Welcome to the class.

Eagle Online works best with Firefox browser. Things will go well for you, if you install the free, Firefox browser and use that exclusively when logged in to this (and all) course in the Eagle Online format. It is absolutely critical that you use Firefox on the Midterm and Final Exams; otherwise, you will not be able to view all of the questions or input your essay.  You have been warned.

When you need to reach me, contact me only through Eagle Online email. In this way, we can easily keep track of our correspondence, without any missing pieces that were conducted by phone or through HCCS email. I strive to answer all correspondence within 24 hours. Also note that class work can only be accepted when submitted within the Eagle Online environment.

There is also a "public" question area near the top of the course page called, "Questions for the Instructor." If you have a question you think the whole class would benefit from, please post the question there. I am often online several times per day and will check this area daily. Please do not post personal questions about your individual grades, upcoming hospital stays, assignments, etc., on the "Questions for the Instructor" forum.

From the first day of class, all of your assignments can be found on the main course page.

Getting Started:

1. Read the syllabus to get an idea of how the class operates and how your semester average is calculated. Then,

2. Scroll down to the course content area. For example, simply click on "Unit One" to reveal its contents.

3. Read the file, Unit One Assignments.

4. Complete all of the work found on that assignment page: lecture notes, textbook chapters, PowerPoint presentations,  Reader articles, Unit One Quiz. Prioritize the lecture notes and PowerPoints for each unit. They are critical to your success in the course.

5. Move on to Unit 2.

6. Continue through Unit 13, keeping pace with the suggested date guidelines on your syllabus. Submit an online discussion every so often, until you have earned 100 points for that portion of your grade.

The online quizzes should all grade automatically and give you a score right away. You will then have the option of taking the quiz again, with the average of the two scores being recorded. You will not be able to see the correct answer after the first attempt, but you will be able to see which questions were wrong. Find the correct answer, take the quiz again, and enjoy the higher score--assuming your second attempt earned more points than your first attempt. PLEASE NOTE: Eagle Online gives the quizzes in random order among students and from one attempt to the next, so you cannot just blindly "recycle" correct answers from your first attempt. The unit quizzes are NOT TIMED; neither is the semester writing assignment.

You may access the semester writing assignment right away to start thinking about what you will write. Simply click on the essay link on the bottom of the main course page (Click Here to View or Submit Your Semester Writing Assignment).  Print out the assignment now and submit your work later. Remember, this Semester Writing Assignment is not timed. 

The only items that ARE timed are the midterm and final exams (2 hours).  These exams are comprised of an essay, as well as a large number of objective questions.  There are review lists, as well as audio reviews to help you prepare for the exams.

Participation in online discussion is 15% of your semester grade. Contributions must be 5 sentences long and demonstrate some historical evidence, in addition to your personal opinion, in order to receive full credit. Discussion contributions that don't meet these guidelines will receive less than the 20 point maximum. In that case, you will need to submit additional discussion contributions until you have earned the 100% grade for that portion of your semester average. Once you have earned your 100% for discussion, there will be no additional points awarded, but you are welcome to continue with your contributions. The grade book will factor in the point total from your top 5 contributions. Therefore, if you receive a low score on one of your contributions, simply complete 6 discussions, instead of five. In effect, you will be removing the low-scoring discussion from the grading equation.  Students who copy and paste non-original material into the discussion area will receive a grade of 0 for the entire discussion category (15% of the Semester Average).

Although it is better if you stay with the schedule posted on the syllabus, the absolute assignment deadlines are as follows: all of the assignments from the units prior to the midterm are due by the last day of the midterm exam. The writing assignment is due several days before the end of the semester, in order to give me time to get it graded prior to the end of the semester. All remaining unit assignments and discussion contributions are due by the last day of the final exam. There is sufficient time to complete all of this work. Please do not ask for special, individual deadlines.

Some of the books required for this class are free and online. For your monograph, you will use The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin online version, or any printed edition). Note that the complete text of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, with all of its chapters and introductory material can be found online at: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/20203.  Paper copies are easily found at libraries or online bookstores.

For your textbook, you may use the free download-able textbook available at http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/hyper_titles.cfm.  For students who prefer a "hard copy" text, you may purchase American Passages Vol. 1, by Ayers and Oshinsky, Cengage Advantage, 4th ed. If you are comfortable using the online textbook, you do not need to purchase American Passages. Chapter assignments for both the online text and the hard copy text will be found in the "Assignments" files.

I have compliled a few interesting articles, songs, poems, or maps and have placed them within the appropriate unit assignments.  I collectively refer to this group of materials as the "Virtual Reader."  There is no charge for the Virtual Reader.

Additionally, you will need the online version (reasonably priced, but not free) of the American Perspectives Reader, consisting of historical documents, articles, and more.  Students will aquire access to this online reader by going to: http://www.pearsoncustom.com/tx/hcc_hist1301  Information from these resources will be needed to complete the unit quizzes and exams.

Please make sure that you look at the complete online orientation and syllabus. Avoid having to ask your instructor for information that is already covered in the syllabus or the orientation. It is my hope that all of you will find success in this history course. Thanks, and best of luck to all.

J. Patterson