Fall 2021 Course Syllabus
Course: HIST-1301- Section: 71
United States History I
LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Christina Wilbur
E-mailwilburca@lamarpa.edu
Phone(409) 984-6394
Office
Location:Student Center - Room: 409
Hours:Mon & Wed 11:30-12 / 1:15-1:45 Tues & Thurs 9:00-9:30 /12:15-1:45 Fri 8-12
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Course Information
Description A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological
Prerequisites None.
Learning Outcomes 1. Relate the events that led to the exploration and colonization of early America

2. Summarize reasons for colonial discontent and actions that led to revolution and independence

3. Demonstrate an understanding of our documents of democracy

4. Describe our foreign policy as it developed in the 19th century

5. Analyze stages of economic development as the United States became an industrialized nation

6. Realize the causes of sectionalism as they moved us toward civil war

7. Discuss the major features of Reconstruction and their political impact
Core Objectives * Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication.
* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Program Student Learning Outcomes PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material.
Identifies all main ideas, supporting details, and vocabulary in reading material; demonstrates a full understanding of the reading.

PSLO 1: Critical Thinking Skills ? Uses creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
Creatively identifies problem, argument, or issue (to determine extent of information needed); differentiates the facts from opinions as relates to situation; constructs possible solutions or prediction or consequences; uses logical, sound reasoning to justify conclusion.

PSLO 2: Communication Skills ? Demonstrates effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication.
Expresses a strong thesis; organizes information with effective transitions & sequencing of ideas; uses substantial, logical & specific development of ideas; details are relevant, original, credible and correctly documented when appropriate to show an effective development and interpretation of ideas; and presents ideas in appropriate mode of expression for the task.

PSLO 5: Social Responsibility Skills - Expresses intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Identifies cultural characteristics (including beliefs, values, perspectives and/or practices); demonstrates knowledge of civic responsibility; provides evidence of experience in civic- engagement activities; and describes what she/ he has learned as it relates to a reinforced and clarified sense of civic identity in local, regional, national, or global communities; and shows awareness of one?s own culture in relation to others.

PSLO 6: Personal Responsibility Skills ? Integrates choices, actions and consequences in ethical decision-making.
Recognizes ethical issues when presented in a complex, multilayered (gray) context; recognizes cross- relationships among the issues; discusses in detail/ analyzes core beliefs; the discussion has greater depth and clarity showing the independent application of ethical perspectives/ concepts to an ethical question accurately; and is able to consider full implications of the application.



Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Required Materials:
All course materials are available online. There is no need to purchase any course materials.


Lecture Topics
Outline
Module 1
The Americas, Europe, and Africa Before 1492
Early Globalization: The Atlantic World, 1492-1650
Creating New Social Orders: Colonial Societies, 1500-1700

Module 2
Rule Britannia: The English Empire, 1600-1763
Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests
America’s War for Independence, 1775-1983    

Module 3    
Creating Republican Governments, 1776-1790
Growing Pains: The New Republic, 1790-1820
Industrial Transformation of the North, 1800-1850
    
Module 4
Jacksonian Democracy, 1820-1840
A Nation on the Move: Westward Expansion, 1800-1860
Cotton in King: The Antebellum South. 1800-1860
Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses, 1820-1860
    
Module 5    
Troubled Times: The Tumultuous 1850s
The Civil War,1860-1865
The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877
Major Assignments
Schedule
Additional readings/videos are included in the Blackboard modules

Module 1
The Americas, Europe, and Africa Before 1492
Early Globalization: The Atlantic World, 1492-1650
Creating New Social Orders: Colonial Societies, 1500-1700

Sunday 8/29 Introduction Discussion Post due by 5:00 pm
Sunday 8/29 Course Policy Agreement due by 5:00 pm

Friday 9/10 Discussion Board Post #1: Reply due by 5:00 pm
Friday 9/10 Assignment #1 due by 5:00 pm


Module 2
Rule Britannia: The English Empire, 1600-1763
Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests
America’s War for Independence, 1775-1983    


Friday 10/1 Discussion Board Post #2: due by 5:00 pm


Module 3    
Creating Republican Governments, 1776-1790
Growing Pains: The New Republic, 1790-1820
Industrial Transformation of the North, 1800-1850

Monday 10/18 Mid-term Exam on LSCPA campus 5:00-7:30 pm
Friday 10/22 Discussion Board Post #3: due by 5:00 pm

    
Module 4
Jacksonian Democracy, 1820-1840
A Nation on the Move: Westward Expansion, 1800-1860
Cotton in King: The Antebellum South. 1800-1860
Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses, 1820-1860
    
Friday 11/12 Discussion Board Post #4: due by 5:00 pm
Friday 11/12 Assignment #2 due by 5:00 pm
    
Module 5    
Troubled Times: The Tumultuous 1850s
The Civil War,1860-1865
The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877

Friday 12/3 Discussion Board Post #5: due by 5:00 pm

Monday 12/6 Final Exam on LSCPA campus 5:00-7:30 pm




Final Exam Date December 6, 2021 - 5:00 PM   Through  December 6, 2021 - 7:30 PM
Grading Scale This class will use a 200-point grading scale. The total points earned will result in your final grade. All assignments will be clearly marked with their point value.

200-180: A 179-160: B 159-140 C 139-120: D 119-0: F

Determination of
Final Grade
Major Assignments: 25% Discussions: 25% Exams 50%

Assignment #1: 25 points
Assignment #2: 25 points
2 Exams - 50 points each. Exams will be taken on campus in a proctored environment.
Discussion posts: 5 posts – 10 points each: 50 points


Submitting an assignment does not guarantee that you will earn the total point value – you must follow the directions and achieve the standards set out in the directions for each assignment to earn the necessary point values. Grades are not rounded up

Please keep up with your grades. Students should keep all copies of graded and ungraded work until course grades have been submitted at the end of the semester. You will be able to see your running point total in Blackboard. Your grade will be based solely on your performance on the above-listed grades. Additionally, all grades will be posted in Blackboard in a timely manner. Please make sure to read the comments on your submitted assignments as I make comments both on the assignment itself and in the grading notes section. It is your responsibility to read comments and assessment notes and to make the suggested changes on future assignments/exams. Please allow 2 weeks for the return of graded work.
Course Policies
Instructor Policies The time required for this class is substantial. This class moves very quickly and there is very little time to catch up if you get behind. Deadlines are firm. Make it a priority to read daily and to stay on schedule with the readings, videos, and assignments. These take time. I recommend that students print out the assignment schedule and refer to it daily and plan their schedules accordingly.

Assignment Due Dates:
It is imperative that assignments are turned in on time. All major assignments are due by 5:00 PM on the due date listed in the schedule. I do not accept late assignments.

In order to be equitable and fair to all students, do not email and ask to submit an assignment late. This course is designed to allow you plenty of time to complete assignments. You do not have to wait until the last minute to complete or submit assignments. Generally, each module allows for up to 3 weeks to complete your assignments so there is no reason to not have your assignments in on time.

All assignment submission links will allow you to submit multiple times up until the due date if you find that you need to update or revise an assignment before the submission link closes.

Discussion Posts: Your post is due by 5:00 pm Friday. For more information and instructions, please see the Discussion Board Instructions tab in Blackboard.

Assignment Availability: Each Module will open at 8:00 am on Monday morning.

Class Design: This class contains five modules. Each module is three weeks long. Almost all assignments are due at the end of the module. There are some exceptions so please check the due dates.

Uploading Assignments:
All assignments must be uploaded in the required format. All assignments – unless instructed otherwise – i.e. a video submission – must be submitted as a Word document. Do not submit in Google docs, pages, or PDF’s. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have submitted your assignment as directed in the instructions. If I cannot open your assignment, I will not grade it. Do not email me assignments. All assignments should be submitted in Blackboard.

When you submit an assignment, Blackboard sends you a confirmation email with an individual submission number. Please make sure that you receive this confirmation and save it. If there are issues regarding the submission of your assignment, I may ask to see the submission confirmation.

Technology Responsibility:
It is assumed that students are proficient with the technological/computer requirements and the Blackboard system. A lack of computer proficiency is not an excuse for the failure to submit assignments, etc. It is your responsibility to understand how to navigate Blackboard, upload and download files, view videos, etc.

Assignments:
You will complete 2 major assignments during this course along with the 5 discussion posts. The directions for each assignment will vary and you will need to read the instructions for each one closely and follow those directions. The assignments will be posted in the Assignments section of Blackboard.

Assignments from a previous course or repeating the class:
You may not submit assignments that were created for another class. You also may not resubmit assignments from a previous attempt in the class. All work must be original when submitted. Assignments that are found to have been reused will receive a 0.

Exams: Exams will be taken on campus in a proctored environment.
The mid-term exam is on October 18th from 5:00-7:30 pm on the LSCPA campus
The final exam is on December 6th from 5:00-7:30 pm on the LSCPA campus
If you have conflicts with these dates, it is your responsibility to make arrangements with me, well in advance.

Extra Credit:
There is no extra credit for this course.

Email:
You must put the class and section number in the subject line of the email. Having to look you up through multiple class rolls so that I can respond to a question delays your response and is a poor use of my time. I am teaching different classes through different modalities. It is important that I know what class you are in so that I can answer your question. You are welcome to email me and I do try to respond in a timely manner within 48 hours during the workweek. I am available during normal business hours – Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm. I do not respond to emails on the weekends.

Please use your lamarpa email to communicate with me as an email from Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, etc. may end up in the clutter folder and I will not see it, and therefore, not respond. Most questions can be answered by reading the class syllabus, schedule, or other directions available to you in Blackboard. Since we will communicate extensively through email, it is important that students are aware of the tone and structure of their correspondence.

All emails should include:
A greeting
A clear statement of the question or inquiry
Your name
Include proper spelling and grammar. 'Texting' abbreviations, lack of punctuation, and 'i' are not acceptable.

Article and Videos for Assignments and Discussion Posts:
The article and video links assigned are an integral part of the course. They provide students with a resource to gain a deeper understanding of the material. I have chosen selections that I feel will aid in deepening your understanding related to a person, era, event, experience, etc. Some are documentaries or films, some standard lectures from other universities, and others - book discussion by authors - address the subject they have written about but also help you to understand the ‘historian’s craft.’ You should take notes while viewing/reading just as if you were sitting in a classroom listening to a presentation as you will see material from these readings and videos on your exams and will need them for your discussion posts.

Currently, all video links are ‘working’ but sometimes they may, without notice, get moved to a new server, expire or an organization may decide to take down a link. If you notice a broken link during the semester, please let me know and I will look into it and update the selection with a new link or a replacement selection.

Academic Integrity:
Academic integrity is essential to online learning and I take it very seriously. Academic dishonesty will not be accepted in this class. Students are to submit their own work – not the work of others. If you submit other’s work as your own or submit an assignment using resources not allowed, not only are you jeopardizing your academic future, but you are paying for an education you are not receiving and, moreover, you are wasting your own time and energy in an effort not to learn.

All student submissions are checked for plagiarism and use of any materials not authorized for use for an assignment is prohibited. Should this be an issue with any assignment you submit, you will receive a 0 on the assignment and, possibly an F in the class. If an issue arises with your work, I do reserve the right to go back and reassess/regrade previously submitted work to see if academic dishonesty has occurred with previous submissions. Assigning an F for the course for plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty is at my discretion if the offense is flagrant or repeated.

Please note that I decide if an offense is flagrant or repeated – not the student. Directions regarding formatting and citations are included in Blackboard. You are to familiarize yourself with these instructions and how to cite and document properly.
Attendance Policy You must log in to the class on a regular basis. If you fail to log in and submit assignments, I will conclude that you are no longer participating in the class
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies
  1. No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom.

  2. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission.

  3. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA.
Other
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Department
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Dr. Michelle Davis
E-mail:davisml1@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6341

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.