HISTORY 112 - UNITED STATES HISTORY II
SYLLABUS - Fall 2014, TT 11-12:20
Dr. Brad Reynolds
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to your History 112 class, United States History II, with Dr. Brad Reynolds. This syllabus is available 24/7 at bradleyreynolds.weebly.com. Please make a note of that somewhere in case you need to run a copy of the syllabus or need to check something about the class and you don’t have the syllabus with you.
Below is a description of this course where you will find out about course texts, goals, assignments, important course dates, policies, grading, and reading, and the exams. If at anytime you have a question about your grade or the course, please contact Dr. Reynolds, preferably via email at [email protected], and please remember to include your class name and section number as well as your full name in the subject area of your email. (If that email address does not work you can try [email protected] but please do NOT send the same email to both addresses at the same time!) If you do not have email access you can call Dr. Reynolds anytime at 661-362-3388. If no one answers then please leave a message, and don't forget to leave your class name, your class section number, your name, and your phone number!
COURSE DESCRIPTION
For a list of the major topics covered in this class, please consult the Table of Contents in your assigned texts.
This course aims to acquaint you with the broad historical trends and the continuing controversies in American history since the end of the Civil War in 1865. It should help you realize that there are many ways to look at and respond to events. In so doing, the hope is that you will better understand the present so you can better shape the future. In order for you to understand and appreciate the course information more, you should stay current with the news of the day by regularly reading a daily newspaper, weekly news magazine, or news Web site, and by keeping current with the reading assignments listed below. By the end of this course it is expected that you will know why the United States failed to reconstruct the Union as a truly democratic republic following the Civil War and what the struggle has been for civil rights, why and how the West was settled during the four decades following the Civil War and what impact that had on the U.S. economy and on the people of the West (especially the Native Americans), you will learn why and how the U.S. expanded into various parts of the world in the latter half of the nineteenth century and fought a war with Spain in 1898, why and how the United States became an industrial giant at the turn of the twentieth century and the impact that has had on the American people and government, why and how the U.S. became the world’s leading military power in the early twentieth century and has retained that title, how the U.S. has dealt with rapid economic take-off and then economic depression, why the United States fought two world wars in less than twenty-five years during the first half of the twentieth century, how a hatred for communism dominated American foreign policy for over four decades, how important social changes over the last one hundred years and especially the last fifty years have (and are) creating forces that will either make America still stronger in the new century or will tear it asunder, and how the war on terrorism has affected American policy at home and abroad.
STUDENT LEANING OUTCOMES or SLOs
The specific Student Learning Outcomes or SLOs for this class, as listed in the course curriculum outline on file with the College, are that by the end of the semester you should be able to:
Assess the causes and ramifications of social, cultural, political, and legal change in the United States; and
Evaluate America's foreign affairs from the late 19th century to the present.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The specific Student Leaning Objectives that students should know by the end of the semester in this class, according to the class outline on file with the Curriculum Committee, are the ability to:
1. Appraise the social and political issues involved in Reconstruction while comparing and contrasting various Reconstruction formats and evaluating the impact of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments;
2. Analyze the catalysts for western settlement, and the troubles between "the establishment" and Native Americans, while assessing the validity of assimilation venues such as the Dawes Severalty Act and education;
3. Evaluate the ordeals and progress of laborers in America over time, and assess the impact of ethnocentrism on labor legislation;
4. Articulate the agenda of the populist movement and discern the impact of race on farmers' alliances;
5. Assess progressivism's political and social reforms, including the diminished role of machine politicians;
6. Appraise the reasons for, and results of, American involvement in international affairs, from the Spanish-American War through the two world wars, and discern the cultural prejudices that have had an impact on international affairs;
7. Explain the causes of the Great Depression, while comparing and contrasting Hoover's and Roosevelt's governments;
8. Analyze the causes and results of the Cold War;
9. Assess and evaluate the causes and results of the Vietnam conflict;
10. Explain the causes and on-going results of America's African-American civil rights movement;
11. Appraise the cultural and political contributions of underrepresented populations;
12. Discern examples of national policies and practices at the local and state level, and explain the mutual impact of the nation and state upon each other; and
13. Demonstrate a familiarity with selected local and state political leaders and legislative or judicial issues.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to develop and persuasively argue a historical thesis in a written assignment that identifies and explains major social, economic, political and/or cultural historical themes or patterns in United States history from 1877 to the present and apply appropriate historical methods to analyze and use primary and/or secondary sources as evidence to support the thesis.
PROFESSOR CONTACT INFORMATION
The contact information below is good 24/7. When you leave a message (preferably by email) you will get a response as soon as possible (and always within 48 hours). If you do not get a response back within 48 hours, then please resend your message on the third day, preferably by email, and please remember to always include your name and the name of your class and your class section number in the subject area of your email. Please also leave a detailed message so we resolve your question(s) quickly.
Email: [email protected]
(OR [email protected] but please only send an email to one address at a time! Thanks!)
Phone: (661) 362-3388
Fax: (661) 362-5386
Office Location and Office Hours
The best time to talk to Dr. Reynolds is at the end of class. If that does not work for you then you can contact him via one of the methods listed above, or you can drop by his office in BONH-329 at the Valencia campus on TT between 1230 and 1.
Dr. Bradley Reynolds
Dr. Reynolds holds history degrees from UCLA and USC. He has taught American history for over forty years at three universities (University of Southern California, University of Vienna, and California State University - Northridge) and two community colleges (College of the Canyons and El Camino College). He enjoys teaching and looks forward to discussing history with you!
COURSE TEXTS
There are two texts for this course: American History, An Overview Since 1865, Eighth Edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012) by Bradley Reynolds (ISBN 0078119499), and A Patriot's History of the United States by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen (New York: Sentinel, 2007). The ISBN is 9781595230324. Both books should be available in the COC Book Store.
The American History book was written specifically for your class, so if you can only afford one book at the start of the semester then this is the book you should get. It includes outlines of the material you will need to learn, a chronology of major events, and sample multiple choice questions that you are likely to find on your exams (which are discussed below). Because the American History text proceeds chronologically, you may find it particularly helpful if you have difficulty with a topical approach, or if you have difficulty understanding the organization or continuity of the course material. It will also help you with lecture material you miss (but remember, you are expected to always be in class)!
A Patriot's History is a general survey of U.S. history. It will provide background to the material you are studying in this class and it will give you more detail on the information you will hear in lecture. It is therefore strongly recommended that you read both books.
COURSE GOALS
The primary goals of this class are that you will complete the class readings and assignments to gain an understanding of the importance of knowing United States history so you can better comprehend the present and help to better shape the future.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND WHAT TO READ FOR EACH EXAM
You have three on-going course assignments in this class.
The first is to keep current with the readings. You will be reading about a third of your texts for each exam. So for Test One you should read in the American History text Chapters 1-9, for Test Two Chapters 10-17, and for Test Three Chapters 18-28. In A Patriot's History you should read Chapters 9-14 for Test One, Chapters 15-18 for Test Two, and Chapters 19-22 for Test Three. For a list of the major topics you will read and learn about in this class, please consult the Table of Contents in your texts. Note that the readings for Test One cover the years 1865-1914, for Test Two the years are 1914 to 1953, and for Test Three it's 1953 to the present.
Another continuing assignment is to read a daily newspaper, news Web site, or weekly news magazine so you can complete your ten history articles assignment which is discussed in more detail below under "History News Articles." If you do not already subscribe to a newspaper, you can find several newspapers and magazines for your review in the library, or check the Web for newspaper articles or current periodicals related to U.S. history. You may be surprised at how much we cover in class has a direct relationship to events today! So stay current with the news! You will enjoy the class more and you will be working on one of your course assignments which is to find and submit a review of ten news articles that specifically mention the primary material of your class which is U.S. history between 1865 and 2000.
Your remaining class assignment is to complete the ten history projects. The purpose of this assignment is to show you that there are many ways to learn and appreciate history. These projects are also discussed below in more detail under "History Projects."
GRADING
The grades in this class break down as follows:
10 quizzes worth 10 percent your class grade (You are expected to attend all classes so you can take the quizzes which can occur at anytime. Please see below under "Quizzes" for more about this.)
3 multiple choice tests worth 10 percent each or 30 percent of your class grade. (The scheduled exam dates are listed below in the "Calendar..." section while the tests are discussed in more detail below under "More About the Multiple Choice Exams.")
2 essay tests worth 20 percent each or 40 percent of your class grade. (The scheduled exam dates are listed below in the "Calendar..." section and are discussed in more detail below under "More About the Essay Exams.")
10 news articles worth 10 percent of your class grade. (These are due before the start of the final essay exam. You can get more information on how to do this assignment below under "History News Articles.")
10 history projects worth 10 percent of your class grade. (These are due before the start of the last essay exam. You can get more information on how to do this assignment below under "History Projects.")
CALENDAR OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CLASS DATES
August 26: Class begins at 11 am. Please bring a copy of this syllabus or a device on which you can view the syllabus.
August 29: By the end of this first week of lectures, you should have read the course syllabus and started your assigned reading for the class. If there is anything you do not understand about the class, then please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Reynolds at [email protected].
September 5: By the end of this second week of class you should be well into your reading. You should have also started working on your out of class assignments and started working on your first essay exam questions if you are planning to take the first essay exam, which is optional (see below under "More About the Essay Exams" for more on this). You should also be studying the questions in your American History book in preparation for your first multiple choice exam in three weeks. Again, if anything is not clear about the class then please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Reynolds!
September 30: Today is the first essay exam. It is optional, as discussed below under Essay Exams. If you decide to take this first essay then come to class with a small examination book and a blue or black pen. If you are not taking the first optional essay then you do not need to come to class today.
October 2: Today everyone must take the first multiple choice exam. Make sure you come to class with a Scan-tron 882 and a number 2 pencil for this test and all of your multiple choice exams.
October 28: Today is the second essay exam. It is mandatory if you did not take the first essay exam, or optional if you did.
November 4: Today everyone should take the second multiple choice exam.
November 11: Veterans Day - No Class!
November 27: Thanksgiving so no class!
December 9: Today everyone should take the final essay exam, and all articles and projects are due by the start of class.
December 11: Today everyone should take third multiple choice test.
Congratulations! You have finished the class!
MORE ABOUT THE MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMS AND WHAT TO READ FOR EACH TEST
You will take three multiple choice exams in this class. Their scheduled dates are listed above. Each exam will have 100 questions. The questions for these tests will be taken primarily from the class lectures and the multiple questions listed at the end of each chapter in your American History book, so review those questions and you should not have too many surprises when you take your multiple choice exams. Note that for Test One you should particularly study the multiples in Chapters 1-9, for Test Two you should study Chapters 10-17, and for Test Three study Chapters 18-28 in the American History book.
MORE ABOUT THE ESSAY EXAMS
In addition to the multiple choice exams, you will do at least two essay tests. One will be the final essay which everyone will take. For the other essay grade you will decide if you want to do an essay as part of Test One or Test Two. If you opt to take an extra written test (that is, to do an essay for Exam One and Exam Two), your highest essay score will count as your first essay grade (which is 20 percent of your class grade). Therefore, you should consider doing an essay test for Exam One so you can improve your written exam score if needed on Test Two. For the final exam everyone will do both a 100 question multiple choice test and an essay test.
Your essay exams will be based on the questions listed below. You will receive specific instructions on how to prepare for each essay about a week before each exam. There will also be a review of all the essay questions. For now suffice it to say that you will receive at least three of the five essays listed for each test and you will select one to answer. (So if you study at least three of the questions listed for each test you are guaranteed to get at least one of the questions you studied on your exam.)
Please note that when you take your essay tests you will need to write your essays in full sentences and paragraphs and that spelling, punctuation, grammar, and organization will count when determining your essay grade. So if you have a writing problem, get help from the tutorial lab or see Dr. Reynolds for other ways you might improve your writing. You should also take a look at the "Tips for Writing Essays" located at bradleyreynolds.weebly.com. Generally speaking, an essay that answers the question asked but in a broad general way emphasizing only lecture material and perhaps needing better writing and organization will probably earn a "C." A "B" essay is a very good essay but one that could perhaps use more specifics from the texts or lectures and/or more analysis and/or tighter writing and organization. An "A" essay is one that is well written and organized, answers the question in full, and uses specific examples from the lectures and texts. You will get a "D" if your essay has inaccurate information, and/or is poorly written and organized, and/or if it omits parts of the question, or if it answers more than one question. You will get an "F" if you fail to answer the question asked or if your writing is extremely poor or if you write very little. And you will get a "zero" if you fail to take the exam or if you are caught cheating, which would be like you didn't take the exam. A zero means an F for the test plus one lower class grade!
Students sometimes wonder how much they should write to get an "A." While you will be graded more on content then on length, generally speaking an "A" exam tends to fill most of a small examination book, both sides of the page. In other words, don't expect to get a very good grade if you write only a few pages. In short, an "A" means outstanding, a "B" means very good, a "C" means satisfactory, a "D" means unsatisfactory, and an "F" means you failed to satisfactorily answer the question. To calculate your class grade, assign the following points for each 10 percent of your class grade: four points to an "A," three points to a "B," two points to a "C" and one point to a "D." (So an essay test for which you received a "B" would be worth six points if each essay is 20 percent of your class grade.) At the end of the term add your total points and your grade will be as follows: 40-38 points A, 37-35 points A-, 34-32 B+, 31-29 B, 28-26 B-, 25-23 C+, 22-20 C, 19-17 C-, 16-14 D+, 13-11 D, 10-8 D-, and below 8 Fail.
Exam One Essay Questions
1. Discuss the different plans to reconstruct the Union after the Civil War and why each worked or failed. Then discuss the attempts to extend civil rights from 1865 to 1877 and why the movement and era called Reconstruction came to an end.
2. Discuss the reasons for the rapid settlement of the West from 1865-1895 and the impact of that settlement on the U.S. economy and on the people of the West, especially native Americans.
3. Discuss the causes of the Industrial Revolution from 1865-1895. Be specific in explaining how each point you make affected the economy.
4. Discuss the problems associated with the Industrial Revolution and how different groups of people reacted. Include in your discussion the Populists and the Progressives.
5. Discuss the reasons for America's rise as a world power from 1865-1895 and the events that led to the Spanish War of 1898. Then discuss the course of the war and its impact on United States foreign policy.
Exam Two Essay Questions
1. Discuss the causes of the First World War, why and how the U.S. got into the war, the general course of the war, and the war's impact on the U.S. at home and on U.S. foreign policy.
2. Discuss the causes of the Second World War, why and how the U.S. got into the war, the general course of the war, and the war's impact on the U.S. at home and on U.S. foreign policy.
3. Discuss the reasons for the economic prosperity of the 1920s and the causes of the Great Depression. Why was this depression so great?
4. Discuss how Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt reacted to the Great Depression and how their policies still affect America.
5. Discuss the origins of the Cold War, discuss the foreign and domestic problems President Truman faced as a result of the Cold War, and discuss how President Truman dealt with those problems.
Exam Three Essay Questions
1. Discuss when, why and how the Cold War began. Then cite at least one factor that perpetuated the Cold War in each decade from the 1950s-1980s and how each example affected America at home. Last, discuss when and why the Cold War ended and why some say it hasn't.
2. Discuss the origins of the Vietnam War, the course of the war, and its impact on the United States, both at home and in terms of foreign policy.
3. Write an essay on the civil rights movement from the 1950s through the 1990s in which you discuss the major factors that have contributed to its success and its major gains. Be sure to discuss more than one group and to cite examples from each decade of the 1950s through the 1990s.
4. Discuss the reasons for America's economic growth and decline from the 1950s through the 1990s. Then explain how each president has dealt with economic problems.
5. Write an essay about the impact of television on the history of the United States over the past fifty years in which you describe in detail at least one historical event of national importance from each decade of the 1950s - 1990s that was affected by TV.
TEST INSTRUMENTS
For your test instruments you must bring for each essay test at least one small examination book and a blue or black pen, and for each multiple test a scan-tron 882 and a number 2 pencil. Your failure to use the proper test instruments will result in one lower test grade.
MAKE-UP TESTS
You will have to opportunity to make-up an exam you cannot take with the class, with the exception of the final which cannot be made up after the class ends. Make-up exams will occur at a time and place determined by Dr. Reynolds, but will probably be during a class period. If you take a make-up exam before the scheduled class test time, you will not be penalized. If you take a make-up test after the class exam was given, you will be penalized one grade on that test for each week or portion thereof that you wait to do the make-up. Please note that you cannot make-up the first essay test. Instead you will simply take the second essay test. Nor will you be permitted to take the second essay outside of its scheduled time if you took the first essay. Your failure to make-up a missed exam will result in a failing grade for the test plus one lower class grade, so contact Dr. Reynolds to arrange a make-up exam as soon as possible if you must miss a test.
CHEATING. COPYING, AND PLAGIARISM
Unfortunately, a note needs to be made here about cheating, copying, and plagiarism. If you are caught cheating on an examination or any class assignment, or if you copy the work of someone else, or if you plagiarize, you will receive a failing grade for that test or set of assignments plus one lower class grade and you may be subject to further disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion. So make sure you obey the rules. If you have any questions about any of this make sure you ask Dr. Reynolds.
THE QUIZZES
There will be ten quizzes in this class. They will be based on lecture material. They can occur at anytime. So make sure you do not miss class and that you to not arrive late to class. The quizzes cannot be made up.
HISTORY NEWS ARTICLES ASSIGNMENT
Besides your exam grades, 10 percent of your class grade will come from the ten history news articles assignment. The point here is to realize that there are things in the mainstream news all the time that directly mention the primary material of your class, which is U.S. history between 1865 and 2000. So when you look for articles remember that they must specifically reference the primary history of your class between 1865 and 2000 and they must come from a current mainstream newspaper, Web site, or news magazine published within the semester dates of your class (and do not use history or military oriented newspapers or magazines or history or military Web sites, or "This Day in History" blurbs, or newspaper blogs, or magazine blogs, or sites like the New York Times "Topics" since they defeat the point of this assignment which is to show you that there are articles all the time in the news that specifically mention the primary history that is discussed in this class).
Keep in mind that if you are looking for articles in a standard newspaper (like the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, New York Times, Daily Breeze, Wall Street Journal, or Daily News) you are most likely to find them in section A, but also check other sections. You are also welcome to look for articles online. When you find a good article on some historical topic related specifically to the primary material of your class between 1865 and 2000, clip it and attach it securely (by staple or tape) to an 8 X 11 sheet of paper, or, if you find your article online, put it in an email with an active link to it. Also put your name, the date, the publication and page from which you got the article if you are submitting a hard copy. Then write a paragraph explaining what the article says and another paragraph explaining what parts of the article specifically mention the primary content of your class and why knowing the history discussed in your class is important for understanding the article. Remember, you are expected to turn in ten articles, so get started sooner than later even though the articles are not due until the start of the last essay exam. The idea here is to learn the history behind the stories in the news today to enhance your appreciation of the fact that knowing the past is relevant for understanding the present and acting upon the future. So keep your eyes open for historical items and write about them to get your class credit!
If you complete the required assignment by their due date you will receive an "A" for this part of your class grade. Eight articles will earn you a "B," seven a "C" and six a "D." If you turn in less than six articles, or if you turn in your articles late, you will get an F for this assignment, but that's better than a zero which will result in an F plus one lower class grade! So make sure you turn in something before the due date! You can turn in your articles, either individually or in total, anytime you like during the semester, but you should try and do so sooner than later, and preferably at least two classes prior to their due date, in case an article is lost or rejected and you need to do another. And make sure you keep copies of what you submit until you are told by Dr. Reynolds that your article was graded and recorded! Then keep that record until you get your final class grade!
HISTORY PROJECTS ASSIGNMENT
Your other course assignment involves you doing ten history projects. The idea here is for you to realize that there are many ways to learn about and appreciate history. For the list of the history projects you can do, please go to bradleyreynolds.weebly.com and click on "Projects." Remember, you are looking for things that relate to the primary content of your class (U.S. history) between 1865 and 2000. Things you can do include attending a lecture on something related to the content of this class, writing a book review on a book related to the content of this class, visiting a museum or library to see an exhibit related the content of this class, critiquing a historical cartoon or poster or photograph of something related to this class, interviewing someone who knows about information related to this class, or even analyzing a song about some aspect of U.S. history related to this class or reviewing a video game related to the class content. Whatever you decide to do, remember that you should do ten projects, you must follow the directions for each project as printed on the project worksheets (although projects can be from 1-3 pages and do not need to be 2 pages), and you may not do more than two of the same projects (so, for example, you cannot do three movie reviews). Also remember that the work you do for a project needs to be done within the term of your class if applicable. So, for example, if you go to a lecture or see a movie, it should be something you have done within the term dates of your course! If any of this is unclear, be sure to contact Dr. Reynolds for a further explanation.
If you complete all ten history projects by their due date you will get an "A" for this part of your class grade. Eight completed projects will earn you a "B," seven projects will earn you a "C," six projects a "D," and anything less than six will earn an "F." If you turn in less than six projects, or if you turn in your projects late, you will get an F for this assignment, but that's better than a zero which means an F plus one lower class grade! So make sure you turn in something before the last day of class! As with the news articles, you can turn in your ten history projects anytime during the semester, either individually or in total, but you should try to turn them in sooner than later and preferably at least two classes prior to their due date so if one is rejected you will have time to redo it. And make sure you keep a copy of each project until you know it has been accepted and recorded! Then keep that record until you get your final class grade!
IF YOU DECIDE TO DROP THIS CLASS
If you decide to drop this class it is your responsibility to file the class drop form before the drop date. If you remain in the class you should plan to attend all sessions, do the readings on time, and participate in class discussions. You are responsible for any material, assignments, or announcements that occur in class!
WELCOME TO THE CLASS!
SYLLABUS - Fall 2014, TT 11-12:20
Dr. Brad Reynolds
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to your History 112 class, United States History II, with Dr. Brad Reynolds. This syllabus is available 24/7 at bradleyreynolds.weebly.com. Please make a note of that somewhere in case you need to run a copy of the syllabus or need to check something about the class and you don’t have the syllabus with you.
Below is a description of this course where you will find out about course texts, goals, assignments, important course dates, policies, grading, and reading, and the exams. If at anytime you have a question about your grade or the course, please contact Dr. Reynolds, preferably via email at [email protected], and please remember to include your class name and section number as well as your full name in the subject area of your email. (If that email address does not work you can try [email protected] but please do NOT send the same email to both addresses at the same time!) If you do not have email access you can call Dr. Reynolds anytime at 661-362-3388. If no one answers then please leave a message, and don't forget to leave your class name, your class section number, your name, and your phone number!
COURSE DESCRIPTION
For a list of the major topics covered in this class, please consult the Table of Contents in your assigned texts.
This course aims to acquaint you with the broad historical trends and the continuing controversies in American history since the end of the Civil War in 1865. It should help you realize that there are many ways to look at and respond to events. In so doing, the hope is that you will better understand the present so you can better shape the future. In order for you to understand and appreciate the course information more, you should stay current with the news of the day by regularly reading a daily newspaper, weekly news magazine, or news Web site, and by keeping current with the reading assignments listed below. By the end of this course it is expected that you will know why the United States failed to reconstruct the Union as a truly democratic republic following the Civil War and what the struggle has been for civil rights, why and how the West was settled during the four decades following the Civil War and what impact that had on the U.S. economy and on the people of the West (especially the Native Americans), you will learn why and how the U.S. expanded into various parts of the world in the latter half of the nineteenth century and fought a war with Spain in 1898, why and how the United States became an industrial giant at the turn of the twentieth century and the impact that has had on the American people and government, why and how the U.S. became the world’s leading military power in the early twentieth century and has retained that title, how the U.S. has dealt with rapid economic take-off and then economic depression, why the United States fought two world wars in less than twenty-five years during the first half of the twentieth century, how a hatred for communism dominated American foreign policy for over four decades, how important social changes over the last one hundred years and especially the last fifty years have (and are) creating forces that will either make America still stronger in the new century or will tear it asunder, and how the war on terrorism has affected American policy at home and abroad.
STUDENT LEANING OUTCOMES or SLOs
The specific Student Learning Outcomes or SLOs for this class, as listed in the course curriculum outline on file with the College, are that by the end of the semester you should be able to:
Assess the causes and ramifications of social, cultural, political, and legal change in the United States; and
Evaluate America's foreign affairs from the late 19th century to the present.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The specific Student Leaning Objectives that students should know by the end of the semester in this class, according to the class outline on file with the Curriculum Committee, are the ability to:
1. Appraise the social and political issues involved in Reconstruction while comparing and contrasting various Reconstruction formats and evaluating the impact of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments;
2. Analyze the catalysts for western settlement, and the troubles between "the establishment" and Native Americans, while assessing the validity of assimilation venues such as the Dawes Severalty Act and education;
3. Evaluate the ordeals and progress of laborers in America over time, and assess the impact of ethnocentrism on labor legislation;
4. Articulate the agenda of the populist movement and discern the impact of race on farmers' alliances;
5. Assess progressivism's political and social reforms, including the diminished role of machine politicians;
6. Appraise the reasons for, and results of, American involvement in international affairs, from the Spanish-American War through the two world wars, and discern the cultural prejudices that have had an impact on international affairs;
7. Explain the causes of the Great Depression, while comparing and contrasting Hoover's and Roosevelt's governments;
8. Analyze the causes and results of the Cold War;
9. Assess and evaluate the causes and results of the Vietnam conflict;
10. Explain the causes and on-going results of America's African-American civil rights movement;
11. Appraise the cultural and political contributions of underrepresented populations;
12. Discern examples of national policies and practices at the local and state level, and explain the mutual impact of the nation and state upon each other; and
13. Demonstrate a familiarity with selected local and state political leaders and legislative or judicial issues.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to develop and persuasively argue a historical thesis in a written assignment that identifies and explains major social, economic, political and/or cultural historical themes or patterns in United States history from 1877 to the present and apply appropriate historical methods to analyze and use primary and/or secondary sources as evidence to support the thesis.
PROFESSOR CONTACT INFORMATION
The contact information below is good 24/7. When you leave a message (preferably by email) you will get a response as soon as possible (and always within 48 hours). If you do not get a response back within 48 hours, then please resend your message on the third day, preferably by email, and please remember to always include your name and the name of your class and your class section number in the subject area of your email. Please also leave a detailed message so we resolve your question(s) quickly.
Email: [email protected]
(OR [email protected] but please only send an email to one address at a time! Thanks!)
Phone: (661) 362-3388
Fax: (661) 362-5386
Office Location and Office Hours
The best time to talk to Dr. Reynolds is at the end of class. If that does not work for you then you can contact him via one of the methods listed above, or you can drop by his office in BONH-329 at the Valencia campus on TT between 1230 and 1.
Dr. Bradley Reynolds
Dr. Reynolds holds history degrees from UCLA and USC. He has taught American history for over forty years at three universities (University of Southern California, University of Vienna, and California State University - Northridge) and two community colleges (College of the Canyons and El Camino College). He enjoys teaching and looks forward to discussing history with you!
COURSE TEXTS
There are two texts for this course: American History, An Overview Since 1865, Eighth Edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012) by Bradley Reynolds (ISBN 0078119499), and A Patriot's History of the United States by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen (New York: Sentinel, 2007). The ISBN is 9781595230324. Both books should be available in the COC Book Store.
The American History book was written specifically for your class, so if you can only afford one book at the start of the semester then this is the book you should get. It includes outlines of the material you will need to learn, a chronology of major events, and sample multiple choice questions that you are likely to find on your exams (which are discussed below). Because the American History text proceeds chronologically, you may find it particularly helpful if you have difficulty with a topical approach, or if you have difficulty understanding the organization or continuity of the course material. It will also help you with lecture material you miss (but remember, you are expected to always be in class)!
A Patriot's History is a general survey of U.S. history. It will provide background to the material you are studying in this class and it will give you more detail on the information you will hear in lecture. It is therefore strongly recommended that you read both books.
COURSE GOALS
The primary goals of this class are that you will complete the class readings and assignments to gain an understanding of the importance of knowing United States history so you can better comprehend the present and help to better shape the future.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND WHAT TO READ FOR EACH EXAM
You have three on-going course assignments in this class.
The first is to keep current with the readings. You will be reading about a third of your texts for each exam. So for Test One you should read in the American History text Chapters 1-9, for Test Two Chapters 10-17, and for Test Three Chapters 18-28. In A Patriot's History you should read Chapters 9-14 for Test One, Chapters 15-18 for Test Two, and Chapters 19-22 for Test Three. For a list of the major topics you will read and learn about in this class, please consult the Table of Contents in your texts. Note that the readings for Test One cover the years 1865-1914, for Test Two the years are 1914 to 1953, and for Test Three it's 1953 to the present.
Another continuing assignment is to read a daily newspaper, news Web site, or weekly news magazine so you can complete your ten history articles assignment which is discussed in more detail below under "History News Articles." If you do not already subscribe to a newspaper, you can find several newspapers and magazines for your review in the library, or check the Web for newspaper articles or current periodicals related to U.S. history. You may be surprised at how much we cover in class has a direct relationship to events today! So stay current with the news! You will enjoy the class more and you will be working on one of your course assignments which is to find and submit a review of ten news articles that specifically mention the primary material of your class which is U.S. history between 1865 and 2000.
Your remaining class assignment is to complete the ten history projects. The purpose of this assignment is to show you that there are many ways to learn and appreciate history. These projects are also discussed below in more detail under "History Projects."
GRADING
The grades in this class break down as follows:
10 quizzes worth 10 percent your class grade (You are expected to attend all classes so you can take the quizzes which can occur at anytime. Please see below under "Quizzes" for more about this.)
3 multiple choice tests worth 10 percent each or 30 percent of your class grade. (The scheduled exam dates are listed below in the "Calendar..." section while the tests are discussed in more detail below under "More About the Multiple Choice Exams.")
2 essay tests worth 20 percent each or 40 percent of your class grade. (The scheduled exam dates are listed below in the "Calendar..." section and are discussed in more detail below under "More About the Essay Exams.")
10 news articles worth 10 percent of your class grade. (These are due before the start of the final essay exam. You can get more information on how to do this assignment below under "History News Articles.")
10 history projects worth 10 percent of your class grade. (These are due before the start of the last essay exam. You can get more information on how to do this assignment below under "History Projects.")
CALENDAR OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CLASS DATES
August 26: Class begins at 11 am. Please bring a copy of this syllabus or a device on which you can view the syllabus.
August 29: By the end of this first week of lectures, you should have read the course syllabus and started your assigned reading for the class. If there is anything you do not understand about the class, then please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Reynolds at [email protected].
September 5: By the end of this second week of class you should be well into your reading. You should have also started working on your out of class assignments and started working on your first essay exam questions if you are planning to take the first essay exam, which is optional (see below under "More About the Essay Exams" for more on this). You should also be studying the questions in your American History book in preparation for your first multiple choice exam in three weeks. Again, if anything is not clear about the class then please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Reynolds!
September 30: Today is the first essay exam. It is optional, as discussed below under Essay Exams. If you decide to take this first essay then come to class with a small examination book and a blue or black pen. If you are not taking the first optional essay then you do not need to come to class today.
October 2: Today everyone must take the first multiple choice exam. Make sure you come to class with a Scan-tron 882 and a number 2 pencil for this test and all of your multiple choice exams.
October 28: Today is the second essay exam. It is mandatory if you did not take the first essay exam, or optional if you did.
November 4: Today everyone should take the second multiple choice exam.
November 11: Veterans Day - No Class!
November 27: Thanksgiving so no class!
December 9: Today everyone should take the final essay exam, and all articles and projects are due by the start of class.
December 11: Today everyone should take third multiple choice test.
Congratulations! You have finished the class!
MORE ABOUT THE MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMS AND WHAT TO READ FOR EACH TEST
You will take three multiple choice exams in this class. Their scheduled dates are listed above. Each exam will have 100 questions. The questions for these tests will be taken primarily from the class lectures and the multiple questions listed at the end of each chapter in your American History book, so review those questions and you should not have too many surprises when you take your multiple choice exams. Note that for Test One you should particularly study the multiples in Chapters 1-9, for Test Two you should study Chapters 10-17, and for Test Three study Chapters 18-28 in the American History book.
MORE ABOUT THE ESSAY EXAMS
In addition to the multiple choice exams, you will do at least two essay tests. One will be the final essay which everyone will take. For the other essay grade you will decide if you want to do an essay as part of Test One or Test Two. If you opt to take an extra written test (that is, to do an essay for Exam One and Exam Two), your highest essay score will count as your first essay grade (which is 20 percent of your class grade). Therefore, you should consider doing an essay test for Exam One so you can improve your written exam score if needed on Test Two. For the final exam everyone will do both a 100 question multiple choice test and an essay test.
Your essay exams will be based on the questions listed below. You will receive specific instructions on how to prepare for each essay about a week before each exam. There will also be a review of all the essay questions. For now suffice it to say that you will receive at least three of the five essays listed for each test and you will select one to answer. (So if you study at least three of the questions listed for each test you are guaranteed to get at least one of the questions you studied on your exam.)
Please note that when you take your essay tests you will need to write your essays in full sentences and paragraphs and that spelling, punctuation, grammar, and organization will count when determining your essay grade. So if you have a writing problem, get help from the tutorial lab or see Dr. Reynolds for other ways you might improve your writing. You should also take a look at the "Tips for Writing Essays" located at bradleyreynolds.weebly.com. Generally speaking, an essay that answers the question asked but in a broad general way emphasizing only lecture material and perhaps needing better writing and organization will probably earn a "C." A "B" essay is a very good essay but one that could perhaps use more specifics from the texts or lectures and/or more analysis and/or tighter writing and organization. An "A" essay is one that is well written and organized, answers the question in full, and uses specific examples from the lectures and texts. You will get a "D" if your essay has inaccurate information, and/or is poorly written and organized, and/or if it omits parts of the question, or if it answers more than one question. You will get an "F" if you fail to answer the question asked or if your writing is extremely poor or if you write very little. And you will get a "zero" if you fail to take the exam or if you are caught cheating, which would be like you didn't take the exam. A zero means an F for the test plus one lower class grade!
Students sometimes wonder how much they should write to get an "A." While you will be graded more on content then on length, generally speaking an "A" exam tends to fill most of a small examination book, both sides of the page. In other words, don't expect to get a very good grade if you write only a few pages. In short, an "A" means outstanding, a "B" means very good, a "C" means satisfactory, a "D" means unsatisfactory, and an "F" means you failed to satisfactorily answer the question. To calculate your class grade, assign the following points for each 10 percent of your class grade: four points to an "A," three points to a "B," two points to a "C" and one point to a "D." (So an essay test for which you received a "B" would be worth six points if each essay is 20 percent of your class grade.) At the end of the term add your total points and your grade will be as follows: 40-38 points A, 37-35 points A-, 34-32 B+, 31-29 B, 28-26 B-, 25-23 C+, 22-20 C, 19-17 C-, 16-14 D+, 13-11 D, 10-8 D-, and below 8 Fail.
Exam One Essay Questions
1. Discuss the different plans to reconstruct the Union after the Civil War and why each worked or failed. Then discuss the attempts to extend civil rights from 1865 to 1877 and why the movement and era called Reconstruction came to an end.
2. Discuss the reasons for the rapid settlement of the West from 1865-1895 and the impact of that settlement on the U.S. economy and on the people of the West, especially native Americans.
3. Discuss the causes of the Industrial Revolution from 1865-1895. Be specific in explaining how each point you make affected the economy.
4. Discuss the problems associated with the Industrial Revolution and how different groups of people reacted. Include in your discussion the Populists and the Progressives.
5. Discuss the reasons for America's rise as a world power from 1865-1895 and the events that led to the Spanish War of 1898. Then discuss the course of the war and its impact on United States foreign policy.
Exam Two Essay Questions
1. Discuss the causes of the First World War, why and how the U.S. got into the war, the general course of the war, and the war's impact on the U.S. at home and on U.S. foreign policy.
2. Discuss the causes of the Second World War, why and how the U.S. got into the war, the general course of the war, and the war's impact on the U.S. at home and on U.S. foreign policy.
3. Discuss the reasons for the economic prosperity of the 1920s and the causes of the Great Depression. Why was this depression so great?
4. Discuss how Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt reacted to the Great Depression and how their policies still affect America.
5. Discuss the origins of the Cold War, discuss the foreign and domestic problems President Truman faced as a result of the Cold War, and discuss how President Truman dealt with those problems.
Exam Three Essay Questions
1. Discuss when, why and how the Cold War began. Then cite at least one factor that perpetuated the Cold War in each decade from the 1950s-1980s and how each example affected America at home. Last, discuss when and why the Cold War ended and why some say it hasn't.
2. Discuss the origins of the Vietnam War, the course of the war, and its impact on the United States, both at home and in terms of foreign policy.
3. Write an essay on the civil rights movement from the 1950s through the 1990s in which you discuss the major factors that have contributed to its success and its major gains. Be sure to discuss more than one group and to cite examples from each decade of the 1950s through the 1990s.
4. Discuss the reasons for America's economic growth and decline from the 1950s through the 1990s. Then explain how each president has dealt with economic problems.
5. Write an essay about the impact of television on the history of the United States over the past fifty years in which you describe in detail at least one historical event of national importance from each decade of the 1950s - 1990s that was affected by TV.
TEST INSTRUMENTS
For your test instruments you must bring for each essay test at least one small examination book and a blue or black pen, and for each multiple test a scan-tron 882 and a number 2 pencil. Your failure to use the proper test instruments will result in one lower test grade.
MAKE-UP TESTS
You will have to opportunity to make-up an exam you cannot take with the class, with the exception of the final which cannot be made up after the class ends. Make-up exams will occur at a time and place determined by Dr. Reynolds, but will probably be during a class period. If you take a make-up exam before the scheduled class test time, you will not be penalized. If you take a make-up test after the class exam was given, you will be penalized one grade on that test for each week or portion thereof that you wait to do the make-up. Please note that you cannot make-up the first essay test. Instead you will simply take the second essay test. Nor will you be permitted to take the second essay outside of its scheduled time if you took the first essay. Your failure to make-up a missed exam will result in a failing grade for the test plus one lower class grade, so contact Dr. Reynolds to arrange a make-up exam as soon as possible if you must miss a test.
CHEATING. COPYING, AND PLAGIARISM
Unfortunately, a note needs to be made here about cheating, copying, and plagiarism. If you are caught cheating on an examination or any class assignment, or if you copy the work of someone else, or if you plagiarize, you will receive a failing grade for that test or set of assignments plus one lower class grade and you may be subject to further disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion. So make sure you obey the rules. If you have any questions about any of this make sure you ask Dr. Reynolds.
THE QUIZZES
There will be ten quizzes in this class. They will be based on lecture material. They can occur at anytime. So make sure you do not miss class and that you to not arrive late to class. The quizzes cannot be made up.
HISTORY NEWS ARTICLES ASSIGNMENT
Besides your exam grades, 10 percent of your class grade will come from the ten history news articles assignment. The point here is to realize that there are things in the mainstream news all the time that directly mention the primary material of your class, which is U.S. history between 1865 and 2000. So when you look for articles remember that they must specifically reference the primary history of your class between 1865 and 2000 and they must come from a current mainstream newspaper, Web site, or news magazine published within the semester dates of your class (and do not use history or military oriented newspapers or magazines or history or military Web sites, or "This Day in History" blurbs, or newspaper blogs, or magazine blogs, or sites like the New York Times "Topics" since they defeat the point of this assignment which is to show you that there are articles all the time in the news that specifically mention the primary history that is discussed in this class).
Keep in mind that if you are looking for articles in a standard newspaper (like the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, New York Times, Daily Breeze, Wall Street Journal, or Daily News) you are most likely to find them in section A, but also check other sections. You are also welcome to look for articles online. When you find a good article on some historical topic related specifically to the primary material of your class between 1865 and 2000, clip it and attach it securely (by staple or tape) to an 8 X 11 sheet of paper, or, if you find your article online, put it in an email with an active link to it. Also put your name, the date, the publication and page from which you got the article if you are submitting a hard copy. Then write a paragraph explaining what the article says and another paragraph explaining what parts of the article specifically mention the primary content of your class and why knowing the history discussed in your class is important for understanding the article. Remember, you are expected to turn in ten articles, so get started sooner than later even though the articles are not due until the start of the last essay exam. The idea here is to learn the history behind the stories in the news today to enhance your appreciation of the fact that knowing the past is relevant for understanding the present and acting upon the future. So keep your eyes open for historical items and write about them to get your class credit!
If you complete the required assignment by their due date you will receive an "A" for this part of your class grade. Eight articles will earn you a "B," seven a "C" and six a "D." If you turn in less than six articles, or if you turn in your articles late, you will get an F for this assignment, but that's better than a zero which will result in an F plus one lower class grade! So make sure you turn in something before the due date! You can turn in your articles, either individually or in total, anytime you like during the semester, but you should try and do so sooner than later, and preferably at least two classes prior to their due date, in case an article is lost or rejected and you need to do another. And make sure you keep copies of what you submit until you are told by Dr. Reynolds that your article was graded and recorded! Then keep that record until you get your final class grade!
HISTORY PROJECTS ASSIGNMENT
Your other course assignment involves you doing ten history projects. The idea here is for you to realize that there are many ways to learn about and appreciate history. For the list of the history projects you can do, please go to bradleyreynolds.weebly.com and click on "Projects." Remember, you are looking for things that relate to the primary content of your class (U.S. history) between 1865 and 2000. Things you can do include attending a lecture on something related to the content of this class, writing a book review on a book related to the content of this class, visiting a museum or library to see an exhibit related the content of this class, critiquing a historical cartoon or poster or photograph of something related to this class, interviewing someone who knows about information related to this class, or even analyzing a song about some aspect of U.S. history related to this class or reviewing a video game related to the class content. Whatever you decide to do, remember that you should do ten projects, you must follow the directions for each project as printed on the project worksheets (although projects can be from 1-3 pages and do not need to be 2 pages), and you may not do more than two of the same projects (so, for example, you cannot do three movie reviews). Also remember that the work you do for a project needs to be done within the term of your class if applicable. So, for example, if you go to a lecture or see a movie, it should be something you have done within the term dates of your course! If any of this is unclear, be sure to contact Dr. Reynolds for a further explanation.
If you complete all ten history projects by their due date you will get an "A" for this part of your class grade. Eight completed projects will earn you a "B," seven projects will earn you a "C," six projects a "D," and anything less than six will earn an "F." If you turn in less than six projects, or if you turn in your projects late, you will get an F for this assignment, but that's better than a zero which means an F plus one lower class grade! So make sure you turn in something before the last day of class! As with the news articles, you can turn in your ten history projects anytime during the semester, either individually or in total, but you should try to turn them in sooner than later and preferably at least two classes prior to their due date so if one is rejected you will have time to redo it. And make sure you keep a copy of each project until you know it has been accepted and recorded! Then keep that record until you get your final class grade!
IF YOU DECIDE TO DROP THIS CLASS
If you decide to drop this class it is your responsibility to file the class drop form before the drop date. If you remain in the class you should plan to attend all sessions, do the readings on time, and participate in class discussions. You are responsible for any material, assignments, or announcements that occur in class!
WELCOME TO THE CLASS!