Course Review - U.S. History

Fri, 2011-07-08 13:50

#2

JamieS86

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Joined: 2011-07-05

Review of History 450 US Foreign Policy

After being in Dr Gibbs’ US foreign policy course for a semester, one student remarked, “Every time I came to this class, I would go home and cry about everything our government has done.” While not all students will react so strongly, it is true that this course will reveal deeply disturbing actions committed by the US and other governments. Examples include coups, assassinations, and clandestine support of brutal dictatorships. While some students perceived the tone of the course as “anti-American,” Dr Gibbs is in fact equally critical of all governments. The good news is that, while incredibly depressing, this course is important and will deepen your knowledge of both historical events and the world we currently live in. The focus is on US foreign policy since 1914, although some nineteenth-century history is incorporated as background. This is a large lecture course with little opportunity for discussion, but there is usually time allotted for questions after each meeting. The grade is based on two tests and one research paper, the latter of which requires the use of primary sources. Students should have at least some background in history, as non-history majors may experience some difficulty with the research component of the course. Dr Gibbs is unapologetically pessimistic about US foreign policy motives. He is also, however, a precise and accurate researcher with little patience for far-fetched conspiracy theories. He always makes it clear whether a statement is established fact based on classified documents or just a theory. Students may disagree with his politics, but they will be hard-pressed to find examples of inaccuracy or exaggeration. This course is highly recommended, albeit with a warning that it is not for the faint of heart.

Sat, 2011-07-09 11:51

#3

Joshuah Tiesman

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Joined: 2011-07-07

HIS204: American History from 1865

HIS204 covered American History from 1865 to current times and, thankfully, the class itself wasn’t quite as routine as the text was. The teacher started the class doing the basic explanation of why we need to study American history, but that is where it stopped. The teacher was sure to cover the information required for the class for tests and assignments. After that, the teacher and teacher’s assistant were able to discuss American history with the type of passion that gets you to remember entire lectures and speeches on American history and exceptionalism throughout our trials as a new country. The tests were quick and short, though not simple. Some studying of the text is required to get perfect scores on those tests. The assignments described and delivered by the TA were longer and tolerated less grammar mistakes than many TA’s I’ve had, but like all students should know, each class is run a little differently, be prepared for different preferences for different teachers and assistants. Overall the class got me, and the class, to understand the basics of American history from starting in the west, the teacher moves the history slowly east across the country until he felt comfortable with moving to the next section of his instruction. Eventually, the class culminated with modern history covering all the way up to Obama’s election. The class was fun, but the text was a down side. If you, as a student or American, want to learn more about what made this country get the back bone it has today, then this class is a must.

Fri, 2011-07-22 11:50

#4

jessi246

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Joined: 2011-07-11

American Heritage

Now, I don’t know if the name for this course is universal throughout all colleges, but if you’re looking for a review about the introductory, compulsory history class, you’re in the right place. I began to dread this class from the first moment I stepped onto campus and heard the words “American Heritage”. Students from every major told me how much they hated it, how boring it was, or how it was impossible to get a good grade. I took it the winter semester of my freshmen year, and, I can tell you, I didn’t leave crying or shaking my fists. I actually kind of enjoyed it! It was not like the history classes from High School, and we did so much more than simply memorize dates and names. We learned a little bit about how the American government works, which, in my opinion, is something everyone should know, and college is the perfect time to learn! We learned principles of economics and the workings of our nation. While I would have balked at these topics before this class, I found that I ate them up when the professor got into it. Likely, it will be a large class, since everyone’s got to take it, so that can be a downfall. It’s easy to feel like you’re swallowed up in a sea of students, but there’s always the TA sections to help you. Don’t get overwhelmed by the subject matter or the size of the class; it’s all very doable. Focus on your studies and take good notes, the class is more than just survivable. You might take it and find that you liked it just as much as I did. Who knows? You might surprise yourself, and, while I didn’t change majors or anything, the class was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Fri, 2011-07-22 13:27

#5

ws105ws

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Joined: 2011-07-20

U.S. History

I didn't choose to take this class because I have taken several United States History classes in the past. I was put in this class automatically and figured I would give it a chance. I am very glad I did not switch out of it because it turned out to be much different than any class I had taken, mainly due to my professor. Most history classes revolve around using the textbook. In this class we had a textbook, but did not use it often. At the beginning of each new chapter, we would read the pages that my professor called the “pages that matter” and we would skip the rest. After reading we would ask questions, discuss, and voice our opinions. Later in the week we would take notes during a lecture and we would right a paper. It turned out to be a really great class. The semester I took the course, we started with chapters in the early 1900s and finished outside of the textbook with modern times. I think what made this class one of my favorites was that the class was very small which made it easy for us to change tasks frequently.

Fri, 2011-07-29 22:26

#6

Moonspinners

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Joined: 2011-07-20

US History Online vs On Campus

I had taken the first section of US History on line and it was great fun. The chatter back and forth on the forum boards was exciting. I thought if the history class was this animated online it would be great fun in class on campus. Wrong. Yes it was in the afternoon after lunch and no the instructor did not follow the book but supplemented it with relevant lecture. It was the longest hour and forty minutes of my life. History can be, is controversial. Everyone has a perspective. And apparently for these students, in this on campus class, their thoughts and feelings were going to remain theirs’. Maybe the students in my online class were all older and actually had formed an opinion. Maybe they were young and it was just easier to share an opinion with anonymity. I dropped this section and took the class later online.

Sun, 2011-07-31 19:43

#7

JamieS86

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Joined: 2011-07-05

Hi, Glad you had a good

Hi, Glad you had a good experience in an intro level US history course! I've been a TA for several 101 level history courses, and most of them have the same kind of poor reputation you were talking about. I think it's because new students who aren't used to college courses sometimes struggle and it can be one of those sink or swim experiences. You are very right that college history courses are a big change from high school, which you found to be a good experience but some people are more comfortable with memorization. I think you also impart some good advice for how to do well in courses in general and in history in particular. Good luck with the rest of your courses!

Mon, 2011-08-01 11:43

#8

jessi246

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Joined: 2011-07-11

Textbook

I’m glad that you enjoyed the fact that the textbook was not used very often! Do you think, though, that some students were annoyed by this fact? I mean, we spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks every semester. They really are expensive. And then to go to class and not use it? I think that might bug me a little to find out that I bought a textbook for practically no reason. Or did you find that you read it only to get the important information out of it, and that doing so was helpful? ws105ws wrote: I didn't choose to take this class because I have taken several United States History classes in the past. I was put in this class automatically and figured I would give it a chance. I am very glad I did not switch out of it because it turned out to be much different than any class I had taken, mainly due to my professor. Most history classes revolve around using the textbook. In this class we had a textbook, but did not use it often. At the beginning of each new chapter, we would read the pages that my professor called the “pages that matter” and we would skip the rest. After reading we would ask questions, discuss, and voice our opinions. Later in the week we would take notes during a lecture and we would right a paper. It turned out to be a really great class. The semester I took the course, we started with chapters in the early 1900s and finished outside of the textbook with modern times. I think what made this class one of my favorites was that the class was very small which made it easy for us to change tasks frequently.

Wed, 2011-08-03 13:34

#9

Moonspinners

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Joined: 2011-07-20

Warts and All

Politics and Foreign policy are the laws and sausages that Bismarck quoted as saying “most people like but do not want to see made”. My daughter and I had a Professor at Shasta College who was similar in his critique of governmental behavior. And while it would sometimes shake faith it also was helpful to have a road map of where all the potholes were. You have to know were they are before you can fix them.

Fri, 2011-08-12 16:06

#10

JamieS86

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Joined: 2011-07-05

Hi Jessi, I have definitely

Hi Jessi, I have definitely been annoyed at having to buy a textbook and then using only a few chapters, especially when that textbook was $100 or more. I have TAd several times for a professor who uses a custom textbook. There are textbook companies that will gather only the relevant chapters into a binder, so it sells for less than it otherwise would. The only problem with that is that it is only available from campus bookstores, so the prices are still not great. I think textbooks in history courses are usually intended as background to cover stuff that the professor doesn't have time for, so it usually contains some unnecessary information.

Sun, 2011-09-04 21:09

#11

abnormalalien

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Joined: 2011-07-05

The Role of Commander in Chief

Course: The Lives and Leadership of the American Presidents School: SUNY Plattsburgh The course Lives and Leadership of the American Presidents was a honors seminar designed to teach students about the American Presidents. Learning about each president's life included his life before political success. Although the course covered a history general education requirement, I found the course much more interesting than the typical history course. In addition, I did not regret going to the course, as I typically do most general education requirements. The projects for the course included two essays: one was an essay about the life of your favorite president and what consequences his leadership had on the country and another essay was a biography of an American President. In addition, each student was required to do a mini-presentation based on the readings. This was only done once or twice per student. The professor for this course was enthusiastic about the subject, respectful of students, and helpful with assignments. For as many times as I complained about General Education and History courses in general, he sparked my interest in the topic. Rather than hating the course, I really enjoyed the course and the professor.

Wed, 2011-09-28 11:19

#12

KatePrice

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Joined: 2011-08-23

Sounds like a great class!

Wow! You sure covered a lot in that class! Most of the history courses I've taken that are supposed to go up to modern times never quite reach there. Professors I've had seem to get bogged down in WWI and WWII and we are lucky if we make it past the Korean War. I definitely wish my classes had been more like this one. It's nice to know that at least somewhere modern history is taught on something other than the History Channel. Definitely wish I had your professor for my Modern Europe class. We never made it out of WWI.

Wed, 2011-09-28 16:05

#13

Adelaide

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Joined: 2011-07-05

Presidential Leaders

abnormalalien wrote:

Course: The Lives and Leadership of the American Presidents

School: SUNY Plattsburgh

The course Lives and Leadership of the American Presidents was a honors seminar designed to teach students about the American Presidents. Learning about each president's life included his life before political success. Although the course covered a history general education requirement, I found the course much more interesting than the typical history course. In addition, I did not regret going to the course, as I typically do most general education requirements.

The projects for the course included two essays: one was an essay about the life of your favorite president and what consequences his leadership had on the country and another essay was a biography of an American President. In addition, each student was required to do a mini-presentation based on the readings. This was only done once or twice per student.

The professor for this course was enthusiastic about the subject, respectful of students, and helpful with assignments. For as many times as I complained about General Education and History courses in general, he sparked my interest in the topic. Rather than hating the course, I really enjoyed the course and the professor.

Now this sounds like the type of course I'd wished were available in my college. We never had a course dedicated to presidential leaders. In fact, it was rare to even talk about any other preseident besides Washington and Lincoln. Obviously the rest have made their own contributions to society, but in terms of the average history class, this information isn't necessary. I also like the essay topics you were assigned. I honestly can't even name a favorite president, but if this course reviews every single one, I'm certain that I could find my own favorite. It would definitely be a fun topic to write about.

Wed, 2011-10-12 19:58

#14

jvstanley

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Joined: 2011-08-23

The Horrors of Reality

JamieS86 wrote:

After being in Dr Gibbs’ US foreign policy course for a semester, one student remarked, “Every time I came to this class, I would go home and cry about everything our government has done.” While not all students will react so strongly, it is true that this course will reveal deeply disturbing actions committed by the US and other governments. Examples include coups, assassinations, and clandestine support of brutal dictatorships. While some students perceived the tone of the course as “anti-American,” Dr Gibbs is in fact equally critical of all governments.

The good news is that, while incredibly depressing, this course is important and will deepen your knowledge of both historical events and the world we currently live in. The focus is on US foreign policy since 1914, although some nineteenth-century history is incorporated as background. This is a large lecture course with little opportunity for discussion, but there is usually time allotted for questions after each meeting. The grade is based on two tests and one research paper, the latter of which requires the use of primary sources. Students should have at least some background in history, as non-history majors may experience some difficulty with the research component of the course.

Dr Gibbs is unapologetically pessimistic about US foreign policy motives. He is also, however, a precise and accurate researcher with little patience for far-fetched conspiracy theories. He always makes it clear whether a statement is established fact based on classified documents or just a theory. Students may disagree with his politics, but they will be hard-pressed to find examples of inaccuracy or exaggeration.

This course is highly recommended, albeit with a warning that it is not for the faint of heart.

I believe I made a comment on the accompanying text to this class that you had posted. It is atrocious the things that have transpired all for the sake of keeping us free. Most citizens go about their daily lives without realizing the reality of the world, how far some governments, including our own, have to go to to maintain peace and democracy. Its kept hidden from us because of the fact that some of the things done are simply that dark. Yes, we are at war and no its not pretty. The only ones who truly know the great sacrifices that are made or even need to be made are the soldiers who are within the midst of it. If something is based on fact, then its hard to consider it a conspiracy and although this dark area of our history is seemingly bleak and depressing-its simply one of the many great costs of retaining our freedom. In a better more perfect world, we wouldn't have to fight for freedom, it would just simply come.

Wed, 2011-10-12 20:14

#15

jvstanley

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Joined: 2011-08-23

The Commander-In-Chief

Understanding and learning about what it is the president does sounds like something that we all need to learn. I know a lot of people, myself included do not fully understand all the responsibilities that the president has along with the joint chiefs, the role of congress, etc... People talk a lot about politics and how the government works, bash the government even without fully comprehending all the different levels and areas of the government that aren't even considered within the issue that is being discussed. Understanding the jobs and responsibilities of the president would help to put into perspective why our government is the way that it is instead of viewing the president as someone who is solely responsible for any shortcomings or even any victories that the country has. I'm not an Obama supporter, mind you, but I do support the idea that there is more to the government than simply one specific thing that leads to another...its a conjunction of the whole.

Wed, 2011-10-12 20:21

#16

jvstanley

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Joined: 2011-08-23

Standard History-you either love it or hate it

jessi246 wrote:

Now, I don’t know if the name for this course is universal throughout all colleges, but if you’re looking for a review about the introductory, compulsory history class, you’re in the right place. I began to dread this class from the first moment I stepped onto campus and heard the words “American Heritage”. Students from every major told me how much they hated it, how boring it was, or how it was impossible to get a good grade.

I took it the winter semester of my freshmen year, and, I can tell you, I didn’t leave crying or shaking my fists. I actually kind of enjoyed it! It was not like the history classes from High School, and we did so much more than simply memorize dates and names. We learned a little bit about how the American government works, which, in my opinion, is something everyone should know, and college is the perfect time to learn! We learned principles of economics and the workings of our nation. While I would have balked at these topics before this class, I found that I ate them up when the professor got into it.

Likely, it will be a large class, since everyone’s got to take it, so that can be a downfall. It’s easy to feel like you’re swallowed up in a sea of students, but there’s always the TA sections to help you. Don’t get overwhelmed by the subject matter or the size of the class; it’s all very doable. Focus on your studies and take good notes, the class is more than just survivable. You might take it and find that you liked it just as much as I did. Who knows? You might surprise yourself, and, while I didn’t change majors or anything, the class was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

When it comes to standard history classes the introductory class tends to be the one I find the most boring. Most of the time it simply brushes upon the topics that will later be covered in the following higher 200-300 level classes. To some it may be a waste of time simply for the lack of depth within each topic covered and I realize that in some respects, introductory classes are necessary simply because they give one a head start in the upper division classes. It always helps to have a bit to work from which helps within the overall success within the degree program as a whole, but more often times than not it seems pointless, especially if you're only taking the class to get requiremetns out of the way.

Wed, 2011-10-12 20:48

#17

jvstanley

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Joined: 2011-08-23

Waste of Money

JamieS86 wrote:

I have definitely been annoyed at having to buy a textbook and then using only a few chapters, especially when that textbook was $100 or more.

I have TAd several times for a professor who uses a custom textbook. There are textbook companies that will gather only the relevant chapters into a binder, so it sells for less than it otherwise would. The only problem with that is that it is only available from campus bookstores, so the prices are still not great.

I think textbooks in history courses are usually intended as background to cover stuff that the professor doesn't have time for, so it usually contains some unnecessary information.

I have had the same thing happen in a number of my classes where I am required to buy a book and a work book, or simply multiple books and then come to find out we don't even use that book AT ALL throughout the course. I'm not entirely sure why it is they do this but this idea sounds superb. I think a lot of universities should instill something like this instead of making students who are poor enough as it is, buy unnecessary text books for simply a chapter or nothing at all. Sometimes I've seen the text labeled on the syllabus as required reading but when we get into the classroom its considered merely supplemental reading that you don't necessarily need to delve into in order to pass the course. Its depressing and highly unfair.

Wed, 2011-10-12 21:00

#18

jvstanley

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Joined: 2011-08-23

The Universal History Class

There are some courses that are required that makes us groan on the inside as well as on the outside. Its the class that makes us want to just fast forward through the semester so we can just be done with it. History, has always been the most boring subject for me, hands down. Nothing on this earth puts me to sleep faster than a professor who mentions a date and a fact then runs an hour long tangent on that simple date and fact, then assign for you to read fifty zillion pages within the text expecting you to understand and retain the boring information from all that dull reading and have the ability to pass the accompanying tests and quizzes. Unless you have the ability to learn by osmosis, having a professor such as yours who simply delves into the subject, actually talks about it and assigns the NECESSARY reading rather than the whole book makes a lot of difference. This sounds like a class I wish I had had when I took my history classes.

Thu, 2011-10-13 21:19

#19

zwright55

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Joined: 2011-10-12

Reacting to the Past

My sophomore year at EMU I took an intro to U.S. history course. As I walked into the class I had some preconceived notions of a professor lecturing to us in a monotone voice and us as students had to write notes. Boy, was I way off. This particular teacher decided to participate in a certain style of new history teaching known as 'reacting to the past'. What is 'reacting to the past'? Well, firstly there is a time period in which the class is set. Say, the civil rights movements during the 1960s. Each student gets a key character during that historical time period and the period may have a 'good' ending or a 'bad' ending depending on how everyone plays their parts and characters in this class. It truly is a fun, enjoyable, informative way to teach history. I really loved it when I had that class. I've heard a few schools do this particular thing for their history classes.If you happened to know you have it at your school. I'd highly recommend it, you will surely enjoy and get a lot out of that class.

Fri, 2011-10-14 00:39

#20

closetsocialist

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Joined: 2011-10-12

Oliver Stone's America

I only took two courses in U.S. history while in college. The first was a history of the United States since 1945. Although it was interesting, I felt as if all I had to do to ace the class was do some research of historic figures and events on Wikipedia. I don't think I opened a single book I purchased from that class, and a few of the essays/ articles we were linked to online didn't offer much analysis of events. And let's not get into how pretentious most people were in the class. That said, I did take one history class that was quite eye-opening. It was called "Oliver Stone's America." Basically, the class watched the majority of Oliver Stone's films and analyzed how they reflected periods in United States history. The first half of the class focused entirely on the Kennedy assassination, and we read several articles which argued in favor of and against a cover up of his death. Stone was a firm believer that there was some sort of consipiracy involved in Kennedy's assassination. But we had several experts, including an FBI agent who was involved in the investigation, speak to us about what they felt really happen. The second half of the course was spent discussing the VIetnam war. John Dean, Richard Nixon's White House counsel, came in to talk to the class about Oliver's views on the war effort. And Oliver himself spoke with the class during our last session. While I would say that I'm hesitant to believe Stone's recounting of American history, I am also unsure whether some of the "official" stories we've learned are entirely accurate. The class taught me to question whether history is cut and dry, or open to interpretation. And the various guest lectures we had from public figures and those involved in Stone's filmmaking process were added bonuses.

Mon, 2011-10-17 09:40

#21

Capslock077

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Joined: 2011-10-12

U.S. History

U. S. history is a good class for anyone to take. This will help you understand the background of the country as well as what we may be able to do moving forward. By seeing the past we are able to better manage the future. This class was very helpful because now I feel I understand the world around me a litle bit better. This is nice because I did not want to take U.S. History and I am glad that I did now due to the fact that I learned so much from this clas. Very worth taking. I recommend it.

Mon, 2011-10-24 02:24

#22

lawyerkhan

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Joined: 2011-10-21

US History Review

I know a little about the US history because i studied that in the world history course in my school times. However i would love to study the detailed history of USA in order to have a hands on knowledge. I know US history is a vast subject and it includes politics also but a book based on facts can be ideal in this context. What i know about the US history is that Christopher Columbus discovered America in the 15th Century. He was sponsored by Queen Isabel of Spain and he was the first one to reach America in 1492. His journey was basically to reach India but he discovered an entire new world. Later on there were battles between the native red Indians and European races that settled in America. I have seen Mel Gibson's movie "The Patriot" many times and it gave me good knowledge about US history. I come to know that the British tried to conquer USA and they failed because of the efforts of local leaders. They gathered local people and they fought against them having so much success that the British troops left US forever. France also helped the leaders of US against the British Army and eventually USA become an independent country.

Fri, 2011-11-11 21:50

#23

betterintheory

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Joined: 2011-11-04

Early U.S. History

This course covered everything before the civil war, which is a lot of time to cover in a semester. It started way back when the Native Americans first came over on the land bridge from Asia, and slowly worked it's way up to the founding of the United States. I enjoy the topic much more than I enjoyed the class, probably just a case of liking to choose what I read and when. But it was still a great class that I would recommend to anyone, it's all information I think everyone should know.

Thu, 2011-12-01 23:18

#24

Emily Shearin

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Joined: 2011-12-01

History of American Women (HIS-34 Riverside City College)

This class was a complete joke. I was so excited for the first week of this course, my classmates seemed really cool, and so did the instructor, Ms. Cree. I was looking forward to a history class that is not just focused of the politics leading to each war. It turned out to be the worst class I have ever taken. The teacher is extremely lazy and disorganized. She has the class teach the course. You are assigned a random partner, and chapters from one of the three books for the course. You are to come up with a way to teach those chapters to the rest of the class by any means ( presentation, game, anything you can think of). She never comments on anything. Most of the projects are really lame, and then she gives you tests she wrote before the course even started. Therefore, what you are being taught in the classroom by other students may or not be absolutely pointless. She does assign one paper on any woman in the history of America (or man who has affected women in America). She did not pass ours back for over a month, and turned out over ten percent of our class bought them online. So she was angry, which made the course worse. On the bright side of things, it is an easy A, and some really amazing girls and even some guys are in the class. Just be cautious of what your classmates are teaching you because, it most likely will not end up on the exams, and obviously do not cheat.

Fri, 2011-12-02 15:55

#25

Emily Shearin

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Joined: 2011-12-01

Political and Social History of the US (HIS7 RCC)

I have never felt more bored and brainwashed in my life, and I am interested in American history. My experience may have been created by a teacher who just sat in front of the class and droned on and on about the reading in a monotone voice, but I cannot believe what is taught to us. Everything said had a bias: we never heard both sides of absolutely anything, or even alternate theories. We did not even hear about the losing candidates in elections. It was like learning US history from the back of cereal boxes. One benefit of this is that the class is extremely easy. The whole grading scale was founded on three exams, and ten extra credit exams. A few of my friends got stuck with all essay exams, but I was lucky enough for multiple-choice and short essay exams. The extra credit can make up about 40% of your grade, so getting a low grade on an exam can be made up. I suggest finding a more enthusiastic teacher, and making timelines to study from so memorizing dates is not too difficult. I also suggest looking over the course curriculum and book so you can avoid learning the polished up version of history I got stuck with.

Tue, 2011-12-20 03:29

#26

SarahFord94

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Joined: 2011-12-19

U.S. Military History

My favorite class that I've taken so far is U.S. Military History. Although it was in part because I had such a nice teacher, the class was also extremely interesting. Initially, this class sounds uninteresting but it’s about more than just every battle in U.S. History. It covers the evolution of the U.S. military. You will also find out how the conflicts that the U.S. was involved in have shaped both foreign and domestic policy as well as how the military has played a pivotal role in U.S. history. If you really think about it, most of the vital parts of the United States’ history involve military conflicts. It’s important to see how our military advances have propelled the United States forward as a national power. That is one of the reasons that I found this class so interesting. Everything is covered from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. The evolution of weapons, boats, aircraft, and techniques is even covered. The textbook even covers the Confederates’ strategies during the Civil War and why what seemed like it should've been an easy victory for the North wasn't I would highly recommend this class to anyone going for their general ed. or anyone who’s interested in history. This class really showcases America’s, growth, triumphs, and crushing defeats as well as the reason why the United States was involved in so many conflicts even though it is one of the youngest nations.

Wed, 2012-06-20 14:06

#27

alekshewitt

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Joined: 2012-06-19

History 207A US History

College: Cuesta College Course: History 207A US History Pre-Contact to Civil War Professor: Dr. Koeninger This course was very comprehensive and gave a very detailed introduction to a United States history that most of us may be unfamiliar with. The beginning of the course focuses on Native Americans, especially those in the Yucatan Peninsula and the Aztecs (the area of focus for the professors doctorate). The professor spent a considerable amount of time on this subject and focused on the technological advances of that civilization, with the purpose of explaining to his students that pre-contact didn't mean that the natives were stuck in pre-history, but rather were competitive in size and advancement. The course then dives into the usual coursework including: contact and colonialization, French-Indian War, Revolutionary War, Slavery, etc. Dr. Koeninger runs through these subjects pretty fast, relying on student's prior knowledge in the course work. He also recommends (as well as I do) that the students take his History of African Americans course for a more in depth look at Slavery. Dr. Koeninger's courses are heavily reliant on quizzes and exams for grading and never issues homework in his lecture-only courses. They are fast paced and require either a fast writing shorthand or a computer to keep up with his very animated course instruction. He lets you know what will be on all the quizes with his coursebook available for purchase, and by the time you take the Midterm and Final Exam you will be well prepared to pass, but only if you attend every single class. I highly recommend this course and this professor. Course Score: 8.5/10; excellent course, requires notetaking skills or you will be lost, focuses perhaps a little too much on Latin American history.

Wed, 2012-06-20 14:18

#28

alekshewitt

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Joined: 2012-06-19

History 207B: US History

College: Cuesta College Course: History 207B US History Reconstruction to "Present" Professor: Prof. Judd This was a very difficult course, even for a history major, but I found it to be one of the most thought-provoking and interesting courses I have ever taken. Professor Judd lets everyone know that his course is considered one of the most difficult history classes to pass on day one and this friendly warning doesn't scare anyone. It should, you hit the road running with a post-Civil War America in their attempt to Reconstruct the broken Union. Using case studies throughout the course, Judd reveals the history through primary sources like newspaper articles, court cases, and diary entries. You continue running through the course as you go into very in-depth conversations about why things happen, not just what. Prof. Judd then requires his students to recall this information in his exams. Each exam consists of a tricky multple choice test (if it looks wrong, it probably was designed that way), and two to three exam questions. The exam questions require you to know the Cause, Context, and Consequences of each moment in history, which requires a lot of information. I loved this course, but that is because I love history. There were plenty of class mates that I met later in other courses who talked about how much they disliked the course and its difficulty. This course will prepare any student for an upper level history course at a four year university, but it may not be good for someone who just wants to pass the required US History course. Course Score: 7.5/10; excellent and in-depth course but is superceded by it's difficualty. If you succeed, you will have the knowledge with you always.

Wed, 2012-06-20 14:28

#29

alekshewitt

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Joined: 2012-06-19

History 210: California History

College: Cuesta College Course: History 210: California History Professor: Prof. Judd Just as difficult as History 207B with the same professor, but because it is a major focused course, the discussion seem more educated and informative. This course goes into pre-historical California with the Native Americans and went as far as the Isla Vista Riots of 1970 (the focus of the professors Master thesis). Because the majority of students in the course were history majors, Prof. Judd allowed for a more involved discussion on the topics in the course. This meant that the beginning of the course moved very slow, and we were racing through the end. It felt as if the professor was leading his students through a discovery of the states history, rather than just a lecture and because of that I was able to retain almost all of the information. The exams were just as difficult, but because of the discussions in class they were quite passable, but only if you were present for all discussions. The content was very foreign to me since high schools rarely focuses on such details, but I was still able to pass with an A. The course also requires a term paper or volunteer work (I chose the latter at the Paso Robles Historical Society). Course Score: 8.5/10; excellent course for a history major. Felt rushed at the end and even the professor admitted that the course should be split into two.

Fri, 2012-07-20 15:38

#30

lynn.dot

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Joined: 2012-07-19

US History

The US history I took was one semester and went from the founding of the colonies to the early 2000s, so it wasn't the most in depth class. Like most history classes it required a lot of reading. If you fall behind on the reading, you're going to struggle keeping up with homework and tests. The professor I had was interesting most days, thankfully; history is one of those subjects where a lecturer can make or break it for you. If they can't keep the class awake, my guess is you won't soak in the material very well. Develop a system for remembering dates. Flash cards are great: write a date on one side, and an event on the other and see if you can remember one or the other for tests. Overall I found the material a mix of boring and interesting, depending on the unit. I definitely found the more modern history (Civil War and onward) more interesting than the earlier periods, but that's just my opinion. You might enjoy the founding history more than modern...just depends. The exams I took were so-so. A mix of free response and multiple choice. The essay questions were either difficult or horrible, it just depending on what subject my professor chose to make us write about. Read hard, and you should be okay with a US history course.

Sat, 2012-08-18 17:17

#31

Connor Moylan

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Joined: 2012-08-18

U.S. History

At most colleges, you have a plethora of options when taking U.S. history courses. Most people choose a general studies course because they are perceived to be easier and are lower-level. Although there is nothing wrong with this approach, the people who take these courses are normally the ones who complain about their history courses. I believe this to be the case because the professors or TA’s who teach these courses may not be interested in these courses, and don’t put their full effort into the courses. This is also true of many of the students who take these general studies courses; they simply need a humanities requirement so they pick a basic history. Instead, I would encourage anyone signing up for a history course to take a more focused and in-depth class. The teachers and students are much more likely to be engaged, and you have a much better chance of learning new information than re-hashing whatever you learned in high school. For example, one of my favorite classes I took was a U.S History course called “The History of American Conspiracies and Paranoia.” Instead of studying basic American history, our class studied all of the conspiracy theories and theorists, starting with the Founding Fathers and ending with the Birther movement. Although it probably would be more work than a normal course, it was infinitely more enjoyable because of the fresh perspective the class offered on U.S history.

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