GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE

SYLLABUS

HISTORY 2111 - UNITED STATES HISTORY I

Section 262  

SPRING  2010 

INSTRUCTOR:  JOHN MICHAEL MORROW
CLASSROOM:  (D) 1240
PHONE:   770-813-8614
EMAIL:   john.morrow@gpc.edu   

WEBSITE:  http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jmorrow/  

OFFICE  HOURS  BY APPOINTMENT

Department of Social Sciences
Secretary:  Ms. Angela Lefebvre
Dept Head:  Dr. James Engstrom

Department Telephone: 770-274-5405 

COURSE OBJECTIVE
Provide the student with a survey of the intellectual, social, cultural, political, economic and diplomatic history of the United States, 1492-1865, with an emphasis on the evolution of American institutions and values.

TEXT AND REQUIRED READING MATERIALS
Roark, James L., et al, The American Promise: A History of The United States, Volume I:  To 1877, Value Fourth Edition, Bedford/St. Martin’s ,Boston, 2009.

The student will also be required to obtain and read, Brands, H.W., The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, Anchor Books, New York, 2000.  A copy of the book may be obtained at any library or bookstore.  An inexpensive used copy may also be obtained from Internet bookselling sites such as www.Amazon.com. The student will also be required to read selected documents and articles which are available on the Internet from links provided on the above-referenced class website.   

EXAMINATIONS
The Student will be required to sit for three mid-term tests (45% of final grade), a course assessment exam (5% of final grade) and a comprehensive final examination (40% of final grade).   The lowest mid-term test grade will be dropped.  The examination schedule is stated below. Examinations will test the student’s mastery and understanding of the text material, supplemental reading and classroom lectures.  Examinations may consist of essay, matching, short answer, true-false, multiple choice questions or any combination of the above.

The student will be expected to sit for the mid-term tests, the course assessment exam and the final examination on the scheduled dates stated below.  A make-up test will only be granted after presentation of satisfactory documentary proof of medical or personal emergency.  No student will be allowed to sit for more than one makeup examination.  Make-up tests for missed mid-term tests will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at a time and at a location be announced.  Make-up examinations may consist of essay questions only.  Permission to take a makeup examination must be obtained by the student at least 7 days in advance of the aforesaid date.  It is the student’s sole responsibility to obtain permission and to make arrangements to take a make-up exam.

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE 

Test One:       Thursday, February 18                                                                                                                       

Test Two:      Thursday, March 25

Test Three:    Tuesday,  April 27

Course Assessment Exam & Final Exam:     Section 262:  Thursday, May 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

HISTORICAL ESSAY
The student will be required to produce a written essay on a topic that will be provided by the instructor.  The essay shall be no less than three and no more than five pages in length and shall adhere to the format that will be provided by the instructor.  The essay shall constitute 10% of the student’s final grade.  The completed essay shall be due on or before Tuesday, April 13.   An essay submitted after the end of class on the aforesaid due date will receive an automatic letter grade reduction.  No essay will be accepted after the end of class on Thursday, April 15.  

CLASS ATTENDANCE
The student’s ability to obtain a passing score on scheduled examinations will be seriously compromised if he or she does not attend class on a regular basis.  Class attendance will be recorded. 

Georgia Perimeter College has instituted a plan to address the operations of the college in the event of an H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic.  In compliance with Centers for Disease Control recommendations, students should NOT attend class or any public gatherings while ill with influenza. Students with flu symptoms should not come to campus and should remain at home during recovery. The illness and self-isolation period will usually be about a week. It is very important that individuals avoid spreading the flu to others.   Ill students should inform their instructor within 24 hours of their initial absence by submitting the GPC Illness Notification Form and provide the instructor with an anticipated return date.

The GPC Illness Notification Form can be found at:

http://www.gpc.edu/absence

Until further notice, all reading assignments, writing assignments, tests and examinations stated in the class syllabus shall be due and/or shall be administered on the date stated in this syllabus.  Reasonable accommodation will be made for students who are unable to sit for scheduled tests or complete assignments due to H1N1 infection or other illness, provided that the GPC Illness Notification Form is properly and timely submitted.   In the event the instructor is unable to attend a particular class due to flu symptoms or other illness, every effort will be made to have the class administered by a substitute instructor.  In the event a substitute instructor is unavailable, notice of the class being suspended will be posted on the first page of the class website, outside the door of the classroom and/or by email.  Make sure that your current email address is recorded in Georgia Perimeter College’s Student Information System.      

ACADEMIC HONESTY
Cheating is against Georgia Perimeter College policy.  Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive or mislead the instructor in arriving at an honest grade assessment.  Plagiarism is a form of cheating that involves presenting as one’s own the ideas or work of another.  Violation of the cheating policy may result in the student receiving a lowered grade on a portion of the course or a grade of   ”F” on the assignment in question.  A grade assigned to a student because of an alleged violation of the cheating policy may be appealed by the student through the appeals process of the college.   See the Student Conduct Code for details.  It is recommended that you become familiar with this code.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The use of cell phones or other recording and/or communications devices while class is in session is prohibited.  All cell phones and other communications devices shall be turned off while class is in session.  Audio and/or video recording of class sessions without the expressed written permission of the instructor is prohibited.  The use of a laptop computer is allowed provided that it is not used for instant messaging, texting, twittering or other communications and is not a distraction to other students.  The use of a laptop computer in class shall be a privilege that may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the instructor. 

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT
If you are a student who is disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act and requires assistance or support services, please seek assistance through the Center for Disability Services.  A CDS counselor will coordinate those services.  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, creed, national origin, age or disability, be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by Georgia Perimeter College.

 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT
Georgia Perimeter College adheres to affirmative action policies to promote diversity and equal opportunity for all faculty and students.

 THE REGENTS’ TEST
The University System of Georgia requires that all students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in University System institutions (including Georgia Perimeter College) successfully complete all parts of a competency examination in reading and English composition.  This competency examination is commonly referred to as “the Regents’ Test”, and it is free of charge.  A student has two attempts to pass this test before accumulating 45 hours of collegiate credit.  Please sign up for the Regents’ Test when you enroll in English 1102.  Do this in time to have two attempts before accumulating 45 credit hours!

 ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND STATEMENT
The Student Conduct Code and all other official policy statements contained in the 2009-2010 Georgia Perimeter College General Catalog and Schedule of Classes, Spring 2010, are incorporated herein by reference.