The Civil War
HST 209 - 4 credits
Spring Term 2010
lcc

Lane Community College
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97405

PLEASE NOTE
 The course syllabus is a contract between instructor and student. It is the student's responsibility to read, understand, and comply with every academic requirement listed herein.
Online Course

 There is NO face-to-face orientation for this course. Students will listen to an audio orientation online. Login to http://classes.lanecc.edu to access all class materials.
Instructional Department Social Science Department - http://www.lanecc.edu/socsci
Are Distance Learning Courses for You? • Online Learning Assessment - Are Online Classes Right for Me?
http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/distance-education/distance-education-survey
Distance Learning Department
 		http://www.lanecc.edu/distance
Instructor Information Joe Escobar - escobarj@lanecc.edu
Office - Center Building, 4th Floor, 419J (541) 463-5581
Office Hours - by appointment
Required Texts and DVD's







Books can be purchased through the LCC Bookstore or online elsewhere
 		Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
Oxford University Press, USA; Later Printing edition (December 11, 2003)
ISBN-10: 019516895X
ISBN-13: 978-0195168952
$13.57 plus shipping from Amazon.com, or starting at $3.43 used (shipping additional)

The Civil War
Oxford University Press, USA; Later Printing edition (December 11, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0679755438
ISBN-13: 978-0679755432
$10.88 plus shipping from Amazon.com, or starting at $2.32 used (shipping additional)

The following DVD's are available on the internet for no additional cost.
If you are not able to watch the videos online, you may have to rent or purchase them.

The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns (1990)
ASIN: B000BITUE8
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
DVD Release Date: September 28, 2004
Run Time: 680 minutes
$50.99 with free shipping from Amazon.com, or starting at $32.98 used (shipping additional)
Course Description When The Civil War, originally premiered in September 1990, the response was phenomenal and the series became a national viewing event. The film interweaves thousands of photographs and paintings with the words of those who lived through the war that shattered a union and shaped a nation: politicians, generals, common soldiers, slaves and free slaves, the famous and the forgotten, male and female.

This online class is an integrated instructional program consisting of a nine (hour-long) episode DVD video series, two examinations, and various written assignments. In addition to the videos, students are required to read 2 textbooks (368 and 549 pages) and view/read/listen/watch other internet materials.
Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should:

  • Grasp the political, social, and economic realities of the Civil War.
  • Know the chronology of the key events in the Civil War.
  • Appreciate that the Civil War was a milestone in American history that has shaped the American character and helped to change political, economic, military, and social institutions.
  • Realize that the Civil War left numerous issues unresolved, many which will continue to challenge this nation into the 21st century.
VERY
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
 Deadlines are sacred in this course.

No late work is accepted. All assignments (including an optional extra credit opportunity) are due, for all students, by the due dates and times listed in this syllabus and course website. Since all assignments are turned in via the internet, students will have to plan accordingly.

No make up exams are given. Students will have a 3 or 4 day period of time during which they must complete the midterm and final exams. These dates and times are listed in the deadline link in the Moodle class.

Grades of incomplete will not be given.
Instructor Contact

I am accessible via Moodle messaging, email, voicemail, or in person at scheduled appointments. Moodle messaging is the preferred method since I check the course multiple times each day, weekends included. More importantly, emails often get "lost" in LCC's email spam filter, while Moodle messages never do.

LCC requires that all students provide an email address to the college. You should be certain that your email address in ExpressLane/Moodle is correct.
Grading Criteria Grades

Your grade in this course will be based on the following breakdown and scale:
Summary:

Various Online Assignments 50%
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%
TOTAL 100%


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 always be available in Moodle.
Exams Students will take two non-comprehensive exams which will only be administered by computers at approved testing locations. You will NOT take your exams at home from your own computers. This requirement may cause some of you to have to make special arrangements to come to campus. Read on.

The objective exams consist of multiple choice questions, true/false, matching, maps, etc. Each objective exam will have between 50 and 100 questions. Most students will complete an exam in one hour, although you may have as much time as you need.

The actual exams must be taken on LCC's Main Campus in CEN456, the Social Science Computer Testing Lab. Be sure to bring a photo ID with you on exam day.

IMPORTANT - Exams may also be taken in the LCC Outreach Centers in Florence or Cottage Grove. Students will need to contact the learning center coordinator at least one week in advance of their exam. Hours of operation vary from location to location. The exam deadlines listed in Moodle, not the lab hours, are the ones that will apply.

VERY IMPORTANT - I realize some students may be taking this class from outside the Willamette Valley in Oregon. If this is the case, be certain to contact the instructor AND the LCC Distance Learning Department immediately to make arrangements to have your exams proctored at a remote site. Again, the exam deadlines are absolute, no matter where you live.
Various Online Assignments

Students will write short papers during the course of the term. Each entry will occur after a different series of readings and will have a unique prompt.

Students will post a number of observations, comments, and constructive replies to other students in several different forums. These posts will require students to in incorporate textbook, internet-based, and video information into their responses and answer ALL questions and sub-questions (in an integrated manner) to receive a decent grade. Each entry will occur after a different series of videos and textbook chapters and will have a unique prompt.
A Note On Students and Written Assignments
 		The most difficult task required of any instructor is that of grading student writing. Although the purpose of these assignments and forums is not to grade based on spelling and grammar, problems in these areas can only detract from the readability and enjoyment of the information presented, not to mention the lack of care or proofreading they illustrate. You do not want me to be proofreading your written assignments and forum posts. You want me (and in the case of forum posts, other students) 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 more help, other than your instructor, you should contact the Counseling/Advising Center, the Study Skills Learning Center, The Writing Center, the English Department, and/or the Library staff.

Combined, these assignments are one half of your grade in this class (50%), more than each individual exam. 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 these assignments.

In summary:

  • Proofread your writing
  • Do not plagiarize. Violators will be punished to the fullest extent of LCC's academic honesty code
Extra Credit A failing student cannot pass the course by doing extra credit work. Extra credit will ONLY influence a borderline final class grade. For example, students may use extra credit to go from a D+ to a C- or from a B+ to an A-.
Students interested in an extra credit opportunity must Moodle message the instructor AFTER the midterm exam.
Environment for Viewing Videos

All videos must be viewed thoughtfully and critically. You may find yourself pausing and/or replaying 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 videos will prepare you for the expectations of this course.

Withdrawal Procedure The last day to receive a tuition refund is by the end of the FIRST week of the term. The last day to make any schedule changes (grade, pass/no pass, drop) is the end of the 8th week of the term. This includes changing from a grade to a pass/no pass option or dropping the class without it appearing on your transcript.
Students With Disabilities If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Services. For more information, contact Disability Services at (541) 463-5150 (voice) or 463-3079 (TTY), or stop by Building 1, Room 218.


Please direct comments regarding this page to Joe Escobar.
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