THE COURSE WILL NOT BE VIEWABLE UNTIL THE FIRST DAY OF INSTRUCTION!!!

WELCOME TO D.E. HISTORY 207B!

I’m very happy to have you enrolled in the course and hope that you will find it a rewarding and enlightening experience. My two paramount objectives are for you to enrich your understanding and appreciation of American history and to enjoy the education.

Let’s start with the “nuts and bolts” of the course—in other words, the basics about the course requirements. Yes, this can be some dreary reading, but it is important information for students to know, from the beginning of the course, in order to enhance learning success.

Course Environment. This online course will be using a Web-based Learning Management System Canvas as the method to disseminate information. Canvas provides the framework for the course including PowerPoint presentations, student data files, the tools to receive and send course materials, and a grade book. Using the communication tools, you can communicate using e-mail, and you can share materials and ideas with other course participants via the discussion forums and groups.

Accessing Canvas. Prior to the start of classes, you will receive an email to your my.Cuesta.edu address providing you with a reminder that class will be starting and log in procedures for Canvas, the learning management system (LMS) used to deliver course content. You can access Canvas by logging into MyCuesta, then clicking on the Resources Tab, then clicking on Canvas in the Online Learning Channel, or by typing the Canvas address (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) into your browser address bar. Do not bookmark / favorite the canvas site after your login, or you will get an error message next time you try to log in. You must access the canvas log in directly.

If you are not familiar with logging into canvas, please refer to the Canvas Quick Reference Guide (Links to an external site.) Once logged into Canvas you will be directed on where to get started. Be sure to read all the direction on the course home page.  

 

Technical Support. If you are having difficulty logging into Canvas as of the official date for the start of the session, and need assistance please email technical support at this email address: support@my.cuesta.edu.  I CANNOT HELP YOU WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT. EMAIL THE TECH TEAM. THEY ARE THERE TO ASSIST YOU.

Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to  support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or click on the help button on the Canvas Navigation to report a problem.

If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.

Your learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome.  This may solve your problem!  Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specifications (Links to an external site.)

Online Learning. If you have never taken an online class or this is your first experience with Canvas, please be patient with yourself. Online classes are not inherently easier, although they may be much more convenient for many students. You should expect to spend at least as much time, if not more on this course as you would on a course that meets face to face. Since there is no lecture component, much of this time will be self-directed and there will be a substantial amount of reading, viewing, studying, and writing required. This course is completely online using Canvas; all coursework (discussions, assignments, quizzes) is submitted online. There are no face-to-face meetings.  Be prepared to spend 8 - 12 hours per week on coursework for this class. Be sure to carefully read the History 207B Schedule of Assignments below to help you determine if you can fully commit to this course.

IS AN ONLINE CLASS FOR YOU?  Promptly go to the Online Readiness Resources (Links to an external site.) and take the "self-assessment " and review all the resources that were designed to help you understand the basis for an online class and the skills necessary for success. (If the tutorials do NOT describe you, then taking this class online is NOT for you and I strongly suggest that you drop the online class and enroll in a traditional classroom section.)

This course has been constructed for students who have an appreciation of history or who are receptive to developing such an appreciation. It was not designed for students who desire to do minimal work in order to simply complete the course without being enriched by it.

Therefore, you should not enroll in this course if either you do not have the desire or if you cannot commit to successfully meeting the weekly mandatory assignments. By dropping early, you will allow another student to add this course.

Accommodations. This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact DSPS as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner: DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. at 805-546-3148.

Once the new academic session has begun, please review the Orientation Module, which provides helpful information about online education and academic integrity. Please read the brief “Why Study History?” essay. Also, take a peek at the “Week One Overview” in the Week One module.

Be sure to regularly check your Cuesta email account for essential course announcements and updates.

Again, let me welcome you to DE History 207B. I am super excited to teach this course and I hope that you will find it to be an educational, as well as enjoyable, experience!

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU CAREFULLY READ THE COMPREHENSIVE COURSE SYLLABUS BELOW. IT IS A COMBINATION OF COURSE SYLLABUS, COURSE AT-A-GLANCE, AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. THE SYLLABUS EXPLAINS THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES. COURSE POLICIES APPLY EQUALLY TO EVERY STUDENT. NO SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS REGARDING COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES CAN OR WILL BE MADE FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy; in office, 1961-1963.

 

CUESTA COLLEGE

HISTORY 207B: HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1865

COMPREHENSIVE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

SUMMER SESSION 2021

Dr. Anthony S. Koeninger

Professor, History Department

Office Hours: (BY EMAIL ONLY): M, Tu, W: 10:00AM-12:00PM.

E-mail Address: akoening@cuesta.edu

 

SECTION 1. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

This course surveys the paramount political, social, cultural, economic, and foreign policy issues that have affected American civilization from Reconstruction to the modern era. Special attention is paid to civil rights at home and the American encounter with the world, including such issues as isolationism, the use of diplomatic and military power, and the impact of American trade, culture, and ideals on the world.

The ultimate objective of the course is to use the past as indispensable evidence to understand how Americans have attempted to define and redefine liberty, equality, opportunity, and justice in American history.  History 207B has been designed to help students understand how perceptions of the past influence contemporary life and how issues of race, religion, class, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation have shaped the historical experience for Americans. The emphasis on explanation focuses heavily on interpretations and analysis rather than on a summary of facts.

SECTION 2. COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the history of the United States since 1865.
• Interpret and analyze primary sources, meaning sources produced by participants in the historical events being studied (such as letters, diaries, speeches, documents).
• Interpret and analyze secondary sources, meaning sources produced by historians studying the past (such as articles, textbooks, and quotations from book-length historical studies).
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the efforts by minority groups such as African-Americans and Mexican-Americans to secure unabridged legal, political, and economic equality.

[NOTE: See Section 15 for a list of comprehensive History 207A course outcomes and objectives.]

 

WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE THE STABILITY OF THY TIMES.

        --ISAIAH 33:6

 

SECTION 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

 

SECTION 4. HISTORY 207B AT-A-GLANCE

History 207B is divided in the weekly modules into two sections: (1) Mandatory (required) assignments and (2) Non-mandatory (optional) material.

 

SECTION 4A. MANDATORY (REQUIRED) ASSIGNMENTS

A good idea is to review, early each week, the weekly overview, which will inform you about everything that you will need to accomplish in this course that week.

Each week (except those in which exams are given) will comprise of one or two lectures and text reading. At the end of every lecture is a section that provides you with “diagnostic” review questions and key names and terms to help you master the lecture material and prepare you for the exams.

WEEKLY WORKSHEETS. To promote your academic success in this course, please begin each week by reading the weekly overview, which summarizes and highlights the requirements for the week.

By the end of each week, you will need to thoroughly complete the weekly worksheet, which you can locate just below the weekly overview.

The weekly worksheets have been designed to help students master course content by keeping them “on task” each week with the mandatory textbook, lecture, and Discussion Forum assignments.

The weekly worksheets, study guides, and end-of-lecture questions are not graded. Students post responses to the forums, but they do not submit answers to the weekly worksheets, study guides, or end-of-lecture answers to the instructor.

The quiz and exam study guides are compilations of the weekly worksheets.

Do not procrastinate! Do not wait until just before exam deadlines to work on the study guides. Instead, complete the worksheets each week in order to stay current in the course and to maximize your mastery of course content.

You will also be provided with study guides for the five quizzes, two midterms, and final examination. These study guides are posted well in advance of the quizzes and exams. Be sure to prepare for the quizzes and exams by utilizing the study guides well ahead of due dates. Throughout the course, there are multiple reminders about quiz and exam dates. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING THE DUE DATES OF QUIZZES AND EXAMS.

A great idea is to mark your phone calendars right now with the dates of all quizzes and exams. Mark the Monday to remind you of the quiz or exam that will be due at the end of the week and also mark when that the deadline expires. Here are those dates:

 

Friday, June 18, 2021                 Quiz 1

Friday, June 25, 2021                Quiz 2

Friday, June 25, 2021                Midterm 1

Friday, July 2, 2021                  Quiz 3

Friday, July 19, 2021                Midterm 2

Friday, July 16, 2021               Quiz 4

Friday, July 23, 2021               Quiz 5

Friday, July 23, 2021             Final Exam

 

Regarding quizzes and exams: There are no make-up quizzes or exams for any reason whatsoever! No quiz or exam score is dropped!

You will have seven days (from 12:01 AM on Saturday to 11:59 PM on Friday) to complete each quiz and exam. The one exception is Week One, which begins on Monday and concludes on Friday.

All quizzes and exams are open book, open notes. That’s learner-friendly—but the quizzes and exams are timed: forty-five minutes to complete the ten-question multiple-choice quizzes and ninety minutes to complete the forty-question multiple-choice exams.

The quizzes are an essential element in this course, as they examine crucial topics and themes in American history.

Students are allowed only one attempt at each quiz and exam.

Be sure to utilize the study guides for all exams and quizzes!

Once you begin a quiz or exam, you must finish it. You will not have the opportunity to stop at some point and return to finish it later.

The college’s student integrity policy is in effect during all quizzes and exams.

Each quiz is worth 20 points; the exams are valued at 80 points.

Do not wait until the last few hours to take the quiz and exam. If you do, and something unexpectedly arises that prevents you from taking or finishing the quiz and exam, you’ll be out of luck.

It is a severe violation of the Cuesta College Student Code of Conduct to capture any image of a quiz or exam, or in any manner to transmit quiz or exam questions to another student or to anyone else.

To secure the integrity of the exam, only one question at a time will be shown as you take the test. Once you’ve answered an individual question, you will not be able to return to it. You will have 90 minutes to take the exams—a generous allotment of 2 minutes, 15 seconds per question. The tests will feature 40 questions based on the study guide and practice exam questions. Yet, each test will be unique—beyond the randomized order of the questions and shuffled answers. Your tests will have a set of questions that will not appear on another student’s exams, and vice versa. In addition to these protective measures, be advised that I will be altering, in a fundamental way, the course quizzes and exams from semester to semester.

Be sure to complete the weekly lecture and textbook reading assignments in a timely manner.

The final component of the required weekly material is the discussion forum, in which students must respond to one critical thinking question with posts ranging from a minimum of 250 words to a maximum of 400 words.

This course does not assign any “busy” work. All assignments are designed to maximize your success on the quizzes and exams. More importantly, the entire course has been engineered to help students develop a richer comprehension and appreciation of the history of the United States of America.

Be sure to allocate ample time each week to complete all weekly mandatory assignments. The time you spend in this course will probably differ from week to week. But, remember, that as an on-line student, it is your responsibility to log-on to the course site frequently, earmark the necessary time, and complete the assignments by the due dates each week for the entire duration of the course.

Please see the “History 207B Explained Simply” page in the Orientation Module for a helpful roadmap for success in this course.

FIXED COURSE DEADLINES: You must be self-motivated to successfully complete this course; however, this course is not self-paced as there are fixed deadlines for lecture and text assignments, discussion forums, quizzes, and exams that must be met throughout the semester. I can recommend this course only to students who are well-organized and well-disciplined. NOTE WELL: The course modules, and the mandatory and optional assignments they contain, do not unlock early. Deadlines for quizzes, exams, and discussion forums are not extended.

 

SECTION 4B. NON-MANDATORY (OPTIONAL) MATERIAL

The non-mandatory (optional) material includes lecture podcasts, videos, primary and secondary sources, recommended readings, optional lectures, quotable history segments, “did you know?” sections (which provide students with intriguing insights into little-known aspects of American history), history chronology, maps, featured illustrations, and a course Bulletin Board module. To complement the lectures, each week offers a PowerPoint slideshow providing useful visual images. You may find the slideshows helpful tools to understand the lecture material.

The optional sections also provide extremely helpful non-graded practice Quiz 1 and exam questions, and recreational (non-graded) quizzes.

You do not need to explore the optional material to be successful in the course. However, the optional material will certainly enrich your understanding of the course subject material.

SECTION 5. OFFICE HOURS AND INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILITY

You may contact me via email (akoening@cuesta.edu) during office hours—Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 10AM-Noon. During especially busy periods, you may need to be patient while you await a response.

I expect all email correspondence to be presented in a formal manner; in other words, that you have a subject line for the email, you address me in the email, and you use correct spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and sentence structure. Careless, unedited, and informal emails will not be read. Federal law prevents me from having a discussion of your course grade via email.

I will be regularly engaged with the course on school days. I generally respond to emails sent during school days within an hour or less.

Would you prefer to speak directly to your online professor rather than communicating via Canvas posts and emails? You may make an appointment to confer with me by telephone during office hours or another time which would be more convenient for you. Email me and we will establish a time when I will call you from my blocked phone number.

I enjoy speaking with my students. So, if you have any questions about the matter or assignments, let’s chat!

SECTION 6. MANDATORY COURSE E-BOOK

One FREE mandatory textbook is required for this course: the Openstax U.S. History textbook. To access the course book, go to Page 7 in the Orientation Module. You can directly download the book at no cost.

 

SECTION 7. COURSE READING AND NOTE TAKING

This course demands considerable reading and the taking of ample lecture notes. I cannot suggest a “course of least resistance” that will curtail the amount of reading and writing. Punctual completion of DE assignments is absolutely essential to your success in this course.

History 207B is a lecture notes-oriented distance education course. The lectures have been designed to complement and not simply to repeat the readings.  In fact, the lectures examine historical topics that are not covered, or are not covered extensively, in the textbook. You will need to take precise and detailed lecture notes. It is fundamentally important that students diligently complete the reading assignments as the text covers subjects and issues that are not covered in detail, or covered at all, in my lectures.

 

 

 

SECTION 8. TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENT

This six-week session does not require a term paper. However, the mandatory Discussion Forums require students to post a 250-word response each week, for six weeks. Thus, during the course of the condensed session, students will write 1,500 words in the six Discussion Forums.

SECTION 9. DROPPING THE COURSE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY /IMPORTANT DATES

You should NOT take this course if your work schedule or outside interests and concerns or social and entertainment itinerary do not permit you to make History 207A a high priority (by completing all assignments on time). By dropping early, you will make room for the students on the waiting list who can take maximum advantage of this course.

During the two weeks prior to Census Date (Monday, June 21, 2021), you will need to regularly log-into the course and make use of the course material. Failure to do so will result in a drop without further notice this Sunday! This drop policy is mandated by the College and the State of California.

Following Census Date, if you do not log-into the course, study, prepare for graded assignments, and take the quizzes and exams, your grade will suffer. However, it is your responsibility to drop the course after June 21, 2021. Failure to officially withdraw from a class may result in an “F” or failing grade.

I cannot advise you whether or not to drop the course, as that exposes me to potential future criticism for whatever advice regarding withdrawing from the course that I would provide.

I really want you to succeed academically. Hence, I want you to stay in the course so that you can learn the history of our great nation and earn a superlative grade in the process. There are quite a few helpful course resources for you, including lecture review questions, audio lectures, study guides for all graded assignments and a practice Quiz 1 and practice exams. Also, the Student Success Center is eager to assist students achieve academic success at Cuesta College. Please recruit tutorial assistance if you find yourself struggling with any of your courses.

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

 

Last day to add with add code:                                     June 20, 2021

 

Last day to drop with a refund:                        June 17, 2021

 

Last day to drop without a “W”:                                   June 20, 2021

 

Census Date:                                                                June 21, 2021

 

Last day to select Pass/No Pass grading:                      June 20, 2021

 

Last day to drop with a “W”:                                        July 7, 2021

 

Course End Date:                                                     July 23, 2021

 

SECTION 10. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The course grade is based upon five quizzes, fourteen weekly Discussion Forum posts, two midterm examinations, and a final examination. The examinations are not cumulative. All quizzes and exams are open notes, open book and are based on the lectures and texts. See Section 20 for course assessment and point break-down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 11. WEEKLY DISCUSSION FORUMS

The course discussion board is designed to facilitate critical thinking, in which each post builds on previous comments. In this way, a thoughtful and informative discussion can develop.

Every student is required to post once a week. Each post should be a minimum of 250 words, and a maximum of 400 words. Do not exceed the word count.

Review your words for clarity and tone. You should compose your posts using clear, complete sentences. Avoid sentence fragments and slang language, writing in all capital letters, and using multiple exclamation points. Never use profanity. Incivility is non-negotiable. Do not use emojis.

Pay careful attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This is a college course forum; it is not a social forum, where a more relaxed, online communication environment prevails.

If you have difficulty in crafting well-written posts, consider consulting a tutor or the College writing lab.

Compose substantive, thoughtful posts. If you provide an opinion on a particular issue, be sure it is grounded in facts. If you use legitimate sources from outside the course, be sure to cite them.

Participate early in the week; do not procrastinate so that you barely meet the deadline, or miss it entirely.

Discussion forums are superb platforms to promote critical thinking and meaningful dialogue for the weekly lecture and text material. All students are required to participate in each week's discussion forum.

In meeting the weekly forum requirement, students must answer the weekly question. This fulfills the requirement. Students do not need to respond to other students’ posts, although a genuine forum depends upon collaborative discussion.

The six weekly Discussion Forum posts are worth ten point maximum per week; sixty points total for the semester.

How are Discussion Forum posts graded?

Of course, the quality of the post is essential. Within the constraints of the word count, is the response detailed and analytical? Does it directly answer the question? 

Remember, the weekly Discussion Forum questions are not frivolous “busy” work. They are directly focused on critical exam material.

SECTION 12. NO MAKE-UP EXAMS OR QUIZZES. NO EXTRA CREDIT

THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES, EXAMS, OR DISCUSSION FORUM POSTS FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER!

THERE ARE NO EXTRA CREDIT OR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS AVAILABLE!

Students must take quizzes and exams and submit the Discussion Forum posts when they are administered to the entire class. No special accommodations can be made for individual students. No make-up quizzes or exams will be administered for any reason whatsoever. Yes, this means you!

Quizzes (45 minutes) and exams (90 minutes) are open-book, open notes. Be sure to follow the study guides to prepare for all quizzes and exams.

Students are responsible for knowing the quiz and exam schedule, which are posted throughout the modules and are readily accessible.

SECTION 13. THIS COURSE IS A POLITICS-FREE ZONE!

THE PROFESSOR AND STUDENTS MUST NOT ENGAGE IN POLITICKING; IN OTHER WORDS, ENGAGING IN ANY COMMUNICATIONS OR OTHER ACTIVITY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. DO NOT SHARE YOUR POLITICS AND/OR POLITICAL OPINIONS IN THIS COURSE!

 

 

 

SECTION 14. ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY!

All work submitted must be your own, prepared exclusively for this course. Unacceptable breaches of your obligation as a student include:

• Submitting the same work or portions of the same work to more than one class or from a previous class.
• Turning in work prepared by another person as if it were your own work—this includes the use of materials from online sites.
• Copying (plagiarizing)—even a short phrase—from a book, textbook, or website without citing the source.
• Assisting another student in cheating or plagiarizing.
• Using any camera to capture an image from a quiz or an exam.
• Using any electronic device to cheat on an exam or quiz
• CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Violations of student ethics will be reported to the College’s Vice President’s Office for immediate discipline.

The following are disciplinary action which can result from violation(s) of the Cuesta College Student Code of Conduct, including academic dishonesty.

Removal from the Course.

Suspension from the College.

Expulsion. Termination of student status from Cuesta College.

Cuesta College includes these principles in its Code of Conduct: ETHICS, HONESTY, ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, TRUST, PRINCIPLES, TRUTH.

 

SECTION 15. COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY 207A COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Upon completion of this course of study, students will understand the major events following the U.S. Civil War and be able to relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy.
2. Students will understand the political principles underlying the U. S. Constitution and compare the enumerated and implied powers of the federal government.
3. Students will be able to understand the American political system and the ways in which citizens participate in it.
4. Students will analyze and understand U. S. foreign policy.
5. Students will analyze and identify the steady attempts to protect and expand civil rights and fully realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
6. Students will analyze and understand the causes, key events, and complex consequences of industrialization and urbanization.
7. Students will understand that concepts such as race, class, gender, freedom, and rights are historical and cultural constructs that change over time.
8. Students will recognize and understand that Americans of African descent, Mexican ancestry, Native Americans, women, military personnel, farmers, and workers have helped to shape American society by the actions they take individually or collectively.
9. Students will be able to identify, understand, and explore the connections between religious, social, economic, and political developments from the Civil War to the present.

SECTION 16. HISTORY 207B FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Question: “What do you recommend that I do in order to be successful in the course?”

Answer: “That is a great question! The most important prescription for success in this course involves excellent time management skills. You’ll need to stay current with each week’s mandatory assignments. Don’t fall behind. One missed assignment easily leads to additional, neglected assignments. If you neglect to invest the proper time in the course one week, other poorly-attended weeks may follow.

Be sure to review the weekly overviews, which inform you about the weekly mandatory assignments. Don’t procrastinate. Make sure that you meet the due dates in a timely manner. Remember, you have access to every module two weeks prior to the due dates of lectures and discussion forums. That is a generous, ample amount of time.

 

Question: “How is this course equivalent to a university-level course?”

Answer: History 207A and 207B at Cuesta College are transfer courses. UCSB, Cal Poly, and other four-year institutions, expect and demand that History 207A and 207B are, in every way, comparable to their undergraduate, introductory U.S. history courses. If we fail to meet the universities’ requirements, History 207A and 207B would not be transferable. Hence, the history courses at Cuesta are as rigorous as those taught at the four-year institution.

 

Question: “How important are the Discussion Forums, and are they graded?”

Answer: The posts are required. In total, the discussion forums are worth thirty points.

In meeting the weekly forum requirement, students must answer the weekly questions. This fulfills the requirement. Students do not need to respond to other students’ posts, although a genuine forum depends upon collaborative discussion. All the Discussion Forum questions will help to prepare you for the exams.

 

Question: “Can I post after a forum closes?”

Answer. Sorry, no. You have two weeks to post. Do not wait until the last minute to post.

 

Question: “How important are the lectures?”

Answer: The lecture material is crucial. Lectures provide you with the historical content, context, and analysis that allow you to understand the topics that are covered in the course. It is impossible to succeed in this course without diligent attention to the weekly lectures.

You should read each lecture more than once. Take notes as you read. Answer the diagnostic questions that follow every lecture. Be sure to know the key names and terms provided at the conclusion of each lecture. If you find the audio lectures helpful, listen to them as you read the lecture PDFs. In sum, regard the lectures seriously. A considerable amount of time was invested researching, composing, and editing the lectures. They are integral to the course.

 

Question: “How important are the readings in the text?”

Answer: The mandatory text readings in the McGraw Hill-Open Stax U.S. History e-book complement the lectures and afford you a deeper appreciation of the history that we are studying. The weekly text assignments are extremely beneficial to your comprehension of the course subject matter.

 

Question: “How helpful are the study guides?”

Answer: The study guides are extraordinarily helpful as you prepare for the quizzes and exams. The study guides focus your attention on precisely what you need to know for the quizzes and exams. Nothing on the study guides is frivolous or irrelevant. In fact, many study guide questions appear verbatim on the quizzes and exams!

Also, be sure to take the “Practice Exam Questions” before the two midterms and final exam. The practice exam questions provide great insight into the exams. Some practice questions reappear on the exams!

 

Question: “How important are the optional sections in the weekly modules?”

Answer: The non-mandatory (optional) material includes videos, primary and secondary sources, recommended readings, optional lectures, quotable history segments, “did you know?” sections (which provide students with intriguing insights into little-known aspects of American history), history chronology, maps, featured illustrations, and a course Bulletin Board module.

The optional sections also provide extremely helpful non-graded practice quiz and exam questions, recreational (fun) quizzes, an American history chronology, and presidential slideshow.

You do not need to explore the optional material to be successful in the course. However, the optional material will certainly enrich your understanding of the course subject material.

 

Question: “I missed a quiz [or] I missed an exam. Can I make it up?”

Answer: Sorry, no. There are numerous reminders throughout the course about quiz and exam due dates. No special accommodation can be made for you should you fail to take a quiz or exam.

 

Question: “I realize that there are no makeup quizzes or exams. If I perform poorly or miss one quiz or exam, can I still do well in the course?”

Answer: Yes! In assigning your final semester grade, I will weigh your quantitative and qualitative performances in the course. In other words, I will assess your total points, and I will also carefully consider your quality participation in the weekly discussion forums and improvement that you’ve made during the course.

If you should perform poorly on one quiz or exam, make sure you work harder and score well on the succeeding quizzes and exams. There is no extra credit available in this course. 

 

Question: “How can I get a quick response to a question or concern I have about the course?”

Answer: For a speedy response, send an email to me (akoening@cuesta.edu) during the following times: MTuW, 9AM-11AM. During especially busy office hours, you may need to be patient for a response. Additionally, I respond as fast as possible to emails sent to me outside of the posted office hours.

 

Question: “Should I report a broken link to you?”

Answer: Yes, please do. Let me know what the broken link is, and where it is located. There are hundreds of links in the course, and unless you tell me what the broken link is, and where it’s located, I cannot repair it.

Also, please alert me to any typographical errors you might find. I typed virtually everything in the course—hundreds of thousands of words. I have been as diligent as possible in proofreading, but, invariably, a “typo” will evade my scrutiny. Again, let me know what the typographical error is, and where it’s located.

Once I’ve been notified about broken links and typographical errors, I will correct them in a very timely manner. Thank you.

 

 

 

SECTION 17. HISTORY 207B SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

WEEK 1 (MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021-FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021):

 

1. Read Lecture 1: History 207B Introduction: 1865.
2. Read Lecture 2: Progress and Poverty.
3. Read Lecture 3: Spanish-American War.
4. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 16 (The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877).
5. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 17 (Go West Young Man! Westward Expansion, 1840-1900).
6. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 18 (Industrialization and the Rise of Big Business, 1870-1900).
7. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 16 (The Growing Pains of Urbanization, 1870-1900).
8. Take QUIZ 1 (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021).

 

 

WEEK 2 (SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021-FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2021):

1. Read Lecture 4: The Panama Canal.
2. Read Lecture 5 World War I.
3. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 20 (Politics in the Gilded Age, 1870-1900).
4. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 21 (Leading the Way: The Progressive Movement, 1890-1920).
5. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 22 (Age of Empire: American Foreign Policy, 1890-1914).
6. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 23 (Americans and the Great War, 1914-1919).
7. Take QUIZ 2 (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2021)
8. Take MIDTERM 1 (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2021).

 

 

WEEK 3 (SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021-FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021):

1. Read Lecture 6: Crash and New Deal.
2. Read Lecture 7: World War II.
3. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 24 (The Jazz Age: Redefining the Nation, 1919-1929).
4. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 25 (Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The Great Depression, 1929-1932.)
5. 5. Take QUIZ 3 (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021).

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK 4 (SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021-FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021):

1. Read Lecture 8: America’s War Policy at Home.
2. Read Lecture 9: American Responses to the Jewish Holocaust.
3. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 26 (Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1941).
4. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 27 (Fighting the Good Fight in World War II, 1941-1945).
5. Take MIDTERM 2 (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2021).

 

 

WEEK 5 (SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021-FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021):

1. Read Lecture 10: Cold War-Era U.S.-Iraq Hostilities.
2. Read Lecture 11: Vietnam War.
3. Read Lecture 12: The Turbulent Sixties and Early Seventies.
4. Read Lecture 13: The Trials of Los Angeles, California.
5. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 28 (Post-War Prosperity and Cold War Fears, 1945-1960).
6. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 29 (Contesting Futures: America in the 1960s).
7. Read Open Stax e-book, Chapter 30 (Political Storms at Home and Abroad, 1968-1980).
8. 8. Take QUIZ 4 (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021).

 

 

WEEK 6 (SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2021-FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021):

1. Read Lecture 14: The United States and the World, 1977-1989.
2. Read Lecture 15: The Origins of America’s Iraq Quagmire.
3. Read Lecture 16: Post-Cold War National Security Threats.
4. Read Lecture 17: Obama and Trump Foreign Policies.
5. Read Open Stax e-book U.S. History, Chapter 31 (From Cold War to Culture Wars, 1980-2000).
6. Read Open Stax e-book U.S. History, Chapter 32 (The Challenges of the Twenty-First Century).
7. 7. Take QUIZ 5 (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021).
8. Take FINAL EXAMINATION (DUE: 11:59 PM, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021).

  

SECTION 18. ANSWERS TO QUIZ AND EXAM QUESTIONS

I cannot reveal quiz and exam questions while quizzes and exams are “live.” Once a quiz or exam deadline has expired, and you wish to know which questions you’ve incorrectly answered, you may make an appointment to confer with me by telephone. Email me and we will establish a time when I will call you from my blocked phone number. Sorry, but I do not release my phone number to students.

Also, in order to preserve the integrity of the quizzes and exams, I do not email quiz and exam answers. Please do not ask me to do so.

Quizzes and exams are not cumulative. Therefore, you do not need to study past exam material in preparation for future test questions.

Only a small number of quiz questions reappear on exams. You should focus your exam study time on the lectures, exam study guides, and practice exams, as all exam questions emanate from them.

 

SECTION 19. GRADE CHECKS

Because of privacy concerns and federal student privacy laws, I cannot send grade updates via email. Also, I do not email final course grades to students. Please do not ask me to do so. Grades are available about two weeks after the last day of the term upon request from the Admissions and Records Office. You may access grades via Cuesta College’s web site at: www.cuesta.edu (Links to an external site.)

 

 

 

 

SECTION 20. ASSESSMENT AND POINT BREAKDOWN 

Midterm 1: 80

Midterm 2: 80 

Five Quizzes:  100

Discussion Forum Posts: 60

Final Exam:     80

Total: 400 points

360 Points= 90% A

320 Points =80% B

280 Points =70% C

240 Points =60% D

239 Points and below =F

SECTION 21. COURSE CLOSES AT 11:59PM, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021!

The course closes at 11:59PM, Friday, July 23, 2021! After the course closes, you will no longer have access to any content on Canvas in this course. Therefore, if you’d like to keep a record of your grades, record them before the course expires. I cannot email grades to you as it is a violation of federal student privacy legislation.