Department:

Department of History, Geography, and Global Studies

Course Title:

United States History Since 1865

 

Subject:

Hist 204 001

Credits:

3

Effective Term:

Day:

Fall 2007

M.W.F.

Time:

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.  GJ 319

 

Instructor(s):

Dr. Roger Davidson, Jr.

Office Location:

Grace Jacobs 416

Office Hours:

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. or by appointment

Office Phone:

(410) 951-3437

Email:

rdavidson@coppin.edu

 

Note: All official communications between students and the University must be via Coppin email addresses. Communications received from students from non-Coppin email addresses will not be recognized.

 

Required and Additional Texts/Materials:

Ø      Joseph Conlin, The American Past,   Vol. II  

Ø       Any American Standard Dictionary

Ø      Articles and Primary Documents will be assigned as needed

 

I. Course Description:

A working knowledge of history is essential to scholarly growth and development.  In fact, the vast majority, if not all, of today’s most pressing social, political, and economic issues have deep historical roots.  This course, however, will examine United States History from Reconstruction to the 70's.  In doing so, the class will cover topics on gender, race, religion, and foreign policy.  In short, we will examine, in a socio-political context, the development of the United States into a super power. The importance of this course rests in the linkages between yesterday's problems and today's concerns.  "What is Past is Prologue . . . Study the Past."

 

II. Course Objectives:

The curriculum is designed so that students acquire and demonstrate college-level proficiency in general education and essential skills. The course objectives will assess each student’s proficiency in the specified competencies from the list below:

.

Ø      Oral and written communication

Ø      Critical analysis and reasoning

Ø      Technological competency

Ø      Information literacy

 

 

 

 

 

 

III. Course Outline:

August 27                                           Introduction: Why Study History

 

August 29th                                         Prelude:  The Civil War

 

August 31st                                          History and Memory

 

September 5th - September 7th  --       Reconstruction

                                                            The American Past -- Chapter 25

 

September 10 - September 14 --         Gilded Age

                                                            The American Past -- Chapters 27 &  28

           

September 17 – September 21         Immigration, Industrialization, and Urbanization

                                                            The American Past – Chapters 29 & 30

           

September 24 - September 28 --         The Rise to World Power

                                                            The American Past -- Chapters 33 & 34

 

           

  ***** Examination # 1 --- Monday, October 1st  --  (Chapters 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33 & 34) *****************

 

October 3rd - October 5th --               The Progressive Era            

                                                            The American Past Chapters 35 & 36

 

October 8th - October 12th--              World War I at Home and Abroad

                                                            The American Past – Chapters 37 & 38

                       

October 15th - October 19th--              The Roaring Twenties and The Coming Of Disaster

                                                            The American Past – Chapters 39 & 40

           

 

October 22nd – 26th    The Great Depression and the New Deal

                                           The American Past – Chapters 41 - 42

 

******** 2nd Examination –  Friday, October 27 -- Chapters 35 Through 42   *******

October 31  - November 2  --  Global Conflict: World War II

                                                The American Past – Chapters – 43 & 44

 

November 5  – November 9 -- Global Conflict Continued: The Cold War

                                                            The American Past -- Chapters 45 & 46

 

November 12 – November 16  --        Cold War and Civil Rights

                                                            The American Past -- Chapter 47

 

************  Thanksgiving Break – November 19 – 24 **********************************

 

November 26  - November 30th --      Johnson’s Great Society: Reform and Conflict

                                                            The American Past -- Chapter 48

 

December 3rd – 7th --       Lecture  -- Today’s Problems and Their Historical Roots

                                        Preparation for the Cumulative Final Exam

 

 

*******Final Examination Monday May 10th *********

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Conduct:

Please Turn Off Cell Phones

No Talking during lecture or discussion unless pertinent to class

Be Prompt and Prepared

 

 

 

 

 

IV. Technology used in this Course:

Ø      Blackboard

Ø      Tegrity

 

V. Modes of Instruction:

Ø      Lecture

Ø      Tegrity

Ø       

 

VI. Modes of Assessment:

Ø      Tests ( 2 Tests and 1 Final exam)  Test 1 – October 1st/ Test 2 – October 29/ Final Exam – December 10

Ø      Essays

Ø      In-Class Discussion

 

VII. Writing Standards: Standards for a “C” Paper

A.  Content

The “C” paper fulfills the assignment, meeting all specified requirements, such as subject, organization, and length, and reflects the author’s awareness of audience and purpose. The paper presents a central idea supported by relevant material (facts, figures, examples, quotations, or other details). The reasoning is sound; arguments are supported with adequate evidence. Other points of view are acknowledged and responded to as appropriate. Sources of information are accurately presented and fully attributed.

 

B.     Organization

The “C” paper has a discernible and logical plan. It has a focus, and the writer maintains the focus throughout the essay. The writer has unified the entire essay in support of the central idea, or thesis, and individual paragraphs in support of subordinate points. Some individual paragraphs, however, may be weak. The writer promotes coherence through the logical order of paragraphs and the use of some or of the following devices: thesis statement, topic sentences, opening and closing paragraphs, and transitions. The use of these devices may lack smoothness, but the writer has achieved an acceptable level of organization.

 

C.  Style / Expression

The “C” paper uses reasonable stylistic options (tone, word choice, sentence patterns) for its audience and purpose. As a rule, the paper has smooth transitions between paragraphs, although some transitions may be missing or ineffective. The meaning of sentences is clear, although some sentences may be awkward or there may be a lack of variety in sentence patterns. Nonetheless, sentence structure is generally correct, although it may show limited mastery of such elements as subordination, emphasis, sentence variety and length, and modifiers. The paper reflects current academic practices of language use established by professional associations such as the Modern Language Association and the American Psychological Association.

 

D.  Grammar / Mechanics

The “C” paper follows the conventions of standard written U.S. English; thus, it is substantially free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics. What errors are present must not impede meaning nor overly distract the reader. The paper reflects current citation and documentation of sources as specified in relevant guidebooks.

 

VIII. Plagiarism Policy:

Ø      It will be taken for granted that any work, oral or written, that a student does for any course is his/her original work. Any violation of this rule constitutes plagiarism.

Ø      Plagiarism includes any form of cheating on examinations, tests, quizzes and any unacknowledged and/or undocumented use of another’s writing or ideas published or unpublished, including copying or rewording information found on the internet.

Ø      A student who plagiarizes will receive a failing grade for the particular assignment.

 

IX. Bibliography:

Ø      See Titles listed in the back of each chapter in the assigned textbook

Ø       

Ø       

 

X. Glossary:

Ø       

Ø       

Ø       

 

SPECIAL NEEDS: Students qualified by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) are welcomed and will be accommodated in this course. University policy requires ADA-qualified students to register with the counseling center and to provide the instructor with documentation from the center about the accommodation.  Accommodation can not reasonably be made for evaluations and other course activities that take place before the instructor receives the requisite documentation from the student.  Please contact the Counseling Center at (410) 951-3944.