Course Schedule
PowerPoint Schedule

This course surveys the political, economic, and social development of the United States. It traces the constant and changing values that shaped American institutions, and analyzes the diversity of the American people.  Upon completion of this course you will have a much stronger sense of how the United States reached its present state, both domestically and as a part of the greater world community.

Plagiarism:
You are responsible for understanding the Moorpark College code of academic practice (available online at http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/catalog/policies.html ).  Any student who plagiarizes in this class will receive an "F" grade and be referred to the Dean of Student Learning.

Grading:
Your course grade will be determined by your performance on the following assignments:

PowerPoint Presentation (30 points, or 10%): This is intended to be a fun and informative activity for you and the whole class.  Your small group (3-4 students) will pick a topic of interest and historical value that took place between 1700-1877.  Then develop a PowerPoint presentation, complete with well-organized text and helpful images, for presentation to the class.  The goal is an interesting and informative 10-12 minute presentation that strengthens our understanding of your topic.  Your topic is due on February 10th; please feel free to start discussing possible topics with me as soon as possible.  Here are some important guidelines for your presentation. Please note that your PPT must be on a different topic than your paper.  

Short Research Paper (60 points, or 20%): This 5-7 page paper based entirely on primary source documents related to a particular topic.  We will discuss the specific requirements of this paper in class on February 5th, in the meantime you need to begin developing a paper proposal that outlines your proposed topic and the documents you plan to use, this proposal is due Febraury 22nd.  Here are some important guidelines for writing the research paper.

Midterm Exam (60 points, or 20%): A traditional in class exam scheduled for March 10th.  Please make sure you bring a 50 question scantron form and a bluebook (both available in the Moorpark College bookstore) with you.

Final Exam (60 points, or 20%): A traditional in class exam scheduled for May 5th, which is the week prior to finals week for classes being held on the traditional schedule.  Please make sure you bring a 50 question scantron form and a bluebook (both available in the Moorpark College bookstore) with you.

Attendance and Class Participation (90 points, or 30%):  This category is fairly self-explanatory.  It includes class attendance, regular participation in class discussions and debates, and select in-class assignments.  Attendance is absolutely critical to your success in this class, please note that you will lose 7 points for each missed class session.   When you are present I expect you to be present. Your cellphone should be silenced and put away, and laptops will be used for class related purposes only. Do not underestimate the power of the negative image you create when you try send text messages or e-mails on class time.  This grade will be broken down into three 30-point assignments. These assignments will be recorded on 2/24, 3/29, and 5/3.

On each assignment you will receive a certain number of points out of the points possible.  At the end of the course I will divide the total points you have earned by the total points possible to determine your percentage.  From that point, the standard grading scale (90-100%=A, 80-89.9=B, 70-79.9=C, 60-69.9=D, 0-59.9=F) will be used to determine your final grade for the course.

Course Schedule:

Date	Key Activities and Due Dates/Topics/Related Reading
2/1	Introduction
2/3	Discussion of Research Paper Requirements Colonial America
2/8	Colonial America Chapter 5
2/10	PowerPoint Topics Due Buildup to Revolution Chapter 6
2/15	President's Weekend - No Class
2/17	The American Revolution and the Critical Period Chapters 7 & 8
2/22	The New Constitution, Washington, Adams & Jefferson Chapters 9 & 10
2/24	Paper Topics Due Madison, & Monroe, Jacksonian America and the Market Revolution Chapters 11 & 12
3/1	First Attendance and Participation Grade Westward Expansion, the Slavery Debate, and the Start of the Civil War Chapters 13 & 14
3/3	Civil War & Reconstruction Chapters 15 & 16
3/8	Gilded Age, Westward Settlement Chapters 17 & 18
3/10	Midterm Exam
3/15	Immigration, Industrialization & Urbanization Chapter 19
3/17	Populism & Progressivism &  Imperialism Chapters 20 & 21
3/22	World War I Chapter 22
3/24	Second Attendance and Participation Grade The Twenties Chapter 23
3/29 & 3/31	Spring Break - No Classes
4/5	The Great Depression Chapters 23 & 24
4/7	World War II Chapter 25
4/12	Rough Draft of the Paper Due The Start of the Cold War, and America in the Fifties Chapters 26 & 27 WWII Film Assignment: Watch one of the films listed (you must choose one you have not already seen) and make a bulleted list of the specific ways the film deepened your understanding of WWII: The Longest Day The Best Years of Our Lives Patton The Big Red One Saving Private Ryan Fat Man and Little Boy Memphis Belle Band of Brothers (any three episodes, watched in order)
4/14	The Civil Rights Movement Chapter 28
4/19	The 1960s and Vietnam Chapter 29
4/21	The Seventies Chapter 30
4/26	Final Draft of the Paper Due The Reagan/Bush Era Chapter 30
4/28	The Pulse: The Nineties & Now! Chapter 31
5/3	Third Attendance and Participation Grade Wrap Up Final Review
5/5	Final Exam

PowerPoint Schedule:

Date	Students' Names	Topic
2/22	Anna Aleksandryan Dina Blatt Claudia Lopez Rey Fontanel Corey McGinnis	The Constitution
2/24	Ryan Alderman Kate Artale Logan Cooley Brandon Hay	Louisiana Purchase
3/24	Bryan Curry Clay Iverson Devin Torrey Emma Dixie Ashley Fountaine	The Great Depression
4/12	Amanda Harnes James Angeles Alexa Hoffman Luis Gonzalez Kyle Goshman Brendan Miller	WWII in the Pacific
4/14	Jarmaine Santiago Marcus Paquini Brittany Goldfield Kaley McNeal	Racial Tension in American Cities During the 1960s
4/19	Sarah Schaub Shawn White Lee Hanson Hayley Ashley Maureen Skinner	1960s Counterculture Movement
4/21	Ashley Winter Souren Aleksandryan Jeremy Gilbert Hilary Kleiman Alex Flores	U.S. Politics During the Vietnam War
4/26	Samantha Thellman Scott Turner Kevin Thrakulchavee Jacob Abbott	Growth and Evolution of Fighter Planes through U.S. History