History 108
Early U.S. History
Prof. Dominic Carrillo
Grossmont College
domcarrillo@yahoo.com

History 108 examines, interprets, and re-interprets the early U.S. history, from pre-Columbian America to the Civil War (1865). The course combines lectures, readings, slides, hand-outs, memoirs, music, websites, and films in order to study the foundations and then progressions of U.S. history in the early period. Through selected sources, this course will represent diverse perspectives through the lenses of race, class, and gender. Such attention to multiple perspectives, documents, and histories is designed to deepen historical understanding, cross-cultural sensitivity, and stimulate high-level critical thinking. The intellectual focus of this class will be on articulating the significance of historical events within this frame, critically thinking about them, using the past to illuminate the present, and engaging in rational analysis, rather than simply regurgitating numerous trivial names, dates, and places.

Required reading: Completion of required readings is crucial to this class. All students are expected to read according to the schedule and to read critically, not passively.

A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn

The Narrative of Frederick Douglass

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

AND in-class hand-outs

Students are expected to attend every lecture, arrive to class on time, take notes thoroughly and consistently, exhibit appropriate college classroom behavior, do the required reading, be prepared to discuss the week’s readings, and complete all course assignments.

All graded assignments must be completed in order to receive a passing grade.

Any assignments turned in late will automatically be marked down one full letter grade.

Students will be penalized for more than two unexcused absences or instances of excessive lateness throughout the semester.

In the event of excessive lateness or absence, the student’s final grade will be reduced or they may be dropped from the class by the instructor.

The instructor may excuse absences only if they are discussed prior to the class to be missed AND the reasons for one’s absence involve extreme emergency or illness.

All cell phones and personal electronic devices which have the potential of making noise must be turned off during class time.

Students who repeatedly engage in distracting or disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the classroom and may be dropped from the class.

Maintaining a positive and respectful learning environment is always essential for student success and a rewarding classroom experience.

Respect-- maximum respect-- for others and yourself is the number one rule in this and any classroom.

My job, as your professor, is to try my best to provide a positive, academic, open, insightful, valuable, relevant, and interesting classroom experience for students from many diverse backgrounds, who will undoubtedly move on to equally diverse, successful, and rewarding careers. Thus, all the aforementioned requirements and policies are necessary for our mutual success.

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact Disabled Student Services & Programs (DSP&S) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact DSP&S in person in room 110 or by phone at 619-644-7112, or 619-644-7119 (TTY for Deaf)

Exam #1 … 20

Exam #2 …20

5-6 Page Research Paper …25

Final Exam …25

Participation and Attendance +…10

= 100 points

95-100 points= A+

90-94 = A

85-89 = B+

80-84 = B

75-79 = C+

70-74 = C

60-69 = D

Below 60 = F

Exam #1: Exams will consist of short answer, fill-in, and multiple choice questions. They are designed to check for student reading, comprehension, and understanding of coursework material. Exam #1 will include all significant material covered up to that point. Test question examples will be provided.

Exam #2: Exam #2 will include all significant material covered after Exam 1 and prior to the research paper.

Research Paper : 5 to 6 page historical research paper on any approved topic which falls within the broad scope of American History before 1865. The details on paper expectations-- including the cover page, thesis statement, content, research methods, references, etc-- will be discussed and examples will be provided in class at least 2 weeks prior to the due date. Due Week 15. I require that students edit their research papers at the Writing Center before handing them in to me.

Final Exam: This exam will be comprehensive and will cover all readings, lectures, class discussions, and films throughout the course. It may include essay questions, short-answer essays, multiple choice, fill-in, vocabulary matching, and true/false questions. The final exam is designed to evaluate the student’s mastery of coursework. The final will account for a large percentage of one’s grade and should be prepared for accordingly. A general study guide will be provided.

Participation and Attendance : Active student participation and contribution in relevant class discussions, group work, and consistent note-taking will be weighed into final grades, and could be the difference between an “A” and a “B” (or a “D” and a “C,” depending on one’s approach/perspective)

Extra Credit: The only extra credit assignment accepted in this course will be a critical reading journal which analyzes (not summarizes) each week’s class readings in 1-2 hand- written pages. A notebook with a minimum of 30 hand-written journal pages turned in at the end of the semester, if done properly, could earn a student up to 10% in extra grade points.