HISTORY 15-61: ESSENTIALS OF U.S. HISTORY SUMMER 2024

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College of Social Sciences / Department of History

SYLLABUS

HISTORY 15-61: ESSENTIALS OF U.S. HISTORY

SUMMER 2024—3 UNITS

COURSE TEXTS AND READINGS

OpenStax U.S. History (online text, chapters provided by the instructor – see modules)

Olson and Roberts, My Lai introduction and documents (provided by the instructor)

Topp, “The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial” Introduction (provided by instructor)

COURSE FORMAT

Course materials such as syllabus, handouts, notes, assignment instructions, etc., can be found on the Canvas learning management system course website, which can be accessed via the SJSU home website using student ID and password. You are responsible for regularly checking with the messaging system through Canvas to learn of any updates.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

From the SJSU Catalog: Treatment of essentials of U.S. history. Satisfies the American institutions requirement in U.S. history (US1) and the Core GE requirement in Social Sciences: Comparative Systems, Cultures, and Environments (D2).

History 15A is designed to introduce students to the essential events, ideas, turning points and transitions that have shaped American history from its origins to the present day. Students will examine key periods in American history focusing on both conventional and alternative interpretations of historical events and political processes that have shaped our modern economic, political and social systems. This information will be presented in a multi-cultural framework, including both conflict and consensus perspectives, of the choices and options available to individuals and groups in their social, economic and political relations. Students will also read key primary source documents and writings in the history of the United States, in order to give them direct exposure to the words, thoughts and feelings of the incredibly diverse personalities that helped shape and define the great epochs of the past five hundred years of American history. Finally, students will be able to draw connections between the great social, economic, political and cultural issues of the past and those issues that animate our American society today. Throughout the course of the semester, students will develop the skills used by historians to research, analyze, critically think and argue about the past, which will provide them with transferable skills essential for future success in their careers and in their roles as American citizens.

GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING OUTCOMES (GELO)

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. GELO 1 (US1): Describe the principal events, developments, ideas, politics, and international relations in all the territories now in the United States from the beginnings of this society until the present. While considering these topics, students will be asked to analyze certain subtopics. Assessed by multiple-choice and essay questions on midterm and final exams, periodic quizzes, primary source problem activities, poll questions and in-class discussion assignments.

2. GELO 2 (D2): Place contemporary developments in cultural, historical, environmental, and spatial contexts. Assessed by multiple-choice and essay questions on midterm and final exams, periodic quizzes, primary source problem activities, poll questions and in-class discussion assignments.

3. GELO 3 (D2): Identify the dynamics of ethnic, cultural, gender/sexual, age-based, class, regional, national, transnational, and global identities and the similarities, differences, linkages, and interactions between them. Assessed by multiple-choice and essay questions on midterm and final exams, periodic quizzes, primary source problem activities, poll questions and in-class discussion assignments.

4. GELO 4 (D2): Evaluate social science information, draw on different points of view, and formulate applications appropriate to contemporary social issues. Assessed by multiple-choice and essay questions on midterm and final exams, periodic quizzes, primary source problem activities, poll questions and in-class discussion assignments.

5. GELO 5 (D2): Compare and contrast two or more ethnic groups, cultures, regions, nations, or social systems in the context of U.S. history. Assessed by multiple-choice and essay questions on midterm and final exams, periodic quizzes, primary source problem activities, poll questions and in-class discussion assignments.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. CLO 1: Distinguish between primary and secondary materials and decide when to use each

2. CLO 2: Develop a methodological practice of sifting, analyzing, ordering, synthesizing, and interpreting evidence.

3. CLO 3: Identify and summarize other scholars’ historical arguments.

4. CLO 4: Apply historical knowledge and analysis to contribute to contemporary social dialogue.

5. CLO 5: Generate a historical argument that is reasoned and based on historical evidence selected, arranged, and analyzed

6. CLO 6: Generate significant, open-ended questions about the past and devise strategies to answer them

7. CLO 7: Read the history text, study and take notes and then apply the knowledge in class.

COURSE WORKLOAD

As this is a Summer Intersession course consisting of only 33 days, we will be covering a large amount of material in a short period. Please be prepared to devote at least 20-25 hours a week to reading the required texts, watching the powerpoint videos and completing the class assignments and exams.  

More details about student workload can be found in University Policy S12-3 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-3.pdf.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS:

· TEXT READINGS: Your text for this course is the online text OpenStax U.S. History, which is provided by the instructor and whose chapters may be found in the modules. In addition, there are two short topical readings consisting of approximately 50 pages each: My Lai; A Brief History with Documents and Sacco and Vanzetti (These will be in PDF format and will be provided by the instructor).  Altogether, you will be required to read approximately 450 pages over the next 5 ½ Weeks.

· AUDIO POWERPOINT LECTURES: You will also be required to view audio Power Point lectures ranging from a half hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, covering the material from each of the chapter readings found in your OpenStax U.S. History text. These can be found in the modules on Canvas.

· EXAMS: You will be required to take two midterm exams and one final exam. IMPORTANT: TO TAKE ALL QUIZZES AND EXAMS YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WEBCAM ON YOUR COMPUTER, LAPTOP, TABLET, OR DEVICE. If you don’t have webcam availability, you will need to get one from SJSU Equipment Loan.

o The midterm exams will comprise of 40 multiple-choice questions and three identification terms. The final will comprise of 50 multiple-choice questions and three identifications—the final is not comprehensive; it will cover only the material discussed or assigned in the last section of the course.

· QUIZZES: You will also be required to complete two quizzes on the following selected readings:

o The introductory essay The Sacco and Vanzetti Case: A Brief History with Documents, which will be provided by the instructor (this also can be found on Canvas in the Weekly Module):

o The Introductions and selected primary sources from the Bedford/St. Martins book My Lai: A Brief History with Documents. This will be provided in PDF form by the instructor and can be found on Canvas in the weekly module.

There will be a quiz on each of the two readings which you will take on Canvas. Each will consist of 15 multiple-choice or True/False questions, each worth 3 points (45 total) and you will have 25 minutes to complete them. The quizzes are open notes, and open text IF you print out the pdf provided (which I highly recommend, as you can highlight key terms and take notes in the margins of your printed copy). BUT you may not use any other device, such as your iphone, laptop or another computer to access the online pdf.

· DISCUSSIONS: You will be required to participate in 2 online discussions covering each of the two short readings.

o Following the completion of each of the quizzes, a document will become available on Canvas in the “Discussions” tab that contains discussion questions. You are to post your answers to the questions, and also reply to the posts of at least one other member of the class. Each completed discussion document will be worth 20 points.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:

If you have questions on how your exam was assessed I encourage you to see me during office hours or on a scheduled appointment date. I will be happy to go over your exam with you and help you devise strategies to improve your grade

Assignment Points Percentage of Grade

2 midterms 280 (140 each) 49%

1 final exam 160 28%

2 Quizzes   90 (45 each) 16%

2 Discussions   40 (20 each)   7%

TOTAL 570 100%

Grade Breakdown is as follows:

A 100-93% C+ 77-74% D- 59-57%

A- 92-90% C 73-69% F 56-0%

B+ 89-87% C- 68-66%

B 86-82% D+ 65-63%

B- 80-78% D 62-60%