HIST 201 American History, 30,000 BCE- 1877
SECTION 001: MWF: 1: MWF: 11:15-12:10
Fall Semester, 2008 
 Dr. Katherine M. B. Osburn                        e-mail: kosburn@tntech.edu; 
phone: 372-6297                                             office: Henderson Hall, 110
OFFICE HOURS: M/W.: 10:00-11:00 & M: 12:30-3:30 and by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: To understand who we are as a nation requires knowledge of our national origins. This course traces American history from before Columbus to Reconstruction. The focus is on the creation of the Republic and its subsequent unraveling in the Civil War. We will examine the important processes of historical change that were present at the creation of America and analyze why the nation split apart in only 73 years. Our study of this period will not focus on dry statistics, boring presidential administrations, and endless recitation of dates, facts, and figures, but on ideas, cultural trends, social movements, the development of institutions, and the effects of economic and political changes on society.  In short, we will study how people lived in response to the forces of history that often drastically altered their lives.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop critical and analytical thinking and writing skills.
2. To comprehend several basic principles of historical thinking such as: change and/or continuity over time, multiple causation of historical events, origins of present problems, and historiography.
3. To learn to interpret historical materials.
4. To understand the historical development of early America as characterized by four themes: a. The creation of American society; b. The New Republic; c. Early industrialization and sectional conflict; d. The Civil War and Reconstruction
5. To discern the nature of social change over time.

 READINGS:
1. Portrait of America , Vol. I. Ninth Edition. Stephen Oates, Charles J. Errico, eds.
2. Documents. There are 2 documents online. Please make copies of them. There will be an in-class, open-note quiz on them. 

ASSIGNMENTS  
1. EXAMS: You will have 3 unit exams, consisting of: 32 multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank questions (including 5 extra" credit" multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank questions)  and 3 IDs, worth 6 points each. The exams are worth 50 points all total. All grades are assigned on a 10 point scale. I do not curve my grades.
    All exam questions will come from the lectures. The reading is covered in the weekly quizzes. 
    For help in preparing for the unit exams see: What to do with Dr. O's exams. This will tell you EXACTLY what I am looking for on the test, including how to write a good ID question. 
    To View Study Guides that tell you exactly what is on the test, scroll down into the calendar on the assignments page and find where exams are listed. Guides are linked in there.  

THE FINAL
POLICY ON MISSED EXAMS:  
EXTRA CREDIT ESSAY ON THE FINAL

2. QUIZZES: There will be 1 in-class 5-point quiz on the Secession documents--this IS an open note quiz.

        You will also take 9 on-line quizzes but I will grade you for only 7.  Each quiz is worth 5 points. See Instructions for On-Line Quizzes  
        If you have problems w/ you quiz, you should email me so that I can keep track of who is having difficulties, but I really can't do anything about technical problems. Therefore, you need to email the technical support team for WebCT.  Please cc your emails to technical support, so they can answer your technical questions.  http://www.webct.com/support/viewpage?name=support_student_home. 

3. GRADES: may be broken down as follows:
 unit exams: 3 @ 50.  Unit Exam Grading Scale: 50-45 = A; 44-39 = B; 38-33=C; 32-27= D
    While 3 @ 50 adds up to 150, your lowest test grade will be dropped, so your true total points are 100
quizzes: 7 @ 5 total points: 35
Grades are based on a standard 10% scale:
     total:  135-122 = A
                121-108= B
                107-94 =C
                93-80 = D
GRADING PROCESSES AND APPEALS

4. ATTENDANCE POLICY: I strongly encourage you to attend class. All of the material you will be tested on comes from the lectures.  Moreover, I may decide to assign random extra points.  Finally, you might actually have something to contribute to the discussion.  Since some students decide to "drop out" following the second test, I have a strict attendance policy for the last 5 weeks. Students who skip more than 3 classes during the final 5 weeks without a really good excuse will lose one whole letter grade.

5. GENERAL EDUCATION: This course is designed to enable students to achieve several general education outcome goals.  A description of these goals may be found through the History Department Home Page under "General Education Requirements."  Please see http://www.tntech.edu/www/acad/hist/history.html.

6. ADA STATEMENT: Any student who believes he or she will require special consideration to meet the requirements of this course must consult the Office of Disability Services (UC 112: x6119) during the first week of classes.  I will work with the ADA office to the best of my ability to help you.  

7. POLICY ON CHEATING: Students caught cheating will automatically fail this class EVEN if they get caught before the drop date.  You will not be allowed to escape the consequences of your actions by dropping.  If you stay in this class, you agree to abide by this rule. After all, today's cheating students are tomorrow's cheating CEOs.

8. GENERAL ETIQUETTE ISSUES  

9. "INSTEAD OF" AKA EXTRA CREDIT

10. ABOUT HISTORICAL CONTEXT

CLICK HERE FOR LECTURES AND READING ASSIGNMENTS