The Scout, by Charles M. Russell, (1907)

Course Syllabus:  U.S. History 1301
Palo Alto College, San Antonio, Texas

Robert R. Hines. Instructor of History

Social Sciences Room 116
Phone #: 921-5098

 

Catalogue Description:

History 1301 fulfills the state of Texas mandated requirement for the first half of study in the history of the United States. The time period covered in the course will be from 1492-1877.

 

Assigned Text:

Flyover History: Remembering Our Ignored Past- Volume I (6th Edition)
- Myers, Hines, & Field
Publisher: Thomson Learning Custom Publishing;
ISBN: 0-7593-1872-7

Students will also be assigned of primary and secondary source readings off of the internet. These assignments will be drawn from the Course Themes. The instructor will fill in details on these assignments during the course of the semester.

Flyover History

 

Grading Procedures:


Students are encouraged to consult with the instructor about their progress in this course. It is the student's responsibility to seek me out for help and guidance in this course, and to assess their progress in this course. My office hours are posted on this page. The best way to reach me is by email @ Robert R. Hines.

Quizzes:


Students are responsible for completing up to 10 quizzes, per the instructor's decision. These quizzes will be based on both reading assignments and classroom activities. Quiz questions from your reading assignments are posted online:

Quiz #1      Quiz #2     Quiz #3     Quiz #4     Quiz #5     Quiz #6     Quiz #7     Quiz #8     Quiz #9     Quiz #10    

Please note: Quiz dates will be announced in class. Students may take a quiz early, but missed quizzes (for any reason) will count as a "zero".   At the end of the semester, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped. It will not affect your final grade. Students should bring a Scantron Sheet J to class on quiz days. Scantrons can be purchased at the Palo Alto Bookstore. Quizzes will account for approximately 35% of your final grade.

F

Examinations

Three exams, dates to be announced. Examinations could be multiple choice, essays, or a combination. They may be in class or take-home, or a combination. Examinations will account for approximately 50% of your final grade.

Minute Papers:

Minute papers are short, one page papers the instructor will assign either as an in-class essay or a take-home essay. They are short assignments, designed to form student opinions or reinforce concepts. These assignments will account for approximately 15% your final grade.

All of these assignments must be submitted typed and on time, and be free of all obvious spelling/grammar errors. Students should consult my Essay Writing Criteria  BEFORE submitting their papers for grading.

Plagiarism: What is Plagiarism?

Basically, plagiarism is turning in written work that is not yours. You copied it off of the internet, or a textbook, or (and I know you wouldn't do this) ANOTHER student! Plagiarized essays will be awarded a "Zero". Essays need to be written IN YOUR OWN WORDS. I don't care how humbly you write. I would much rather see your words than someone else's. Your grade will be BETTER if you use your own words, not worse. Enough said...

 

Class Participation:


In this course, it is required that students come to class every day, on time, prepared to participate in class discussions. Regular, punctual attendance is the most important barometer of student success in all of my classes. I don't usually "teach the book." Students who miss class, are tardy, or who fail to participate in class activities will either receive lower grades or be withdrawn from the course. Students who miss more than three classes risk being removed from the course. Please consult your student handbook for more information on this.

A note on classroom civility: Let us respect each other and the education process. Please turn off your cell phones before class begins. Thank you.

Grading Scale: (This Grading Scale is Approximate.)


450 - 500 = A
400 - 450 = B
350 - 400 = C
300 - 350 = D
0   -   299 = F

 

Office Hours: T.B.A.

 

Robert R. Hines, Instructor of History Robert R. Hines.

Robert R. Hines, Instructor of History

I bring to this task a wide variety of experience in the field  many call education.  Behind me lies over twenty years of teaching experience.  In addition to my sixteen years of work at Palo Alto College, I have taught history at the University of the Incarnate Word and the University of Texas  at San Antonio.  I completed my Master of Science Degree at Illinois State University in 1985, whereupon I journeyed overseas to  Papua New Guinea, where I taught English and History for two years under the auspices of the United States Peace Corps. 

I made my way to South Texas in 1989, gaining employment as an adjunct instructor of history at Palo Alto College, the then new campus of the Alamo Community College District in San Antonio, Texas.  I am now a tenured Instructor of History at Palo Alto, where I teach both halves of U.S. History, World Civilization, and Western Civilization.  With my colleagues Peter Myers and Rex Field, I am the co-editor of "Flyover History," a two volume collection of readings and documents in American History.  I am married to the former Kimberly Augustus.  We are the parents of two sons, Adam and Liam.

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