This is a survey course in United States history covering the era from the Civil War to our own time. In distance education this particular course format is referred to as a "blended" course. While most of your work will be done from the location of your choice, you will need to appear on campus twice. You will take the Midterm Exam and the Final Exam in person at the Spring Creek Campus Testing Center.  (If you live outside the area you may take the exams at any testing center at any accredited college or university.  You must make these alternative testing arrangements; contact me right away.)  You will need to know a few things to get started, such as which textbook you will need, what the assignments are like, when they are due, etc.   Answers to questions about the class can be found below.  After reading this introduction, however, you may still have questions that have gone unanswered.  In that case, please contact me directly through email or telephone, or by coming to the office for a visit.  
How to reach me:  My office is located on the Spring Creek Campus of Collin College, Plano, Texas, in Suite G221, Office G223.  My office telephone is (972) 881-5834 and my email address is Kwilkison@ccccd.edu. 

Office Hours:  My "official" office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and Tuesday afternoons, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.  Of course students are welcome to drop in at other times.  The best method for reaching me is through email.  If you need to reach me immediately and I am not at my office number, you may call the Social and Behavioral Sciences Office at 972-881-5800.

The Course:  This course traces American life from the end of the Civil war and Reconstruction era (1877) to the late twentieth century, focusing on changes in society, the economy, government and international relations.  Students successfully completing the course should be able to do the following:

Further, students' abilities to read critically and write thoughtfully will be strengthened.  This course is reading and writing intensive. 

Text: Divine, et al, The American Story, Volume II, 3rd Ed. (2007).  This book is available in various outlets including the campus bookstores in Plano, McKinney and Frisco. Be sure to purchase the correct volume and edition.

Course work: Your course work consists of completing the reading assignments in the text and on the course website, writing four essays and fourteen website summaries, completing four quizzes and taking two exams in person.  You need be on campus only twice. The rest of the work will be submitted online. 

A. Reading Assignments:  Students will read the text, this web site and attached web links.  The secret to success in this course is very simple: carefully and thoughtfully read all of the assigned material.  This includes all of your textbook.  This rule also applies to all of the web pages and linked sites.  This course is designed to reward those students who are diligent in meeting this requirement. 

B.  Tests: There are two objective tests in this course, a midterm and a final.  You will find a study guide for each test in the course web pages that follow. Be aware that these are challenging, demanding tests. Each of these tests will consist of approximately fifty multiple choice questions over only the assigned textbook readings for that half of the course.  The midterm will cover chapters 16-23 while the final will cover chapters 24-31 (you will not be tested over your book's final chapter, Chapter 32).  Unless you have arranged for an alternative testing location (available for distance students; contact me for more information), these tests must be taken at the Testing Center at Spring Creek Campus, Collin College, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas.  A Collin student identification card is required by the Testing Center before any test can be taken.  For students' convenience, each test will be available in the Testing Center over a four-day period .

Each of the in-person tests will count 25 percent for a cumulative value of 50 percent of your course grade. Your grade will post to your Blackboard grade book once the deadline for completing the test has passed.       

C. Course Website Quizzes:  
There is a quiz over each half of the course website. It is "open book" (open website) and un-timed.  You will access each of these quizzes within Blackboard; look under Course Tools for the "Assessment" tab.

Each of these two quizzes will count five percent of your grade for a cumulative value of 10 percent of your course grade. Your grade will post to your Blackboard grade book as soon as you complete the quiz.   

D.  Textbook Quizzes:  There are two open-book un-timed textbook quizzes, each covering half the reading assignments for the course.  The first quiz will cover Chapters 16-23 in the textbook.  The second half will cover Chapters 24-31. You will access each of these quizzes within Blackboard; look under Course Tools for the "Assessment" tab.

Each of the two textbook quizzes will count 10 percent for a cumulative value of 20 percent of your course grade. Your grade will post to your Blackboard grade book as soon as you complete the quiz.   

E.  Writing:  Your written work will be evaluated for clarity, accuracy and level of supporting detail.  There are two essay answers in Part 1 and in Part 2 for a total of four. Likewise, there are seven website summaries in Part 1 and in Part 2 for a total of 14.  

1.  Essays.  Students will write two essay answers from each half of the course.  These essays should be at least 500 words each.  Use only your own words.  

Together the four essays will be worth 10 percent of your course grade.  You will find the essay questions from which to choose on the Assignment pages. You will submit your essays within Blackboard. Under "Course Tools" click on the "Assignments" tab.  Your essay grade will post to your Blackboard grade book within a week.  

2.  Website summaries.  Students will submit a summary of seven websites for each half of the course for a total of 14.  Use only websites which are linked to the course pages on this site.  You will find these links within the pages of text in Part 1 and Part 2.  Each link is highlighted in the text in hypertext blue.   For each half of the course select any seven websites and write a summary of 100 words for each.  Use only your own words.  

"This course includes distance learning components which contain links to Web sites operated and maintained by other public or private entities. While Collin College instructors provide link information to these sites, the College assumes no responsibility for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. It is recommended that users consider the individual privacy policy statements of each web site they visit." -- Collin College

You will submit your Website Summaries within Blackboard. Under "Course Tools" click on the "Assignments" tab.  The cumulative averaged grade from these fourteen website summaries will comprise 10 percent of your course grade. Your summaries grade will post to your Blackboard grade book within a week.    

          Submit all written work in Blackboard, Course Tools, "Assignments."

You will find your grades in the Course Tools column under "My Grades."  Also, please feel free to create your own files and notes for the course by following the "My Files" and "Notes" links, also located under "Course Tools."

Forum:  Students are encouraged to participate in online discussions of course topics on the course Forum page.  Any topic related to US History is welcomed.  Students may discuss assignments, the text, debate how history relates to contemporary life, just about anything EXCEPT sharing answers.  Your professor will drop in regularly and participate.  Participation is voluntary.  No scores or grades will be impacted by opinions expressed in the forum, or your decision to participate or not to participate.   

Disability Accommodation:  It is the policy of Collin College to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. This college will adhere to all applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the ACCESS Office (Office G200; 881-5898; TDD 881-5950) in a timely manner if he/she desires to arrange for accommodations.

Academic dishonesty: Cheating and/or plagiarism will result in the grade of  "0" for the test or paper involved as well as notification of the Dean of Students for an investigation and potential disciplinary action.  This may include suspension or expulsion from the college.  Click here to read the Collin College "Revised Scholastic Dishonesty Statement" (December 2004).

You may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including W.

You have a number of resources available through the college including tutoring (link takes you to "Student Services": scroll down to "Tutoring") and writing assistance both in person and online.  Further, the ACCESS Office (scroll to "Services for Students With Disabilities") provides services for students with disabilities.     

Collin College
Allen, McKinney, Frisco and Plano, Texas
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