PRESENTATION COLLEGE – ABERDEEN, SD

 

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES I  (HS213)

Three Semester Hours

FALL 2012

AB/LC  MWF 10:00-10:50 am (CT)

 

Welcoming people of all faiths, Presentation College challenges learners toward academic

excellence and, in the Catholic tradition, the development of the whole person.

 

Instructor:                  Dr. Brad Tennant, Associate Professor, Department of Arts & Sciences

Office Hours:             C333 MWF 7:00-8:45 am, 11:00-11:50 am;
                                    TR 7:00-11:50 am (or by appointment).

                                    (605) 229-8577 or 1-800-437-6060 ext. 577 

                                    E-mail:  brad.tennant@presentation.edu

 

Text:   The American Nation – A History of the United States  (Twelfth Edition) by Mark C. Carnes & John A. Garraty.  (Copies are on RESERVE in the library).

 

Additional Readings:

            William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” 

            http://www.mith2.umd.edu/eada/html/display.php?docs=bradford_history.xml

 

            Writings of Cotton Mather

            http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/mather.htm

 

            A Biography of Thomas Paine

            http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/tpaine/paine.htm

 

 

Course Description:

            History of the United States I (HS213) analyzes the European backgrounds of American exploration and colonization.  It is a study of the political, social, and economic conditions that brought about the American Revolution; the drafting of the Constitution, western expansion and the conflict of two civilizations – the industrial North versus the agricultural South.  Overall, HS213 is designed to be a general survey course of the history of the United States up to 1877.   HS213 fulfills the requirements for a social science/human culture core elective.

           

 

Instructor Goals:      

1)      To learn more about the social values of the American people in the past and the changes that occurred in American society over the years.

2)      To understand the geographic factors that contributed to the growth of the United States.

3)      To gain a broader understanding of the people and events that shaped United States history.

Instructional Techniques: 

            Although the course is largely lecture-based, it is hoped that the class size and paper topics will encourage active student participation.  Lecture outlines will be posted on Blackboard and Dyknow.

 

ADA Statement: 

            Presentation College is committed to ensuring equal learning opportunities for all students and provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with the College’s procedures.  If you are a student requiring accommodations or services, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 1-800-437-6060, Ext. 581.

 

Applicable Presentation College General Education Course Goal and Outcomes for HS213:

3.  Culture and Social Heritage -

Graduates will develop a critical understanding of human cultures and their creative achievements.

 

3a. Analyze historical events, ideas, and societies from a multi-cultural perspective.

3b. Understand interrelationships of individuals and societies in their historical/cultural contexts.

3c. Demonstrate understanding of the concepts and conversation common to a particular humanities discipline.

3d. Critically analyze creative ideas and works in the humanities from a contextual perspective.


3e. Demonstrate reading and critical analysis skills in the context of the humanities and social sciences.

 

 

 

Assessment and Grading:

            Students should be familiar with Presentation College’s policies regarding academic integrity.  These are found in the college catalog under “Academic Policies.”

 

Student assessment will be based on the following:

              Three exams (50 points each)            =  150

              Two papers (30 points each)             =    60

                                                                            210

 

EXAMS will consist of ten identifications and one essay question.  You will be given your choice of ten out of fifteen identifications and one of three essays.

            10 IDs (4 points each)  =  40 points

              1 essay (10 points)    =  10 points

                                                     50 points

PAPERS are to focus on the following topics:

Paper #1 – Puritanism in American Society

Paper #2 – Thomas Paine and Common Sense

I will provide you with a set of questions to help guide you through the readings and to assist you with your papers.  The end products should be typed, double-spaced, and no longer than five pages in length.  Font size should not exceed 14 (Times New Roman or comparable font style).

 

The following grading scale will be used based on the highest total number of points received by any student in the class.

            96% and above           =  A

            90 – 95%                     =  A-

            87 – 89%                     =  B+

            83 – 86%                     =  B

            80 – 82%                     =  B-

70 – 79%                     =  C

            60 –69 %                     =  D

            59% and below           =  Failing

 

Rubric for assessing history examinations and papers:

  • Advanced:  Student includes accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context with virtually no significant mistakes.
  • Above Average:  Student uses relevant and accurate information but either has minor mistakes or lacks specifics.
  • Average:  Student provides a general understanding of the topic but is limited in specifics or contains a significant mistake.
  • Below Average:  Student demonstrates a vague or poorly developed understanding of the topic with several significant mistakes.
  • Unsatisfactory:  Student does not demonstrate any accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context.

 

Attendance:

            As stated in the Presentation College catalog, “Each student is expected to attend every class session and be on time.  If for any reason a student must be absent from class, the responsibility of making up work rests entirely upon the student.”

--- Topics covered will include a great deal of information NOT necessarily found in the text.

--- Students are expected to contact the instructor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (in advance when possible) if an absence will result in missing an exam.  I do not give “incompletes.”

--- All weather-related closings are the decision of the administration.  Local radio and television stations will announce these.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES I (HS213)

THREE SEMESTER HOURS

FALL 2012

 

Aug. 29/31                  Course Introduction; Ch. 1 "Alien Encounters: Europe in the Americas"

 

Sept. 3/5/7                   Sept. 3 – Labor Day (No Class); Ch. 2 "American Society in the
            Making"; Sept. 7 – SDSHS BOT (No Class)

 

Sept. 10/12/14             Colonial Religion; Paper #1 Due

 

Sept. 17/19/21             Ch. 3 "America in the British Empire"

 

Sept. 24/26/28             Ch. 4 "The American Revolution"; Paper #2 Due;
            Sept. 28 - Festival of Books (No Class)

 

Oct. 1/3/5                    Test #1; Ch. 5 “The Federalist Era: Nationalism Triumphant”

 

Oct. 8/10/12                Oct. 8 – Native American Day (No Class); The Constitutional Convention 

 

Oct. 15/17/19              Ch. 6 “Jeffersonian Democracy”

 

Oct. 22/24/26              Ch. 7 “National Growing Pains”

 

Oct. 29/31/2                Ch. 8 “Toward a National Economy”

 

Nov. 5/7/9                   Ch. 9 “Jacksonian Democracy”; Test #2

 

Nov. 12/14/16             Ch. 12 "Westward Expansion"; Ch. 13 "The Sections Go Their Ways"

 

Nov. 19/21/23             Ch. 14 “The Coming of the Civil War”;
Nov. 23  – Thanksgiving Break (No Class)

 

Nov. 26/28/30             Ch. 15 – “The War to Save a Union”;

Dec. 3/5/7                    Ch. 16 "Reconstruction and the South”; Dec. 7 – SDSHS BOT (No Class)

 

Dec. 10-13 (MTWR)   Finals Week/ Test #3 TBA