms or exposure to the
COVID-19 virus should inform their professor(s) or supervisor and
complete the college’s self reporting form:
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?AustinCC&layout_id=124
CAMPUS CARRY:
The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy
ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government
Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law),
while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment
for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Senate
Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements:
Under Senate Bill 212 (SB 212), the faculty and all
College employees are required to report any information
concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual
assault, dating violence, and stalking committed by or
against an ACC student or employee. Federal Title IX law
and College policy also require reporting incidents of
sex- and gender-based discrimination and sexual
misconduct. This means faculty and non-clinical
counseling staff cannot keep confidential information
about any such incidents that you share with
them. If you would like to talk with someone
confidentiality, please contact the District Clinical
Counseling Team who can connect you with a clinical
counselor on any
ACC campus: (512) 223-2616, or to schedule online:
https://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .
While students are not required to report, they are
encouraged to contact the
Compliance Office for resources and options:
Charlene Buckley, District Title IX Officer, (512)
223-7964; compliance@austincc.edu . If a student
makes a report to a faculty member, the faculty member
will contact the District Title IX Officer for
follow-up.
STUDENT
COMPLAINTS:
A defined process applies to complaints about an
instructor or other college employee. You are encouraged
to discuss concerns and complaints with college
personnel and should expect a timely and appropriate
response. When possible, students should first address
their concerns through informal conferences with those
immediately involved; formal due process is available
when informal resolution cannot be achieved. Student
complaints may include (but are not limited to) issues
regarding classroom instruction, college services and
offices on the basis of actual or perceived race, color,
national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity,
sexual orientation, political affiliation, or
disability. Further information about the complaints
process, including the form used to submit complaints,
is available at:
http://www.austincc.edu/students/students-
rights-and-responsibilities/student-complaint-procedures
DISCRIMINATION
PROHIBITED:
The College seeks to maintain an educational environment
free from any form of discrimination or harassment
including but not limited to discrimination or
harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin,
religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or disability. Faculty at the College are
required to report concerns regarding sexual misconduct
(including all forms of sexual harassment and sex and
gender-based discrimination) to the Manager of Title
IX/Title VI/ADA Compliance. Licensed clinical
counselors are available across the District and serve
as confidential resources for students. Additional
information about Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance
can be found
in the ACC Compliance Resource Guide available at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o55xINAWNvTYgI-fs-JbDyuaMFDNvAjz/view
PASS/NO
PASS:
ACC has temporarily implemented a Pass/No Pass option
for grading. Students are permitted (but not
required) to convert any course sections to Pass/No-Pass
grading. The following procedures will apply.
After receiving their grade for the semester, students
will have until {insert date] to elect Pass/No-Pass
grading. Only grades of C or better in a course
may be converted to P (Pass). Grades of D and F may be
converted to NP (No-Pass). All courses for which
students receive passing (P) grades will count toward
ACC degree requirements, which may override some
departmental or college policies. A grade of
Pass/No-pass will not count toward a student's
grade point average (GPA); however a grade of Pass will
count toward earned semester hours. Students should
consider the possible implications of electing the
Pass/No-Pass option (e.g., on course transfer, GPA
calculations, financial aid, etc.). Academic
transcripts will have a note added indicating the
Pass/No Pass grading option is due to the Corona- virus
pandemic.
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.