BLINN COLLEGE

FALL 2002

COURSE INFORMATION SHEET

HISTORY 2301-01

INSTRUCTOR: DR. LARRY J. WATSON                                                                   OFFICE: M413

BLINN TELEPHONE: 830-4229                                                              E-MAIL: lwatson@blinn.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Texas History is a survey of the history of Texas from the prehistory of the state to the present day. Emphasis is placed on the periods of European exploration, Anglo-American settlement, the Texas Revolution and Republic and development of a modern state. The cultural, economic, ethnic, political and social history will be studied. Three class hours per week. Credit: Three semester hours. There are no prerequisites.

CORE CURRICULUM COURSE

This is a Core Course in the 42-hour Core of Blinn College.  Students will develop proficiency in the appropriate intellectual

competencies, exemplary educational objectives, and perspectives.  The URL for the Blinn College Core Curriculum web site is:  www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum.htm.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this Texas History course, each student should have a working knowledge of the state's history from prehistory to the present time. The student, on the completion of this course, should realize the role Texas history has on modern economic, cultural, political, and social events within Texas and the United States.

REQUIRED BOOKS

Richardson, R., Anderson, A., Wintz, C., and Wallace, E. Texas: The Lone Star State, 8th Ed.,  2001.

Cantrell, Gregg, Feeding the Wolf:  John B. Rayner & The Politics of Race, 1850-1918, Harlan Davidson, Inc., 2001.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Procter, Ben and McDonald, Archie P., eds. The Texas Heritage, 3rd Ed., Harlan Davidson, 1998.

Stephens, A. Ray and Holmes, William M. Historical Atlas of Texas, 1989.

EXAMINATIONS

There will be four major examinations worth 100 points each. They will all be objective (Multiple-Choice, True-False, etc.) in format. The final exam is mandatory and will have a comprehensive section. There will be several pop "daily" exams on the reading material.

ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend all classes. A record of each student's attendance will be kept by the instructor. Extra credit points will be given for good attendance. It is the student's responsibility to drop the course if they cannot attend. The instructor cannot drop a student for excessive absences. A grade of "F" will be recorded if a student fails to attend class even after several weeks of class attendance if that student does not initiate course withdrawal.  The last day to drop without a penalty is Nov 22.

 CLASSROOM POLICIES

No food, drink, caps, or hats in class. Blinn College does not tolerate cheating, and will follow its Academic Dishonesty policy.

ORAL INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT

Each student must submit a 5-full page (minimum) transcription or analysis of an interview of a former or present Texas resident. It is worth 100 points, and cannot be dropped for grading purposes. (Detailed instructions to be handed out).

GRADING

A "daily" grade (100 pts. Possible) will be comprised of several daily exams and assignments. The lowest grade out of the first three major exams and the daily grade will be dropped for grading purposes. The final exam grade and the oral interview grade will NOT be dropped for grading purposes.

CLASS SCHEDULE

*Class Emphasis

Sept 3 - Introduction, Pre-Test

Sept 5-10 : Texas, chapter 1

*The "Caddo" Indians

*The Texas "Indian" legacy

Sept 12 - Texas, chapter 2

*Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle

*Marquis de San Miguelde Aguayo

Sept 17 - Texas, chapter 3

*Miguel Hidalgo

*James and Jane Long

Sept 19-24:  Texas, chapter 4

*Stephen F. Austin

*General Manuel Mier Y Teran

*Mexican President Anastacio Bustamante

**Daily quiz #1 (Sept 19)

SEPT 26 - FIRST MAJOR EXAMINATION

Oct 1 - Texas, chapter 5

*Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

Oct 3-8:  Texas, chapter 6

*General Sam Houston

*Lt. Col. William B. Travis; Col. James Fannin

Oct 10 - Texas, chapter 7

*Republic Presidents Houston and Lamar

**SPECIAL SPEAKER:  SAM HOUSTON IV

Oct 15 - Texas, chapter 8

*The Texas Rangers during the Mexican War

*The Compromise of 1850

*The 2nd US Calvary in Texas, 1855-1861

**Daily quiz #2

Oct 17 - Texas, chapter 9

OCT 22 - SECOND MAJOR EXAMINATION

Oct 24 - Texas, chapter 10; Heritage, chapter 6

*Sam Houston and the Secession Crisis

Oct 29 - Texas and The Civil War

*Battles of Sabine Pass, Galveston

*Generals Albert Sidney Johnston, John Bell Hood

*General Nathaniel Banks, Red River Campaign

*John H. Reagan

Oct 31 - Texas, chapter 11; Rayner, chapter 1

*General Philip H. Sheridan

*The "Burning" of Brenham

Nov 5 - Texas, chapter 12; Rayner, chapter 2

*The Constitution of 1876

Nov 7-12:  Texas, chapter 13

*Cattle Drives, Cattle Towns

*The Texas "Cowboy" in Fact and Fiction

Daily quiz #3 (Nov 12)

Nov 14 - Texas, chapter 14; Rayner, chapters 3&4

*Governor James S. Hogg

*Populism in Texas

NOV 19 - THIRD MAJOR EXAMINATION

Nov 21 - Texas, chapter 15; Rayner, chapter 5

*The Galveston Hurricane of 1900; Spindletop

Nov 26 - Texas, chapter 16; Rayner, chapter 6

*The Prohibition Movement in Texas

*Governor James Ferguson

*Oral Interview Assignment due

Dec 3 - Texas, chapter 17

*Governor W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel

*US House Speaker John Nance Garner

*Texas politicians with National Power and Influence

Dec 5 - Texas, chapter 18                                                                                                                                              

*Texas sports

**All extra credit due

Dec 10 - Texas, chapter 19

*Sharpstown scandal; House Bill 72

**Daily quiz #4

Dec 12 - Texas, chapter 20

*Texas culture at the end of the 20th century

FINAL EXAM: MONDAY, DEC 16, 1:30-3:30 P.M.

 

EXTRA CREDIT (A MAXIMUM OF 35 POINTS TOTAL)

  1. Film Reports (10 Pts. Ea.) Students may view a Texas history film (The Alamo, etc.) and submit a 4-page description and analysis.
  2. Field Trip (10-25 Pts. Ea.) Students may visit museums and/or historical sites and then submit a notebook (with photographic evidence of your visit).
  3. Texas memorabilia (5-25 Pts.) Students may collect antiques, collectibles, etc. and then present them to the class in an entertaining and informative way.
  4. Book Report (10-25 Pts.) A student may select a Texas history book to review in class and then submit a 4-page minimum typed report on the book.
  5. Historical restaurants (5 Pts. Ea.) A student may visit and dine at certain selected restaurants of a historical bent and then submit a receipt & photographic evidence of your visit.

OFFICE HOURS

M-W 8:00-10:00 A.M.; 1-2:30 P.M.

T-TH 8:30-9:00 A.M.; 1:00-2:30 P.M.

FRI 9:00-10:00 A.M.

POINTS POSSIBLE

I. EXAMS        = 400 Pts.

     A. MAJOR EXAMS:  100 Pts. Ea.

(Lowest of first three can be dropped; final cannot be dropped)

     B. “DAILY" EXAMS:  100 Pts.

(Can be dropped if lower than the lowest of the first three major exams)

II. ORAL INTERVIEW = 100 Pts.

(Cannot be dropped)

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE:  500 PTS.

*Grading Scale = 450-500 Pts. =A

                              400-449 Pts. =B

                              350-399 Pts. =C

                              300-349 Pts. =D

                                  0-299 Pts. =F