HISTORY 112: The American Past II

The University of Michigan-Dearborn

Fall 2009

Sect 001: M & W 11:30-12:45, 2165 SSB

Sec 002: M & W 1:05-2:20, 2175 SSB

 

Professor Pam Pennock                              e-mail: ppennock@umd.umich.edu

Office: 1240 Social Sciences Building              Office phone: (313) 593-5284

(Social Sciences Department is on 2nd floor of SSB, 593-5096)

My Office Hours: M 2:30-3:00 pm; W 9:30-11:00 am, 2:30-3:00 pm; T 2:45-3:30, 5:00-5:45 pm; and by appointment

 

Course Website: www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~ppennock/112home.htm

AND

https://ctools.umich.edu/portal/

 

 

Course Description

History 112 is an introduction to American society from the end of the Civil War to the recent past.  Many of the cultural, political, and social issues that we see in the United States today originated during the period covered by this course.  The course focuses on central issues in the development of American society and institutions by raising questions about human values, economic growth, institutional change, cultural development, and political democracy as Americans have faced them since the Civil War. 

 

We will explore the following major themes:

  • Americans’ varied responses to industrialization, focusing on the growth of key institutions: business, government, and organized labor.
  • The shift from the production-oriented, largely rural America of the 19th century to the consumption-oriented, largely urban America of the 20th century – a transition that caused a radical transformation in American social values.
  • The centralization of political and economic power in the hands of the federal government, combined with the increased involvement of all branches of government in the everyday lives of Americans.
  • The continued struggle of many groups to maintain their own identities while at the same time trying to gain the social, political, and economic privileges traditionally reserved for white men.
  • The transformation in America’s relationship to the rest of the world from an isolationist stance to active global leadership.

 

Course Objectives

This course should help you develop the following skills:

  • To assess and think critically about historical issues, movements, and events along with the ways in which people interpret them.
  • To gain a basic factual knowledge of the historical period.
  • To analyze historical evidence and reach informed conclusions about that evidence.
  • To communicate more effectively through writing and speaking.

 

Required Readings:  (available at the UM-D bookstore)

It is your responsibility to procure these readings on time for course discussions and assignments.

  • Goldfield, et. al. The American Journey, Vol II, Concise Edition (2008) ISBN 0135150892   (accompanying CD-ROM not required)

     [note: also acceptable is: Goldfield, et. al.  The American Journey, Vol II., Brief Fourth Edition, Teaching and Learning Classroom Edition (2007)  ISBN 013199429X]

  • Kevin Boyle, Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age (2005) ISBN 0805079335
  • Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi (any edition)
  • Readings on the course websites. Some are basic internet links; others are .pdf files.

NOTE: Use of the course website is required.  The site contains not only all of your assignments and schedule for readings, but also links to other required readings.  The Social Sciences building, Library, CASL building, as well as other campus buildings, have computers for your use. Normally printing is free, but some computer labs on campus require users to bring their own paper.

 

Course Requirements:

 - Grading will not be on a curve, but if I notice marked improvement in your performance and learning over the course of the semester, I will factor that into your final grade.

 - You must take the final exam in order to pass the class.

 

1.      Attendance (5%)

I take attendance every class period. For every two unexcused absences, this portion of your grade drops 10 points.

 

2.      Participation (10%)

Participation in class, whether during participatory lectures or during designated discussion activities, is crucial to the learning process in this course.  The course will feature a number of discussions, some of them led by students.  In order to participate intelligently and enthusiastically, you must, first of all, attend class, second, have digested lectures and readings, and third, have thoughtfully completed your homework assignments. Absence or tardiness on important discussion days can hurt your grade.

 

3.      Short Writing Assignments and Quizzes (15%)

Several times during the semester students will write short essays (ranging from 1 to 3 pages) that analyze and respond to the readings we are working with in class. These assignments and their due dates are listed on the course schedule page.  Additionally, three scheduled short quizzes are included in this portion of the course grade. Quiz format is multiple choice, true-false, and short answer.

 

I may also give pop quizzes if I feel the class is not adequately engaged with the material.  Pop quiz grades will be included under this portion of the course grade.

 

4.      Midterm (20%) The midterm will feature in-class essays. A study guide will be provided in advance. Midterm: Oct 26.

 

5.      Term Paper (25%)  choice of topics/books

Students will write a 5-8 page paper either on the book Arc of Justice (due Nov. 4) OR on the book Coming of Age in Mississippi (due Nov. 30).  Students may write only one paper for credit.   I will provide the specific paper questions as well as further instructions (and advice!) on the course website. Papers must be turned in electronically to Turn-It-In.com (a plagiarism detection service), as well as in hard-copy (paper) form on the associated due date.

 

6.Final Exam (25%)

The  exam will be given in two parts: a take-home essay that covers material since the beginning of the semester; and an in-class portion that covers material since the midterm.  The take-home essay must be submitted electronically to TurnItIn.com.  A study guide for the exam will be provided in advance. 

 

Course Policies

If you feel that you will not be able to abide by these policies, you are free to withdraw from the course.

 
Make-Up and Late Work Policy

Legitimate excuses encompass emergencies, and they do not include work, vacation, or routine appointments.

 

I do accept assignments via email attachment (Word or .rtf files only) if an emergency arises and you cannot give me a paper copy in class.

 

Homework: Students must turn in homework assignments during class on the day the assignments are due (not early, not late) to receive full credit for the assignment.  The reason for this policy is that I build class discussion around the assignments. 

  • If you have a legitimate reason for missing class on the day a homework assignment is due, you must contact me as soon as possible, preferably the same day. You then may turn it in to me no later than the beginning of the next class period and still receive full credit.
  •  If you do not have a legitimate excuse for an absence yet are able to turn in the assignment early, I will give partial credit – as long as you tell me about it ahead of time.
  •  If you want to turn in the assignment late without a legitimate excuse, I will not accept the assignment.
  •  I will not accept more than two early/late homeworks per student, especially because one of the purposes of the assignment is to help students prepare for class discussion that day.

 

Papers: The paper is due by the beginning of the class period on the associated due date, but it may be turned in early without penalty. Unless a student presents me with a documented, legitimate excuse, ten points will be deducted for each day that a paper is late (including weekend days), and I will not accept a paper that is over three days late.

 

Exams: Students with a legitimate, documented excuse (e.g. serious illness, death in the family) may make up a missed exam or quiz, but students must contact me before the scheduled exam/quiz time.  Make-up exams will only be given to those students who can document a crisis.  Make-ups must occur as soon as possible after the exam was given.

 

Note on responsibility:

All students are responsible for their own learning and for knowing the course policies. If you have to miss a class, you are responsible for knowing what occurred during the session, obtaining class notes and assignments from a classmate, and making up the work.  It is your responsibility to contact me immediately (phone or e-mail) if you have a legitimate excuse for not turning in an assignment on time in class or missing an exam.

 

Using Laptop Computers In the Classroom

Students may use laptops and other electronic devices in the classroom as long as they stay “on task.” In other words, students may not engage in e-mailing, extraneous internet searching, or work for other classes during class time.

 

Email Etiquette

I welcome students’ email communication.  Please sign your email messages to me and write clearly. (You would be surprised at how often I cannot understand students’ messages and how often students do not include their names.)

 

 

Academic Misconduct

Plagiarism is a serious offense.  If I determine that a student has plagiarized on any assignment, he/she will fail the course. 

 

There are different forms of plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs when you:

·         use someone else’s exact words without putting quotation marks around them

·         put quotation marks around someone else’s exact words BUT fail to provide a reference or citation to the source and page number

·         paraphrase someone else’s words too closely without using quotation marks (even if you do provide a citation) Don’t get lazy when you’re paraphrasing!

·         use someone else’s thoughts without a reference or citation to the source  (if you’re paraphrasing someone’s words, you do not need quotation marks but you still need a citation)

 (For the purposes of this course, however, students do not need to cite my lectures as a source.)

If you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please come talk to me.  I don’t want anyone to fail on account of misunderstanding.  I am alert (and web-savvy)! Don’t do it!

 

The university’s statement on academic integrity:

The University of Michigan - Dearborn values academic honesty and integrity. Each student has a responsibility to understand, accept, and comply with the university's standards of academic conduct as set forth by the Code of Academic Conduct, as well as policies established by the schools and colleges. Cheating, collusion, misconduct, fabrication, and plagiarism are considered serious offenses. Violations will not be tolerated and may result in penalties up to and including expulsion from the University.

 

 

Disabilities:

The University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities.  Students need to register with Disability Resource Services (DRS) every semester they are enrolled for classes.  DRS is located in Counseling & Support Services, in the UC.  To be assured of having services when they are needed, students should register no later than the end of the add/drop deadline of each term.