Email: nancyzey@shsu.edu

CID Number: 4698 (Zey)

*WELCOME TO TEAM TEACHING

This course is team-taught between Dr. Littlejohn and Dr. Zey. On some days we will lecture together, and on others we will lecture alone. Although each of us will focus on different subjects, we make assignments and grade together. You may attend the office hours of either instructor. You may also email us with questions at our individual addresses (littlejohn@shsu.edu or nancyzey@shsu.edu).  The advantage of team teaching is that the course is more dynamic and interesting for you.

*COURSE DESCRIPTION

History 164 is the second part of a two-semester sequence of courses on the history of the United States. This class provides students with an introductory survey of the chief cultural, political, economic, and diplomatic developments in America between the Civil War and the present.

Thematically, the course covers four topics: 1) the evolution of American cultural and social patterns; 2) the role of government in society; 3) the rights of individuals within a multicultural society; and 4) the role of America in the world.

Another key focus is the study of ordinary Americans who became extraordinary. In addition to a biography of Lyndon Johnson, we will read narrative accounts covering the lives of dozens of American business people and civil rights activists. Hands-on history, including field trips and the examination of historical documents, is an important component of this course as well. By studying our past, you will understand more clearly how we became who we are today. 

*LEARNING OUTCOMES

1) Students will gain factual knowledge. Students will gain a basic understanding of the periodization and themes in American history from the Civil War to the present.

2) Students will learn fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories. Students will be taught the fundamental principles of historical scholarship as they encounter traditional and recent interpretations of the American past.

3) Students will learn to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view. Students will learn to evaluate primary documents and secondary sources as they consider conflicting historical interpretations.

*REQUIRED BOOKS

American Saga: 1877-Present– James S. Olson
Purchase in History Department office – AB4, Room 441: $25.00

Documenting American History
Purchase in History Department office – AB4, Room 441: $25.00

Lyndon B. Johnson and the Transformation of American Politics
Purchase at local bookstores or online: $21.60; ISBN-10: 0321383257

In addition to the books listed above, you will be assigned various primary documents and scholarly articles over the course of the semester. These readings should be completed by the date they appear on the syllabus.

A note on reading assignments: Professors and students often play a cat and mouse game when it comes to assigned readings. While some students read every word the professor assigns, many skim through the pages and some skip the assignment altogether. As much as humanly possible, strive to be the student who reads everything at least once. Even if you don’t enjoy the chapter or book, you need to read the assignment in order to complete coursework and participate in discussions. Quizzes are a common way of encouraging students to read and “getting” those who don’t. Though we find them unpleasant to write, read, and grade, we will give them if there appears to be an epidemic of non-reading. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain required books and complete all reading assignments on time. 

*COURSEWORK AND GRADING

*COURSEWORK DESCRIPTION

Exams: Each exam will cover the section of the course immediately preceding it and will be based on class lectures as well as assigned readings. Each exam will be consist of a variety of objective items (e.g., multiple choice or matching) to test your factual knowledge. Please note: Make-ups will not be given except for excused University absences.  All make-ups will be in the form of an essay exam and be administered on Dead Day.  Review sheets will be posted in Blackboard during each unit, but you should also answer the questions at the end of each chapter in Documenting American History in preparation for each exam. Please note: You may only make up one exam.

Course Portfolio: Because so much of the class focuses on assigned readings, you are expected to contribute thoughtfully and regularly to discussions. To help you keep track of your contributions, you will keep a “Course Portfolio,” which can also include attendance at educational University events. We will make periodic announcements about such events and offer recommendations about films, History Channel programs, etc. that you can pursue for outside participation. Also, from time to time you will be given a question to think about as you read and asked to compose a brief written response. Some questions will involve detection of facts, while others ask you to engage critically with the text/document.

- You will write entries in your course portfolio based on a MICROSOFT WORD template posted in Blackboard. Each course portfolio must be saved as a single MICROSOFT WORD document.
- By 9 a.m. on the day of each exam, you will submit your course portfolio through blackboard.
- We will use turnitin.com to check each portfolio for plagarism.
- To obtain full credit, each of your response statements in the porfolio must be at least 150 words. 
- In addition, your response statements must fully address the question(s) and demonstrate thorough knowledge of the reading. 
- Periodically, you will be assigned in-class responses to readings due that day. Participation in class and in writing over the semester will help you become a better reader, writer, and thinker. 

Please note: Outside participation opportunities are especially helpful for those who are too shy to speak up in class. At the end of the semester, full credit will be given to those students who make informed comments, ask thoughtful questions, demonstrate preparedness, and actively involve themselves throughout the semester. Full credit also depends on consistent civility—please see “Classroom Rules of Conduct” below.

Book Review: This assignment will involve answering the questions at the end of Lyndon B. Johnson and the Transformation of American Politics. A handout and more information will be provided early in the semester.

*ATTENDANCE

Either you or some kind third-party is paying a lot of money for you to be enrolled in this course. Divide the amount paid for the course by the total number of times we meet, and write that amount down every time you miss class. That was money spent for no return benefit.  And the class loses out, too, by not having your contributions that day. Make the course a success and make the most of your investment by coming to every class. Attendance is required and will be taken at the start of class.  Anyone arriving after attendance has been taken will be counted absent as will those who leave early without informing us in advance. You will also be keeping track of your attendance in your course porfolio—no need to inform us unless you are going to be out for a prolonged period. 

Please note: Students who miss more than three classes may receive a grade reduction at the end of the term. Students who miss more than six classes will be recommended to drop the course altogether.

Section 51.911(b) of the Texas Education Code requires that an institution of higher education excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. A student whose absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable time after the absence.  SHSU policy 861001 provides the procedure to be followed by the student and instructor.  A student desiring to absent himself/herself from a scheduled class in order to observe (a) religious holy day(s) shall present to the instructor involved a written statement concerning the religious holy day(s). This request must be made in the first fifteen days of the semester in which the absence(s) will occur. The instructor will complete a form notifying the student of a reasonable timeframe in which the missed assignments and/or examinations are to be completed.

*COMMUNICATION

You are expected to check your University email and check our class Blackboard page at least once a day (check either early in the evening or early in the morning in case we post a “Class Cancelled” announcement).  For email, you can either go to Blackboard or send directly to nancyzey@shsu.edu or littlejohn@shsu.edu.

*CLASSROOM RULES OF CONDUCT

Students must to adhere to the SHSU Code of Student Conduct, which can be found at https://www.shsu.edu/students/guide/dean/codeofconduct.html. And within this classroom, students must also demonstrate civility at all times. In other words, please do not come in late, leave early, text message, sleep, whisper, do Sudoku, or anything else that disrupts the class or distracts us. Civility must also be maintained in all communications with us and with other classmates whether online or in person. Keep in mind that this class is a community, and the community cannot function if we don’t all show basic courtesy and respect and devote our full attention to each other during the time we’re together. Students who demonstrate incivility may be asked to leave the classroom and/or drop the course.

*SAM CENTER

You are very fortunate to be enrolled at SHSU, which has an outstanding academic resource to help you succeed as a student: the SAM Center.  The SAM Center is now located in CHSS (the new building across from AB4) in Suite 170 on the first floor. The SAM Center offers academic advising and counseling for numerous issues. They also offer an excellent study skills course during the semester.  Visit their website for more information: http://www.shsu.edu/~sam_www/. If anything is getting in the way of your academic success, the friendly people here will do their best to help you.  In some cases, we may require you to go.

*WRITING CENTER AND READING CENTER

For those who need help with any writing assignment or such things as job applications (even creative writing), go to Farrington 111. Visit the Writing Center’s website: http://www.shsu.edu/~wctr/. For those who need help with reading strategies, go to the Reading Center located in Farrington 109. See their website: http://www.shsu.edu/~rdg_www/. As with the SAM Center, we may require you to visit one or both of these resources.

*ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The University expects all students to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom.  Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action.

5.31 The University and its official representatives, acting in accordance with Subsection 5.32, may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
"Cheating" includes the following and similar actions:
(1) Copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files, data listings, and/or programs.
(2) Using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test.
(3) Collaborating, without authorization, with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work.
(4) Knowingly, and without authorization, using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, soliciting, copying, or possessing, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
(5) Substituting for another student, permitting any other person, or otherwise assisting any other person to substitute for oneself or for another student in the taking of an examination or test or the preparation of academic work to be submitted for academic credit.
(6) Bribing another person to obtain a test or information about an unadministered test.
(7) Purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one's own work any research paper or other writing assignment prepared by an individual or firm. This section does not apply to the typing of the rough and/or final versions of an assignment by a professional typist.

5.32 "Plagiarism" means the appropriation and the unacknowledged incorporation of another's work or idea into one's own work offered for credit.
5.33 "Collusion" means unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work for credit.
5.34 "Abuse of resource materials" means the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft or alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.
5.35 “Academic work” means the preparation of an essay, dissertation, thesis, report, problem, assignment, or other project that the student submits as a course requirement or for a grade.

2.00 PROCEDURES IN CASES OF ALLEGED ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
2.01 Procedures for discipline due to academic dishonesty shall be the same as in disciplinary actions specified in The Texas State University System Rules and Regulations and Sam Houston State University Student Guidelines except that all academic dishonesty actions shall be first considered and reviewed by the faculty member teaching the class. The faculty member may impose failure or reduction of a grade in a test or the course, and/or performing additional academic work not required of other students in the course. If the faculty member believes that additional disciplinary action is necessary, as in the case of flagrant or repeated violations, the case may be referred to the Dean of Student Life or a designated appointee for further action. If the student involved does not accept the decision of the faculty member, the student may appeal to the chair of the appropriate academic department/school, seeking reversal of the faculty member's decision.
2.02 If the student does not accept the decision of the chair of the academic department/school, he/she may appeal to the appropriate academic dean. The chair of the academic department/school may also refer the case directly to the academic dean if the case so warrants. 

*STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

It is the policy of Sam Houston State University that individuals otherwise qualified shall not be excluded, solely by reason of their disability, from participation in any academic program of the university. Further, they shall not be denied the benefits of these programs nor shall they be subjected to discrimination. Students with disabilities that might affect their academic performance are expected to visit with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities located in the Counseling Center. They should then make arrangements with the instructor in order that accommodations can be made to assure that participation and achievement opportunities are not impaired.  SHSU adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. If you have a disability that may affect adversely your work in this class, then we encourage you to register with the Counseling Center and to talk with us about how we can best help you.  All disclosures of disabilities will be kept strictly confidential.  Please note: No accommodation can be made until you register with the Counseling Center and provide us with proper documentation.

*VISITORS IN THE CLASSROOM

Unannounced visitors to class must present a current, official SHSU identification card to be permitted to the classroom.  They must not present a disruption to the class by their attendance.  If the visitor is not a registered student, it is at the instructor’s discretion whether or not the visitor will be allowed to remain in the classroom.

*INSTRUCTOR EVALUATIONS

At the end of the semester, students will be asked to complete an evaluation of the course, but we welcome feedback about readings, assignments, and our instruction throughout the semester.  Let’s work together to make this a successful and rewarding learning experience.

*CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS

This syllabus is your contract for the course. We will not change the nature of the course, the number of assignments, or the grading system. However, we reserve the right to update the course schedule and reading assignments throughout the term.

*DATES FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Thursday, September 10: Galveston, Texas: The Gilded Age in Galveston | 7 am to 8 pm

Thursday, October 8: Huntsville State Park | tba

Below is a list of weekly reading assignments. The readings are due on the day they appear. Please bring your books to class everyday for in-class activities.

Aug 25 – Introduction and Syllabus
First Day Activity

August 27 – The Civil War and Reconstruction
Civil War in Memory (Lecture: Culture and Public History - NZ)
Reconstruction (Lecture and CC: Huntsville - JL)

September 1 – The New South
Booker T. Washington (Lecture: JL)
W.E.B. Du Bois (Lecture: NZ)
Samuel Walker Houston (Activity: JL &NZ)
Reading: American Saga - chapter 1
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 1

September 3 – The West: Herman Lehmann, Quanah Parker, Henry Pratt & Carlisle Indian School
Herman Lehmann, Quanah Parker (Lecture and CC: NZ)
Henry Pratt and Carlisle Indian School (Lecture: JL)

September 8 – Andrew Carnegie, the American Federation of Labor, & the Homestead Strike
(Lecture and Activity & CC: JL)
Digital Module [ link ]
Reading: American Saga - chapter 2
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 2

September 10 – Social Problems of the Gilded Age
Social Problems and Socialism (Lecture & Activity: NZ)
Reading: American Saga - chapter 3 (skim chapter 4)
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 3

September 15 – The Four Themes of Progressivism
The Four Themes of Progressivism (Lecture: JL)
Reading: American Saga - chapter 5
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapters 5

September 17 – World War I
(Lecture: JL) (Activity: NZ)

September 22 – 1919: A Troublesome Year
(Lecture: Red Scare, Race Riots - NZ)
Reading: American Saga - chapter 6
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 6

September 24 – Exam I

September 29 - The Jazz Age, 1920s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPTfS69E3-c

October 1 - The Perils of Prosperity
Reading: American Saga - chapter 7
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 7

October 6 - Crash of 1929: Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/crash

October 8 - Field Trip to Huntsville State Park
Reading: American Saga - chapter 8
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 8

October 13 - 1937: Constitutional Revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L7txbm8S5Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCExIoib5g

October 15 - Prelude to War
Reading: American Saga - chapter 9
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 9

October 20 - The Origins and Early Fighting in World War II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt_1jWaW7tQ
Online Module on World War II | link

October 22 - World War II at Home and Abroad

October 27: Cold War from Hiroshima to McCarthyism
Reading: American Saga - chapter 10
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 10

October 29 – Exam II

November 3 – The Civil Rights Movement to 1956
http://www.voicesofcivilrights.org/
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1950-1959/1952/1952_1
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1950-1959/1954/1954_1

November 5 – Cold War and Civil Rights
Reading: American Saga - chapter 10
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 10

November 10 – From JFK to LBJ

November 12 – Vietnam War (turn in LBJ Book Assignment)
LBJ Reading Assignment

November 17 – 1968: Causes and Consequences (earth to the moon closing)
Reading: American Saga - chapter 11
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 11

November 19 – Nixon, the Silent Majority, and the Watergate Crisis
Reading: American Saga - chapter 11
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 11

November 24 – Reading Day
Reading: American Saga - chapter 12
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 12

December 1 – Reagan and the Fall of Communism
Reading: American Saga - chapter 12
Reading 2: Documenting American History - chapter 12

December 3 - Michael Jordan and Luis "TRIKZ" da Silva
Read: Walter Lafeber, "'The Greatest Endorser of the Twentieth Century' or 'An Insidious Form of Imperialism,'" from Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism [ pdf ]
Listen: This American Life , "Meet the Pros," Act One. Crispy with the Rock (start at minute 3) [ link ]
Watch: Luis "TRIKZ" da silva in Nike Freestyle commercial [ link ]

December 8 – Recent History

December 10 – Exam 3