Advanced Core Content Course: Milestones in U.S. History      
Summer 2004

Prof. Christine Bauer-Ramazani Prof. Sarah Turner
SE121 JM364 
Office: SE 127 Office: Cheray 119
Phone: 654-2642 Phone: 654-2838
Office Hours: MWF 3:00-4:00 (and by appointment) Office Hours: M/T/Th 11:30 – 12:30
e-mail: cbauer-ramazani@smcvt.edu email: sturner@smcvt.edu

 

Class Time: M-F 9:00-10:50  Content course – Milestones in U.S. History
   
Lab Time: Grammar/Writing Lab: T TH    9:00-9:30  LLRC (SE 215) / T TH 10:40-11:10
  Reading Lab: MWF   9:00-9:30 LLRC (SE 215) / MWF 10:40-11:10
   
Class Texts: excerpts  
 

1.  Connerton, P. & Reid, F. (1993).  Linkages.  Heinle & Heinle

  • Chapter 1: Boston, Massachusetts: The Birth of a Nation

  • Chapter 2: New Orleans, Louisiana: The Growth of a Nation

  • Chapter 3: Charleston, South Carolina: A Nation Divided

  2.  Azar, Betty S. (1999).  Understanding and using English grammar.  Englewood
                    Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., Chapters 16, 17, 18, 19
  3.  Web Sites
 
Software:       
 

 

 National Inspirer
Decisions, Decisions—Revolutionary Wars
The Oregon Trail
African-American History: Slavery to Civil Rights
   
Other Materials: maps of the U.S., map of the world, puzzle of the U.S.
highlighters, stapler, hole punch
   
Lab Materials: READING LAB texts (available in the LLRC):
 
  • Blanchard, K, & Root, C.  American Roots (2001).  Addison-Wesley.
    (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7—pp.  162-167)
  • Sokolik, M.  (1999).  Rethinking America.   Heinle & Heinle.  (Chapters 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 (2)
  • Crandall, J. et al. (1997, 2nd ed.).  The American Ways.  Prentice Hall Regents. (Chapters 1, 4, 8)
  GRAMMAR/WRITING LAB:  Christine’s Useful Links to TESL/CALL Web Sites
(http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/Links/useful_sites.htm)

  • A Guide to Grammar and Writing

  • The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) and more
 

course outline
 
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this content course on U.S. history is to have international students gain an understanding of certain events that shaped U.S. history and contributed to the formation of the American character, values, beliefs, and attitudes (culture).  Skills that are practiced intensively include paraphrasing, notetaking of reading selections and lectures, reconstruction and summaries of notes, methods of objective and subjective testing, techniques for answering essay questions, and utilizing research tools (library, Internet) to support the information read (or heard) in class.  In addition to following lectures on video, students will be able to visit important places in history.   
 
COURSE OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this course students will be able to

  • take well-organized notes on relevant written and spoken information;

  • reconstruct their notes to answer essay or discussion questions or to write summaries;

  • answer questions that require factual recall, analysis, or synthesis of material learned in class

  • analyze grammatical structures and self-correct grammar error

  • understand and use some concepts and vocabulary germane to cultural anthropology

  • utilize research tools (e.g. the library, the Internet) to find supporting information

  • incorporate a reference to an author and a source into written text.
COURSE STRUCTURE/EXPECTATIONS:
Reading Lab:
Students are expected to add to their background information about certain events in U.S. history by reading
selections from the lab texts and completing the exercises. 
 
Grammar Lab:
Students are expected to work on grammar exercises related to class discussion, review grammar rules, work
through examples, and take review tests to check their achievement scores.
 
Writing:
Students are expected to write first and second (or third) drafts of longer (essay) assignments.  Readings will
generally be followed by written essay questions which will be evaluated.
 

General:

  1. American professors expect promptness and alertness in class; therefore, tardiness and absences will be penalized (see IEP policies).  3x tardy = 1 absence.  Attendance of all classes and labs is required, and students must be present for all quizzes and tests.  No make-up tests or quizzes will be given except in cases of documented illness.

  2. Come to class prepared: Review your previous work the night before and have all necessary materials
    present, homework done, assignments stapled and identified by name).

  3. In case of illness (absence), check with a classmate or the instructor for assignments and material covered.

  4. Type all written assignments on the computer; check them for spelling and grammar on the computer. 
    Hand in assignments stapled together, with your name, the date, the class in the top right (or left) -
    hand corner.

GRADING:
Course grades will be based on achievement, not on attendance and will be given after 3 and after 7 weeks. 
They will be based on skills, techniques, and material taught in class as well as material learned through reading and lectures.  Grades will be lowered 10% for each day an assignment is turned in late.  All grades will be averaged, and the lowest quiz grade will be dropped.  However, if one was missed, all remaining quizzes count.  Further quizzes, tests, or homework assignments missed will receive a grade of "0" and be calculated into the average.

Grades will be calculated according to the following composition:
 
Grammar:   70% Grammar review tests
  30% Quizzes
  10%  Homework/Participation
   
Reading: 90% Tests 
  10% Homework/Participation
   
Writing: 60%  First drafts
  40%  Final drafts

Grading system: 
100-93%  A; 92-90%  A-; 89-87%  B+; 86-83%  B; 82-80%  B-; 79-77  C+; 76-73  C; 72-70  C-;
69-67  D+; 66-63  D; 62-60  D; 59 and below: F

NOTE:  Adjustments to the grading scales and course expectations may be made if it is in the interest of the class.