Office Room: #518

Office Phone: 219-473-4294

E-mail: mistergordon71@hotmail.com

Office Hours: I will be in the building one hour before all scheduled classes if you have any questions or concerns. I will also be available after all scheduled classes. You can also reach me through e-mail at: mistergordon71@hotmail.com.

Course Time: Monday 7:00p.m. 10:00p.m.

This course surveys American civilization from 1877 to present. In addition, we will be looking at a variety of events and movements to understand the relation towards one another and the world today. Students will be asked to gain both a general understanding of our shared American past and an appreciation for it.

Prerequisites: None

Nash, Gary B. et al., The American People: Creating a nation and a society. United States:

Addision-Wesley Educational Publishers, Inc. 2000.

To be announced

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances.

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.). All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore. These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request.

If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Program (DCP) students should consult the DCP Student Handbook for information on DCP withdrawals.

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a

course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see

Refund Schedule).

Students in this course will:

• Gain a general understanding of the major movements and events in United States history since 1877.
• Gain an appreciation of why understanding United States history effects our grasp of current events.
• Develop skills in interpreting cause and effect relationships and applying past historical lessons to ongoing historical developments.
• Recognize how citizens acting alone or in groups have influenced the direction of our nation.

The evaluation and grading of this course will be taken from two midterm exams, class participation, a final exam and an optional project.

Exam 1 25%

Exam 2 25%

Participation 10%

Final Exam 40%

Total 100%

Exams will cover material taught in class and assigned in the readings. They will consist of both multiple choice questions and open ended questions. They will be given February 5th and March 12th.

Participation is an essential and important component to the learning process. Good participation begins with attending all classes but also includes active involvement in class discussions and debates. Participation grades will be based on your ability to intelligently contribute to class discussions, to make contributions based on both the class readings and your own life experiences. I realize that many of you have jobs, families and obligations other than school. If you need to miss a class please contact me ahead of time through my e-mail or the school The responsibility to make up work is your own. If you are not here you can not participate.

You will have the opportunity to complete a project which may be substituted for either exam 1 or 2. Under no circumstance will you be allowed to substitute a project for the final exam. The project will consist of following a specific topic through at least four different decades or historical time periods. It must be at least six full pages typed, double spaced, ten or twelve point font and no more than one inch margins. The project will also include a presentation to the class. Topics must be submitted for approval before January 29, 2001, and the final project must be turned in no later than March 19, 2001. Interested students should see me for further directions.

The final exam will be held the week of April 12, 2001, and will cover all aspects of the course. It will also be one half multiple choice and one half open ended questions.

All readings are to be completed before class. This schedule is subject to possible changes at the instructor's discretion.

Week #1 January 8, 2001 Introduction: Why Study History

The Election of 1876 v the Election of 2000

Week #2 January 15, 2001 Chapters 16 & 17

Reconstruction & the Agricultural Expansion

Week #3 January 22, 2001 Chapters 18 & 19

From Agriculture to Industry and the Gilded

Age

Week#4 January 29, 2001 Chapter 20

Becoming a World Power

Week #5 February 5, 2001 Exam #1

Week#6 February 12, 2001 Chapter 21

The Progressive Movement

Week #7 February 19, 2001 Chapter 22

World War I

Week #8 February 26, 2001 Chapter 23 & 24

The Post War Boom and the Great Depression

Week #9 March 5, 2001 Chapter 25

World War II

Week #10 March 12, 2001 Exam #2

Week #11 March 19, 2001 Chapter 26 & 27

Being a Superpower and the Cold War

Week #12 March 26, 2001 Chapters 28 & 29

Reform Movements and a Struggle towards

Equal Rights

Week #13 April 2, 2001 Chapter 30

The Conservation Revolution

Week #14 April 9, 2001 To be announced

Current History and the Future of the United

States