Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Course Description
This course surveys the first half of American history, starting in 1492 and ending in 1877. Over the
semester, we will examine the social, political, cultural and economic developments during the period and
how different groups of people were affected by them. Topics will include: peoples and origins, colonial
developments, the road to rebellion/independence, establishment of a nation and a constitution, the early
republic, spiritual and social reform movements, westward expansion, Indian removal, slavery and
abolition, and, of course, the Civil War.
The above books are available at the UTD bookstore and at Off Campus Books located at 581 W Campbell
Road.
Additional resources
A reasonably new edition of a dictionary (e.g. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary)
A reputable and fairly recent edition of an encyclopedia (e.g. Britannica, Columbia, or Encarta)
August 20
Introduction October 15
Reading: Faragher chapter 9
August 25
Project: 1492 October 20
Reading: Faragher chapter 10
August 27
Reading: Faragher chapter 1 October 22
Reading: Faragher chapter 11
September 1
Reading: Faragher chapter 2 October 27
DUE: Paper
September 3
Reading: Faragher chapter 3 October 29
Project: Outline Reading: Faragher chapter 12
September 8 November 3
Reading: Faragher chapter 4 Reading: Faragher chapter 13
September 10 November 5
Reading: Faragher chapter 5 TBA
September 15 November 10
Review session exam I Project: John Sullivan Manifest Destiny
September 17 November 12
EXAM I Reading: Faragher chapter 14
September 22 November 17
Reading: Faragher chapter 6 Reading: Faragher chapter 15
September 24 November 19
Reading: Faragher chapter 7 Reading: Faragher chapter 16
September 29 November 24
Ellis preface, chapters 1, 2, 3 Project: John Brown articles
October 1 November 26
Reading: Faragher chapter 8 Thanksgiving
October 6 December 1
Reading: Ellis chapter 4, 5, 6 Reading: Faragher chapter 17
October 8 December 3
Project: Chapter Review TBA – last day of class
You must complete all of the readings, tests, and other assignments in order to pass the class. Most weeks,
class will include lectures, group projects and discussion of the assigned readings. In a number of classes
we will do short writing exercises/quizzes based on the readings for that day.
The chapter review (one full page) will be a review of one of the chapters in Ellis and the paper (four to
five pages) will be an extension of that work. The review should contain a brief summary of the thesis and
a critical review of the line of argument of the chosen chapter. The paper should expand the engagement
with the chapter and incorporate a comparison with relevant textbook material and one other source.
The exams will be a mixture of identifications and short essay questions, material will be taken from all the
readings as well as lecture materials, discussions, and writing exercises. The exams will not be
comprehensive. You will be expected to bring an empty blue book for each exam.
If you miss class, it is up to you to obtain lecture notes and other information that may have been given out
in class. Regularly check your UTD email and the new eLearning Orion for information about the class
(changes in the schedule, reading aids posted, study guides etc).
Kindly do the assigned readings before you come to class. To make use of the classroom time you need to
come prepared to answer questions about and discuss the content of the text.
Any work submitted for grading in this course must be original and prepared exclusively for this class. To
avoid unnecessary charges of plagiarism use proper citations when referring to or quoting the work of
others. Keep copies of notes, draft and other materials you used when you wrote the paper, as well as
copies of all materials you hand in during the course, until the end of the semester.
Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value
of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is
imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for
enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own. As a
general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying
academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This
course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90%
effective.
Email Use
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between
faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and
the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email
correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from
students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree
of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD
furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The
Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail
forwarded to other accounts.
Disability Services
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to
those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are
Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m.
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to
eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom
prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an
assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student
who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in
accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking,
or mobility assistance.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation.
Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a
disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after
class or during office hours.
These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Instructor. In addition
to giving you notice in class, any changes to the syllabus will be posted on WebCT.