HSTY 111 Assignments

Assignments are due by 11:59 pm on the date listed on the syllabus. Unless otherwise noted, all assignments should be submitted through Canvas.

There is no penalty for late work. However, all work must be submitted by the final exam date and time except in cases where a specific arrangement has been agreed to in writing.

Skills Modules (50 points)

Each student is required to complete five skills modules developed by the History Department to improve student preparation in introductory history courses. The modules consist of a video tutorial and brief quiz. Each quiz is worth a maximum of 10 points.

Journal (250 points)

For each class meeting, you will write a brief response to one thematic question (I will post two questions from which you can choose). Each response is worth a maximum of 10 points, and the two lowest grades will be dropped.

Colonial Newspaper Exercise (150 points)

At the conclusion of Unit 1, you will use research in colonial American newspapers to discuss the development of the economy up to 1800.

Revolutionary Era Project (250 points)

During Unit 2 we will be reading Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. As part of our work, you will have a choice either to respond a traditional essay question or to produce a creative project that engages with the themes in the book as well as the evidence and content from Units 1 and 2.

Final Exam (200 points)

The final examination will cover material from the entire course. It will comprise a range of question formats that ask you to use the skills developed in the course. There will be an emphasis on Unit 3. Review materials will be discussed during the last week of classes.

Foundations Seminar (Section 01F only – 100 points)

For those students enrolled in Section 02F, you are enrolled in a Foundations Seminar linked to this course. Your active participation in the Foundations Seminar and all affiliated activities is an important part of your first-semester experience at FSU. Your facilitator, peer mentor, and classmates are excellent resources for any questions and/or problems you confront this semester. See your Foundations syllabus for details about how this component of your grade will be determined.

Extra Credit: Podcasts and Virtual Events (Maximum 40 points)

During the semester you may earn extra credit in two ways. First, you may select an episode of a podcast that focuses on the period in U.S. history covered in the course (i.e., North America before 1877). Listen to the episode and then write a 200-word response that includes a brief summary of the episode and your reaction. You may choose from among the following podcasts:

You are also welcome to suggest another podcast episode. Check with me before you submit any writing.

Second, you may attend a virtual event that I list on the course calendar. Anything I add will relate to course material. As with the podcast episodes, after you attend the event you should write a 200-word response that includes a brief summary of the event and your reaction to it.

Each submission will earn you up to 20 points of credit, with a maximum of 40 during the semester. Extra credit responses must be submitted before the beginning of the final exam.

Grading Scale

I teach both a regular section of the course (section 002) and a Foundations section reserved for first-year students (section 01F). For those enrolled in the Foundations section, there is a slightly different points and grading scale to accommodate that portion of your work.

Section 01F Section 002
A 940-1000 846-900
A- 900-939 810-845
B+ 870-899 783-809
B 830-869 747-782
B- 800-829 720-746
C+ 770-799 693-719
C 730-769 657-692
C- 700-729 630-656
D+ 670-699 603-629
D 630-669 567-602
D- 600-629 540-566
F 0-599 0-539