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Welcome to HIST 1302 DIL (Distance Learning) – History 2

Independent Study

Sections/Synonyms:

82403-068

82404-069

82410-078

Orientation & Course Syllabus – SUMMER 2019

6-week session

Begins July 5th

Dr. T. Thomas, Professor

Austin Community College

South Austin Campus

All Materials Copyright, Dr. T. Thomas, 2019

Instructions: This is the orientation for my HIST 1302 distance learning 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 me on or by July 6th.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are two EARLY deadlines for this class. The first deadline is July 6th. You must email me your Student Information Form (found at the end of this syllabus document) on or by July 6th.

The second early deadline is for taking a Map Test and that deadline is July 8th. See page 2 of the Study Guide for Map Test information.

IF YOU FAIL TO MEET THESE DEADLINES, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CLASS.

This is because ACC policy requires that students who do not “attend” a class by a certain date are dropped from the class. So if you fail to send your Student Info Form or you fail to take the Map Test by the deadline, I designate you as someone who “never attended” the class and you are automatically withdrawn. This may also negatively affect your Financial Aid. Contact me if any questions.

BLACKBOARD

Grades and important announcements will be posted on Blackboard. You WILL need an ACC electronic ID (eID) to Log into Blackboard. Course materials (syllabus, Study Guide, etc.) are available on my website, www.austincc.edu/tmthomas

To activate your ACC eID, go to: http://www.austincc.edu/help/acceid

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS

Ø This course will acquaint you with the basic processes of United States History from 1877 to the present

Ø This course is designed for students who can work independently, accessing course materials from my instructional website or from Blackboard.

Ø Exams are taken on a computer in any ACC testing Center (no paper exams).

Ø There are required deadlines for each exam.

Ø On a regular basis during the semester, you’ll receive communications from me that are intended to help you achieve success in this course.

Ø There will be a General Discussion Board in Blackboard, to help you communicate with others in the class.

Ø If you need assistance in person, you must be able to meet with me at South Austin Campus (SAC) during regular weekday business hours.

Ø Distance testing outside of ACC is NOT permitted. ALL exams must be taken at ACC Testing Centers.

Ø The course fulfills the Texas legislative requirement for one semester of U.S. history.

Ø There are no classes to attend – you work on your own and seek assistance when needed.

Ø There are 5 exams. Each exam is 30 questions, multiple choice (no essay exams)

Ø There are study questions for each exam (available to download from this website)

Ø one textbook (James Roark et al, The American Promise, Volume 2, Seventh edition– see “Textbook” section below for ISBN numbers).

Ø There is a research paper required for an "A" – due THURSDAY, Aug 8th at 12 noon. (TOPIC approval deadline is Aug 1st)

Ø book analysis required for a "B" (some students can earn an exemption from this requirement for a B; see “Grades” section below for details) – due THURSDAY, Aug 8th at 12 noon.

Ø communicate with Dr. Thomas via email, by phone, or in person

TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE ORIENTATION, YOU MUST:

v read this orientation/syllabus

v fill out and return the Student Information Form (located on the last page of the syllabus) on or by the July 6th deadline.

v Return the Student Information Form by email to me at tmthomas@austincc.edu

v download the study questions. You will need them to pass this course.

v contact me with any questions you might have.

v The FASTEST way to contact me is via email: tmthomas@austincc.edu

YOUR PROFESSOR

Mailing Address:

Dr. T. Thomas

ACC – History

South Austin Campus

1820 West Stassney Ln

Austin, TX 78745

Office Hours:

By appointment.

No nighttime or weekend appointments.

My office is at South Austin Campus (SAC) room 1321.2 (3^rd fl, enter through room 1321.)

Email: (the fastest way to communicate with me)

tmthomas@austincc.edu

Phone & voicemail: 512-223-9255

Urgent message: call ACC History Department at 512-223-3385.

Website: www.austincc.edu/tmthomas

A NOTE ABOUT EMAIL

Email from me – or from ACC - will be sent to you using your ACC email ID - 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 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) – 223-9255.

For URGENT messages, call the ACC History Department at (512) 223-3385. They will relay your message to me.

THIS COURSE

This section is a distance-learning, independent study version of the U.S. History 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.

§ This is a very challenging and time-consuming, “independent-study” course.

§ There is an exam every week, so in order to pass the course with a “C”, you will have to spend several hours PER DAY on this course.

§ You’ll be reading about 120 pages plus completing and learning 60 study questions PER WEEK.

§ For an A or a B, there is an additional assignment, which will require additional time to complete satisfactorily.

§ Your success in this course does require TIME, maturity, ability, self-discipline & time management skills.

§ It MAY also require that you are able to travel to the South Austin campus during weekday business hours to meet with Dr. Thomas IF YOU NEED assistance in this course.

§ 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. Additional help is provided in person.

PREREQUISITES

You must be able to read, comprehend, and write in English at the college level. This is a very reading-intensive course. If you can’t read well, you won’t do well in this course.

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.

§ If you are TSI-compliant in reading and writing OR if you are TSI-exempt, you can take this class.

§ 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:

have a desire to learn and a desire to achieve to the best of your ability
be willing to accept personal responsibility for your success in this course
make a commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the course
be able to read and understand English at the college-level
have a college-level reading comprehension and vocabulary. If you cannot yet read at this level, it’s not likely that you’ll pass this course; and so if your reading skills are not at the college level, I recommend you first take developmental reading courses to improve your reading skills, THEN come back and take this course.
have an understanding of world geography and basic geography concepts (e.g., have a general knowledge of what these mean: hemisphere, longitude, latitude, & difference between continents, countries, & cities)
have a knowledge of basic political science concepts (e.g., have a general knowledge of what these mean: 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 several hours per day to devote to reading and studying.

TEXTBOOK

REQUIRED: James Roark et al, The American Promise, Volume 2, Seventh edition.

It is your responsibility to acquire a copy of the textbook.

§ You can purchase or rent the textbook from ANY source that you choose.

§ 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.

§ I recommend you acquire the textbook BEFORE the course begins so that you will have it on the first day of the semester.

§ There are TWO VERSIONS of the textbook. You may choose either one – see below.

§ WHEN ORDERING ONLINE, USE THE ISBN NUMBER (below) to make sure you have the right textbook.

VERSION

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Full color paperback

ISBN #

978-1-319-06209-5

§ Available at ACC bookstores and other booksellers.

§ This version is the more expensive version. It includes full color maps and pictures.

“Value” Edition

ISBN #

978-1-319-06200-2

§ Available at ACC bookstores and other booksellers.

§ Same text as the full-color paperback above, but less expensive black and white version, with fewer graphics.

ORIENTATION AND REQUIRED CONTACTS

§ You are required to complete this online orientation and to email me your Student Information Form (at the end) on or by July 6th.

§ 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 first and last name,

§ the exam grades you have received so far.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COURSE – Deadline is August 5th

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.

§ BEFORE you consider withdrawing, 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/apply-and-register/registration-information/course-withdrawals

§ Withdrawal is accomplished by completing a withdrawal form online at the “Online Services” web page: http://www.austincc.edu/onlineservices

§ It is your responsibility to complete the withdrawal process.

§ You can withdraw BEFORE August 5th. You can withdraw ON August 5th.

§ If you fail to meet the first two course deadlines (submission of the Student Information Form by July 6th and the Map Test deadline of July 8th) -you will be automatically withdrawn from the course, per the College’s attendance certification policy.

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, located on each ACC campus.

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 Exams are NOT timed – you can have as much time as you’d like, as long as you arrive at the Testing Center in plenty of time before they close.

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, or attendance to anyone (including your parents). In addition, I will not give grade information over the phone. Unless there is an emergency, I will not communicate with your parents or guardians. If there are any problems or issues, you need to speak with me or correspond with me yourself.

NOTE: ACC makes your “Directory Information” (name, address, phone number, birthdate, and other information) available to the public without your consent, unless you specifically request in writing that it NOT be publicly available.

For more information, and for instructions to restrict public access to your information see: http://www.austincc.edu/ferpa

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. Be thoughtful and respectful in your public posts on Blackboard. I welcome your questions and comments in this course.

CAMPUS CARRY OF CONCEALED HANDGUNS

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. Individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. It is the responsibility of license holders to comply with the College’s policy and to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 222 from a campus phone or 512-223-7999.

Ø Full ACC Policy: http://www.austincc.edu/campus-carry/policy

Ø Campus Carry Webpage: http://www.austincc.edu/campus-carry

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKING THIS COURSE

This is a college course and all students enrolled in this course are considered college students.

Ø Regardless of your age or high school status, when you are enrolled in a college course, your privacy is protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974,

Ø Unless there is an emergency, I will not communicate with your parents or guardians. With regard to academic issues, it is a violation of federal law for me to communicate with anyone other than you.

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.

For more information, and for instructions to restrict public access to your information see: http://www.austincc.edu/ferpa

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

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. Acquiring fraudulent credentials through cheating is problematic for employers and institutions beyond ACC - who rely on ACC to certify a student’s academic achievements, and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of the graduate.

For these, and other moral and ethical reasons, academic or scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

WARNING: Any act of plagiarism and/or other type of academic dishonesty will result in you receiving the grade of "F" for the course. This includes violations of Testing Center policies.

If you violate Testing Center policies, you WILL FAIL this COURSE. This includes bringing a cellphone or other “smart” device into the Testing area.

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 ACC Testing Center policies;

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 the person. 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 quotation 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

v To help avoid plagiarism: read over your source, then close the book (or close the browser if it’s online). THEN write notes about what you’ve read. This will help to ensure that you’re not copying or completely paraphrasing your source. Paraphrasing is ok to do but on a VERY limited basis. You cannot paraphrase entire paragraphs or sections of your paper – because then it wouldn’t be YOUR work. Write the information in your own words.

****** IF YOU ARE UNSURE whether or not your actions constitute plagiarism, ASK me before you submit your work.

“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 me for assistance with footnotes. Also, see the “Research Assistance” section of my website homepage for examples of footnotes, bibliography, outline, etc.

Any act of plagiarism or other type of academic dishonesty will result in you receiving the grade of "F" for the course.

For more information on policies concerning student rights and responsibilities, see the ACC Catalog & Student Handbook, http://www.austincc.edu/catalog

YOUR GRADE AND HOW YOU EARN IT

The quality and quantity of the work done by YOU determines YOUR final grade.

Ø You decide which grade you want to earn and then devote the time and effort necessary to attain that grade.

Your course grade is calculated using your SEMESTER Total Points Earned on your 5 exams.

Here’s how it works:

There are 30 questions (so, 30 possible “points”) on each exam.

The Score on an exam is the number of answers you got correct on your exam. It will be a number between 0 and 30.

After you’ve taken ALL FIVE EXAMS, ADD UP the Scores you received on EACH of your exams - to get a SEMESTER total.

Example:

Exam 1 Total Points Earned = 30

Exam 2 Total Points Earned = 26

Exam 3 Total Points Earned = 21

Exam 4 Total Points Earned = 24

Exam 5 Total Points Earned = 18

This gives you a SEMESTER TOTAL POINTS of 30 + 26 + 21 + 24 + 18, which equals 119.

Now take a look at each of the grade requirements below, to see which grade you’re eligible for, based on YOUR Semester Total Points.

For the grade of "A", there are TWO REQUIREMENTS:

1. you must have a SEMESTER Total Points of 130 or above,

AND

2. you must submit an acceptable RESEARCH PAPER (see instructions below) - deadline for paper submission is THURSDAY, Aug 8th at 12 NOON.

You do NOT have to do a Book Analysis for an A – ONLY the Research Paper.

For the grade of "B" there are TWO REQUIREMENTS:

1. you must have a SEMESTER Total Points of 120 or above,

AND

2. you must submit an acceptable BOOK ANALYSIS (see instructions below) - deadline for Book Analysis submission is THURSDAY, Aug 8th at 12 NOON..

EXCEPTION: If you score 24 points or above on EACH of the FIVE EXAMS - then you do NOT have to do the Book Analysis for a B.

Scoring 24 points or above on EACH of the FIVE EXAMS will give you an “automatic” B and you won’t have to do the Book Analysis.

For the grade of "C", you will have a SEMESTER Total Points of 110 or above with no writing assignments.

For the grade of "D", you will have a SEMESTER Total Points between 100-110.

NOTE: A grade of “D” MAY NOT fulfill the state requirement for U.S. History, so if you earn a D you MAY have to take the course again in order to graduate (from a public college or university in Texas) - check with the university to which you plan to transfer to see if they accept a D for History credit.

For the grade of "F", you will have a SEMESTER Total Points of less than 100.

NOTE: 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 (from a public college or university in Texas).

For the grade of "I" ("Incomplete"), you

Ø must have a medical excuse signed by a physician, sent to Dr. Thomas no later than THURSDAY, Aug 8^th.

Ø must have completed and passed at least 3 exams before being eligible for an "Incomplete". A passing grade is 21 “Total Points Earned” on an Exam.

Ø Must sign and date an “Incomplete” Form, provided by Dr. Thomas

IMPORTANT: If an "incomplete" is not completed by Oct 15, 2019, the "I" will automatically become an "F" on your transcript. 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

§ ALL exams are available in ALL ACC Testing Centers beginning JUNE 1^st (yes, you can start taking exams early!).

§ You may take ANY exam at ANY ACC Testing Center.

§ There are five exams, each consisting of 30 multiple choice questions. There are no essay questions.

§ Exams must be taken at one of the ACC Testing Centers and may not be taken at any other college or university.

§ Exams are taken on a computer in the ACC testing Center (no paper exams).

§ The Testing Center will provide scratch paper if you request it.

§ When you get to the Testing Center, sign in. You will be assigned a computer. Log in to your Blackboard. Select this course. Then select “Exams”.

§ If you’re taking the exam for the first time, select the folder “INITIAL EXAMS”.

§ If you’re taking a RETEST, select the folder that says “RETEST EXAMS”

§ Then elect the exam that you want to take (Exam 1 Map Test, or Exam 2, or Exam 3, etc.) – MAKE SURE you are selecting the right exam.

§ The Testing Center will open the exam document for you, using the proper password.

§ When you’re done, select SUBMIT and the exam will be automatically scored for you.

§ Your grade will be recorded automatically in Blackboard.

§ You must take exams ON or before the testing deadlines (See “When to Take Exams” section below).

§ You may take an exam BEFORE the deadline date.

§ You may take an exam ON the deadline date

§ NOTE: If needed, for either exam 2 OR exam 3 OR exam 4, you can have a deadline extension, for any reason - no need to get permission. Just take it on or by Aug 6th. This means that you can postpone EITHER exam 2 OR exam 3 OR exam 4 until Aug 6th. You only get ONE postponement for the semester.

§ You cannot postpone Exam 1 (Map Test). You cannot postpone Exam 5.

§ Any additional exam deadline extensions are given only in extraordinary or exceptional circumstances, as determined by Dr. Thomas.

§ You may take several exams on one day.

§ Every student must complete all 5 exams.

§ 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. Contact me to set up an appointment.

§ The exam questions are taken from the HIST 1302 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.

§ A PASSING Grade is 21 or more points. If you score BELOW 21 points on an exam, you may take it again - the second time is called a "retest". (See the “Retest” section below)

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 August 6th.

If you score below 21 the first time you take your exam, you may retest.

· There is a restriction on the retest, however. The highest grade possible on the retest is a 21.

· The highest of your grades (either the test or the retest) will be used as your final score for that exam.

To retest, go to any ACC Testing Center anytime ON or BEFORE Aug 6th, sign in, log into Blackboard, and select the exam from the RETEST folder.

· The re-test is 30 questions, multiple choice and is taken from the Study Guide questions. Most of the questions on the “retest” will be different from the questions on the original exam; some may be the same.

· You can retest for EACH of the 5 exams – BUT retest ONLY if you scored below 21 on the original exam.

· You can retest anytime during the semester, but all Retests must be completed on or by Aug 6th.

· You CAN test AND retest for the same exam ON THE SAME DAY.

· You can retest ONLY ONCE for each exam.

· You are not REQUIRED to retest – but I encourage you to retest if you scored below 21 on the original exam. It may improve your overall grade.

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).

WHERE TO TAKE YOUR EXAMS - Testing Center Locations & Hours

Ø You can take ANY exam at ANY ACC Testing Center.

Ø You may begin taking exams on JUNE 1^st (Yes, you can begin taking them early, before this class officially begins).

Ø Exams are on computer so you don’t need to bring anything with you except your ACC ID.

Ø The Testing Center will provide scratch paper if you request it.

Ø Exam deadlines are listed below and at the end of this syllabus.

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 must present an ACC student ID card and know your ACC ID number.

Ø Obtain your free ACC Student ID card in person at any campus Admissions & Records Office at least one business day after registering for classes. Bring an official photo ID for identification. You can use your ID card to access on-campus services and receive local discounts.

Ø In order to take an exam, you must have an ACC electronic ID (eID) Find and activate your ACC eID, email, and Online Services Account: http://www.austincc.edu/apply-and-register/admission-steps/activate-acc-accounts

Ø Try to get your ACC ID before the semester begins - to avoid long lines in the first week.

§ There is no time limit on the exam BUT you must get there in plenty of time before the testing center closes. So plan accordingly. (The average time to complete an exam is about 30 minutes.)

§ Testing Center staff WILL terminate testing precisely at closing time.

REVIEWING WHAT YOU MISSED ON AN EXAM

§ If you want to review the questions that you got wrong, please contact Dr.Thomas.

§ You are always welcome to review your exams and the correct answers.

WHEN TO TAKE YOUR EXAMS- EXAM DEADLINES

This course is very challenging and time-consuming. In order to be successful, you MUST plan and manage your time wisely. There will be an exam deadline every week.

Ø You can begin taking exams June 1st.

Ø Follow the deadline schedule below.

Ø Complete each exam by the deadline.

Ø NOTE: If needed, each student gets a one-time-per-semester exam deadline extension, for either exam 2 or exam 3, or exam 4 - for any reason - no need to get permission. Just take it on or before Aug 6th. This means that you can postpone EITHER exam 2 OR exam 3 OR exam 4 until August 6th.Additional exam deadline extensions are given only in extraordinary or exceptional circumstances, as determined by Dr. Thomas. Additional exam deadline extensions are given only in extraordinary or exceptional circumstances, as determined by Dr. Thomas.

Ø There are NO EXAM DEADLINE EXTENSIONS FOR EXAM #1 (the Map Test) or EXAM #5. Exams 1 and 5 MUST be taken on or by the deadline date.

It is YOUR responsibility to check when the Testing Center is open and to plan accordingly.

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. Link to Testing Center Locations and Hours.

Ø Note that some testing centers are VERY crowded at the end of the semester (especially on weekends) and you may NOT be able to get in on the day you show up. 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.

Ø If you have to be out of town on an exam deadline date, take the exam before you go.

MARK THESE DEADLINES ON YOUR CALENDAR:

Exam Number	Text Chapters	Deadline
Exam 1	none (Map test)	July 8 (Monday)
Exam 2	Chs. 17 – 20 **	July 15 (Monday)
Exam 3	Chs. 21 - 24	July 22 (Monday)
Exam 4	Chs. 25 - 27	July 29 (Monday)
Exam 5	Chs. 28 - 31	Aug 5^th (Monday)
RETEST and postponed exam deadline		Aug 6th (Tuesday)

** NOTE: Chapter 16 is in the textbook BUT it is not covered in this course; it’s covered in HIST 1301.

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 on page 2 of 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 (Exam #1) within the first 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 Remember, you do NOT have to “wait” until the deadline to take an exam – you CAN take exams BEFORE the deadline.

Ø For example, if you’re going to be out of town during an exam deadline, take the exam before you leave.

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 after 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.

Ø If you’re UNSURE whether or not you have plagiarized, BEFORE you submit your paper - please contact Dr. Thomas for clarification!

DUE DATE

The Writing Assignments (Research Papers and Book Analyses) are due on or before 12 NOON on THURSDAY, Aug 8th and will not be accepted late.

Ø You may turn in your paper early (by Aug 1st). If there are any problems with it, I will give/send it back to you to correct.

Ø At any time during the semester, I will also be happy to look over your outline, thesis statement, footnotes, or bibliography and send you comments and corrections.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submit your Writing Assignment as a Microsoft Word for Windows email attachment (do NOT send “Wordperfect”, rtf, pdf, gif 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 accepted.

RESEARCH PAPER INSTRUCTIONS

Do this paper ONLY if:

Ø you hope to earn an "A" for the course AND

Ø you have a SEMESTER EXAM Total Points of 130 or more

DON’T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THE PAPER UNTIL YOU’RE REASONABLY SURE THAT YOU’LL HAVE THE REQUIRED 130 EXAM POINTS THAT ARE ALSO REQUIRED FOR AN A.

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.

Ø SAMPLE PAPER: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/documents/20180216124500_717_11.pdf

DUE DATE: 12 noon, Aug 8th

Ø Email it to me as an attachment - in .doc or .docx format. Do NOT send pdf, gif, rtf or other format. Do NOT place in “Google documents”. Sens as an email attachment.

Ø You may turn in your paper early (NO later than Aug 1st). If there are any problems with it, I will give it back to you to correct.

TOPIC:

You MUST get Dr. Thomas' approval on a research topic BEFORE you begin, but NO LATER THAN Aug 1st.

Ø Choose a topic that interests you, covering some aspect of U.S. history after 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 "World War II"; but you could define the topic as "The Role of Women on the Home Front in World War II". (Yes, you can use this topic if you’d like)

Ø If you are not sure which topic you'd like to work on, browse through the textbook and see which subject inspires you. Or maybe choose a topic related to your college major, or a topic you’d like to learn more about.

Ø When choosing a topic, keep in mind that your paper must present, argue, and support a “thesis” – something your paper will PROVE about your topic. So as you choose your topic, think in terms of what you’d hope to prove about your topic.

Ø Contact Dr. Thomas if you need help choosing or refining a topic.

FORMAT: Research papers must:

Ø use 12-point “Times New Roman” font - or something similar

Ø use standard one-inch margins

Ø be double-spaced. (an exception is quotes that are three or more lines long. These must be indented and single-spaced.)

Ø be in Word format (not pdf, rtf, gif or any other)

Ø use either footnotes (at the bottom of the page) or endnotes (at the end of the paper). See my website “Research Assistance” section for links and examples.

Ø Use Chicago Manual of Style format for footnotes and bibliographic citations. See my website “Research Assistance” section for links and examples. If you’re not sure what this means, contact me and I can explain. Or, you can also consult a Librarian.

Research papers must include all of the following:

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 no more than a page in length. 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 (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/documents/20180216124500_717_11.pdf)

with endnotes.

§ If you type footnotes at the end of the paper, this page DOES count as part of your 7 pages.

§ Your Bibliography page does NOT count as part of the 7 pages.

§ Your Outline page 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 ("parenthetical" citations are not allowed).

§ The paper must include at least three PRIMARY and four SECONDARY sources (see explanation below).

§ For your “Secondary Sources” you must use at least two scholarly books about your subject (a “scholarly book” is typically a book that uses historical evidence to support a thesis – and will have footnotes and/or bibliography)

§ 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 the Chicago Manual of Style. See the section on my website “Research Assistance” for a LINK to the Chicago Manual of Style and examples.

§ Do not use parenthetical citations (that is, do not use 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 about.com. history.com, or Wikipedia

§ Your best sources will be those that end in

.org .edu OR .gov

§ See below for more suggestions on sources

§ SAMPLE FOOTNOTES format.

If you have a question or concern about a source, contact Dr. Thomas.

NOTE: If you use Microsoft Word to write your paper, there is a FOOTNOTE function that will allow you to insert a footnote and will automatically keep track of the numbering of footnotes. In later editions of Word, use the “REFERENCES” Menu and select “INSERT FOOTNOTE”. I am happy to show you how this works - and you can also get help with this at any ACC Learning Lab. It will make your life a lot easier!

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. It lists ALL the sources that you’ve used in writing your paper.

§ 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 Revolutionary War, you could argue that women played roles critical to success, such as growing crops, running businesses, etc.

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 [doing what?]."

SOURCES:

§ The paper must include at least three PRIMARY and four SECONDARY sources.

§ For your “Secondary Sources” you must use at least two scholarly books about your subject (that is, books with footnotes and/or bibliography). The books can be e-books (that is, available online), but they must be scholarly books about your topic.

If you have a question or concern about a source, contact Dr. Thomas.

Ø PRIMARY SOURCES
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:

§ Links to Primary Sources for U.S. History

§ The ACC History Department website (www.austincc.edu/history)

§ My website has a lot of links to documents (www.austincc.edu/tmthomas)

§ History museum websites often have documents (for example, a museum dedicated to World War I) or LINKS to documents

§ Public television website (pbs.org)

§ The Library of Congress website (loc.gov)

One way to easily search for primary source documents is to use Google and search for

“primary sources [your topic]”

“documents [your topic]”

So, if your topic is Alexander Hamilton, then your Google search would look like:

“primary sources Alexander Hamilton”

“documents Alexander Hamilton”

“archives Alexander Hamilton”

You should get plenty of results using this method.

Ø SECONDARY SOURCES

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.

§ One good search engine for online books is Google Books, https://books.google.com/

If you use Google Books, do a search on “scholarly books about [your topic]”

Scholarly books are also available in area college and university libraries (see Library links below)

§ Do not use encyclopedias.

§ Do not use online encyclopedias, such as about.com. history.com, history.org or Wikipedia

§ Stay away from .com sources – these are usually not scholarly sources (contact me if any questions)

§ Look for websites that end in .edu or .org. or .gov

§ College and university libraries will have the scholarly books that are required. See Library links below.

§ History museum websites can be useful, as are government websites, such as the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov).

§ Another good source is Public Broadcasting System’s website (www.pbs.prg)

GRADING:

Your research paper will be graded "ACCEPTED" or "NOT ACCEPTED". Only "ACCEPTED" 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;

Ø your ability to organize and communicate your arguments clearly;

Ø the scholarly quality of your supporting evidence;

Ø written expression that is clear and comprehensible;

Ø written expression that employs proper English language grammar, spelling, and capitalization.

Ø your ability to follow directions

You may turn in your paper early (NO later than Aug 1st). If there are any problems with it, I will give/send it back to you to correct. Don’t submit a draft of your paper – submit what you believe to be a “finished product”.

You may also submit your thesis statement, outline, and/or bibliography at any time during the semester. I’ll comment and return to you for any revisions.

HOW TO SUBMIT THE FINAL RESEARCH PAPER:

Ø Email it to me as an attachment - in .doc or .docx format. Do NOT send pdf, gif, rtf or other format. Do NOT send zip files.

Ø Before you submit your research paper, review the requirements (above) and make sure you have everything that is required.

Ø be sure to proofread for typos, misspellings, grammatical errors, etc., as these will seriously detract from the quality of your paper.

Contact Dr. Thomas if you’d like to see SAMPLES of “accepted” Research Papers that students have written in the past.

SUGGESTIONS:

For your research, you should use college or university libraries, as opposed to public libraries.

§ Ø The college/university libraries will have a greater selection of scholarly, research-oriented sources on a particular topic.

§ Perhaps the best way to start is to develop an outline for your paper – so that you can focus your research.

§ Your outline should be a logical progression of ideas that offers arguments to support your topic.

§ Next, compile a bibliography of possible sources, then consult your sources to see if they are suitable for your paper.

§ To help avoid plagiarism: read over your source, then close the book (or close the browser if it’s online). THEN write notes about what you’ve read. This will help to ensure that you’re not copying or completely paraphrasing your source. Paraphrasing is ok to do but on a VERY limited basis. You cannot paraphrase entire paragraphs or sections of your paper – because then it wouldn’t be YOUR work - it would be considered “plagiarism”.

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.

HOW TO GET BORROWING PRIVILEGES AT UT or TEXAS STATE:

Ø go to any ACC librarian and ask for a “Tex Share” card.

Ø then, fill it out and bring it (along with your ACC ID) to the college/university library of your choice

Ø show them the Tex Share card and they’ll give you a one-semester card for their library

Ø the borrowing privileges will probably be good for one semester only, and the library might charge you a nominal fee

Ø The Tex Share card is good ONLY at PUBLIC college/universities in Texas (such as UT, Texas State, Texas A&M and other community colleges in Texas) and may NOT be honored at private institutions, such as St. Ed’s or Concordia. Check with THOSE institutions to see if they give borrower privileges to ACC students.

HELPFUL LINKS

Ø ACC Libraries

§ ACC online catalog

Ø University of Texas Libraries (including on-line catalogs)

Ø Texas State University Library

§ TX State online catalog

Ø St. Ed's 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

Do this book analysis ONLY if:

§ you hope to earn a "B" for the course AND

§ you have a SEMESTER EXAM Total Points of 120 or more, AND

§ you scored below 24 on ANY of your exams

§ If you scored 24 or above on EACH of your 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. You do not have to use a separate cover sheet.

Ø be typed and double-spaced. Use 12-point “Times New Roman” font - or something similar

Ø use standard one-inch margins

Ø be in Question/Answer format (that is, make sure you type EACH question, then your answer immediately following) Your paper will be a series of questions and answers – NOT an essay.

Ø If you quote from your book, 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 SAC campus.

HINT: copy the questions from this syllabus and PASTE them into a Word document. Then you can type your answers under each question

GRADING:

§ The Book Analysis will be graded "ACCEPTED" or "NOT ACCEPTED".

§ Only " ACCEPTED " writing assignments will be counted towards the grade of "B".

§ You will be graded on

§ the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of your answers;

§ your ability to communicate your answers clearly;

§ written expression that is clear and comprehensible;

§ written expression that employs proper English language grammar, spelling, and capitalization.

§ your ability to follow directions

Please contact Dr. Thomas if you have any questions concerning the assignment

DUE DATE:

Ø The assignment is due at noon on THURSDAY, Aug 8th at 12 NOON (send via email as a Word attachment to Dr. Thomas).

Ø You may turn in your paper early (by Aug 1st). If there are any problems with it, I will give it back to you to correct. Don’t turn in a draft – submit what you believe is a “finished product”.

Contact Dr. Thomas if you’d like to see SAMPLES of “accepted” Book Analysis assignments that students have written in the past.

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.

§ You MAY abbreviate the question.

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: America's Unfinished Revolution

Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution

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 AT LEAST 3 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: "Franklin's Early Years"

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 Lincoln freed the slaves because he needed his party’s support for his upcoming re-election campaign and

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 Salem in 1692 were motivated by political and economic disputes between the two prominent families of Salem."

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, 4^th 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).

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 Salem in 1692 resulted from a conflict between two prominent families.”

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 Salem witch, you'd do a subject search on "Salem witch trials". Your search should return periodical articles on the Salem witch trials. Get assistance from a reference librarian if needed.

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:

§ Read each question very carefully and completely;

§ know what the question is asking.

§ Read each response.

§ Eliminate responses that you know are wrong.

§ When you have completed the exam, go over it again and verify your answers.

§ Answer the questions you know first, then go back and answer the rest.

§ Take your time – don’t rush.

§ The Testing Center staff will give you scratch paper if you request it.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS:

§ For those students who complete the Writing Assignments, have someone proofread your typed assignment for typos, misspellings, incorrect grammar, etc.

§ These types of errors seriously detract from the quality of your writing assignment.

§ Read over the Book Review Analysis questions before you read your chosen book. It will help you to focus your reading efforts.

§ ACC has Learning Labs on each campus, with writing specialists who can help you.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

§ Read over the Chapter once, WITHOUT doing any study questions – to get a good overview of what’s going on in that chapter; the major events, people, etc. THEN re-read the chapter a second time while completing the Study Questions. This will help you to have a good general knowledge of the period.

§ Work on the study questions gradually; that is, work on several each day.

§ Don't wait until just before the exam to complete all the questions. "Cramming" is not an effective study method.

§ Work with other students in a Study Group if you can. Help each other in answering the study questions. Quiz each other. Communicate with the other students in class using the Class Discussion Forum in Blackboard or the “Send Email” function under “Course Tools” in Blackboard. If you exchange study questions online, do it using a method that is “private” – such as email. Remember that you are NOT permitted to post study questions on any public site such as Quizlet or Study Blue.

YOUR PROFESSOR:

§ Do not hesitate to consult with Dr. Thomas if you have any problems, questions, doubts or uncertainties.

§ Seek help early in the semester.

§ Emailing is a perfectly acceptable way to communicate, so don’t hesitate to email.

To complete your orientation, please email the Student Information Form found on the next page to Dr. Thomas (tmthomas@austincc.edu).

HIST 1302 DIL STUDENT INFORMATION FORM SUMMER 2019

EMAIL THIS COMPLETED INFORMATION TO ME. You can COPY it and PASTE it into an email - or COPY it and PASTE it into a document - or print it, scan it and email it to me. Any method is fine, as long as I receive it on or before July 6th.

Send it to me at tmthomas@austincc.edu

Please TYPE or 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 1302 DIL – SUMMER 2019

Name:

School/College you most recently attended:

In this space, please write any special information about you that you would like me to know, that may affect your performance in this course (Kept strictly confidential):

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, 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 date August 5th 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 Aug 5th and that I will NOT be given permission to take the exam after this date. (The retest/postponed test deadline is Aug 6th.)

9. I understand that the deadline for research paper and book analysis assignments is Aug 8th at noon and that I will not be given permission to submit my assignment after that date/time.

10. I understand that I get a one-time exam deadline extension for either exam 2 or exam 3 or exam 4 and that any other deadline exceptions are made for exceptional circumstances, at Dr. Thomas’ discretion.

11. I understand that the materials for this course are copyrighted and may NOT be posted online in Quizlet, Study Blue or ANY OTHER online site.

My Signature (type your name) ________________________________________ Date: ________________________

LINK to STUDY GUIDE

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 online sites such as Facebook, Quizlet, Study Blue, etc. as this is a violation of the copyright.

WRITE DOWN THESE IMPORTANT DATES:

Remember that you can take exams BEFORE the deadline or ON the deadline date.

Saturday	July 6^th	Complete the course orientation and email your Student Information Form to Dr. Thomas.
Monday	July 8th	Exam 1 (Map Test) deadline
Monday	July 15th	Exam 2 deadline
Monday	July 22nd	Exam 3 deadline
Monday	July 29th	Exam 4 deadline
Thursday	Aug 1st	Research Paper Topic approval deadline
Monday	August 5th	Course withdrawal deadline
Monday	Aug 5th	Exam 5 deadline
Tuesday	Aug 6th	Retest and postponed test deadline
Thursday	Aug 8th	A-level and B-level paper deadline 12 noon

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 512-223-9255.

Thank you and have a great semester!