Welcome to HIST 1301 ONL – History 1 Independent Study Using Computer Sections/Synonyms: 36787-107 36793-120 36794-121 36796-127 Orientation & Course Syllabus – Fall
2015 16-week Session Begins August 24th Dr. T. Thomas, Professor Austin Community College All Materials Copyright, Dr. T. Thomas, 2015 |
Ø This course is designed for students who can work
independently, from home or other location, accessing course materials via the
Internet.
Ø This course will acquaint students with the basic
processes of United States History before 1877, using a textbook and study guide, with opportunities for historical research.
Ø The course fulfills the Texas legislative
requirement for one semester of U.S. history.
Instructions: This is the orientation
for my HIST 1301 online course. Read
through this entire orientation. It takes about 20 minutes. At the end is a
Student Information Form that you are REQUIRED to fill out and email to Dr. Thomas
by August 27th. If you fail to send me this form, your Financial
Aid may be in jeopardy, as the federal government now requires proof of
“attendance”.
Link
to ACC’s Student
Success Resources for Distance-Learning Students
BLACKBOARD |
This course does not use Blackboard.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS |
v independent-study from home –
HOWEVER, students who need in-person assistance MUST be able to meet in my
office, at Pinnacle (PIN) Campus during daytime hours.
v no classes to attend – you
work on your own and seek assistance when needed.
v 5 exams, each exam 30
questions, multiple choice (no essay exams).
v exam deadlines about every
20-25 days..
v exams must be taken in one of the ACC Testing
Centers
v study
questions for
each exam (available to download from this website)
v one textbook (James Roark et al, The
American Promise, Volume 1, Sixth edition
– see “Textbook” section below for ISBN numbers)
v research paper required for an
"A" – due MONDAY, December 7th at noon (TOPIC approval deadline is
November 21st)
v book analysis required for some
students for a "B" (see “Grades” section below for details) – due
MONDAY, December 7th at noon.
v communicate with Dr. Thomas via email, by phone,
or in person
§ You can register for this course online. § To check on the availability of this course, see the Course Schedule. § If you are already registered for this course, please continue with this ORIENTATION |
TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE ORIENTATION, YOU MUST: |
v first, make SURE you are
registered for one of these courses: Sections/Synonyms: 36787-107, 36793-120,
36794-121, or 36796-127
v It is YOUR responsibility to
make SURE you are registered for the course BEFORE you begin the orientation
v read this orientation/syllabus
v fill out and return the
Student Information Form (located on the last page of the syllabus).
v Return the Form by email to Dr.
Thomas at tmthomas@austincc.edu by August
27th. If you don’t submit the form, your financial aid may be
in jeopardy (due to federal reporting regulations).
v download the study
questions. You will need them to pass this course
v contact Dr. Thomas with any questions
you might have.
YOUR PROFESSOR |
NOTE: After you have taken an exam, you are
ALWAYS welcome to come in and look over your exam to see what you got wrong and
to see the correct answers. In fact, I recommend you do this BEFORE you take
the retest. Contact me to set up an appointment.
Mailing
Address: Dr.
T. Thomas ACC
– History 7748
Hwy 290 West Austin,
TX 78736 Office
Hours: Mon
& Wed 10:30 - 11:30 am & 1:30 - 3 pm and other days/times by
appointment My
office is at Pinnacle Campus (PIN)
Room 815. (Driving instructions at
bottom of my homepage: www.austincc.edu/tmthomas) |
Email: (the fastest way to communicate with me) Phone
& voicemail: (512) 223-8164 Urgent
message: call History Dept Chair, Dr. Al Purcell, at 223-3398. FAX: (512) 223-8900 (make
sure my name is on cover page as the recipient) Website: www.austincc.edu/tmthomas |
A NOTE
ABOUT EMAIL |
Any
“official” ACC notification will be sent to you using your ACC email address -
so, DO check your ACC email on a regular basis.
I
reply to ALL emails, usually within 24 hours.
Ø If you send me an email, please type something in
the "Subject" space, such as "History course". If you leave
the Subject blank, your email will automatically be deleted as spam
("junk" email).
Ø In your email message, please give your first AND
last name - as I cannot always tell by your email address what your NAME is.
Ø If you do NOT get a reply, please assume I never
got your email and - either email me again - or CALL me. You can leave a voice
message at (512) 223-8164.
For
URGENT messages, call the History Dept Chair, Dr.
Purcell at (512) 223-3398.
The
FASTEST way to contact me is via email:
tmthomas@austincc.edu
THIS COURSE |
This section is
an independent study version of the U.S. History survey course offered in the
classroom. You will be required to do the same amount of work and the same
quality of work as students in the classroom equivalent of this course. This
self-paced course is designed for mature and capable students with
self-discipline, the ability to work independently, and self-motivation.
v This is a very challenging and time-consuming,
“independent-study” course. v Your success in this course does require TIME,
maturity, ability, self-discipline & time management skills. v It MAY also require that you are able to travel to the PIN campus
during normal business hours to meet with Dr. Thomas IF YOU NEED assistance
in this course. So you should have
access to transportation. v If you have ANY problems with the course and
would like help with additional study tips and methods, please contact Dr.
Thomas as soon as possible. Don't wait until the semester is almost
over. |
PREREQUISITES |
You must be able to
read, comprehend, and write in English at the college level. This is a very
reading-intensive course. You MUST be
able to read well, and to understand what you’re reading - in order to be
successful in this course.
Ø
In order to
enroll in this course, you MUST be in compliance with the reading and
writing portion of your TSI (Texas State
Initiatives)-approved standardized test – unless you are exempt from the
TSI testing.
Ø If you are TSI-compliant in
reading and writing OR if you are TSI-exempt, you can take this class.
Ø Check with an ACC Counselor if
you are unsure of your TSI status.
OTHER
PREREQUISITES: In order to achieve success in this course, you must:
v
have a
desire to learn
v
have a
desire to achieve
v
be
willing to accept personal responsibility for your success in this course
v
make
a commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the course
v
read
and understand what you’re reading in
a college-level textbook
v
write at the college level - using correct grammar,
punctuation, sentence structure, paragraphs, vocabulary, etc.
v
read
and understand English at the college-level
v
have
an understanding of basic geography concepts (e.g., hemispheres, longitude,
latitude, & difference between continents, countries, & cities)
v
have a
basic knowledge of world geography (e.g., the location of the continents, major
bodies of water, mountain ranges)
v
have a knowledge of basic political science concepts (e.g., legislative,
executive, judicial, monarchy, imperialism, impeachment, nationalism, suffrage,
veto)
Please
note that you can take History 1 and History 2 in ANY order. Also, you can take both history
courses at the same time, BUT it is a LOT of work – so don’t attempt to do this
unless you have a lot of time to devote to reading and studying.
TEXTBOOK |
REQUIRED: James Roark et al, The
American Promise, Volume 1,
Sixth edition.
It
is your responsibility to locate and purchase a copy of the textbook.
Ø You can purchase or rent
the textbook from ANY source that you choose.
Ø If you cannot afford to
purchase the textbook right away, there is an older version on reserve in some
ACC Libraries
- for use in the Library. You can use it
until you’re able to purchase the current edition of the textbook.
Ø I recommend you purchase
the textbook BEFORE the course begins so that you will have it on the first day of the semester.
Ø There are TWO VERSIONS of
the textbook. You may choose EITHER one.
Ø WHEN ORDERING ONLINE, USE
THE ISBN NUMBER (below) to make sure you have the right textbook.
VERSION |
WHERE TO PURCHASE |
ISBN
# 978-1-4576-6841-8 Full
color paperback |
Ø
Available at ACC bookstores and other Austin and online
booksellers. Ø
Also available directly from the publisher at http://www.macmillanhighered.com/Catalog/Product.aspx?isbn=1457668416 Ø
When purchased NEW, it is the most expensive version. It
includes full color maps and pictures |
Electronic
book (E-book) |
Interactive
ELECTRONIC book, available ONLINE from the publisher at: http://www.macmillanhighered.com/Catalog/Product.aspx?isbn=1457685698 Ø
About $60 for a one year subscription (one year access from
date of purchase). |
OPTIONAL
VIDEOTAPES
Attending
class, & reading and studying the textbook are essential for success in
this course. However, you may also benefit from viewing videotapes designed
specifically for HIST 1301.
Ø There are 26 half-hour
videotapes in a series entitled "Shaping America".
Ø They're available in every ACC library - you can
view them in the library or check them out for viewing at home. You can also
view them via the ACC cable channels on Time Warner and other cable companies
in the area. The viewing schedule is online at ACC's Open Campus website
Ø The videos are OPTIONAL for
the course, but you may find them helpful in reinforcing the concepts you learn
in reading the text.
ORIENTATION AND REQUIRED CONTACTS |
v You are required to complete this online orientation
and to email me your Student Information Form (at the end of this orientation) by August 27th.
v You
are required to contact me after you have completed your third and your fifth
exams, for the purposes of verifying your exam grades. You may contact me by
email, by phone or in person.
When you send the email or leave the phone message, please include
the following information:
§ Your name § which class you are in, and § the grades you have received so far. |
WITHDRAWAL
FROM THE COURSE – Deadline is November 19th |
If
you find that you are unable to meet course requirements, you should consider
withdrawing from the course to avoid any possibility of being assigned a
failing grade.
Ø BEFORE you withdraw, see a
counselor or read the state law (“Six-withdrawal Limit”) on withdrawals from
Texas public colleges/universities, located in the ACC Student “Need to Know” section,
online at: http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow/
Ø Withdrawal is accomplished by completing a
withdrawal form online at the “Online Services” web page (http://www.austincc.edu/onlineservices/)
Ø It is
your responsibility to complete the withdrawal process.
Ø The deadline for withdrawing
is Nov 19th
Ø You can withdraw ON Nov
19th.
IMPORTANT: I don’t withdraw
students from my courses - Withdrawing from the course is YOUR responsibility
and it MUST be done by the withdrawal deadline, Nov 19th. If you enroll in the course and
fail to take the exams or fail to otherwise complete the course, you will
receive the grade of F for the course. |
STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES |
For
students with disabilities, ACC is committed to providing an equal opportunity
to access benefits, rights, and privileges of college services, programs, and
activities in compliance with state and federal law.
Ø Students with disabilities
who need accommodations must request reasonable accommodations through ACC's Student
Accessibility Services (SAS) offices are located on each of the ACC
campuses.
Ø Students are encouraged to
do this before the semester begins.
Ø Please let me know as soon
as possible how I can accommodate your special needs in this class.
Ø At Pinnacle Campus, the
SAS office is located in room 221.
Link
to all student
services at ACC
YOUR RIGHT TO
PRIVACY |
In
compliance with the Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, I will not give
information concerning your grades, academic progress, attendance, address,
phone, or email address to anyone (including your parents) unless you give your
written permission. In addition, I will not give grade information over the
phone.
FREEDOM OF
EXPRESSION |
The
free exchange of ideas is vital to learning. Your comments and ideas, if
expressed respectfully, will be met with respect from your professor.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
TAKING THIS COURSE |
This
is a college course and all students enrolled in this course will be treated as
college students. If you are taking this course, you are considered a college
student.
Ø Unless there is an emergency, I will not speak to,
nor will I correspond with, your parents or guardians.
Ø If there are any problems or issues, you need to
speak with me or correspond with me yourself.
Ø All sections of this syllabus and orientation
pertain equally to all students in this course, regardless of age or
educational status.
Ø 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,
Ø In compliance with this Act, I will not discuss
your grades or your academic progress with your parents or guardians.
ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY |
WARNING: Any type of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
Any act of plagiarism or other type of academic dishonesty will result in you
receiving the grade of "F" for the course.
Academic
dishonesty – cheating - is defined as fraud, deceit, or
dishonesty in an academic assignment. It includes:
v Copying or attempting
to copy from others during an examination;
v Copying or attempting
to copy from others an assignment;
v Communicating
examination information to, or receiving such information from, another person;
v Violating
v Using, attempting to
use, or assisting others in using materials that are prohibited during
examination in question, such as: books, Web sites, prepared answers, written
notes, or concealed information;
v Allowing others to do
one's assignment or a portion of one's assignment;
v Using a commercial term
paper service or otherwise acquiring a term paper and submitting it as your
own;
v Purchasing or otherwise
acquiring written work that is not your own
Plagiarism
is defined as using another's work (whether printed, electronic, or spoken)
without crediting him or her. All of the following are considered plagiarism:
v turning in someone else's work
as your own;
v copying words or ideas from
someone else without giving credit;
v failing to put a direct quote in quotation marks;
v giving incorrect information
about the source of a quotation;
v changing words but copying the
sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
v copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes
up the majority of your work, whether you
give credit or not;
v copying from a website without
giving credit
“Giving credit” means citing the source of your information. This is usually done using a footnote. If you use material from a website, book or
other source, you must give credit to that author by citing the source in a
footnote. See Dr. Thomas for assistance
with footnotes.
Any act of
plagiarism or other type of academic dishonesty will result in you receiving
the grade of "F" for the course.
(Above
definitions copied &/or adapted from http://www.laspositascollege.edu/facultystaff/honesty.php
and from http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/what_is_plagiarism.html)
YOUR
GRADE AND HOW YOU EARN IT |
The
quality and quantity of the work done by YOU determines YOUR final grade.
You must take all five
exams to receive credit for this course.
For
the grade of "A",
v you must have an
overall average on the five unit exams of 80% or above AND
v you must submit an acceptable
Research Paper (see instructions below) - paper deadline is Monday, Dec 7th at
NOON.
v You do NOT do a Book
Analysis for an A.
For
the grade of "B", there are two options:
Ø OPTION 1
o you must score at least 80%
or above on ALL five exams.
This gives you an automatic B. (an 80%
is 24 correct out of 30 questions)
OR, if you score BELOW 80 on ANY exam, you would have
to use Option 2:
Ø OPTION 2
o you must have an overall
average on the five unit exams of 80% or above AND
o submit an acceptable Book
Analysis (see instructions below) - book analysis deadline is Monday, Dec 7th
at NOON.
For
the grade of "C", you will have an overall average on the five unit exams of
70% or above.
For
the grade of "D", you will have an overall average on the five unit exams of
60% - 69.9%.
Ø A grade of D does NOT
fulfill the state requirement for U.S. History, so if you earn a D you will
have to take the course again in order to graduate.
For
the grade of "F", you will have an overall average on the five unit exams less
than 60%.
Ø A grade of F does NOT
fulfill the state requirement for U.S. History, so if you earn an F you will
have to take the course again in order to graduate.
For
the grade of "I" ("Incomplete"), the student
Ø must have a medical excuse
certified by a physician, sent to Dr. Thomas no later than Monday, Dec 7th.
Ø must have completed and passed at least 3 exams before being
eligible for an "Incomplete".
Ø IMPORTANT: If an
"incomplete" is not completed by April 1, 2016, the "I"
will automatically become an "F" on your transcript.
Ø It is YOUR responsibility
to complete the course in time to avoid the "F".
WARNING: Scholastic
dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any
act of scholastic dishonesty will result in you immediately receiving the grade
of "F" for the course.
THE
EXAMS |
Ø ALL exams are
available in ALL ACC Testing Centers beginning August 24th.
Ø You may take ANY exam at
ANY ACC Testing Center.
Ø There are five exams, each
consisting of 30 multiple choice questions. There are no essay questions.
Ø Each exam must be taken at
one of the ACC Testing Centers and may not be taken at any other college or
university.
Ø You may take an exam BEFORE the deadline date.
Ø You may take an exam ON the deadline date
Ø You may take several
exams on one day.
Ø You must take exams by the
deadline date (See “When to Take Exams” section below).
Ø Every student must complete all 5 exams by the exam
deadlines.
Ø NOTE: If needed, for exams 1 through 4 - each student gets a one-time exam deadline extension,
for any reason - no need
to get permission. Just take it when you can.
Ø Any additional exam deadline
extensions are given only in extraordinary or exceptional circumstances, at Dr.
Thomas’ discretion.
Ø After you have taken an exam,
you are ALWAYS welcome to come in to my office and look over your exam to see
what you got wrong and to see the correct answers. In fact, I recommend you do
this BEFORE you take the retest. Contact me to set up an appointment.
Ø The exam
questions are taken from the HIST 1301 study questions available to download from
this website. The Study Guide is for your use, to help you prepare for the
exams - and is not to be turned in to Dr. Thomas.
Ø A passing grade (70%) on an exam equals 21 correct
out of 30 questions.
Ø You may take each exam twice. If you fail it the
first time, you may take it again - the second time is called a
"re-test". (See the “Re-test” section below). The deadline for retesting on all exams is
December 6th.
See
the section below "When to Take Your Exams" for more
information about test deadlines.
See
the section below "Where to Take Your Exams" for more
information about the Testing Centers.
Link to Testing Centers
(locations, hours of operation)
RE-TESTS
- Deadline for retests is December 5th. |
If
you score below 70% (less than 21 correct) the first time you take your exam,
you may retest.
Ø There is a restriction on the retest, however. The
highest grade possible on the re-test is 70% (21 correct out of 30).
Ø This means that if you score 22 or above on the retest,
you will get credit for only 21 points (a 70%) for that retest.
Ø The highest of your grades (either the test
or the retest) will be used to calculate your average.
To re-test, go to any ACC Testing Center. Ask for a re-test for that exam. They’ll ask
to see your ACC ID and then will give you a re-test. The re-test is also 30 questions, multiple choice, and is taken from the Study Guide questions.
Ø You can retest anytime during
the semester, but all Retests must be completed by December 5th.
Ø You cannot test AND retest for the same exam
ON THE SAME DAY. You must wait 24 hours to retest.
Ø You can retest ONLY ONCE
for each exam.
Here
are four Examples of how retesting works:
1. You score a 16 on Unit 2 Exam. You take a
retest and score 24. The grade that will be recorded for you for Unit 2 exam
will be 21 (since the highest grade possible on a retest is a 21).
2. You score 24 on the Unit 3 exam. You should NOT
take a retest! Why? Because the highest grade possible on a
retest is a 21 - and you already scored higher than that (a 24) on your
exam. Do NOT retest if you scored 21 or above the first time you took
your exam.
3. You score 17 on your Unit 4 exam. You score 16
on your Unit 4 retest. The grade that will be recorded for you for Unit
4 is the 17 (the higher of the two grades).
4. You scored 11 on your Unit 2 exam. You scored
26 on the retest. The grade that will be recorded for you for Unit 2 is 21
(since 21 is the highest possible grade on a retest).
CALCULATING
YOUR EXAM AVERAGE |
All
five exams will be averaged at the end of the semester, to determine
your average Exam grade.
Ø To calculate your average:
Add up your exam grades and divide that total by
5.
Ø To pass this course, you need an exam AVERAGE of
21 or above.
Reminder: You must score 24 (80%)
or above on ALL FIVE EXAMS in order to get an "automatic" B for the
course. You must complete an acceptable research paper for an A.
WHERE
TO TAKE YOUR EXAMS - Testing
Center Locations & Hours |
Ø All tests and retests must be
taken at ACC Testing Centers.
Ø Please read the Guide
to Student Use of Testing Centers for rules and regulations concerning the
testing centers.
Ø In order to test, you will need to bring an ACC ID
to the Testing Center.
Ø You can get an ACC ID at the Admissions
and Records Office at any ACC campus (after you have registered and paid
for the course).
Ø Try to get your ACC ID before the semester begins
- to avoid long lines in the first week.
When
you get to the Testing Center, you will show your ACC Photo ID and fill out a
"Student Test Request Form". On this form, you'll provide your name
and student ID AND your instructor's name, campus, and the course section
number.
Here's
what you'll need to fill in on the Test Request Form: v YOUR NAME and ID number v YOUR PHONE NUMBER (in case we need to reach you) v The course: HIST 1301 DIL v SECTION/SYNONYM: v Instructor: DR. T. THOMAS v Instructor's Campus: PINNACLE campus
(abbreviated as “PIN”) v The TEST NUMBER of the test you are taking that
day (test # 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) |
Do
you have an ACC Student ID? You MUST
have one in order to use the ACC Testing Centers, Libraries, and other ACC
services. |
You must obtain your ACC Student ID cards at the Admissions
& Records Office on any ACC campus. They will not be sent to you in the
mail. The ACC photo Student ID card is permanent; it does not expire
at the end of each semester, so you only need to visit campus one time. You
can come to any campus Admissions & Records Office as early as one day
after registering for classes to obtain a Student ID card. A valid state or
federally issued photo ID, such as a Driver's License, must be presented. More
information about the Student ID card: http://www.austincc.edu/apply-and-register/enrollment-steps#obtain-student-id-card |
WHEN
TO TAKE YOUR EXAMS |
This course is
very challenging and time-consuming. In
order to be successful, you MUST plan and manage your time wisely.
Ø Follow the deadline
schedule below.
Ø Complete each exam by the
deadline.
Ø NOTE: If needed, for
exams 1 through 4
- each student gets a one-time
exam deadline extension, for any reason - no need to get permission.
Just take it when you can.
Ø Any additional exam
deadline extensions are given only in extraordinary or exceptional
circumstances.
It
is YOUR responsibility to check when the Testing Center is open.
Ø Some are open weekends, some are not. Some are
open nights, some are not. Some close early on Fridays.
Ø Please check ahead of time and plan accordingly.
Ø Note that some testing
centers are VERY crowded at the end of the semester and you may NOT be able to get
in on the day you show up.
Ø So, I recommend you either show up to take the
exam a day or two EARLY or try to take the exam at one of the smaller,
less-crowded testing centers.
Ø Remember,
you CAN take exams BEFORE the deadline date.
GET A CALENDAR AND MARK THESE DEADLINES:
Exam Number |
Text Chapters |
Deadline |
|
Exam 1 |
none (Map test) |
August 30th
(Sunday) |
|
Exam 2 |
Chs. 1 - 5 |
Sept 21st (Monday) |
|
Exam 3 |
Chs. 6 - 9 |
Oct 19th (Monday) |
|
Exam 4 |
Chs. 10 - 13 |
Nov 13th (Friday) |
|
Exam 5 |
Chs. 14 - 16 |
Dec 4th (Friday) |
|
Retest deadline for ALL exams |
Dec 5th (Saturday) |
|
How do you know what grade you made on the exam??
After you have taken your
exam, the
Testing Center staff member will grade the exam for you and give you a yellow receipt with
your grade written on it.
Ø The grade will be recorded in the bottom left-hand
side of the yellow receipt and it will be recorded as the number CORRECT out of
a possible 30 questions.
Ø The grade will look like this: “22/30” which means, 22 correct out of
30.
Ø Since each question is worth 3.33 points, a 22
correct out of 30 means you scored a 73.26%.
Ø If you want to review the questions that you got
wrong, please contact Dr. Thomas.
Ø Testing Center staff CANNOT allow you to review
your exam, or even tell you which questions you missed - so please do not ask
them.
Ø Contact Dr. Thomas for that information.
STRATEGY
FOR TAKING EXAMS |
Ø The exam questions are taken
from the Study Guide, available to download from Dr.
Thomas’ website. So you will need to
download and use the Study Guide.
Ø The first exam is a Map Test – what you need to know for the
Map Test is in the Study Guide.
Ø The remaining 4 exams are
from material in the textbook. For each
chapter, there are study questions.
These are found in the Study Guide.
Ø You will take the Map Test
(test #1) within the first few days of the semester, then spend the rest of the
time studying for the other 4 exams.
Ø The Map Test is somewhat easy; but the other four
exams are much harder - so spend MOST of your time on the LAST FOUR exams.
Ø The Map
Test requirements are found in the Study Guide.
Ø Remember, you do NOT have to “wait” until the
deadline to take an exam – you CAN take it BEFORE the deadline.
IMPORTANT: After you test or
re-test, the Testing Center will give you a "Student Test Request and
Grade Form", on which you will find your test score.
Ø Keep this form.
Ø Your copy of the grade form is the only proof you
have that you completed this exam.
Ø Do not discard these forms until
you have received your final grade at the end of the semester.
WRITING
ASSIGNMENTS (RESEARCH PAPER & BOOK ANALYSIS) INFORMATION |
Objectives:
The writing assignments are designed to:
Ø acquaint you with historical scholarship
addressing some aspect of
U.S. history before 1877;
Ø provide an opportunity for you to acquire in-depth
knowledge of a specific historical topic;
Ø provide you with tools to develop analytical
thinking abilities;
Ø enhance your ability to synthesize large amounts
of written material, in order to critically examine a historical topic;
Ø develop your knowledge of library resources
(specifically: card catalog, computer search, reference materials, reference
personnel, style manuals);
Ø assess your ability to follow directions
and meet deadlines.
WARNING: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
Any act of scholastic
dishonesty will result in you receiving the grade of "F" for the
course.
Ø READ above section, “ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY” for further definitions.
Ø Writing assignments must be written by YOU.
Purchasing or otherwise acquiring writing that is not your own will result in
you receiving the grade of "F" in this course.
Ø If you copy from a book or other publication, use
quotation marks to indicate the passage that you copied and a footnote to cite
the source of the text.
Ø If you copy from someone else without
acknowledging the source, you are plagiarizing.
Ø As with other types of scholastic dishonesty, plagiarism
will result in the student receiving the grade of "F" for the course.
DUE
DATE
The
Writing Assignments (Research Papers and Book Analyses) are due on or before
NOON on Monday, December 7th and will not be accepted late.
Ø You may turn in your paper
early (by December 1st). If there are any problems with it, I will give/send it
back to you to correct.
Ø I will also be happy to
look over DRAFTS of your outline, thesis statement, bibliography, etc. on or
by Dec 1st and send you comments and corrections.
HOW
TO SUBMIT
Please submit your Writing Assignment
as a Microsoft Word for Windows email attachment (do NOT send “Wordperfect”,
rtf, pdf or any other format).
Ø I will send you a reply,
acknowledging that I have received your paper.
Ø After I've read your paper, I
WILL email you to let you know if the paper was or was not acceptable.
You will NOT have an opportunity to revise your paper
after the due date - so make sure it complies with all assignment requirements.
RESEARCH
PAPER INSTRUCTIONS |
Do this paper ONLY if:
Ø you hope to earn an "A" for the course
AND
Ø you have an overall exam average of 80% or
above
ASSIGNMENT:
Prepare
a 7 to 10 page, type-written research paper on an approved topic, following
the guidelines below.
Ø See the special “RESEARCH INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE”
section on my homepage for additional HELP with this assignment.
TOPIC:
You MUST get Dr. Thomas' approval on a
research topic BEFORE you begin, but NO LATER THAN November 23rd.
Ø Choose a topic that interests you, covering some aspect of U.S.
history before 1877.
Ø Choose a narrowly-defined, manageable topic,
rather than a very general, broad topic.
Ø For example, you would not want to define your
topic as "The Civil War"; but you could define the topic as "The
Role of Women on the Home Front in The Civil War". (Yes, you can use this topic if you’d like)
Ø If you are not sure which topic you'd like to work
on, thumb through the textbook and see which subject inspires you.
Ø Contact Dr. Thomas if you need help choosing a
topic.
FORMAT: Research papers must include:
Ø A COVER
PAGE with your name, paper title, and semester.
Ø An OUTLINE PAGE with
your THESIS STATEMENT
§ 1 page or less, with a thesis statement (saying
what your paper will show or what it will prove about your topic).
§ An outline showing how you plan to develop
your topic is required and should be placed at the beginning of your paper.
§ The outline shows, in abbreviated form, how your
paper will be organized.
§ It should be a page or less. SAMPLE OUTLINE.
Ø 7 to 10 PAGES OF TEXT (typed, double-spaced).
§ Do not submit less than 7 pages.
§ You must have at least 7 full pages of TEXT. SAMPLE PAPER with
endnotes.
§ If you type footnotes at the end of the paper,
this page DOES count as part of your 7 pages.
§ Your Bibliography does NOT count as part of the 7
pages.
§ Any quotes in your paper that are over 3 lines
must be INDENTED AND SINGLE-SPACED.
Ø FOOTNOTES
or ENDNOTES
(no "parenthetical" citations).
§ The paper must include at least three PRIMARY and
four SECONDARY sources (see explanation below).
§ You
MUST cite the source for any material that is not your own.
§ This
is done using a footnote ("endnotes" are also acceptable).
§ Use
the footnote form in either the Chicago Manual of
Style or Kate Turabian's A Guide for Writers of Term
Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
§ Do
not use
parenthetical citations (that is, an author's name and a page number in
parentheses at the end of a sentence).
§ Ask
Dr. Thomas or a reference librarian for assistance.
§
Do not use encyclopedias.
§ Do not use online encyclopedias, such
as Encarta or Wikipedia.
§ SAMPLE FOOTNOTES
format.
Ø A BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE with Primary and
Secondary sources listed separately.
§ A Bibliography is
different from Endnotes or Footnotes.
§ A Bibliography goes at the
very end of your paper, on a separate page - AFTER the Endnotes.
§ Follow the bibliographic
form found in either the Chicago Manual of
Style or Kate Turabian's A Guide for Writers of Term
Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
§ A bibliography is
alphabetized by author’s last name.
§ For THIS paper, you must
separate the bibliography into Primary and Secondary sources. But for most research papers, you do not do
that.
§ Ask Dr. Thomas or a
reference librarian if you need assistance.
§ SAMPLE BIBLIOGRAPHY
(scroll down ½ page).
Ø Writing assignments must be typed and double-spaced.
§ ACC Learning Resource Centers (libraries) have computers available to students.
THESIS:
Your
paper must argue a thesis -that is, something you are trying to prove about
your topic.
Ø It is not enough to say what happened and when -
you must argue the historical significance of your topic.
Ø For example, if you are writing about Women on the
Home front during the Civil War, you could argue that women played roles
critical to success, such as working in government offices, growing crops,
running businesses, and providing critical nursing care for soldiers.
Ø Your paper would then discuss and support this
argument by giving evidence (examples) from historical sources. State your
thesis on the OUTLINE page.
Ø Example of a thesis statement:
§ "This paper will prove that women on the home
front played a critical support role during the Revolutionary War, by
supporting boycotts, raising money, making or rationing critical supplies, and
participating in recycling campaigns."
SOURCES:
The paper must include at least three
PRIMARY and four SECONDARY sources. The secondary sources must be scholarly
books or articles. You may use websites
with a URL that ends in
.gov
.edu or
.org.
Ø A primary source is
something written (or left) by someone who lived at that time in history
and took part in the events that you are writing about.
§ Examples of primary sources are:
diaries, letters, legislation, tax records; property deeds; business ledgers;
newspapers, government documents, autobiographies.
§
The
following are good starting points for primary sources:
Link to Primary
Source Guide
Links to Primary Sources for U.S.
History
Ø Secondary sources are accounts of
the event that take place sometime after the event has been completed.
§
These
are books or articles, written by scholars, to analyze the importance of some
historical event.
§ The secondary sources must be scholarly books or
articles.
§ You may use websites with a URL that ends in .gov .edu or .org.
§ DO NOT USE ENCYCLOPEDIAS.
§ A good starting place for
secondary sources is the bibliography at the end of each chapter in your
textbook.
§ Another good place is a
library’s online catalog. Do a search on
your subject. Ask a librarian for help.
§ Contact Dr. Thomas if you
need assistance.
Ø You cannot use online
encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia.
GRADING:
Your research paper will be graded
"ACCEPTABLE" or "NOT ACCEPTABLE". Only
"ACCEPTABLE" papers will be counted towards the grade of
"A". You will be graded on
Ø the thoroughness with which you cover your chosen
topic;
Ø your ability to present your topic and supporting
evidence logically and clearly; and
Ø your ability to follow
directions.
Any act of
academic dishonesty will result in you receiving an immediate F for the course.
You
may turn in a draft of your paper early (by December 1st). If there are any
problems with it, I will give/send it back to you to correct.
SUGGESTIONS:
For
your research, you must use college or university libraries, as
opposed to public libraries.
Ø The college/university libraries will have a
greater selection of scholarly (non-fiction), research-oriented sources on a
particular topic.
Ø Perhaps the best way to start is to jot down some
questions about your topic that you would like to answer in your paper. This
will help you to develop an outline.
Ø Your outline should be a logical progression of
ideas that explains your topic.
Ø Next, compile a bibliography
of possible sources, then consult your sources to see if they are suitable for
your paper.
Ø After you have written your paper,
be sure to proofread for typos, misspellings, grammatical errors, etc., as
these will seriously detract from the quality of your paper.
Each ACC Campus has a
Learning Lab that can help you with your writing. Each campus has a Library that can help you
with your research.
HELPFUL LINKS
Ø University of
Texas Libraries (including on-line catalogs)
Ø Texas
State University Library
Ø Help with Choosing a
Topic & All Other Aspects of Writing a Research Paper
Ø My homepage with special section on RESEARCH INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.
BOOK
ANALYSIS (email to Dr. Thomas by noon on December 7th) |
Do this book analysis ONLY if:
Ø you hope to earn a "B" for the course
AND
Ø you have an overall exam average of 80% or above,
AND
Ø you scored below 80 on any of your exams
Ø If you
scored 80% or above on ALL FIVE exams, you do NOT have to complete this
assignment for a B. You have an "automatic" B.
ASSIGNMENT:
Ø Read
a book from the approved list (link is below) and answer the questions from the
Book Analysis Questions Form, found below.
Ø Your finished product
will be a series of typewritten questions and answers.
Ø There is no required
length but your assignment will probably be about 7 to 10 pages in
length.
WHICH
BOOKS CAN YOU READ?
Ø Click
here for Approved Book List
FORMAT:
Your
Book Analysis must:
Ø Include your name and
semester.
Ø be typed and double-spaced
Ø be in
Question/Answer format
(that is, make sure you type EACH question, then your answer immediately
following)
Ø If you quote from your book, please put quotation
marks around the quote and put the page number in parentheses after the quote.
Ø Book analysis SAMPLES (done by
other students in the past) are available for your to review at Dr. Thomas’s
office at PIN campus.
Ø HINT: copy the questions from
this syllabus and PASTE them into a Word document. Then you can type your
answers under each question.
GRADING:
Ø The Book Analysis will
be graded "ACCEPTABLE" or "NOT ACCEPTABLE".
Ø Only
"ACCEPTABLE" writing assignments will be counted towards the grade of
"B".
Ø You will be graded on
§ the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of your answers;
§ demonstrated understanding of the book you’ve read, as evidenced
by your answers to the Book Analysis questions
§ your ability to answer each and every question
§ your ability to follow directions.
Ø Please contact Dr. Thomas if you have any questions concerning
the assignment.
DUE DATE:
Ø The assignment is due at noon
on December 7th (send via email as a Word attachment to Dr. Thomas).
Ø You may turn in your paper
early (by December 1st). If there are any problems with it, I will give it back
to you to correct.
Ø At any time during the
semester by Dec 1st, you can email a DRAFT or partial draft of your assignment
to Dr. Thomas for review.
You will NOT have an opportunity to revise your paper
after the due date - so make sure it complies with all assignment requirements.
BOOK ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Ø Read the questions below carefully then give complete
answers to each of the following.
Ø Briefly
TYPE the QUESTION, then your answer.
BOOK
ANALYSIS QUESTIONS |
Read the questions
carefully then give
complete answers to each of the following. Briefly TYPE the
QUESTION, then your answer.
1. General Information – give the
following information: |
v the full book title (NOTE that book titles are italicized or underlined)
Examples:
Reconstruction:
or
Reconstruction:
v author
v publisher & year first published
v in general, what is the book
about (3 - 5 sentences giving basic information such as who, what, when,
where)?
2. PREFACE |
|
|
What
does the author say in the “Preface” (in a few sentences, summarize
the Preface)? If the book has no “Preface”, then use the
"Introduction". If the book
has neither, then just say “the book has no Preface and no Introduction”. |
3. THESIS |
|
|
In the
Introduction or the first chapter, the author usually says what he/she will
be trying to prove in the book; that is, what the book will prove to the
reader about a particular topic. List and
Discuss
each of the points that the author will try to prove in the book (major and
minor points. These are usually stated either in the Introduction or in
the first chapter; but sometimes they are discussed throughout the book). Your answer may begin with "In this book, the author hopes to prove that......." and then discuss the several points that the author hopes to prove about the subject of the book. |
|
|
|
4. INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS ANALYSIS – in depth analysis for ANY 3 chapters in the book |
Give the following information for any THREE chapters from the book:
v Chapter NUMBER and TITLE.
Type chapter titles in
quotation marks.
Example:
Chapter 1: "
v Chapter SUMMARY
In one short
paragraph, summarize the chapter (a good summary gives the reader basic
information, such as WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. Think of how you would
summarize the plot of a movie to a friend who has not seen the movie )
v Chapter THESIS
In a couple of sentences,
explain the main idea that the author was trying to get across in this chapter. That is, what does the author
hope to PROVE in this chapter. (Hint: Look at the
chapter title. It often is related to the main idea of the chapter)
Your answer may begin
"In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that......"
Example: "In this
chapter, the author asserts that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves (with the
Emancipation Proclamation) because of political, not humanitarian,
reasons."
v Chapter ARGUMENT.
In a couple of sentences, restate the argument that the author used to prove
the main idea (what did the author argue, in order to convince
you that his/her main idea was correct)
Example: “The author states that
because he wanted the support of
the English government. Freeing the
slaves accomplished both of those political goals.”
v Chapter CONCLUSION. I a few sentences, discuss the conclusions
at which the author arrives at the end of the chapter. (Hint: the conclusions
usually are related to the Main Points.) I don't want to know what HAPPENED; I
want to know what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened.
Example: "The author concludes that the
accusations of witchcraft in
v Chapter SOURCES/EVIDENCE. Look in the chapter’s footnotes (sometimes
these are listed on the bottom of each page; sometimes they are listed at the
back of the book). If there are no footnotes,
look in the Bibliography or “works Cited” section at the back of the book.
ü cite one primary source footnote
from this chapter (a Primary Source is something written by someone at that
time in history; such as a diary, a letter, a piece of legislation, a tax
record; a deed; a business ledger; newspapers) Cite the source.
For example, your citation
might look like this:
"Custer Defeated at
Little Big Horn," The New York Times, April 14, 1876.
or, like this:
Jennifer Jones, ed., Diary
of Anne Frank, 4th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977).
ü cite one secondary source footnote
from this chapter (a secondary source is one written by someone at a later
date; usually a book or article by a historian about that historical event)
Cite the secondary source; that is, make it look like a footnote (i.e., author,
title, publisher, place and date of publication).
Your citation should look
something like this:
Michael Smith, Witchcraft
in the Later Middle Ages (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1980).
or
Julia Juarez, "Mayan
Hieroglyphs Decoded," Journal of Latin American History (June
1994), pp. 366-396.
ü What TYPE of source or what type of evidence would
have made the author's argument/main idea more convincing? (Don't say
"the argument was convincing enough".)
On a book about slave
life, an example might be "If the author used letters or diaries written
by slaves, his argument about the hardships of slave life would have been
stronger."
Remember to answer the
above questions for any THREE chapters in your book.
Now that you have completed answering questions for three individual
chapters, please answer the following questions regarding the book, as a whole: |
5. Overall Conclusions |
|
List and discuss
at least 3 conclusions at which the author arrives. These are usually found
in the concluding chapter, and are usually related to the points the author
sought to prove throughout the book. Example: “The
author concludes that the witchcraft hysteria in Give 3
conclusions for your book. |
6. Sources – to answer
these questions, look at the author’s footnotes and/or Bibliography. |
v PERIODICALS.
List 5 periodicals that
the author cites in his/her Bibliography or in the Footnotes. (Periodicals are
newspapers, magazines, & professional journals). Just list the periodical
by name - you do not have to cite the entire article. How do you know which
items are periodicals? Hint: Periodical titles are
italicized, so look in the footnotes and bibliography for items that are
italicized and find the items that are newspaper titles or professional journal
titles.*
Here are some examples
(note that the titles are italicized):
Journal of Early American
History
American Historical Review
Latin American Research
Review
William & Mary
Quarterly
The New York Times
Austin American-Statesman
Ladies' Home Journal
Psychology Today
* Remember that book
titles are also italicized - so learn
to distinguish between books and periodicals. Periodicals will usually have a
volume number or date, but not a publisher's name. Books will have a publisher,
publication place and publication date.
v PRIMARY SOURCES.
List three types of primary sources the author uses (e.g.,
letters, diaries, journals, interviews, legislation).
v BENEFITS OF PRIMARY SOURCES. In a sentence or two, tell why, if you were writing
a history book about some subject in the past, WHY would it benefit from using
PRIMARY sources (letters, diaries, etc. from that time period)?
v PROBLEMS OF PRIMARY SOURCES. In a sentence, tell,
if you were writing a history book, what might be a problem in using
primary sources?
v BOOKS ON SAME SUBJECT. List 3 books that deal with the same
subject matter as your book. Give author, title, place of publication,
publisher, and date of publication - just as this information would appear in a
footnote.
Hint: use the
"subject search" feature of the library's computerized card catalog
to find these books. Consult with a
librarian if you need help.
v ARTICLES ON SAME SUBJECT. List 3 articles (from
scholarly publications or newspapers) that deal with the same subject matter
as your book. Give author, title of article, publication in which article
appears, date of publication, and page numbers - just as this information would
appear in a footnote.
Hint: do a subject search
in an on-line "periodicals index" to find articles. On ACC's library
webpage, there is a link to various periodicals indexes. Choose "social
and behavioral sciences" category and then do a subject search. For
example, if your book was about the
7. YOUR IMPRESSIONS and
OPINIONS – answer these questions thoughtfully and thoroughly: |
v what did you like best about
the book? what did you like least about the book?
v did you feel that the author
was biased in presenting the subject matter? How so?
v List 3 facts that you learned from
the book. (List 3 FACTS, not "impressions" or interpretations.)
An example of a FACT is:
"George Washington was the only president
unanimously elected".
An example of an IMPRESSION (or INTERPRETATION)
is:
"George Washington was the best military
commander of all time."
v how does our textbook’s
treatment of the topic compare with the author’s treatment of the topic (list
and discuss at least 3 similarities and 3
differences)? Discuss content, not form or format.
DON'T say: "The book gave a more in-depth
view of Franklin's life, while the textbook was more general." That is a
statement of form, not content.
DO say: "My book discussed Franklin's
diplomatic efforts in France, while the textbook did not mention his work in
France." This compares content.
v would you recommend the book to
someone else? Why or why not?
v if you could write a book on
some historical topic, what topic would you choose, and why?
OK,
Congratulations - You are DONE with the Book Analysis!!
HINTS, TIPS
AND ADVICE FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE: (You are
almost done with orientation!) |
These
have worked for other students and may help YOU to achieve success in this
course.
TEST-TAKING:
Ø Read each question very carefully and completely;
Ø know what the question is
asking.
Ø Read each response.
Ø Eliminate responses that you know are
wrong.
Ø When you have completed the exam, go over it again
and verify your answers.
Ø Answer the questions you know first, then
go back and answer the rest.
Ø Take your time – don’t rush.
WRITING
ASSIGNMENTS:
Ø For those students who complete the Writing
Assignments, have someone proofread your typed assignment for typos,
misspellings, incorrect grammar, etc.
Ø These types of errors seriously detract from the
quality of your writing assignment.
Ø Read over the Book Review Analysis questions before
you read your chosen book.
Ø It will help you to focus your reading
efforts. ACC has Writing Labs on each
campus that can also help you.
STUDY
QUESTIONS:
Ø Read over the Chapter once, then re-read the
chapter and complete the Study Questions.
Ø Work on the study questions gradually; that
is, work on several each day.
Ø Don't wait until the night before the exam to
complete all the questions.
Ø "Cramming" is not an effective study
method.
YOUR PROFESSOR:
Ø Do not hesitate to consult with Dr. Thomas if you
have any problems, questions, doubts or uncertainties.
Ø Seek help early in the semester.
Ø Emailing is a perfectly acceptable way to
communicate, so don’t hesitate to email.
FILL OUT AND
EMAIL THE FOLLOWING FORM TO DR. THOMAS
HIST 1301
DIL STUDENT INFORMATION
FORM FALL 2015 |
Please
fill out (copy & paste into an email message, or send as an attachment)
this form and send it to Dr. Thomas by email.
Ø Email to tmthomas@austincc.edu
Please PRINT the following information. This
information is for the instructor's use only, is kept confidential and is not
given out to anyone without your written permission.
HIST 1301 DIL -
FALL 2015
Name:
School/College
you most recently attended:
In
this space, please write any special information about you that I should know, that may affect your performance in this course:
My signature below indicates
that:
1. I
have confirmed that I AM registered for this course;
2. I
have completed orientation for this course by reading through the material on
this webpage;
3. I
have read this syllabus/orientation and fully understand its contents;
4. I
have read the section in this syllabus entitled “ACADEMIC INTEGRITY”, and fully
understand its contents;
5. I
understand that if I engage in ANY form of academic dishonesty, including but
not limited to plagiarism, I WILL receive the grade of "F" for the course;
6. I
understand that a "D" or "F" grade will NOT fulfill the
Texas Legislative requirement for a semester of U.S. History credit.
7. I
understand that the deadline to withdraw from this course is November 20th and
that it is MY responsibility to withdraw myself from the class by this
deadline.
8. I
understand that the deadline for the last exam is December 5, 2014 and that I
will NOT be given permission to take the exam after this date. (The retest
deadline is December 6th.)
9. I
understand that the deadline for A-paper and B-paper assignments is December
8th at noon and that I will not be given permission to submit my assignment
after that date/time.
Student's
Signature: electronic signature (type your name) is OK:___________________________________Date:
_______________________________
FINALLY……..
Please open the study guide and copy it to your computer. Exam questions are taken from this study guide. All or portions of Study Guides may NOT be posted to social media sites such as Facebook as this is a violation of the copyright. |
WRITE DOWN THESE IMPORTANT DATES:
Thursday August 27th Deadline to complete the course orientation and email
your Student Information Form to Dr. Thomas.
Sunday
August 30th Exam 1 (Map Test) test deadline.
Monday Sept 7th All ACC Campuses closed for Labor Day
holiday
Monday
Sept 21st Exam 2 test deadline.
Monday Oct 19th Exam 3 test deadline.
Friday Nov 13th Exam 4 test deadline.
Thursday Nov 19th Deadline to Withdraw from this course
Monday Nov 23rd Approval for Research Paper Topic must be
acquired by this date (only for students working towards an A).
Friday Dec 4th Exam 5 test deadline. NO DEADLINE EXTENSIONS FOR THIS EXAM.
Saturday Dec 5th RETEST
deadline for all exams.
Monday Dec 7th Writing assignments (either Book Analysis OR
Research Paper) due at NOON (only for students working towards an A or a B )
Congratulations!
You have now completed Orientation. If you
have any questions, please contact Dr. Thomas by email at: tmthomas@austincc.edu
or by phone at 223-8164.
Thank
you and have a great semester!