COURSE SYLLABUS

HIS 602: History of New England 4 Credits Online Spring Term 2010, April 12-June 30 (Holiday: Memorial Day-May 31) Last Updated: February 18, 2010

The course is a survey of New England’s history and focuses on New England’s role in the economic, political, and military history of our nation. In addition there is a focus on local New England communities and important historical events and forces that contributed to their development. The course spans a time period from the late 1600’s to present.

ENG 500 The Writing Process

Learners will:

Textbook(s):

All readings used for this course can be found online. The URLs for required reading and supplementary resources will be found within the course.

There are no face-to-face sessions for this course. If you have never taken an Online Interactive Course (OIC) at the college, we highly recommend that you attend one of the 2-hour Blackboard Orientation sessions available throughout the state. If you choose not to attend a face-to-face session, you are encouraged to complete the Online Orientation with audio at your own convenience.

Class Absences/Missing Posts: Participation in all online classes is critical to your success in this course.   Each student will be permitted to miss one online discussion board assignment without penalty.  Failure to make an INITIAL post during the first two days of an assignment period will be considered an absence. Each missed online assignment after the one permitted will result in a ½ course letter grade penalty.  Students who fail to make their INITIAL posts may, however, make FOLLOW-UP/RESPONSE posts during the remainder of the assignment period and earn points for that assignment.

Course Assignments: The following assignments will be used to assess learner performance in this course:  1) discussion board activity 2) short paper 3) experiential learning journal and 4) a PowerPoint report of independent research.  The percentage values for each follows:

Discussion Board: (40%) Discussion boards will serve as the principal format for the exchange of information and ideas in this course.  Your instructor has created a discussion board for each module  that will include a set of required readings along with questions that will serve as the basis for student discussion during the week. 

Each student will be expected to make an INITIAL response to the questions posted by your instructor no later than Tuesday of the assignment period, and then to engage in discussion subsequently with classmates from Wednesday through Saturday. These are referred to as RESPONSE/FOLLOW-UP posts. The 0-3 point discussion board grading rubric that will be employed in this course has been posted to our Blackboard site.  Ten (10) points will be the maximum number that can be earned for a single online assignment.

Short Paper: (20%) Each student will be required to submit a short paper during Week 6 that discusses the content and meaning of a single primary document that is important in the history of New England. Students will chose from a list of eligible documents and submit a paper of no more than three (3) double-spaced pages that demonstrates their understanding of the document and its relevance to one of the primary course themes.  An assignment sheet that fully explains the short paper is found in the course.

Experiential Learning Journal: (20%) Our region offers an extraordinary variety of historic and cultural sites that represent and interpret New England’s long and rich history. Each student is required to visit one pre-selected site on his or her own schedule during the term and submit a reflection journal that describes their learning experience. The potential sites include: The Lowell National Historic Park, Boston’s Freedom Trail, Canterbury Shaker Village, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Manchester’s Millyard Museum, Museum of New Hampshire History, Historic Deerfield, the Shelburne Museum, and the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum.  See the relevant assignment sheet in the course. Students who are unable to engage in experiential activity, for any reason, will be given an alternative writing assignment. Please write to your instructor to request this exemption.  

Research Activity: (20%)Eachstudent will be required to engage in an independent research project based on an instructor-approved topic in the History of New England.  The research report is to take the form of a PowerPoint presentation that will be posted to a designated Discussion Board during Week 12, the final week of the semester.  A separate assignment sheet on the research project will be posted in the course.

Description:

Granite State College has a Virtual Library (http://www.granite.edu/current-students/virtual-library/) available 24/7 with access to the full-text of thousands of journals and professional periodicals, an online Reference Room, selected Internet resources, writer’s resources, research and citation help, and a collection of tutorials. The databases are password protected.

See GSC Library tab in MyGranite for username and password. In addition, the Library Info link in the course menu provides direct links to research databases, Research FAQs and more.

Academic assistance to students is available at GSC Centers at no additional charge in such areas as basic skills preparation in reading, writing and math; study skills and research and citation help. Academic Resources staff members work closely with faculty and students toward academic success. A whole range of tools is available, including study and time management tips, APA and MLA citation assistance, access to learning resources online, and feedback on course writing projects. To contact an Academic Resource and Information Coordinator, see the Academic Resource Link on the Resources page in the course menu or go directly to http://bbresources.granite.edu/course_docs/acad_resources.htm.

For assistance with issues related to accessing the MyGranite portal, GSC email, Webrock, online courses or other technical issues related to any of the Blackboard tools, please visit the GSC Technical Assistance Center (http://bbresources.granite.edu/techassist/help.htm) for answers to the most frequently asked questions or to submit an online help request form. Or call 1-888-372-4270 (Hours: M-F, 8:30-5:00, messages checked twice daily on weekends. Extended hours for the week before start of the term and first week of the term: M-Th, 8:00-7:00.)

Granite State College will provide qualified individuals with disabilities the same educational opportunities available to persons without disabilities. When an individual's documented disability creates a barrier to educational opportunities, the College will attempt reasonable accommodation to remove the barrier. If you need assistance, we recommend that you make contact early to ensure that your requests can be reviewed prior to the start of each term. If you wish to apply for accommodations, contact your academic advisor or the Dean of Learner Services in Concord. See the complete Granite State College policy in the current college catalog for further details.

An academic community is based on honesty and integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable at Granite State College. Faculty and students have a joint responsibility to ensure the integrity of learning.

All work that you submit must be your own except in those instances when your instructor gives specific permission to collaborate. When quoting, summarizing or explaining ideas that are based on another's work, whether in print or online, make sure to cite references appropriately. Plagiarism is using another's words or even paraphrasing another's work without giving proper credit through the use of citations.

For Granite State College's complete academic honesty policy, see the current college catalog.

Membership in society implies minimal norms for civil behavior towards one another. It is Granite State College’s expectation that all members of our college community treat faculty, staff, and fellow learners with respect. Learners need to be knowledgeable of and comply with college policies. Each individual is accountable for his/her actions and for the consequences of any behavior that is inconsistent with these values and expectations.

Assessment is an ongoing process that enables the College to improve its programs, courses, and teaching methods. Institutional evaluation may be embedded in tests, exams, and other measurements of student learning. As members of a learning community, students, faculty, and staff will be expected to participate in the important process of assessment on occasion. Confidentiality of any data that identify participants is maintained.