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Your Responsibilities For This Course The study of History is not just memorizing facts, but an attempt to explain the past in a useful manner. Historians interpret the past; I will present to the class my own interpretation of the past (based on years of reading and study) – and you are expected, in your exams to present your own interpretation of this same past. Your version may not be complete or polished, but it should be a strong attempt at a scholarly interpretation based on what you have learned in this class, as well as your life experiences. The historical past is complex – meaning there is more than one "right" answer to many historical issues. For example, history depends on WHO writes it and from WHAT particular point of view. Your goal for this class should be to organize your thoughts to include new information you gain from class and the text. You need to think about HOW and WHY – not just WHO and WHEN. In this "thinking" process, you should be able to come to a personal and more valuable understanding of the African American past and its relationship to our present day lives. YOU – are responsible for every class meeting – being absent does not excuse you from knowing what was discussed that day or for what was assigned for the next class meeting. Being late for class is disruptive, and regular tardiness will be noted as part of your final grade. You are expected to read the assigned material and be prepared with questions or to answer any questions asked. The chapter review will help to prepare you for class, and will be the basis for reading quizzes. I want you to take an active role in this class – the class will be much more enjoyable for both of you and I, if you accept your responsibility in this regard. YOU – will need to take good notes if you expect to do well in this class. Important terms, events, and individuals will be written on the board during each class. Much of the material presented in class will cover topics NOT covered in the text, so you will need to pay attention and take notes each class period. If you need to improve your note-taking and study skills, the Learning Resource Center provides excellent help in these areas. Education is a personal triumph, not the result of force. Take the responsibility for your own education; do not blame someone else for your laziness. Do not make the classroom uncomfortable for another student. Personal attacks or comments will not be tolerated. Every student must feel free to ask questions and offer their own views for discussion. Attack the view, if appropriate, not the person. We should all be working toward the same goal of understanding the past to improve the present – building barriers between people does not enhance learning. Please make use of my office hours, just to visit, or to get additional help. Do not wait until you are hopelessly behind. I will do my best to help all of you who sincerely want to learn – but that sincerity must come throughout the semester, not at the end when you suddenly realize your grade is on the line. You must take responsibility for your own effort and the education you receive.
Fall 2002 Instructor: Dr. Rudy Pearson History 14 Office: Davies Hall #358 History of the United States Phone: 484-8400 African American Emphasis (to the Civil War) Office Hours: MWF 9:00-10:00 TTH 9:30-11:00
READING AND EXAM SCHEDULE TEXTS: The African American Odyssey Vol. 1 Darlene Clark Hine, et. al. African American Voices Steven Mintz, editor Handouts – will be discussed in class Weeks Chapter to Read / quiz date Aug 19 – 30 1) Africa (quiz Aug 26) Sep 4 – 13 2) Middle Passage (quiz 4) Monday Sep 16 EXAM ONE Sep 18 – 25 3) 1619 – 1763 (quiz 20) Sep 27 – Oct 4 4) Rising Expectations (quiz Sep 27) Oct 7 – 11 5) 1783 – 1820 (quiz Oct 7) Monday Oct 14 EXAM TWO Oct 16 – 21 6) Cotton Kingdom (quiz 18) Oct 23 – 25 7) Free Blacks (quiz 25) Oct 28 – Nov 1 8) Opposition (quiz 30) Monday Nov 4 EXAM THREE Nov 6 – 15 9) Resistance (quiz Nov 11) Nov 18 – 27 10) U.S. Disunites (quiz 18) Thanksgiving Break (Nov 29) Dec 2 – 9 11) Civil War (quiz Dec 4) Final Exam date TBA Exams and Quizzes Four (4) exams are given during the semester, three (3) midterms and a final. Each exam is worth 60 points, including the final. Midterm dates are listed above, but may be changed by the instructor. The Final Exam date is scheduled by the college. Exams will include a combination of a) sentence-completion, b) multiple choice, and c) most importantly – essay questions. Eleven (11) multiple choice quizzes based on the chapter readings and handouts are listed above. These quizzes will be administered at the beginning of the class period and CAN NOT be made up. Your eight (8) highest scores will be recorded for a total of 80 points. Random quizzes will be given at the end of the class period and will cover class material from that same day. There will be ten or more random quizzes consisting of short answer or T/F questions and your top six scores will be recorded.
Make-ups Make-ups for missed exams may be given for medical and other legally accepted reasons (best to inform instructor PRIOR to exam date) Exam make-ups must be completed before the exam is returned to the rest of the class or, for Exams #1 and 2 - during the week of October 21 – 25 and, for Exam #3 - during the week following Thanksgiving. Verification of absence is required for all make-ups.
Credit Toward Grades Four examinations 240 points Research Paper 120 points Eight M-C quizzes 80 points Six random quizzes 60 points Five writing assignments 50 points Attendance / in class assignments 50 points TOTAL 600 points
540 – 600 points = A 480 – 539 = B 420 – 479 = C 360 – 419 = D The instructor – where justified – may adjust a student's point total based on individual contribution to the class. Classroom Participation Students are encouraged and expected to attend each class session, to take notes, and to participate in classroom discussion and activities. To that end, points are awarded for good attendance and on occasion, in-class assignments will be held for extra points and/or attendance checks. Every student should learn to ask questions – this shows interest in the class, shows class preparation, and you become more confident in what you are learning. Discussion (not argument) is encouraged and students should feel comfortable in sharing their thoughts with the instructor and the class. Name-calling or prejudicial behavior will not be tolerated. Students are discouraged from exhibiting disruptive behavior – arriving late or leaving early from class will result in a deduction of points. All cell phones, beepers, etc. must be turned off – or they may be confiscated. Eating, drinking, or personal conversations in the classroom is not permitted. Students may be dropped from the class for any of these disruptive behaviors.
Office Hours The instructor has regular office hours [Davies Hall #358] and is available during those hours without appointment. If these hours are not convenient, appointments may be scheduled at other times. Students are encouraged to make use of office visits to become better acquainted with the instructor and to better understand the class material.
Research Paper Project This is a written assignment – a library and/or internet assignment – to learn about some aspect of African American history in California, and particularly the Sacramento region. By selecting a topic on or before Sep 30th, you can be awarded up to fifteen (15) additional points for turning in a typed and neat outline of your paper. The final paper is due Oct 28th and you may be asked to share your findings with the class for an additional 5 points (total of 20 extra points on the paper). The paper should cover a significant contribution of African Americans to California and the West. You must list sources of research and write down the information in your own words. Do not copy previous work and write your thoughts as well as the data. Suggestions for topics may come from museum visits, talking with older African Americans, or library research of newspapers, magazines and documents. This paper must relate to the time period we are covering in class which is before 1865. This assignment is worth 100 points to each student. Due Date -- 10/28/02 Written Assignments -- typed and double-spaced Your first writing assignment is due September 4th and consists of a 2-3 page research paper based on African history. Select a current country in Africa, or an ethnic group, or a particular topic, etc. and write a 2-3 page paper on the most significant details of your selection. You may be asked to share some of this information with the class. The idea is to learn something specific you did not know about Africa or its people. Do not write a general encyclopedia outline. There are four written assignments that will show you have read the material in African American Voices. Specific directions for each of the four assignments will be handed out in class. However, the due dates are as follows: #1 Intro/ and Parts 1-2 due Sep 9th #2 Parts 3-4-5 due Oct 2nd #3 Parts 6-7 due Nov 1st #4 Parts 8-9-10 due Nov 27th All five of these assignments should be in your own words and reflect your thoughts as well as show new information. Express yourself – it is OK to note what is surprising, shocking, interesting, etc. Maybe you question the validity of a point or statement. All of these expressions will show that you are thinking about the material and not just reading words. It is more important that you educate yourself rather than wait for the instructor or someone else to "teach you." Take control of your own access to information and education.
PLAGIARISM Copying and/or a heavy reliance on information or quotes from established written sources is a serious issue. Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person's work, in the form of original ideas, sentences, phrases, and/or innovative terminology. It is illegal and ethically wrong to use someone else's work as your own. Copying also keeps a student from thinking and learning, which should be the primary purpose of an education. Please be advised that any written work turned in for this class will be scrutinized for plagiarism. The instructor has the discretion to give a zero for any assignment that does not appear to be the student's own work. Further discussion of this policy will take place in class. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, you may ask for a handout from the instructor on this topic.
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