Professor Matthew Estes

Basic Requirements for History 101 and 102

If you are interested in enrolling in any of the classes I teach, please read the class requirements below to determine if these classes meet your academic needs, learning style and workload ability.

This is NOT an attempt to "scare students away" from taking my classes.  However, given the current budget crisis and shortage of available class spaces, you need to make a realistic assessment about whether or not you are willing to do the work required to succeed in this class.  If you are not willing to do the work, and hence drop the class after the semester has started, that is being unfair to a student who did not get into this class who IS willing to do the work required.

The list below is only the bare bones of the class requirements.  You are expected and required to thoroughly read the class syllabus.

• Attendance:

  • Roll will be taken every day

  • You are expected to maintain an attendance average of 80% (this is what the state of Alabama requires in its public schools)

  • If you miss six (6) class sessions for any reason you will be dropped from the class. (There are NO "excused absences")

  • If the Drop Date has passed, you will receive an automatic "F" in the course

  • NOTE: If you are receiving certain kinds of financial aid, you may be dropped from the class after the regular Drop Date.  Under these circumstances I will NOT authorize a change of grade from a "Drop" to an "F."

• Every week, you will be expected to:

  • Read an entire chapter in the primary textbook

  • Complete a 60 question, multiple-choice homework assignment dealing with the reading material in the textbook.

  • Read and answer the questions accompanying approximately 15 to 20 short excerpts from primary and secondary source historical documents.

• Every Class Session, you will be expected to:

  • Be prepared to discuss the documents mentioned above

  • When we review the Document based Questions (DBQ) and Class Discussion Documents in class, I will randomly select specific individuals to answer the discussion questions.

  • The selected individuals must make an effort to answer the question by analyzing the material in the document as well as material from the reading and class discussion.

  • Their response (or lack) will receive between zero and three points for the document analysis. If your are absent and your name is called, you will receive a ZERO.  There are no make-ups.

• Electronic Devices Policy:

  • There is to be NO use of cell phones in class for any reason

  • If you violate this policy, you will receive one public warning

  • For every subsequent violation of this policy, you will be asked to leave class and not to return for two class sessions.  These will count as absences and you will receive a ZERO for any class work done during those days.

  • Laptop computers may be used in a manner appropriate to a college learning environment. If, in the opinion of the instructor, any abuse of this policy occurs laptops will also be banned from the classroom.

  • Audio or video recording of the class is permissible ONLY with the prior approval of the instructor.  Any violation of this policy will be met with severe academic and legal penalties.

• Exams:

  • There will be three exams in these classes

  • Each Exam will be comprised of two parts

  • The first part will be a timed, online multiple choice examination consisting of 100 questions

  • The second part will be a formal, in class essay.  You will be expected to produce a standard college level five paragraph essay.  You will also be required to provide specific examples from primary source documents and correct citations. 

  • You will be allowed ONE sheet of notes for the essay portion of the exams

• Final Exam:

  • The Final Exam will be cumulative in nature

  • It will be identical in nature to the regular exams except that the scope of the Final will cover the ENTIRE class.

If you are interested in taking any of these classes, please click on the links below to review the syllabi and see the detailed class requirements.

These are not the type of classes where the instructor will tell you "the answer" and expect you to regurgitate it for an exam.  These classes demand that you think, analyze, participate and write.

To succeed in these classes, you must be actively involved in your own education!

History 101

History 102