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 HIST2112  Online

U.S. History 1877 - Present

Dr. Kathryn W. Kemp

  
Click here to see Part One of your syllabus
This syllabus is largely complete, although a few minor "tweaks" my be applied before the orientation meeting.

Reading
Steven M. Gillon, Cathy D. Matson. The  American Experiment: A History of the United States. Second Edition. Volume 2. Houghton Mifflin Company. 
John Hollitz, Thinking Through the Past: A Critical-Thinking Approach to U.S. History, Third Edition. Volume 2.  Houghton Mifflin Company
These will be available in a single-volume "bundle" at the CSU Bookstore,  identified by the ISBN number    978-0618802456.
One serious history book of your choice but approved by me, dealing with the area covered by the course. Details tba.

Requirements
Assignments, tests Value Comment
3 Major exams, 25% each  75% 5 or 6  chapters, 90 minutes, on campus
Average of reading exercises 10% 20 questions per chapter, 2 hours to complete.
Discussion participation 5% Uses discussions tool in WebCT
Writing assignment 10%  
Quizzes, exams, and writing assignments will be submitted in WebCt.

Supplements to use as you study each chapter:
PowerPoints with additional illustrations, to view in WebCT.
Link to the textbook publisher's site: http://www.college.hmco.com/history/us/gillon/am_exp/2e/students/index.html
Videos  [details later]

On-Campus Meetings
required for orientation and exams.
Orientation: Wednesday, August 20th, 9:00pm -10:50pm, B12.
First Exam: Wednesday, September 24th, 9:00pm-10:50pm, B12.
Second Exam: Wednesday, October 29th, 9:00pm-10:50pm, B12.
Final Exam: Wednesday, December 3rd, 9:00pm-10:50pm, B12.

Objectives
Following the wishes of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia HIST 2112 can help students to develop certain logical and analytical skills every college graduate is expected to have. These include analytical, contextual, and diachronic thinking skills that will be useful in any college major or future vocation. Among the skills you will be acquiring and/or developing this semester are:

Comprehension in reading and listening: The ability to identify the ideas in something you have read or hear and differentiate the "thesis" or major theme being presented from the evidence supporting it.  This may include the comments made by your fellow students.
Identifying evidence--even when it is not clearly pointed out as such. This skill will often be applied when reading your textbook.
Selectivity: Recognizing the relative importance of various points. For example, if asked to identify briefly some historic person, that person's accomplishments, activities, and influence would be more important than a physical description, or a discussion of favorite foods.
Communication skills: Writing--even in an email or chat discussion--should be clear, concise and logical. See  CSU Writing Criteria
Computer Skills: Students will be introduced to the vast amounts of information dealing with U.S. history, literature, and geography currently available on the World Wide Web.

In addition, this course addresses Learning Outcomes 2-5, as adopted by the history program faculty at CSU
Based on  a syllabus originally developed by Prof. R. B. Rosenburg, with thanks to him for allowing me to adapt it.