St. Thomas Aquinas College West Point Campus History of The United States II HIS 102 Spring Online March 28-May 6, 2016 Adjunct Professor : Susan J. Rucano Email: [email protected] I can be reached through email and Moodle. I frequently sign in to email and Moodle, and I will generally answer student questions within 24-36 hours. No textbook is required for this course. Readings from both primary and secondary sources will be provided on Moodle. Course Description This course will examine major political, economic, social, cultural, and intellectual forces and events from 1865 to the present; emphasis on selected topics to comprehend both their historical and contemporary significance on American life and culture. Course Objectives:  Understand the factors of Reconstruction & their impact on American politics  Understand the political, economic & technical changes & examine their impact on U.S. history  Examine American political & intellectual developments and their long-term influence  Examine the rise of cities and their contributions to economic and social history  Analyze the ideas that influence U.S. politics and culture  Examine U.S. participation in world events of the 20 th century  Examine primary sources to examine major events College Core Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, well prepared, engaged & successful students will be able to:  Identify the ideas and politics that have influenced U.S. history since 1865  Analyze the processes of political, social & economic change in the U.S. since 1865  Determine how science and technological change have impacted U.S. development  Examine primary sources to understand major historical problems & debates “The Social Science Division cultivates the student’s ability to reach logical conclusions, make reasoned arguments, and communicate observations through speech and writing. It is essential to the education of our students as citizens who are informed and therefore, valuable to their communities.” The Social Science Division Mission Statement mailto:[email protected] Course Methodology This course is taught online via Moodle, and includes the presentation of an assortment of media. Students are required to participate in all discussions and assignments for the successful completion of this course. This course is divided into six modules, each with a discussion, videos, PowerPoints, and assignments. The grade breakdown will be as follows: Discussion 25% Discussion includes reading the assigned sources and making significant contributions to the online discussion as it relates to the topic. Successful students are expected to have read the assigned readings and to have viewed the required course materials. Students will be evaluated on the following: how thoroughly they contribute to the discussion, the relevance of the c ...

1. St. Thomas Aquinas College
West Point Campus
History of The United States II
HIS 102 Spring Online March 28-May 6, 2016
Adjunct Professor : Susan J. Rucano
Email: [email protected]
I can be reached through email and Moodle. I frequently sign in
to email and Moodle, and I will
generally answer student questions within 24-36 hours.
No textbook is required for this course. Readings from both
primary and secondary sources will be
provided on Moodle.
Course Description
This course will examine major political, economic, social,
cultural, and intellectual forces and

2. events from 1865 to the present; emphasis on selected topics to
comprehend both their historical
and contemporary significance on American life and culture.
Course Objectives:
American politics
examine their impact on U.S.
history
Examine American political & intellectual developments and
their long-term influence
and social history
icipation in world events of the 20
th
century
College Core Objectives: Upon successful completion of this
course, well prepared, engaged &
successful students will be able to:
deas and politics that have influenced U.S.

3. history since 1865
in the U.S. since 1865
impacted U.S. development
rces to understand major historical
problems & debates
“The Social Science Division cultivates the student’s ability to
reach logical conclusions, make
reasoned arguments, and communicate observations through
speech and writing. It is essential to
the education of our students as citizens who are informed and
therefore, valuable to their
communities.”
The Social Science Division Mission Statement
mailto:[email protected]
Course Methodology
This course is taught online via Moodle, and includes the
presentation of an assortment of media.

4. Students are required to participate in all discussions and
assignments for the successful completion of
this course. This course is divided into six modules, each with a
discussion, videos, PowerPoints, and
assignments.
The grade breakdown will be as follows:
Discussion 25%
Discussion includes reading the assigned sources and making
significant contributions to the
online discussion as it relates to the topic. Successful students
are expected to have read the
assigned readings and to have viewed the required course
materials. Students will be evaluated
on the following: how thoroughly they contribute to the
discussion, the relevance of the
comments to the topic, and the insightfulness of their questions.
Students should read the
discussion rubric for a more detailed explanation of grading for
discussions.
Assignments 30%

5. Each module includes an assignment. Directions for successful
completion will be provided.
Quizzes 20%
Students will submit two quizzes, in week four and week six,
based on readings & and course
material.
Final Paper 25 %
Students will write a 3-5 page paper relating to primary source
excerpts. This represents the
final examination for this course. Guidelines to complete this
assignment will be provided.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity, a commitment to honesty, fairness, respect,
and responsibility is the
foundation of the learning process. All members of the St.
Thomas Aquinas College community
are held to the highest standards of academic honesty. While we
recognize the participatory
nature of education, we take academic integrity very seriously,
and the College policy on

6. academic dishonesty details consequences that can include
dismissal from the College. That
policy can be found in both the Student Handbook and the
College Catalog. As a student in this
class, you must demonstrate your commitment to academic
integrity by submitting work which
originates in your own imagination, analytical faculties, or your
own knowledge, which you have
done yourself, and which represents your very best efforts.
When appropriate your work should
be supplemented and supported by other sources; however, you
must always insure that these
sources are properly cited using the recommended
documentation system.
Course Outline
Module 1: Civil War & Reconstruction Era Reforms
Module 2: Manifest Destiny, Westward Expansion &
Industrialization

7. Module 3: The Gilded Age & The Harlem Renaissance
Module 4: WW I, The Great Depression & The New Deal
Module 5: WW II & The Civil Rights Movement
Module 6: The Cold War Era & 20
th
century highlights
History 102 Final Paper
Students are to select a topic that reflects a theme covered in
any of the six modules in this course.
Tips for choosing a topic:
Look over the module topics and readings
Choose a topic you’d like to know more about
An event, person or movement
· Submit your topic for approval by the end of module 3
· Students must use at least two primary sources and two
articles as a basis for their papers. These sources may be
selected from those provided in the modules, as well as from the
library databases provided by the college. Sources from other
locations must be approved in advance.
· An abstract (a paragraph that tells what your paper is about)
and bibliography (a list of sources you will use) must be
submitted at the end of module 4.
· The 3-5 page paper will be due at the beginning of module 6.
· A works cited page in MLA format is required (you can use

8. the web link provided for help in creating it)
· Papers must conform to the standards of written English;
therefore students should proofread and edit their papers before
submitting them for review.
Your paper should be no more than 20 % quotations. Use quotes
like a spice not rice. Remember that any words not your own
need “quotation marks” and a citation. Ideas that are not yours
put into your own words need a citation too, but no “quotation
marks.” You may use parenthetical citations, for example,
(Bennett 121). No comma is used and the period comes at the
outside of the parentheses. Plan ahead, and ask for help if
needed. If you do not use proper citation methods your paper
will be reduced by a letter grade. Failure to provide any
citations will result in an F for this paper.
The best advice is to start early so you can ask for help if
needed.