Faculty Syllabus

Contact Information:

Professor Christy Hodson

Austin Community College, History Department

Text: 512.923.2324

E-mail at: CHodson@austincc.edu

Orientation Student Questionnaire:

Each student MUST complete the Orientation Student Questionnaire on the first day of class. If you miss the first day of class you can print the questionnaire off of Blackboard and bring it to class with you for the next class.  This information helps the Professor understand you better and provide every learning opportunity available to help you succeed. 

Attendance: 

New Federal Financial Aid reporting guidelines require the College to report students who "never attend" a course. ACC in turn requires faculty to report students who "never attended" by the Official Reporting Date. The Official Reporting Date happens very early in the semester. See the ACC Registration Calendar for the Official Reporting Dates. 

Your Campus additionally requires that attendance be reported for this class.  If you are not present, or arrive late, this will be conveyed to the attendance clerk for your campus.  

Students must attend class regularly.  Since we only meet two times a week, with 7 of 31 classes cancelled by Bastrop ISD for other purposes (testing, holidays, etc.), every class is critical to making progress in the course overall.  A student may miss a total of three (2) classes without a doctor's note and they are responsible for the work they have missed.  After the second absence a student must have a doctor's note, or documented emergency (acceptable to the Professor), or they are eligible to be withdrawn from the class at the discretion of the Professor.  

L@@K:  College is NOT like High School.  You are not entitled to miss class and then have a designated number of days to catch up, or complete missed work.  Make sure to contact your professor BEFORE an absence to get ahead of what is being presented or completed in class, and make arrangements as needed.

L@@K: Being absent DOES NOT EXEMPT YOU from taking a test or quiz as scheduled.  If you have not made prior arrangements with your Professor you will receive a zero.   

L@@K: Under extreme and rare circumstances the Professor may choose to award a student an "I" as incomplete for the semester.  All coursework must be completed and submitted within one month (30 calendar days) or a grade of "F" will result.

Student Progress: 

If you have any questions at any time, do not hesitate to contact me. I am happy to discuss your progress in the course, go over the term projects, review your quizzes and exams, and talk about test-taking strategies. And you can reach me via e-mail, by telephone, or in person during office hours. And if my office hours do not fit your schedule, let me know and we will set up at time.

*I will not discuss your work, grades, or progress in this course with anyone but the enrolled student unless you have granted that permission in writing, in advance.  Do not have family members, high school faculty, or others contact me directly.  This is part of FERPA and you are entitled to privacy in regards to your educational progress in this class.  

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It applies to all schools that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA grants parents certain rights regarding their children's education records, and these rights transfer to the student once they turn 18 or attend a post-secondary institution.  (ACC is a post-secondary institution)

BLACK BOARD: We will use the ACC Blackboard site for this course.  I will post the Syllabus, Power point Slides from Lectures, Objectives/Study Guides, Grades, and Announcements to this site.  You will learn how to access Blackboard on the first day of class.  If you have any questions after our classroom discussion you can get help from the ACC Help Desk.   Go to: Austincc.edu, click on BLACKBOARD.  Problems? Click on HELP DESK.

ACC EMAIL:  Each Austin Community College student is provided with a free email account.  It is necessary and required that each student set up their email account and check it regularly for announcements pertaining to our class.  You may forward this account to another account if you prefer to receive announcement notifications at a different email address, but YOU MUST SET UP YOUR ACC ACCOUNT.  Go to: Austincc.edu, click on ACC MAIL. Problems? Click on HELP DESK.

ACC IDENTIFICATION CARD:  Each Austin Community College student must obtain an ACC ID before the first exam.  This can be obtained at any of the ACC campuses for free.  You will need to take your High School ID, and a second form of ID (if you have it) to prove your identity.  You will take a picture, it will be printed on an ACC ID, and this card proves both your status as an ACC Student, and gives you benefits associated with being a college student.  This identification must be obtained before the first exam and used as official identification proving your identity.  You do not need an appointment to get this identification card.  They have extended hours for all ACC students. GO GET IT! 

DRESS CODE:  Do not wear hats unless they fit the dress code for the class.

Headgear:  

• No cowboy hats or baseball hats with brims covering the eyes.  You may wear hair silks as preferred.  
• Do not wear earbuds during class without permission.  ABSOLUTELY NOT ON QUIZZES OR EXAMS. THIS WILL RESULT IN A ZERO.

SNACKS:  I allow snacks - but don’t bring anything loud, crunchy, juicy, or smelly to class.  This is super annoying to the people around you, can make others hungry, and disrupts the professor.  Example: You can bring small things but don't blow in with fast food, drinks that can spill, etc.  HS students: You must also follow the campus rules if anything is not allowed in the classroom.

STUDENTS WITH HS Student Accessibility Services Accommodations:  High school accommodations do not apply to college classes unless they are registered and approved by ACC.  If you have special learning accommodations check with your HS and ACC counselor to find out the proper way to request these accommodations in college.  Without formal approval from your college you are not entitled to any accommodation in the classroom to include: extra time, help with reading, additional resources, etc.  Here is the ACC link to review information about this topic:  ACC Student Accessibility Services

SAS (Student Accessibility Services) staff determine appropriate accommodations through an interactive process that relies upon student self-report, documentation of disability, and one-on-one meetings with students.

Once students meet with SAS staff for their initial accommodation meeting, students will independently request accommodations through the AIM Student Portal. Because accommodations may vary based on the course requirements, students must login to request accommodations through AIM each semester they are enrolled.

This is the book you will need this semester.  You will need to bring it to class, or provide a printed and verifiable copy of receipt for the purchase of a digital copy before the first UNIT EXAM.  Failure to do this will be grounds for withdrawal from the class.  

An affordable, "Seagull" version (short, to the point, hits the highlights) has been selected for this semester.  The book is small.  Every chapter is approximately 40 pages including the chronological timeline, the focus questions, the chapter paragraphs, maps, and key terms summary at the end of the chapter.

We are reading from Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty!, Seagull Version, Vol. 2, 7th edition (New York, Norton, 2022).  This is the purple cover.

There are lower cost options of used hard copies of the book.  If you truly cannot afford the book please discuss with your counselor if you are a high school student, or with the Professor who may have used copies available to loan.  The book can be found online, through the ACC bookstores, etc.

Remember, you will need to read the chapters in Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty!, Seagull version, Vol. 2, 7th edition, to complete the quizzes and exams.  So, if you Opt Out of the eBook, be sure to rent or buy a copy of the textbook so you can complete the class.  

NOTE: If you order your book online and it arrives late, you are still responsible for all course deadlines on the Schedule, including quizzes and exams. So be sure to have your book on time for all quizzes and exams. I will provide a copy of the first chapter to assist you while you organize and arrange purchase of the book. DO NOT DELAY THE PURCHASE OF THE BOOK.

Course Description History 1302 & Expectations:

This course surveys the major developments in the history of the United States from 1877 (after the Civil War) to the current date. It also includes examples of conflicting interpretations of the progress of that history and a program of historical research.

It goes without saying... Students in Dual Credit and Early College Start courses will be required to do the same amount of work and the same quality of work as students enrolling in the college campus classroom equivalent of the course. 

This section is a version of the standard United States History survey course. YOU WILL NEED patience, persistence, and self discipline to successfully complete the requirements. Why? Because you should expect to spend several hours each week -- at least -- just to keep up with the reading and completing the Study Guide. The key to success in any class is review, review, review!

You also have a term project called a History Self Discovery Project that requires a sustained effort over the course of the semester. You need to budget time to research, understand, and complete each part of the project. It is a fun process but requires maturity and academic effort.  

If this description does not sound like you, or you are not sure if you will have the time to work on the class, then you should consider other options.  Please contact the professor if you have any questions about the course. I am happy to help you figure out the next best steps for you based on your academic goals, time constraints, and willingness to put in the effort to succeed in college.

Please refer to the objectives and information detailed in the Study Guide in the book and the information provided in focus questions in each chapter.

The objectives for this course are detailed in the Study Guide in the book and in each chapter.  For the Course Rationale, go to the History Department Webpage.

COURSEWORK:

(1) Map Test - 10% of overall grade.  

Don’t let this important part of our work this semester fool you!  See the grade section to understand the scoring for the map test and how this impacts your overall grade for the semester.  

(2) History Self Discovery Project – 15% of the overall grade

The History Self Discovery Project will enable students to critically examine aspects of American History and enjoy delving into primary and secondary literature to find evidence that is applicable to their work.  Additionally, students are encouraged to think critically about an important facet of American history and to then organize your thoughts in clear, cogent prose.  

You should not view this simply as a hurdle which you must overcome in order to pass the class.  Rather, approach the History Self Discovery Project as an opportunity to expand your creativity in thinking and writing, two very important aspects of any individual's necessary life skills.  Therefore, be advised that I consider this a VERY important aspect of the course and the parts of your History Self Discovery Project will be read and graded VERY carefully.

Most importantly, I am always happy to visit about all aspects of the project.  Just reach out during my office hours or we can find a time to talk.

NOTE:  You must complete and submit all parts of the History Self Discovery Project by the deadlines listed in the Schedule for the assignment to factor into your final average and your final grade. The points on the History Self Discovery Project are calculated in the total course average.

See the Schedule for the date by which you must submit the following:

(1) Topic Choices (you may submit up to 5) 

(2) Thesis and skeleton outline of body paragraphs (minimum of 5 body paragraphs)

(3) Conclusion draft and annotated bibliography (minimum of 2-3 resources/sources cited) 

(4) Final Draft for submission in class, and additionally an electronic copy to the professor.

The final submission of the HSDP must be typed, printed, and submitted on time in class for full credit.

(14) Quizzes:  - 15% of the overall grade total (1.07 points each)

We will take a total of 14 quizzes.  These confirm basic comprehension of the chapter material and prepare the student for the upcoming Unit exam.  The quizzes provide the student with an excellent tool to judge their overall basic competency with key terms and with the material they have read from each chapter.  The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

(4) Unit Exams:  4 total Unit Exams, 15% each for 60% of total grade

There are a total of 4 Unit Exams.  Each exam covers one unit from the book and includes several chapters.  These are multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, and short-answer exams.

There is no additional work, extra credit, or alternative work available.

Grading Policy

NOTE:  Failure to complete and submit ALL Assignments: Map Test, HSDP, Chapter Quizzes, and Unit Exams can result in a F in the course at the discretion of the Professor.  

* TEMPORARY INCOMPLETE: Students with exceptional circumstances can request an incomplete semester grade that will be considered by the Professor on a case by case basis.  A medical doctor’s note will be required before an “incomplete” is temporarily awarded.  LOOK:  All incomplete work must be completed within 30 calendar days of the date the “incomplete” is granted, otherwise an F will result.   THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.

* POWER OF THE MAP TEST:

• The highest grade you can earn in the course without a passing grade on the Map Test is a “D”. 
• You must earn 70% or higher on the map test to earn a grade of “C” or higher overall.  
• You must earn an 80% or higher on the map test to be eligible to earn a grade of "B" or higher overall.  
• You must earn a grade of 90% or higher on the map test to be eligible to earn a grade of "A" in the class.

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A: For the grade of A – The student must make a total course average of 90-100% overall on all work.

NOTE:  You must complete all parts of the History Self Discovery Project by the deadlines listed in the Schedule for the assignment to factor into your final average and your final grade. You may not earn "partial credit." 

NOTE: You must earn an 90% or higher on the map test to earn an “A” in the course.  Otherwise, an "A" average will default to an overall grade of "B" for the semester.

B: For the grade of B – The student must make a total course average of 80-89% overall on all work.

NOTE:  You must complete all parts of the History Self Discovery Project by the deadlines listed in the Schedule for the assignment to factor into your final average and your final grade. You may not earn "partial credit." 

NOTE: You must earn an 80% or higher on the map test to earn an “B” in the course. Otherwise, an "B" average will default to an overall grade of "C" for the semester.

C: For the grade of C – The student must make a total course average of 70-79% overall on all work.

NOTE:  You must complete all parts of the History Self Discovery Project by the deadlines listed in the Schedule for the assignment to factor into your final average and your final grade. You may not earn "partial credit." 

NOTE: You must earn a 70% or higher on the map test to earn a “C” in the course. Otherwise, a "C" average will default to an overall grade of "D" for the semester.

D: For the grade of D – The student must make a total course average of 60-69% overall on all work.

NOTE:  You must complete all parts of the History Self Discovery Project by the deadlines listed in the Schedule for the assignment to factor into your final average and your final grade. You may not earn "partial credit." 

LOOK: Failure to meet these requirements will result in the grade of F.  There are no further requirements. But you should recognize that a D may not transfer to other colleges or universities as a history credit. See the Schedule for the work deadlines.

F:  For the grade of F:  The student has not taken all Chapter Quizzes, Unit Exams, Map Test, or HSDP and/or: made a total course average below 60% overall on all work.  

You do not want to start your academic college career with an “F”!  If you feel that you are failing and cannot recover please talk to me NOW and we can find a solution and new path for you this semester.  Not everyone is prepared or able to complete college level work while also in high school, and that is ok.  If you withdraw from this course, or are withdrawn by the Professor you will be returned to a HS level History course and we can make a plan of action for that transition.  We all learn at different speeds, in different phases of our lives, and earning an “F” is not the goal in college.  

Chapter Quizzes -- We will take these in class and you must complete all of the quizzes to complete the course.  

NOTE: You WILL RECEIVE AN F IN THE COURSE if you fail to take any of the quizzes. So be sure to take all of the chapter quizzes and exams in class, on time, or make plans with the Professor BEFORE missing a quiz. One quiz with your lowest grade will be dropped but you must TAKE ALL QUIZZES.

If you are absent for a quiz you must discuss with the Professor and make arrangements BEFORE MISSING THE QUIZ. College is NOT like high school where a student can choose to be absent and is automatically entitled to make up missed work. If there is a serious emergency your situation will be considered and must be supported by documentation (a doctor, police, etc.)

At the discretion of the Professor IF you are permitted to take the quiz after the classroom deadline you must do so within 2 calendar days (48 hours or less) from the date/time the quiz was originally given. 

College is NOT like high school where a student can choose to be absent and is automatically entitled to make up missed work. 

Unit Exams -- Students must take all Unit Exams to complete the course.  

NOTE: You WILL RECEIVE AN "F" IN THE COURSE if you miss any exams. So be sure to take all of the chapter exams in class, on time, or make plans with the Professor BEFORE missing an exam. 

Each unit has questions that focus on the learning objectives found in the Study Guide. Please see the Study Guide for how to prepare for the exams.  

Students must:

• take all exams. You cannot pass the class unless you take every exam. You will receive an F in the class if you do not take all exams;
• Each Unit exam is worth 15 % of the overall grade. 

To view your exams scores, log in to your ACC Blackboard account, go to the course page, and click on Tools, and then My Grades. You can review your progress in the class via the Grade Center.  We will also have a paper manual grade calculation sheet in class that you can use with a calculator and compute your average as you go.

Course Policies

In-class Exams: We will take quizzes and exams in class.  If you need to make up a quiz or exam we will discuss outside of class arrangements that may include the campus testing center or library, or an ACC Campus testing center.

Use of ACC email (don’t use your private email outside of ACC.)

Students are expected to use their ACC email for all course communication. Use your ACC BLACKBOARD account as requested by the Professor to submit assignments.  The College sends all official communication solely to the student's ACCmail account and expects students to read the messages in a timely manner. So that means all important information and emergency details will go only to your ACCmail. Students should expect to receive from, and send email to, their instructors via their ACCmail account. To set up an account, students can go to ACCmail for instructions. (You can forward your ACC email to another account).

Please see the complete list of ACC College Policies for the official statement on Use of ACC email.

https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies

Recording Policy (AKA DO NOT DO IT)

To ensure compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in the class section. Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through Blackboard Collaborate or another platform. Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded during the instructional activity. Such recordings are intended for educational and academic purposes only.

Please see the complete list of ACC College Policies for the official statement on Recording Policy.

https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies

Academic Integrity and Scholastic Dishonesty  (AKA DO NOT CHEAT)

WARNING:  Violations of academic integrity and scholastic dishonesty will NOT be tolerated. Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty and plagiarizing on academic work. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework. Some examples of scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• Copying or attempting to copy from others during an examination
• Copying or attempting to copy from others during an assignment
• Communicating examination information to, or receiving such information from, another person
• Using, attempting to use, or assisting others in the use of materials that are prohibited during an examination,  such as books, websites, prepared answers, written notes, or concealed information
• Allowing others to do one's assignment or a portion of one's assignment
• Purchasing or otherwise acquiring written work, with or without submitting it as your own.
• Using Artificial Intelligence, or other computer generated resources to create, modify, and adjust written work. 

NOTE: The use of Artificial Intelligence in the preparation of any assignment is an act of plagiarism and scholastic dishonesty which will result in the grade of F for the class.

GAI (generative artificial intelligence, AI for short) is transforming the internet as well as your browser and word processing software.  In contrast to older search engines, GAI browsers will surf the web in response to a user query and generate a reply.  Your word processor probably offers a feature that allows GAI to compose a whole letter or essay for you.  While GAI has both advantages and disadvantages, it cannot substitute for the individual thinking skills and historical consciousness that this course seeks to develop.  Here is my policy:  We will use the internet and GAI freely during in-class discussion.  However, we will close our books and put away our phones during graded assignments like exams or the map quiz.  You won’t have access to the internet or GAI.  Unauthorized use of phones or notes during these assignments will result in a grade penalty.

WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?

Plagiarism, like other forms of scholastic dishonesty, will result in an F in the course. Plagiarism is defined as using another's work (whether printed, electronic, or spoken), without crediting the source. All of the following are considered plagiarism:

• Turning in someone else's work as your own
• Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
• Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
• Changing words for copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
• Copying so many words or ideas from a source that makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not
• Copying from a website without giving credit
• Purchasing or otherwise acquiring written work, and submitting it as your own.

"Giving credit" means citing the source of your information. If you use materials from a website, book, or other source, you must give credit to that author by citing the source in a note. Definitions above are copied and/or adapted from:

http://www.laspositascollege.edu/facultystaff/honesty.php and from
https://www.plagiarism.org/article/what-is-plagiarism

Any student guilty of scholastic dishonesty and violating academic integrity policy will automatically receive an F in the course and be remanded to the appropriate Austin Community College authorities for disciplinary action. See the ACC Student Handbook and the Academic Integrity and Disciplinary Process for details on student rights and responsibilities regarding scholastic dishonesty.

Please see the complete list of ACC College Policies for the official statement on Academic Integrity.

https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies

Withdrawals:

1. Student Withdrawals:

Students may withdraw from the course for academic reasons.  Withdrawals must be completed according to the guidelines of Austin Community College.  See the ACC Catalog procedures for withdrawing from a class and the Schedule for the deadline by which you must withdraw from a class.  Students may also withdraw from the course for non-academic reasons. Once again, see the guidelines in the ACC Catalog for details and the Schedule for the deadline by which you must withdraw from a class.

1. Instructor Withdrawals:

The instructor is NOT REQUIRED to withdraw students for failing to fulfill any of the course requirements, see above.  Instead, students will receive a grade based on their performance in the course. Students who fail to fulfill any of the course requirements will receive a F.  Therefore, if a student registers for a course it is the student's responsibility to satisfy the course requirements. If "life happens" and you cannot finish the course, be sure to withdraw.  Once again, see the guidelines in the ACC Catalog for details and the Schedule for the deadline by which you must withdraw from a class.

Office Hours

I am always happy to visit about your status in the course, the History Self Discovery projects, preparation and test-taking strategies and any other questions you have about the course.  Just give me an email or text or shoot me a message on the course Blackboard page so we can talk, or set up a time to talk.  Communication is key to your academic success and I am here to help!

Student Evaluation

ACC provides an interface on the course Blackboard page for you to evaluate the instructor(s) of your courses. All Faculty Evaluation responses are kept confidential. Faculty members have no way to determine the source of any comments or responses to questions. Evaluation Reports are distributed to the faculty member after the final grades have been submitted.  It is important that your voice is heard and I hope you will use this tool to share your thoughts about every Professor.

You may receive separate less formal evaluations throughout the semester from the Professor in an attempt to gather information and provide best delivery of materials and assistance to students.  

Student Privacy

In compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and ACC policy, I will not give information concerning your grades, academic progress, or attendance to anyone other than you, including your parents, guardians, or high school personnel, without your consent.  If you have given this consent in writing already I need for you to let me know so a copy can be added to your academic file with ACC for this semester.

NOTE: ACC makes your “Directory Information” (name, address, phone number, birthdate, and other information), available to the public without your consent, unless you specifically request in writing that it NOT be publicly available.

For more information and for instructions to restrict public access to your information see: http://www.austincc.edu/ferpa

Please see the complete list of ACC College Policies for the official statement on Privacy.

https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies

Student Responsibility

Students are expected to follow all of the requirements of ACC Student Rights & Responsibilities so that their actions:

• Reflect the highest level of honesty and integrity
• Are civil, courteous, and respectful of all members of the campus community, their property, and the College
• Support the smooth and unimpeded delivery of knowledge in the classroom and in coursework
• Encourage responsibility and prohibits the unlawful use of alcohol, illicit drugs, or other substances, and weapons
• Promote mutual respect, equality, and safety of its members and oppose those asked to harass, intimidate, or haze its members

Please see for the complete list of ACC College Policies for the official statement on Student Rights & Responsibilities.

https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies

Tutoring

The ACC Learning Labs provide one-on-one and group tutoring as well as guided study groups in a variety of subject areas for your ACC classes. The ACC Learning Labs have offices with hours morning, noon, and night plus weekends to help you get where you're going. Please see our hours of operation for more information.  They are being paid to help you so take advantage of this AMAZING RESOURCE that is included with your work at ACC.