HomeMy WebLinkAboutHIS-112Bergen Community College
School of Arts, Humanities, & Wellness
Department of History & Geography
Course Syllabus
HIS112-History of the United States from Reconstruction
Basic Information about Course and Instructor
Semester and year:
Course and Section Number:
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location:
Phone:
Departmental Secretary: [optional]
Office Hours:
Email Address:
Course Description
This course is an intensive survey of the history of the United States from the end of Civil War to the end
of the 20th Century. It will give students the basic narrative framework for understanding a formative
period of the United States becoming a world power. We will study the emergence and transformation of
America into a modern industrial democratic nation with a diverse population. Attention will be paid to
political, social, cultural, economic, and diplomatic developments that shaped the U.S. Students will also
be introduced to historical methodologies of research and writing.
The class also serves as an introduction to basic historical methodology and historiography. Students will
acquire a solid understanding of historical facts and interpretation while gaining a sense of the broad
scope of history as a discipline.
3-credits
General Education Course – Humanities Elective
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be
able to
1. Identify the major periods in the history of the United States from Reconstruction to the end of
the 20th century. Demonstrate an understanding of the narrative framework and factual basis of
American history.
2. Identify and analyze the important political, economic, social, intellectual, and religious forces
that shaped these periods.
3. Summarize and interpret the continuity and change that occurs in American History.
4. Demonstrate the ability to develop a thesis and support it with historical evidence both in writing
and orally.
5. Demonstrate basic research skills by locating and using source materials.
6. Summarize, paraphrase, and quote historical information in properly cited written analyses
7. Demonstrate the ability to state and support their own interpretation of historical issues concisely,
coherently, and logically.
Course Texts
The required text for this course is Divine & Breene, America: Past & Present, volume2, 10th edition.
Assessment and Grading
In pursuit of the foregoing goals, the course is based on the reading and discussion of historical
writings for both primary and secondary sources; the techniques of historical research and
writing are reviewed, and students are expected to use subject specific resources in their
preparation for active participation in class and for writing assignments. Students are required to
do a substantial amount of expository and critical writing in response to the material presented in
the course and by conducting outside research.
Because HIS-112 is a General Education course, it requires students to complete a variety of
critical thinking and writing assignments. These assignments may include class discussions and
debates requiring the application of critical thinking skills, short in-class essays, out-of-class
writing projects (journals, research papers, argument-analysis papers, book reviews, etc.), tests
and examinations containing essay components, and so forth. Instructors will respond to and
comment on students' writing in detail.
Grading Policy
A student's final grade for the course is based primarily on his or her performance on the
required work for the course (writing assignments, examinations, class presentations, etc.) and on
his or her overall mastery of the material covered in the course. A student's class participation
may also be evaluated, and the grade thereon may be used as a factor in determining the student's
final grade for the course; but a class participation grade will count for no more than fifteen
percent (15%) of the final grade. Examinations can consist of objective questions such as
multiple choice and short answers, but an essay of some form should also be evaluated as part of
the test. A sample grade distribution is as follows:
1st Mid-Term Exam
20%
2nd Mid-Term Exam
20%
Final-Exam (non-comprehensive)
20%
Writing/Research Assignments
30%
Participation/Collegiality
10%
Total
100%
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance
will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
History and Geography Departmental Attendance Policy:
It is imperative that students attend class on a daily basis in order to secure the knowledge necessary to
succeed in the course. Coming to class on time and staying for the entire class period is expected.
Excessive absences will have a detrimental effect on your performance in this course. Attendance will be
taken at each class session. It is expected that class will be conducted such that students will benefit in
their written work by the lectures and class discussion. If students occasionally arrive late, they should be
encouraged to enter quietly, not disturbing the class. If students miss class, they should be encouraged to
use the course calendar to stay abreast of material. It is probably a good idea for students to find study
partners and to exchange telephone numbers. Make-ups for examinations should be allowed by the
instructor if, in the instructor's judgment, the student has presented a good excuse for missing the work.
Instructors may penalize work which is late; however, the instructor 's policies for make-ups and late work
must be clearly specified on the student guide. Collegiality is expected at all times during the course.
Academic Dishonesty (From BCC Handbook):
Bergen Community College is committed to academic integrity—the honest, fair, and continuing
pursuit of knowledge, free from fraud and deception. Students are responsible for their own
work. Faculty and academic support services staff will take appropriate measures to discourage
academic dishonesty. The college recognizes the following general categories of violations of
academic integrity whenever a student does one of more of the following: uses unauthorized
assistance in any academic work, copies from another student’s exam, gives unauthorized
assistance to other students, fabricates data in support of an academic assignment,
inappropriately or unethically uses technical means to gain academic advantage, and commits
plagiarism.
Student and Faculty Support Services
The Henry and Edith Cerullo
Learning Assistance Center
Room L-
125 of
Pitkin
Building
Includes the Tutoring Center, English Language
Resource Center, and Writing Center. 201-447-
7489
The Distance Learning Office
– for any problems you may
have accessing your online
courses
201-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
The Tutorial Center Room S-
118 of
Pitkin
Building
201-447-7908
The English Language
Resource Center
Room 126
in Ender
Hall
For students whose native language is not
English.
The Writing Center Room L-
125 of
201-447-7136
Pitkin
Building
The Online Writing Lab
(OWL)
www.bergen.edu/owl This website will help
students with all aspects of the writing process in
every discipline.
The Office of Specialized
Services (for Students with
Disabilities)
L-115 of
Pitkin
Building
Students with documented disabilities who
require accommodations by the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) can request support
services from the Office of Specialized Services.
www.bergen.edu/pages/5175
The Sidney Silverman Library 2nd Level of
Pitkin
Building
Sample Format for Course Outline and Calendar
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to
change, depending upon the progress of the class
Date
Lecture Topic Learning
Objectives
Assignments/Events
Introduction: course
information, discuss syllabus
Reconstruction: President vs.
Congress
1870s: Retreat from
Reconstruction
Wild West: Bonanza
Wild West: Native Americans
Gilded Age: Rise of
Industrial & Capitalist
America
Gilded Age Labor Violence
Urban Nation: Rise of the
City
Gilded Age Politics
1890s: Political Crisis &
Realignments
*1st Mid-Term Exam
Research/Writing Workshop
Progressive Era (1900-1919)
Progressive Politics
Great War
Roaring 1920s: Modern
Times
Great Depression
Roosevelt & New Deal
Second World War: Foreign
& Military Policy
Second World War:
Homefront
*2nd Mid-Term Exam
Early Cold War
Height of the Cold War
1950s: Age of Affluence &
Confidence
Civil Liberties & Civil Rights
1960s: Liberal Consensus &
Rise of Counterculture
Vietnam War
Age of Nixon: Rise of
Conservatism
1970s: Crisis & Malaise
**Final-Exam**