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HIST 2060 (formerly HIST 220) Syllabus

Course Syllabus

HIST 2060 (formerly HIST 220) - African American History

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course will examine this history of Africans and their descendants in the United States from the end of the Civil War to the present, investigating topics from emancipation to the ongoing struggle for Civil Rights. Connections between this history and the issues and concerns facing all Americans in the present will be explored.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

  • Analyze historical facts and interpretations.
    Students in this course will read and evaluate the writings of historians and discuss their opinions and thoughts on these readings.
  • Analyze and compare political, geographic, economic, social, cultural, religious and intellectual institutions, structures, and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
    Class discussions of the readings will aid in this objective. Tests will be geared toward assimilating this information.
  • Recognize and articulate the diversity of human experience across a range of historical periods and the complexities of a global culture and society.
    Students will critically view and analyze secondary sources and visual images that will lead to critical essays, paper, and discussion.
  • Draw on historical perspective to evaluate contemporary problems/issues.
    Students will use secondary sources as a starting point for the historical antecedents of contemporary problems/issues in class discussions throughout the course.
  • Analyze the contributions of past cultures/societies to the contemporary world.
    Students will participate in class discussions and prepare critical essays and papers throughout the course.
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

Completion of all Learning Support competencies or acceptable placement scores are required. HIST 2020 and English composition are encouraged.

Course Topics:
  • Reconstruction
  • Black Life and Culture, 1880-1915
  • The New Negro, 1915-1940
  • Fighting for a Double Victory, 1939-1948
  • The Early Civil Rights Movement, 1947-1963
  • The Movement Broadens, 1963-1975
  • The Challenge of Conservatism, 1968-2000
  • African Americans and the New Century, 2000-present
Specific Course Requirements:

None

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

Any additional readings will be available in PDF (Portable Document Format) with appropriate lesson.

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

Tests will be online exams and 'take home' essays.  The exam will be provided to you and you will be given a specified time to complete it. You may use your textbook, but no other outside sources that are not provided are allowed.  The written portion of the exam must be completed using a word processing program.  Check with your instructor to verify that your program produces readable and acceptable files. See the "Exams" page in "Getting Started" for more specifics.

Grading Procedures:

Grades are determined by how well a student defends him or herself in his or her responses.  Highest scores will be given to those answers that are thoughtful and provide factual details to support the case.  Lower marks will be given for less involved and detailed answers.

Grading Scale:
Percentage RangeAssigned Grade
90-100%A
80-89%B
70-79%C
60-69%D
59% and belowF
Assignments and Projects:

Specific assignment descriptions may be found in the "Getting Started" section.

Graded Items

DescriptionPoints
3 Document Based Question, @ 50 points each150 Points
Discussion Board (minimum three posts per week, 65 posts total minimum)100 Points
8 Pre-Test Quizzes, @ 10 points each80 Points
8 Post-Test Quizzes, @ 20 points each160 Points
7 Exit Exercises, @ 50 points each350 Points
3 Multiple Choice Exams, @ 50 points each150 Points
Total Points990 Points
Class Participation:

Participation is a required element.  Students must not only read over the assignments, but partake regularly in the chapter discussions on the discussion board.  For more information about the Discussion Board, see the appropriate page in "Getting Started."

Late Policy:

Every assignment has a due date, which is clearly visible in the calendar or with the particular assignment.  Late work will NOT be accepted.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021