Montgomery College

General Course Information:

· Brief Course Description: History 201 is a survey course designed to enhance the student’s understanding of social, political, diplomatic, military, economic and literary developments in the United States between 1492 and 1865. It should be a student’s aim to learn as much about our national past as possible within a four month period and to develop skills that will help him or her analyze the major ideas and events and place them in a well – reasoned context.

Course Objectives: As an introductory course, HS201 is designed to meet two broad objectives:

1. to provide the student with an overview of early American history.

2. to develop critical thinking skills which include, but are not limited to the following: a) to synthesize information from a variety of sources; b) to distinguish cause from effect and understand the “why” of historical incidents; c) to draw inferences from historical evidence; d) to distinguish facts from opinions and/or conclusions; e) to see art and artifacts as equally important as documents and other historical evidence; f) to view events from a variety of viewpoints, and g) to present coherent and informed oral and written arguments.

· Aims: Students should leave History 201 with greatly improved skills of written expression and analysis. Moreover, they should upon the completion of the course have solid conceptions of, among other things, the European exploration and settlement of the North American colonies; the role of religion, particularly Puritanical and evangelical sects upon the development of early America; the position of Native and African Americans in the early colonies; the break from England and its justification on both sides of the Atlantic; the philosophies underscored in the drafting of America’s first two constitutions; the early Presidencies and the growing democratization of America in the 19^th century; the westward expansion of the United States and the coming and fighting of what northerners call the American Civil War.

Assessment:

EXAMS: There will be three exams, each of which will be essay in nature and count 20% towards a student’s final grade.

JOURNAL: Each student will keep a journal of independent learning about material related to the course. It will count 30% towards a student’s final grade and should include analyses (not summaries) of assigned readings, classroom discussions, chronicles of museum exhibits pertinent to the course, outside readings (i.e., magazines, newspaper articles) and reviews of at least two books and two theatrical movies covering the period under study. The journal will be due the week before the final exam. One installment should be submitted the week prior to the midterm break.

CLASS PARTICIPATION: Each student’s notebook and participation will be evaluated at the end of the semester, and that evaluation will count 10% towards a student’s final grade.

Grading:

90-99 = A or superior work

80-89 = B or above average work

70-79 = C or average work

55-69 = D or below average work

below 55 = F or failing work

Make-up Policy:

Make-ups will be dealt with on a case – by – case basis. Students who cannot be present for the exams should make arrangements with the instructor well BEFORE those exams save in rare emergencies. Those who fail to make such arrangements will lose one letter grade.

Late Work Policy:

Late work will be dealt with on a case – by – case basis. Students should have work prepared by due dates. For written assignments, the instructor meticulously follows a first-come, first serve policy.

Course Schedule: Assignments and due dates may be subject to change.

WEEK TOPIC ASSIGNMENT

1 INTRODUCTION Appendix

2 ONE OLD WORLD 1, R3-7, 610-612 ENCOUNTERS ANOTHER

3 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT 2,

4 COLONIAL LIFE 3, R7-18

5 MERCANTILISM 4, R37-62; 121-125

6 EXAM I; WAR FOR 5-6; Declaration of INDEPENDENCE Independence, R63-67

7 CONFEDERATION AND 7; Brookhiser, Constitution, CONSTITUTION R71-82; first book review

8 EARLY NATIONAL 8, R83-92

9 VIRGINIA DYNASTY 9-10

10 EXAM #2; JACKSONIAN 11, R93-101 DEMOCRACY

11 MANIFEST DESTINY 12,14, R143-147

12 THE AGE OF REFORM 13, R105-120, 125-142, 148-174

13 BLUNDERING POLS 15-16; 175-238

14 THE WAR FOR THE UNION 17, Catton, Final book review due, R243-271

15 FINAL EXAM

Annis’ Rules

1. Do NOT expect a break at the end of the semester if your attendance has been less than regular. Please maintain your dignity by not whining to the instructor after getting the lower grade.

2. Take the headphones off and turn the cell phones and beepers off before you enter the class. Anyone allowing a cell phone to ring in class or noticed text-messaging will lose five points toward the final grade. Anyone answering a cellphone in class or leaving the classroom to take a cell phone call without informing the instructor of EXTREME extenuating circumstances beforehand will lose fifty points towards the final grade.

3. Drinks (unspiked, of course), are fine. BUT, if you must eat, bring enough for the entire class, and close your mouth while chewing.

4. If a student has to leave early, he or she should have the courtesy to notify the instructor beforehand. Students are expected to spend the entire class period in class. If a student leaves class during an exam, he or she will not be allowed to return to the class to finish that exam.

5. Student papers, including exams, must be legible and in ink or typed. Any paper in pencil will be returned. ANY exam in pencil will be penalized one letter grade. NO EXCEPTIONS!

6. Student papers must be hand-delivered to the instructor and will not be submitted electronically.

7. Anyone submitting a paper which is or substantial parts of are found on the Internet will fail the class. NO EXCEPTIONS!

General Policies for History & Political Science Courses

A. Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions. “Excessive absence” is defined as one more absence than the number of times the class meets per week during a fall or spring semester (with the number of absences to be prorated for accelerated sessions). For example, in a Monday-Wednesday-Friday class, four absences would be considered excessive. If you miss a class session, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed.

Source: Collegewide Policies and Procedures Manual: Academic Regulations: Class Attendance (Section 9.823). [http://www.mc.cc.md.us/hrdept/]

B. Academic Honesty

Common examples of academic dishonesty and misconduct can be found below and in the Student Code of Conduct, Section IV. These examples are not an all-inclusive list of all prohibited behavior. If you are in doubt about what constitutes academic dishonesty, consult your professor or the Student Code of Conduct.

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to using “cheat notes” during an exam, copying answers from another student, allowing another student to copy your work, either inside or outside of class; using work from previous semesters; and copying from a book, magazine, Internet site, or brochure when writing a paper without giving credit to the source.

Faculty members may impose grade sanctions for violations of academic ethics, normally ranging from a minimum of F on the assignment in which the dishonesty occurred to a maximum of an F in the course. Faculty members may choose to impose different sanctions. Faculty members also have the prerogative of referring a case to the campus Dean of Student Development with a specific request that the dean consider imposing additional sanctions.

Source: Collegewide Policies and Procedures Manual: Student Code of Conduct: Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct (Section IV). [http://www.mc.cc.md.us/hrdept/]

C. Classroom Conduct

The College seeks to provide an environment where discussion and expression of all views relevant to the subject matter of the class are recognized as necessary to the educational process. However, students do not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the faculty to teach or the rights of other students to learn.

Faculty set the standards of behavior that are acceptable in the classroom by announcing these standards early in the semester. It is your responsibility to pay attention when these standards are outlined; missing a class period does not absolve you of this responsibility. Following these standards will contribute to a respectful learning environment for everyone in the classroom. Examples of acceptable behavior include, but are not limited to turning pagers and cell phones off or to “silent mode” during class and entering class quietly if one is late.

Source: Collegewide Policies and Procedures Manual: Student Code of Conduct: Classroom Behavior (Section III). [http://www.mc.cc.md.us/hrdept/]

D. Support Services

A student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see the class instructor during office hours. A letter from Disability Support Services (DSS) authorizing your accommodations will be needed. The DSS office is located in CAB 122 and may be called on 301-279- 5058 or TTY 301-294-9672.

E. Cancellation of Classes

If inclement weather forces the College or any campus or College facility to suspend classes or close, public service announcements will be provided to local radio and television stations as early as possible. If you have checked several stations and have not heard an announcement, you may go to the College Web site or call the number listed below for closing information.

You will be able to determine the College's operational status during inclement weather or other emergencies through the following means:

· Tune in to area radio or television stations. Dozens of stations are notified. Among those with most frequent updates are:

Television -- NBC Channel 4/WRC; Fox Channel 5/WTTG; Channel 7/WJLA; Channel 9/WUSA; and cable News Channel 8. In the Baltimore area, check Channel 2/WMAR.

Radio -- WTOP (1500 AM and 107.7 FM), WMAL (630 AM), WAMU (88.5 FM). In the Frederick area, check WFMD/WFRE.

· Check the College’s Web site at http://www.montgomerycollege.org or http://www.mc.cc.md.us

· Call the College’s main phone number, 240-567-5000, to hear an updated message, in the event of closures or delays.
If the campus or College closes, class will be cancelled. It is your responsibility to find out whether class is cancelled. The content of subsequent class sessions or other course requirements may be changed to accommodate the loss of one or more class sessions. Your instructor will notify the class of any changes to the course.

Source: College Catalog: Directory. [http://www.mc.cc.md.us/courses/]

Syllabus

A. Attendance

C. Classroom Conduct