HIST 1302 CRN 65007 American History from 1877
Fall 2013 TR 9:30 to 11:00 am
Houston Community College Southwest-West Loop Campus, Room C252
Instructor: Dr. Rogan Ellen Brunet
Email: rogan.brunet@hccs.edu
Website: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/rogan.brunet
Office: C256, Phone: 7137182084
Course Description: History 1302 is a survey of United States history from 1877 to the presidency of
Richard Nixon. It will focus on the evolution of the economic, social/cultural and political institutions
which define the development of the modern United States and its people. Although this course is built
around historical events and processes, it is much more than a simple recitation of facts. Students will
learn and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and will work with historical documents,
maps and economic and demographic models.
History 1302 is a 16 week, 48 contact hour course which fulfills three hours of the state-mandated
six-hour history requirement. Completion of this class will also improve performance in reading,
writing, critical thinking, communication, and computer skills.
Prerequisites: Student must have completed or be co-enrolled in ENGL 1301.
Learning Objectives: This course will enable the student to gain a clearer understanding of American
History after 1877 by examining major topic, such as industrialism, Imperialism, the two World Wars,
the Great Depression and the creation of modern American politics, the Cold War, Civil Rights and
Vietnam. Students will gain a clear perspective on how these issues form an interconnected and
continuous web of history. Furthermore, students will increase their critical thinking skills and their
writing ability through the use of essay exams. In addition, students will read/assess primary source
documents on the internet, expanding their computer skills, and their knowledge of the historical era
studied.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Students will be able to create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
2. Students will be able to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Students will be able to analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, and cultural
forces on this period of U.S. history.
4. Students will be able to explain the importance of chronology and how earlier ideas and events
shaped later events.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Explain the features of the Gilded Age and the issues on society, culture and politics
Summarize Industrialism and Urbanization
Analyze the New South and Jim Crow
Explain Populism and Progressivism
Identify the causes of the Great War and the United States
Discuss America between the wars
Identify the causes of World War 2 and the Cold War
Discuss Post-war America at home
Discuss Post-Modern American
Texts:
American Passages, v.2, 3rd ed., Edward Ayers, et. al. (recommended)
www.digitalhistory.uh.edu, Stephen Mintz (recommended)
How the Other Half Lives, Jacob Riis
All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
Purchasing a textbook is optional. If you want a textbook for this class, my recommendation is American
Passages, v2. There is also an online textbook available at www.digitalhistory.uh.edu. This course is lecture
intensive however and reading a textbook will not replace lecture notes. Any textbook should be used as a
supplement to the information presented each day in class. In addition, lecture outlines are available on my
Learning Web site. Please have them in class on the day of the appropriate lecture.
This is a working syllabus and remains flexible. Please feel free to ask questions and remember that
participation is highly encouraged (and welcome) in class. The instructor reserves the right to modify
the syllabus at any time, with notification to the students.
Free Online Tutoring: HCC has implemented a free online tutoring program for all HCC students. The
web address is www.hccs.askonline.net. You will need to enter your email address, choose a
username and password and to know your HCC student ID number (the one that starts with a W).
Please take advantage of this new resource.
Exams: There will be two exams in this course, a midterm and a final. Each exam will consist of two
essay questions. A study guide to the exam will be given prior to the exam date. Each exam is worth
100 pts. No student will be admitted to the classroom fifteen minutes after the exam has begun. It is
assumed that all students will take all exams at the assigned times, unless you make arrangements to
the contrary ahead of the scheduled exam time. Students will be required to put away all electronic
devices, including cell phones, during exams. No blue book is required for your exams.
Reading Assignments: There will be two monographs (book) that will be given in addition to your
regular exams. These readings will not be available for purchase in the book store but you can find
them online (see the links on my Learning Web site) or at bookstores in town. The exams for these
reading will be essay in content and will be given in class. On the day of the exam, please bring the
readings or book to class.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor, and only if the student
has a university approved reason for missing an exam. You must have the approval of the instructor to
schedule a make-up exam. Students will take make-ups at a scheduled time at the end of the
semester. Please note that students are limited to one make-up exam.
Extra Credit: I do not give extra credit assignments so do not ask for special consideration. If you have
time for extra credit assignments, then you have time to do the work to pass the class.
Grades: Your grades in this class are a reflection of your critical thinking skills, how well you analyze the data
presented to you and how you organize this data into educated opinions. You will do this by writing an essay on
each exam. The purpose of an essay is to present your point of view about a given topic. In this class, an essay
is the vehicle to demonstrate your mastery of the subject and your organization of these facts into a logical
conclusion that states your opinion of the given subject. You will be graded on content and grammar.
Houston Community College now charges higher tuition rates for students who repeat a class for the
third time (or more).
Your final grade will be derived from the sum of your two exams (200 pts) and reading exams (200
pts), divided by the total number of points possible (400 pts). The grading scale is as follows:
A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-0
Final Grades will be available to students by Dec 20. Please note that there will be no curving of
grades in this class.
Incompletes: If you experience an unexpected hardship or personal matter during the course of the
semester, you may be able to take an incomplete for the class. The requirements for an incomplete
are as follows: you must have a passing grade for the class and you must have completed at least
75% of the classwork. Remember that any incomplete work must be finished within a semester or the
“I” will change to an “F”.
Open Computer Lab: There are several open computer labs available on the West Loop Campus that
will provide students with access to the internet and email. You can also purchase a printing card to
use the printers in these labs. Please see the instructor for more information if needed.
Computers and Tape Recorders: If you wish, you may use tape recorders and computers to facilitate
note taking in class. Note that if you use a computer to play games or surf the web in this class, it is a
distraction to others in the class and I will have you dropped from the class.
Cell Phones: Cell phones are highly disruptive in class. All students are required to either turn their cell
phones to vibrate or power them off. In the case of a student expecting an important phone call,
please inform me of the situation before class. If your cell phone rings during class, I reserve the right
to deduct one point from your final class average. Students receiving or sending texts during class will
be asked to leave. If texting in class is continual, I will drop that student.
Attendance Requirements: Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. I cannot stress enough
the importance of attending classes. Excessive absences will negatively affect your grade.
Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. If, in the course of the semester, any student misses
more than six classes, then that student WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY DROPPED. If you wish to drop
this class, please inform me that you intend to do so. It is your responsibility to drop this class if you so
desire. The final date for withdrawal is November 1. If you do not feel you will pass the class, you must
take the responsibility to withdraw on yourself. International students, students receiving financial aid
and veterans must be enrolled full time (12 hours) in order to maintain their status. Please keep this
in mind if you decide to drop this class. The HCCS History Department has mandated that NO ‘”W” will
be changed to an “F”. Also, make an effort to arrive in class on time. If you are not in class when roll is
called you will not be counted present for that day.
The final date to drop this class is November 1.
Please be aware of the fact that you are limited to six withdrawals over your college career when you are
considering dropping the class.
Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited by
HCC policy and by the rules of this class.
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Plagiarism is the use of the ideas or words of another person (either whole or in part) without
crediting the source and constitutes the theft of another person’s intellectual property. It is
the most common form of academic dishonesty. If you are unclear as to what constitutes
plagiarism, you should seek clarification before beginning an assignment.
Cheating involves fraud and deception for the purpose of violating legitimate testing rules.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying from another student’s test paper, using
during an exam materials or resources not authorized by the instructor; collaborating with
another student during a test; knowingly using, buying, selling whole or part of an
unadministered test.
Academic dishonesty constitutes a severe violation of HCC policy and rules and is subject to
stringent penalties. Violations of these policies will result, at a minimum, in the automatic
failure of this course. Severe violations could result in suspension or expulsion from HCC.
Students with Disabilities: I will make every effort to accommodate those students with disabilities.
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who
needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Service Counselor,
Dr. Becky Hauri (713 718-7909) at the beginning of the semester. Faculty members are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS).
Students who are requesting special testing accommodations must first contact the office.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System: At Houston Community College,
professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning.
During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based
questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your
professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of
the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
Caveat: The College purges students who have not paid their tuition or have some other glitch with
their registration every weekend. However, it does not inform those students who have been dropped
from their classes. It would be in your best interests to pay your tuition on time and ensure that you
are still enrolled in classes by the 12th class day, by midterm and before finals. I cannot re-enroll
students who have been dropped by administration, no matter what their class standing might be.
Please take care of any registration problems promptly.
This is a working syllabus and remains flexible. Please feel free to ask questions and remember that
participation is highly encouraged (and welcome) in class. The instructor reserves the right to modify
the syllabus at any time, with notification to the students.
Course Calendar
Week One
Aug 27
Aug 29
Introduction to the course
Topic One: The Not So Wild, Wild West
Week Two
Sep 3
Sep 5
Topic Two: The Industrial Revolution: 1865-1900
continue Topic Two
Week Three
Sep 10
Sep 12
Topic Three: Living in An Industrial Age: 1870-1900
continue Topic Three
Week Four
Sep 17
Sep 19
Topic Four: The Politics of the “Gilded Age”: 1880-1900
continue Topic Four
Week Five
Sep 24
Sep 26
Topic Five: The United States becomes a World Power: Imperialism: 1865-1900
Week Six
Oct 1
Oct 3
continue Topic Five
Topic Six: A New Century and A New Spirit: Progressivism: 1900-1920
Week Seven
Oct 8
Oct 10
continue Topic Six
Reading Exam: Riis
Week Eight
Oct 15
Oct 17
Topic Seven: The Great War: 1900-1920
continue Topic Seven
Week Nine
Oct 22
Oct 24
Topic Eight: The Age of Jazz: 1920’s
Midterm
Week Ten
Oct 29
Oct 31
Topic Nine: The Great Depression: 1929-1940
continue Topic Nine
Week Eleven
Nov 5
Nov 7
Topic Ten: The New Deal creates Modern America: 1933-1940
Reading Exam: Remarque
Week Twelve
Nov 12
Nov 14
Topic Eleven: The World at War…Again: 1930-1945
continue Topic Eleven
Week Thirteen
Nov 19
Nov 21
Topic Twelve: Prosperity and Paranoia: Happy Days and the Cold War: 1945-1960
Topic Thirteen: Prosperity turns to Protest, Civil Rights and Vietnam: 1955-1975
Week Fourteen
Nov 26
Nov 28
Thanksgiving Holiday
Week Fifteen
Dec 3
Dec 5.
Topic Fourteen: The Conservative Revolution and Watergate: 1968-1975
Catch-up Day
Dec 10
FINAL EXAM, 9:00 am Tuesday