WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

Fall 2008

 

HIST 2302-SA03, Fri. 6:00-10:10 p.m.

San Antonio Center

Instructor:  Ashley R. Armes

Office hours:  Before class, or by appointment

Phone:  210-590-2677

Email:  ashleyarmes@yahoo.com

 

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE:  HIST 2302 (U.S. History since 1877)

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  American experience from Reconstruction through the period of industrialization, overseas expansion, agrarian agitation, Progressivism, World War I and II, and the Cold War to the present.

 

There is no prerequisite for this course.

 

TEXTBOOK:  Robert A. Divine et. al., America Past and Present (Pearson-Longman, 2007, 8th Edition). 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Three exams:  two midterms and the final exam.
  • One research project:  a short paper (5-9 pages) on a historically relevant topic.  Possible topics will be discussed the first night of class.
  • Participation and attendance:  class participation involves attendance, taking quizzes, participating in discussion, and asking and answering questions.

 

GRADE:  The course grade will be determined from the following breakdown:

 

Midterm exams (2)         50%                       Research paper                             10%

Final exam                      25%                       Participation (includes quizzes)   15%

 

  • Attendance will be taken toward the end of each class.  Students should be on time to each class and remain for the entire class period.  Three tardies is equivalent to one absence.

 

COURSE EVALUATION:  The assignment of grades will be based on the following scale:

A= 90-100                                          I= Incomplete

B= 80-89                                            W= Withdrawal

C= 70-79

D= 60-69

F= Below 60

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:  According to university policy, a student absent three times (out of a possible eleven class periods) will receive a grade of “F” for the course.  I will keep an attendance record, and strongly urge you to come to every class.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/COURSE OUTCOME COMPETENCIES:

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1) Identify the catalysts for and results of the developments in United States history

2) Describe the importance of significant people, events, places, groups, and acts of ruling bodies.

3) Articulate cause and effect relationships by organizing historical facts.

4) Present historical arguments in both written assignments and within the timeframe of exams.

5) Identify how factors like race, class, and gender contributed to how individuals experienced events in U.S. history.

 

Students with Disabilities: It is University policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University.  Students should inform the instructor of existing disabilities at the first class meeting.

 

Policy for Missed Assignments/Exams:  Students will earn a participation grade each class.  At the end of the term, I will drop the two lowest participation grades.  Absences result in a zero for the missed participation grade.  IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE UP PARTICIPATION GRADES.  For missed exams, students will receive a different exam than the class and must schedule to take the exam with a proctor at WBU.  Any make up exams must be taken before the next class period.

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

                        Lecture Topics                                              Readings from Text        

August 22     Introduction                                                                Chapter 17

                        The West:  Exploiting an Empire

 

August 29     The Industrial Society                                               Chapter 18

                        Toward an Urban Society                                        Chapter 19

 

Sept 5            Gilded Age Politics                                                   Chapter 20

                        Toward Empire                                                         Chapter 21

 

Sept 12          Exam One                                                                 Chapter 22

                        Intro to Progressive Era

 

Sept 19          Progressive Era Cont’d                                           Chapter 23

                        World War I                                                                Chapter 24

 

Sept 26          Modern America                                                       Chapter 25

                        The Great Depression                                              Chapter 26                

 

Oct 3              New Deal                                                                   Chapter 26 cont’d

                        World War II                                                               Chapter 27

 

Oct 10            Exam Two                                                               

                        Onset of the Cold War                                              Chapter 28

 

Oct 17            Affluence and Anxiety                                               Chapter 29

                        The Turbulent Sixties                                                Chapter 30

                        Research Paper Due

 

Oct 24            New Conservatism                                                   Chapter 31

                        Conclusion-to the 21st Century                                 Chapter 32

                                               

Oct 31            FINAL EXAM

 

THIS SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND MAY REQUIRE ADJUSTMENTS AS THE SEMESTER PROGRESSES.