Section Number: HIS 1301.19
Credit Hours: 3 hours
CRN Number: 82291
Class Time: Online Course
Semester: Fall 2012

Dr. Jeffrey L. Littlejohn
Office: AB4–455
Office Hours: online anytime
Telephone: 936.294.4438
Skype: deltahistory
Email: littlejohn@shsu.edu
Web: http://www.studythepast.com

Catalog Description: The colonial origins of the United States and growth of the Republic to 1876. Credit 3.

Course Description: HIST 1301 is the first half of the U.S. history survey at Sam Houston State University. This class offers students an introductory overview of the chief social, cultural, and political developments in North America between 1492 and 1876. In particular, this course focuses on: 1) the meeting of European, Amerindian, and African cultures during the Age of Exploration; 2) the establishment of the English colonial system in North America; 3) the development of the American Revolution and early Republic; and, 4) the expansion, fracturing, and reconstruction of the United States in the nineteenth century.

1) Students will gain factual knowledge about United States history.
2) Students will learn the fundamental principles of historical scholarship.
3) Students will learn to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.

Week 1: Aug 29 to Sept 2 | Introduction to Course
Week 2: Sept 3 to Sept 9 | The Creation of Two Worlds
Week 3: Sept 10 to Sept 16 | Native Americans, Europeans, and the Contact Experience
Week 4: Sept 17 to Sept 23 | Spanish Imperialism and the English Delay
Week 5: Sept 24 to Sept 30 | Colonial Virginia and the Chesapeake Colonies
Week 6: Oct 1 to Oct 7 | Colonial Massachusetts and the New England Colonies
Week 7: Oct 8 to Oct 14 | Colonial Pennsylvania and the Eighteenth Century
Week 8: Oct 15 to Oct 21 | British Colonial Theory and the Origins of the American Revolution
Week 9: Oct 22 to Oct 28 | The Radical Revolution and War for Independence
Week 10: Oct 29 to Nov 4 | The Confederation Period and Constitutional Settlement of 1787
Week 11: Nov 5 to Nov 11 | The Federal Era, 1789-1803
Week 12: Nov 12 to Nov 18 | Defending and Expanding the Republic, 1800-1824
Week 13: Nov 19 to Nov 25 | The Second Party System, 1824-1850
Week 14: Nov 26 to Dec 2 | The Crisis Over Slavery, 1850-1860
Week 15: Dec 3 to Dec 9 | The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877
Week 16: Dec 10 to Dec 14 | Final Exam Week

Created Equal: A History of the United States, Volume 1: To 1877, Brief 3rd Edition
by Jacqueline Jones, Peter H. Wood, Thomas Borstelmann, Elaine Tyler May, and Vicki L. Ruiz

You may buy this book at the campus bookstore. [$48.75 used; $65.00 new]
You may rent this ebook online at http://www.coursesmart.com. [$36.99 rental]

Grading in this course will be based upon 600 possible points.

Quizzes - Thirteen quizzes will be offered during the semester. Each quiz will cover the assigned reading material for a given topic. You may access the quizzes in SHSUonline by clicking on the appropriate link in the left menu bar of our course. You will have thirty minutes to complete each quiz. All quizzes must be submitted by the due date. No exceptions. Your lowest three quiz grades will be dropped. Ten quizzes will be used to calculate your final average.

Exams - Four exams will be offered during the semester. Each exam will cover the material immediately preceding it. Exams will be based on reading assignments as well as powerpoints and other class materials. Exams may include multiple-choice, matching, true-false, and sequencing questions. You may access the exams in SHSUonline by clicking on the appropriate link in the left menu bar of our course. You will have one hour to complete each exam. All exams must be submitted by the due date. Absolutely no exceptions. All exams will be used to calculate your final score.

As part of this class, you will be expected to check your university email and our SHSUonline page regularly. To email me, you can either go to SHSUonline or send directly to littlejohn@shsu.edu.

I will also be avalable on skype during business hours most days. My username is deltahistory. If you would like to chat about the reading or assignments, then please don't hesitate to contact me.

You are very fortunate to be enrolled at SHSU, which has an outstanding academic resource to help you succeed as a student: the SAM Center. The SAM Center is now located in CHSS Suite 170. The SAM Center offers academic advising and counseling for numerous issues. They also offer an excellent study skills course. Visit their website for more information: http://www.shsu.edu/~sam_www/.

For those of you who need help with any writing assignments, please visit the Writing Center in Farrington 111. The center’s website is located at: http://www.shsu.edu/~wctr/. For those of you who need help with reading strategies, go to the Reading Center located in Farrington 109. See their website: http://www.shsu.edu/~rdg_www/.

The University expects all students to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom.  Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action.

5.31 The University and its official representatives, acting in accordance with Subsection 5.32, may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
"Cheating" includes the following and similar actions:
(1) Copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files, data listings, and/or programs.
(2) Using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test.
(3) Collaborating, without authorization, with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work.
(4) Knowingly, and without authorization, using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, soliciting, copying, or possessing, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
(5) Substituting for another student, permitting any other person, or otherwise assisting any other person to substitute for oneself or for another student in the taking of an examination or test or the preparation of academic work to be submitted for academic credit.
(6) Bribing another person to obtain a test or information about an unadministered test.
(7) Purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one's own work any research paper or other writing assignment prepared by an individual or firm. This section does not apply to the typing of the rough and/or final versions of an assignment by a professional typist.

5.32 "Plagiarism" means the appropriation and the unacknowledged incorporation of another's work or idea into one's own work offered for credit.
5.33 "Collusion" means unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work for credit.
5.34 "Abuse of resource materials" means the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft or alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.
5.35 “Academic work” means the preparation of an essay, dissertation, thesis, report, problem, assignment, or other project that the student submits as a course requirement or for a grade.

2.00 PROCEDURES IN CASES OF ALLEGED ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

2.01 Procedures for discipline due to academic dishonesty shall be the same as in disciplinary actions specified in The Texas State University System Rules and Regulations and Sam Houston State University Student Guidelines except that all academic dishonesty actions shall be first considered and reviewed by the faculty member teaching the class. The faculty member may impose failure or reduction of a grade in a test or the course, and/or performing additional academic work not required of other students in the course. If the faculty member believes that additional disciplinary action is necessary, as in the case of flagrant or repeated violations, the case may be referred to the Dean of Student Life or a designated appointee for further action. If the student involved does not accept the decision of the faculty member, the student may appeal to the chair of the appropriate academic department/school, seeking reversal of the faculty member's decision.

2.02 If the student does not accept the decision of the chair of the academic department/school, he/she may appeal to the appropriate academic dean. The chair of the academic department/school may also refer the case directly to the academic dean if the case so warrants. 

It is the policy of Sam Houston State University that individuals otherwise qualified shall not be excluded, solely by reason of their disability, from participation in any academic program of the university. Further, they shall not be denied the benefits of these programs nor shall they be subjected to discrimination. Students with disabilities that might affect their academic performance are expected to visit with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities located in the Counseling Center. They should then make arrangements with the instructor in order that accommodations can be made to assure that participation and achievement opportunities are not impaired.  SHSU adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. If you have a disability that may affect adversely your work in this class, then we encourage you to register with the Counseling Center and to talk with us about how we can best help you.  All disclosures of disabilities will be kept strictly confidential. Please note: No accommodation can be made until you register with the Counseling Center and provide us with proper documentation.

At the end of the semester, students will be asked to complete an evaluation of the course, but I welcome feedback about readings, assignments, and my instruction throughout the semester. Let’s work together to make this a successful and rewarding learning experience for everyone.

This syllabus is your contract for the course. I will not change the nature of the course, the number of assignments, or the grading system. However, I reserve the right to update the course schedule and reading assignments.