Course Syllabus

Fall 2024 | HIS-1211-VT01 - U.S. History to 1865

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Andrew Byler
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Philip Crossman

General Education Requirements

VSCS Humanistic Perspectives

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is a survey of the major events in United States history from colonial days to the time of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Students examine forces behind these events and their social, economic, and political implications for the development of society in the United States.

Essential Objectives

1. Describe selected indigenous cultures in the Americas prior to the European colonization and explore the impact colonization had and continues to have on these cultures.
2. Explore factors leading to the development of slavery in the Americas and analyze its sustained social, economic, political, and cultural impacts.
3. Discuss the ideas, experiences, and events in the American colonies that led to American independence.
4. Analyze the ways in which early religious, philosophical, and political thought in the United States continue to shape and influence American society today.
Trace the major socioeconomic and technological developments that shaped the United States and differentiated its distinct geographic regions.
6. Analyze the significance of western expansion in shaping the experiences, identities, and narratives of various demographic groups in American society.
7. Discuss the causes and outcomes of the Civil War including its impacts regionally and nationally.
8. Analyze the theses, context, values, perspectives, and facts in primary and secondary sources.
9. Engage in and evaluate historical research using information literacy skills.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Fall 2024 textbook details will be available on 2024-05-20. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

HIS-1211-VT01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

While we will be following the textbook -- Out of Many: A history of the American People-- fairly closely this semester, we will also pull from other sources and zoom in on historical events or dynamics the groups finds particularly interesting

-students should expect research and writing assignments as the main 'work' this semester, rather than quizzes and tests

-most written work will require drafts, revisions, and feedback from your peers rather than one-and-done submissions or essay tests

-in class, I will facilitate discussion with prompts and questions, but try to avoid lectures in favor of conversational learning

-small and large group work will be a regular feature of class time

-students are encouraged to share their own ideas and even present to the class, but small groups will also offer a way around the 'spotlight'

-weekly discussion posts and replies to your peers are another important way we will learn and question the course material; meeting submission deadlines are crucial to effective discussion posting

Evaluation Criteria

This course uses a weighted categories system to calculate final grades.

Participation = 20%
Written Work = 40%
Discussion Posts = 20%
Final Project = 20%

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Full participation requires active and thoughtful engagement in class each week. There will be ways to participate through email or discussion posts that do not require speaking in front of the class. Please talk to me if some forms of participation are more difficult than others.

Here's a general participation guideline:

• Attend class regularly, on-time and for the full session
• Complete all of the week's reading before the start of class
• Complete assignments, discussion posts, and discussion replies before their respective deadlines
• Listen to others attentively and with an open mind
• Positively contribute to class discussions and activities
• Ask questions and seek help when you need it

Missing & Late Work Policy

Discussion posts are due by midnight on Sunday. Assignments and Discussion replies are due by noon on Tuesdays. Late work will only be considered for grading if the student communicates with me.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity