Government and Politics in America

CLINTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK 12901 COURSE SYLLABUS Honors Seminar: History of the Champlain Valley 1609-1860 PROFESSOR: Thomas R. Mandeville Fall 2015 OFFICE: Room 524 EMAIL: [email protected] TELEPHONE: 562-4180 OFFICE HOURS: MWF 11-12

Course Description This course surveys the history of the Champlain Valley from Samuel de Champlain's 1609 expedition to the Civil War. Tracing the origin and growth of political, economic, social and cultural institutions, special emphasis will be placed on key questions about the relevance and significance of the Champlain Valley to European settlement in North America, the French and Indian War, American Colonial life, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Underground Railroad.

Course Goals Students will gain a better understanding of the rich historic story of the region in which they reside by walking in the "footsteps of history" during the field trip phase of this course. Then the students will focus a topic that they will be exposed to during trips and required readings, culminating with a presentation of their findings and a formal research paper.

Required Readings (see attached)

ATTENDANCE POLICY (CCC Policy) Students are expected to attend class, to be on time, and to be prepared to discuss assigned materials. It is College policy that if a student in any course misses 15% of the class sessions for any reason, s/he may be withdrawn from that course. If a student does have to miss a class, it is the responsibility of that student to contact the instructor, explain the absences, and to make arrangements to get missed class notes from a classmate. My Attendance Policy: since this class has only 10 meetings, you are not allowed any absences without penalty; all classes are MANDATORY class meetings! If you are absent, you will be penalized 200 points for each absence, plus any assignments that are due!! ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY All students are expected to behave with academic honesty. It is not academically honest, for example, to misrepresent another person’s work as one’s own, to take credit for someone else’s words or ideas, to accept help on a test or to obtain advanced information on confidential test materials, or to act in a way that might harm another student’s chance for academic success. When an instructor believes that a student has failed to maintain academic honesty, he or she may give the student an F, either for the assignment or for the course, depending on the severity of the offense (I have a zero tolerance policy for cheating, which means an immediate F for the course). In the case of such an offense, the instructor will notify, in writing, the student and the Academic Dean. For a second offense, a student may be dismissed from the college with an appeal for readmission not permitted for one year. Proof of guilt must be based on evidence and established by the instructor to the satisfaction of the Academic Dean. In the event of a dispute as to authorship, a student is expected to show the sources used for the assignment in question.

CELL PHONE POLICY (This is a history course, not modern communications!) Cell phones must be turned off and left in your pocket, book bag, or purse! If your cell phone rings, you will bring it to the front of the class and I will answer it. If your cell phone is not put away during class, the rest of the class will write a 500 word essay on the purpose of higher education and social responsibly. The guilty party must read and evaluate them.

Evaluation 1. Field Trip assignments: attending and writing reports on each of our seven days of field trips (250 points each). 2. Research Paper/ Presentation: write a 10-15 page paper focusing on one or a combination of the sites we visit and present your findings to the class.

Make-up Policy: NONE!

Grading System: A = 3,500-3,301 A- = 3,300-3,150 Field Trips 1750 B+ = 3,050-3,149 B =2,900-3,049 Paper/Presentation 1750 B- = 2,800-2,899 Total Points: 3500 C+ = 2,700-2,799 C = 2,550-2,699 C- = 2,450-2,549 D+ = 2,350-2,449 D = 2,100-2,349 F = Below 2,100