The Civil War: American History
HST 209 - 3 credits
Lane Community College
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97405
#30911 Florence
#30910 Cottage Grove
Fax (541) 463-4160
Phone Numbers
Fax (541) 463-3974
- Student Study Guide - copied packet
- The Civil War : An Illustrated History
by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ric Burns (Contributor), Ken Burns (Contributor)
Paperback Reprint edition (October 1992)
Knopf; ISBN: 0679742778 - Battle Cry of Freedom : The Civil War Era
by James M. McPherson
Paperback Reissue edition (February 1989)
Ballantine Books (Trd Pap); ISBN: 0345359429
- Ken Burn's the Civil War : Historians Respond
by Robert B. Toplin (Editor)
Paperback - 224 pages Reprint edition (April 1997)
Oxford Univ Pr (Trade); ISBN: 0195115813(This book is optional and will NOT be in the bookstore.)
Upon completion of this course, students should:
- Grasp the political, social, and economic realities of the Civil War, in both the North and the South
- Know the chronology of the key events in the Civil War
- Understand the Civil War in the context of the history of warfare; it was the bloodiest of all wars, the first of the modern wars, and the last of the old fashioned wars
- Comprehend that the causes of the Civil War are a matter of debate
- Appreciate that the Civil War was a turning point in American history that has shaped the American character and helped to mold political, economic, and social institutions
- Realize that the Civil War left numerous issues unresolved, many which will continue to challenge the nation into the 21st century
- Compare and contrast the political systems of the 19th and 20th centuries with regard to centralization, size, complexity, etc.
I am accessible via phone, fax, email, voicemail, or in person at scheduled appointments. Although not required for the course, you will find that having access to the internet and email will be extremely helpful, since I check my email multiple times each day, weekends included. Since this is a distance course, I encourage you to utilize this technology. I will explain how to get internet access and a web-based email account, absolutely free and at no cost to you, at the end of our on-campus orientation session. My job is to help make this a successful experience for you. You will find that I enjoy helping my students.
I expect that all students will join the class listserv (you must have an email
address to do this) which is on the instructor web page at: http://teach.lanecc.edu/escobarj
Here are the steps. BE SURE TO COMPLETE THEM ALL.
- Click the Class Newsgroup, Listserv, and Chat link on the homepage
- Click New User (near the bottom)
- Add appropriate information in required fields
- Click Create (at the bottom)
- Click More (at the top)
- Click Mailing Lists
- Check appropriate list (hst209)
- Click Save
- Click Logoff (you are finished)
Your grade in this course will be based on the following:
|
Midterm Exam 33% |
Letter Grades will be as follows: A+= 100% A=93%-99% A-=90%-92% B+=87%-89% B=83%-86% B-=80%-82% C+=77%-79% C=73%-76% C-=70%-72% D+=67%-69% D=63%-66% D-=60%-62% F=<60% |
Students grades will be available on the class website on the internet. Term papers will be mailed back to you. If, for some reason, you want to receive your grade information in another manner, please contact you instructor.
All exams are computerized and will be taken online. Students will have a one week window in which to take each exam. Exams must be completed by 5:00 pm on the deadline day. See the calendar below. After 5:00 pm on the deadline day, students will be able to return to the testing center(s) to review their exams.
Most students will be taking their exams in the Social Science Computer Lab ELEX108. Students may also take an exam at any LCC Outreach or Community Learning Center. Regardless of location, be sure to bring a photo ID.
The Main Campus lab hours are:
Mon-Thur 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5pm.
For the final exam, final exam week hours are:
Mon-Wed 9am-8pm, Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri CLOSED.
IMPORTANT - Although exams may also be taken in any of the LCC Outreach Centers (Florence or Cottage Grove) or the Community Learning Centers (Churchill, Elmira, Junction City, McKenzie, Oakridge, Thurston, Willamette), their individual hours of operation vary. Students will need to contact their center of choice at least one week in advance to ensure times and availability. Regardless of lab hours, these exams must be completed by 5:00 pm on the last testing day.
The term paper is to be typed (1" margins, normal style, 12 point font, double-spaced),
endnoted or footnoted, spell-checked, and proofread, and be from 3 to 5 pages long
(exclusive of the bibliography). Do NOT put your papers in any type of folder or
binder. The pages are to be stapled in the upper left hand corner ONLY. You MUST
incorporate both outside information and course/video/reading information into your
paper to receive a decent grade.
Each paper will have a cover page that must include the following information (1
inch from the top, left justified) in this order (including spaces):
--------------------------------------------------
Student Name
HST 209 Civil War Telecourse
Retype the entire question here
Grade on paper = _____ / 100
Spelling
Grammar
Answer the question(s)
Reading material
Video material
Other evidence
Instructor Comments:
--------------------------------------------------
(Substitute your specific information for the italicized information.)
Choose one of the following questions to answer:
- The conflict that broke out in 1861 has been called the following:
1) The Civil War, 2) The War Between the States, 3) The War for Southern Independence, 4) The War of the Secession, 5) The Second American Revolution, 6) A Civil War within a Civil War, 7) The Second American War of Independence, 8) The War of Yankee Aggression, 9) The War for the Union, 10) The War for Southern Self-Determination, 11) The War for Freedom, 12) The Brothers' War.
Which of these terms, in your judgement, is least in accord with the facts and which is most in accord with the facts? - The elementary school students "knows" the answer to the following
question. What caused the American Civil War? The answer. Slavery. Upon further study
of the subject and 19th Century U.S. History, we learn about many other factors/issues,
such as economic differences/realities, cultural differences North and South, states
rights and constitutional issues, westward expansion, extremist elements, etc. Taking
these into account, to what extent is the elementary school student's answer accurate
or inaccurate?
- (For this essay, you will need to read the optional textbook.) Watched by 40 million people, Ken Burns's TV documentary The Civil War is, for a generation of Americans, the Civil War. Yet it has been sharply critized by professional historians on a number of points, including its conventional emphasis on military history rather than social history. The book Ken Burn's the Civil War : Historians Respond, brings together detractors, supporters, and Ken Burns himself in a volume that will inspire readers to look carefully at the way TV portrays history and at the Civil War itself. What critique(s) of the video series do you have? Can you build upon those mentioned in this text? Do you have any of your own to add? Do you refute the criticisms included in this volume? Do we have anything to fear from TV histories such as this? (Students attempting to answer this question should definitely consult with the instructor in advance to assure a scholarly thesis and focus.)
In a assignment such as this, there is clearly no single "correct" response. Instead, you will be graded on your written ability to persuade your audience (the instructor) by making an argument and supporting your position. This 3-5 page paper must be an original analysis which correctly uses historical evidence, some of which must come from outside the information presented in the videos and textbooks. When you restate evidence that is not common knowledge or not your own, cite your source. Notice how James McPherson uses footnotes throughout his book. It has been said that good papers are composed of nearly 1/2 to 2/3rds of footnoted material. In your footnotes and bibliography, you will share your sources with the reader.
The most difficult task required of any instructor is that of grading papers. Although the purpose of this assignment is not to grade papers on spelling and grammar, problems in these areas can only detract from the readability and enjoyment of the paper, not to mention the lack of care or proofreading they illustrate. You do not want me to be proofreading your paper. You want me to be reading your best work and best effort. Therefore, I urge you to seek assistance if writing is not one of your strengths. For help, other than your instructor, you should contact the Counseling/Advising Center, the Study Skills Learning Center, The Writing Center, the English Department, and the Library staff.
Your Term Paper is worth one third of your grade in this class, the same as each of the exams. Consider what you are required to do in order to adequately prepare for just one of these exams, such as reading hundreds of pages of text and watching several hours of video. This should give you an indication of the effort I am looking for in this Term Paper.
In summary:
- Proofread your paper
- Include Footnotes and a Bibliography for all sources used
- Do not plagiarize. Violators will be punished to the furthest extent of LCC's academic honesty code
- Term Paper is due Friday, February 21, 2003 by 5:00 pm
- Papers will be graded, grades will be posted on the class website, and papers will be mailed back to students before Friday, February 28, 2003, the last day the make changes to your LCC schedule.
IMPORTANT - The term paper is due, in the instructor's hands, Friday, February 21, 2003, by 5:00 pm. You may fax, email (as a MS Word or RTF attachment), or drop off the paper in person (to the front office in Bldg 20 or my office in CEN015E). Students will have seven (7) weeks to complete the term paper; therefore, no late papers will be accepted. See the calendar below.
Civil War movies have been made in Hollywood and range in quality and historical accuracy.
Rent either Glory or Gettysburg or Andersonville and write a review of the movie. How accurately do you believe this movie depicts a soldier's experience? How has the movie increased your understanding of this tragic historical experience?
The Extra Credit Assignment is due Friday, February 21, 2003 by 5:00 pm. (the same deadline as the term paper)
- Videos are available for term-long loan from the LCC Library.
- You may also view the videos while at the library in their media section. Check with the Reference Desk in the Library for additional information
All videos must be viewed thoughtfully and critically, and only after you have completed the appropriate preparation outlined in the student study guide, especially the Think About, Key Concepts and Names, Historical Voices, and Questions for Review sections. You may find yourself pausing the videos and rewinding in certain places to hear and see something again. You may consider watching them a number of times. Do not expect that a casual viewing of the tapes will prepare you for the expectations of this course.
See page titled WINTER TERM 2003 DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE DETAILS
#30911 Florence
#30910 Cottage Grove
Video materials are available at the outreach centers for registered students.
IMPORTANT - The calendar of assignments and exams is the same for Main Campus and Outreach Center students. The term paper and exams must be RECEIVED (in the instructor's hands) by 5:00 pm on the deadline day.
For Outreach Center hours of operation, see page titled WINTER TERM 2003 DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE DETAILS
See the calendar below for deadlines.
You are STRONGLY encouraged to complete readings, viewing, and assignments in the following order:
- Read the study guide BEFORE viewing the corresponding video.
- Take notes in a journal. Write questions and reactions.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes in a journal. Write questions and reactions.
- Read all of the associated chapter readings for the particular unit.
- Take notes in a journal. Write questions and reactions.
Exams will be based primarily on the following sources:
- Study Guide Sections - Think About, Key Concepts & Names, Historical Voices, & Questions for Review
- Videos
- Readings from textbooks