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Fall

Course Description: This course is part of a general survey of the United States from discovery through the present. This half covers the period from discovery to the Civil War. Course Objectives: About a century ago the study of history became a social science. In that hope this class, although it is a survey, is designed not only to open your eyes to your past, but help you better understand the present. Dates are not as important in this class as larger ideas. Together the lectures, discussions, multimedia, and assignments are designed to get you thinking critically about people, about processes, and about sources, in the broadest-yet-sharpest ways. So, by semester's end, together we will develop our abilities as scholars by:

Coastal Carolina University Department of History HIST 201—American History From Discovery to Reconstruction Sections: 01—MWF, 3PM-3:50PM Brittain (BRTH) 241 03—TTH, 8AM-9:15AM: Brittain (BRTH) 243 18—TTH, 9:25AM-10:40AM: Brittain (BRTH) 248 All of which are taught by me! Who am I, you ask? Kevin Kokomoor, Ph.D. Office: Brittain 379 kkokomoor@coastal.edu Office Hours: TBA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Course Description: This course is part of a general survey of the United States from discovery through the present. This half covers the period from discovery to the Civil War. Course Objectives: About a century ago the study of history became a social science. In that hope this class, although it is a survey, is designed not only to open your eyes to your past, but help you better understand the present. Dates are not as important in this class as larger ideas. Together the lectures, discussions, multimedia, and assignments are designed to get you thinking critically about people, about processes, and about sources, in the broadest-yet-sharpest ways. So, by semester’s end, together we will develop our abilities as scholars by: Developing a general understanding of the Native American, African American, and European American groups that inhabited North America, as well as their place in the course of our country’s early development. Expanding our knowledge of historians’ usage of unique sources and methodologies, including anthropology, as well as their limitations. Learning to access, analyze, and utilize primary sources. Constructing a clear and concise argument in a well-written and cogent way. Student Learning Objectives: This class will expose you to different interpretations, perspectives, and approaches to the past. By the end of the semester I hope you will be: Embracing multiple perspectives of the past. Understanding the WHY and the HOW of history Asking large questions. Answering large questions. Evaluation: Grades are distributed in this way: A: 90-100; B+: 87-89; B: 80-86; C+: 77-79; C: 70-76; D+: 67-69; D: 60-69; F: < 60 Here is the basic rubric of graded components: Weekly Assignments: 4-6/week @ 4-5pts each x 15 weeks = 240-450pts Written Response Tests: 3 @ 100pts. = 300pts Final Reflection: 1 @ 50pts. = 50pts = ~ 590-800pts Schedule: Exam Dates Exam 1: 9/19 Exam 2: 10/31 Exam 3: 12/5 Final Reflection: 12/12 Evaluated Work: Weekly Assignments: These will constitute the majority of the weekly work you will do for the class. They might include responses to lectures, chapter readings, online quizzes, preparing responses from online articles, watching short YouTube clips, etc. There will be set due dates and times for this that will be spaced either on Wednesdays, or Sundays. Written Tests: After each section you will be asked to summarize what you’ve learned. Tests will be entirely online, and short answer in nature. They will constitute, for instance, 8-10 questions from which you will choose and answer 4-5 in at least one paragraph. These tests will constitute a massive portion of your grade and will be based overwhelmingly on what you learned IN CLASS! Not what you learned from your sectional assignments. If you do not pay attention or attend class, you will not do well on these, and if you do not do well on this you cannot hope to do well in class. Final Reflection: This is just a reflection on how you felt about the class. Assignment Due Dates/Late Work/Extra Credit Beginning at the second week of classes, I will not accept late work in almost any circumstance whatsoever. There will be too many assignments swirling around to have people emailing me stuff days after it was due. I will only accept late work in the case of a bona fide, fully-documented medical emergency that absolutely forces me to accept it. Computer issues, Moodle issues, and other related problems WILL NOT constitute acceptable excuses. You will have several days to turn assignments in each week. If you wait until the last minute to do assignments and then your computer crashes, Moodle crashes, an absolute “Act of God” natural disaster hits, etc., and you can’t turn your work in by midnight, that is still your fault! There is an easy to make sure this does not happen to you—don’t wait until the last minute to do you work! In order to make up for the zeros you might catch here and there, I will make extra credit available almost every single week. They will be available in extra assignments. They will be worth less than regular assignments, and might not look like much on their own. They will add up over time, however, and are an excellent way to make up for a poor test or a missed assignment. Take advantage of them early and ensure you do well in the class. Required Text: There are no required texts for this class. For a standard survey text we will use www.americanyawp.com. Otherwise, assignment material will be taken from all over the internet. Links or scans of required sources for weekly assignments will be provided. Class Movies: Most streamed and recorded content will be lecture material. HOWEVER, for some classes I will watch videos. If you choose to stream, you will be responsible for watching those videos whether you come to class or not. If you do not choose to come to class on these days, you will have to pay for the video rental or purchase. They are available on YouTube, Amazon, Apple, etc., and are usually $1.99-$2.99/each. You will be responsible for finding this videos and purchasing them if necessary. If you do not, and a video response is required, then you will lose credit for not completing it. Academic Integrity: The University places the highest value on academic integrity. Work submitted in this course is presented as your own thought, understanding, and words. Academic dishonesty undermines the University's purpose and your own education. This course is done almost entirely outside of the classroom and on your own time, and so it carries an elevated risk of dishonest activity, whether intended or not. EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: plagiarism, cheating, and unauthorized group work. Regardless of your intentions, dishonest work will not be tolerated. It is usually obvious, and it will be dealt with IMMEDIATELY AND AT MY DISCRETION. Depending on the severity of the infraction, this may include assigning a failing grade for either the assignment or the course, reporting to the Office of Academic Integrity under the procedures described in the Student Code of Conduct, and even assigning a grade of 'FX' for the course, signaling a failure for an academic violation. The full text of Code of Student Conduct is located at: www.coastal.edu/judicialaffairs/codeofconduct.pdf. I will say additionally, that with his class being taught online there is an increased risk of academic dishonesty, whether intentional or not. Digital learning is only possible if the work you do at home is of the highest quality, reflects real work done, and above all else, is honest and legitimate. I will make assignments very clear and the rules will be even clearer. If you engage in academic dishonesty, you will be held accountable. Americans with Disabilities Act: Coastal Carolina University, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, will provide reasonable accommodations for eligible students with disabilities. If you require special assistance, please see me privately and seek assistance directly from the Office of Disability Services. You are responsible for initiating arrangements of Accommodations for tests and other assignments in collaboration with the Office of Disability Services and your professors. Please see www.coastal.edu/counseling/disability.html for more information. Religious Holidays/ Excused Absences: No student can be compelled to attend class or sit for an examination at a day ortime when he or she would normally be engaged in a religious observance or on a day or time prohibited by his or her religious belief. That being said, you should notify me if you intend to be absent for a class or announced examination, in accordance with this policy, prior to the scheduled meeting. Syllabus Policy: This syllabus is a guide for the course. It is subject to change with advanced notice and I guarantee you that it will change several times over the course of the semester, PARTICULARLY THIS SEMESTER. But that doesn’t mean you can forget about it. It is still the law of the land, so keep an eye on it, and always refer to it before asking me a question about an assignment or a due date.