United States History to 1877: syllabus

In this class you should acquire a general outline of the early history of the United States and go more deeply into some selected topics that have lasting relevance in American life.  In addition, we will work to develop your critical skills as a reader and your ability to express yourself in writing. Map literacy will be encouraged. (A  self-guided map study may be found elsewhere on this site.)

Textbooks : 
Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderland. American Passages: A History of the United States, Vol. I to 1877. (May be sold as a "bundle" in the campus store, but only  the book is required.  A hardback version of the two volume set may be available, and my be used if you wish.)


Northrup, Eakins,  and Logsdon. Twelve Years a Slave (Louisiana State University Press,  Library of Southern Civilization, Paperback, 1968)

Additional recommended book: Lausche, Primer for American History

Click here for a printer-friendly version of the chart below:

Activity: point (%) value Description 
Due dates are posted in the WebCT calendar.

Updated for Fall 2005 8/16/05
Class meetings

Will include discussion of readings and lectures on related  topics. You will  have an opportunity to report on your participation in class.
Chapter  review exercises (averaged)  10 Taken on WebCT, one open-book review quiz for each chapter.
As you finish each chapter, take the 20-question quiz to check the quality of your reading.  Each student will receive a unique selection of questions from a larger quiz bank.  After you begin a review quiz, you will have 2 hours to complete it.  Do these at about the rate of a bit more than one per week and you will be able to meet the deadlines.  
Unit exams (3) 45 May include essay, map and objective questions. 
May be partly administered via WebCT.*
Final exam 15
Supplemental reading 15 You will read an additional book,  Solomon Northrup, Twelve Years a Slave, and complete written exercises or quizzes related to the book, to be filed through WebCT.  
Museum/ Book 10 Choose one of the following, and file a report via WebCT
bulletVisit the Atlanta History Center   (or other US History museum or historic site that relates to US history before 1877; clear choice with Dr. Kemp) and file a 250-500 word report. 
bulletRead a suitable non-fiction work on American History before 1877 and file a 250-500 word report  Clear your choice with Dr. Kemp.
Newspaper Search 5 Collect two newspaper stories and write a brief explanation of the way in which our studies of the past offer added insight to understanding the present. To be submitted as one assignment near the end of the semester.
Bonus opportunities

Lyceum programs and other enriching opportunities arise from time to time during a semester.  Students will be offered the opportunity to submit  reports on their attendance, each for a maximum of 5 bonus to be added to your exam grades before they are averaged.  No more than three bonus reports may be submitted, Completion of the map study may be accepted as a bonus activity, but must be cleared in advance. Bonus opportunities will be posted on this website and announced in class.

The material on the "Syllabus all" page is part of the official syllabus for this course.

 

WebCT

You will use WebCT for a variety of tasks: reading exercises, turning in homework, keeping track of grades, finding  deadlines for assignments, etc.  If you are on the course roll, you should already have a WebCT account for this course. [There will be a slight delay for drop/add students.] If you can not access WebCT Vista after the end of drop/add, let me know right away. Please do not attempt to turn in any work before the class meets for the first time.

Bonus points example:

A student earns the following grades on exams: 75+80 + 79 + 81 = 315 / 4 = 78.75 = C
Add 5 bonus points: 320 / 4 = 80 = B

Special Bonus opportunity--attend one of the Martin Luther King Commemoration events and write a report on it.

Newspaper search example:

Look for examples of current events that in some way resemble an event or issue studied in our course. Show the logical or actual connections between the two items.  For example, a few years ago you might have compared the contested Bush-Gore presidential election with the controversial elections of Presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, or Rutherford B. Hayes. Read a newspaper regularly, or look at the online version of the New York Times or other newspaper.  When you submit the story on WebCT, you will be asked to identify the source.  No broadcast news stories or blogs will be acceptable sources..