HISTORY OF THE PLAINS INDIANS (HIST. 4743)                                                    SPRING 2008 
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE (HIST. 5583)                                                                                                 
Instructor: Dr. Bill Corbett
Office: 307 Seminary Hall, telephone 444-3520, corbett@nsuok.edu
Office Hours: M-W-F 10:00-11:00; T-Th 8:00-9:30, 11:00-12:00. Other times by appointment.

Required Reading:  Quanah Parker, Comanche Chief by William T. Hagan
Red Cloud:  Warrior-Statesman of the Lakota Sioux by Robert W. Larson
These books are available at Campus Books on Spring Street behind Sam and Ella's or on-line.
Graduate Students Only:  Among the Sioux of Dakota:  Eighteen Months' Experience as an Indian Agent, 1869-70
 by D. C. Poole

Course Outline:  Unit I:  Pre-Columbian Plains People; Unit II:   Plains Indians Culture; Unit III:  Plains Indians in the Nineteenth Century, Final Exam Monday, May 5, 11:00.  This outline is tentative and may change at the discretion of the instructor.

Examinations: There will be three examinations. Each test will be comprised of essay and /or identification questions and will consist of 100 points. Test questions will be taken from class lectures. 

Makeup Examinations: Each student is expected to be present for every test at the appointed time. You must personally visit with the professor before any exception can be made or to schedule a makeup.  All makeup tests must be taken within one week of the regularly scheduled examination. Unexcused late tests will be penalized 10 points. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SCHEDULE MAKEUP EXAMS. There will be NO makeup for the final.

Book Reviews:  Each student will be required to write two 100 point in-class book reviews. Everyone will write a review of Quanah Parker, Comanche Chief  on February 8 and Red Cloud:  Warrior-Statesman of the Lakota Sioux on April 18. Graduate students will write a review of Among the Sioux of Dakota on a date to be determined.  The book reviews will be graded on the same scale as the examinations and the same makeup rules apply.

Social Studies Education Majors:  The book reviews required for this course maybe used as "artifacts" for your portfolio.  After you have completed the exercises, please inform me if you want copies of the reviews and the evaluation forms.

Grades:   All tests and assignments will be graded on a percentage scale.  Your grade for the course will be determined by a percentage of 500 points for undergraduate students and 600 points for graduate students.  Grades will be based on the following percentage scale:  90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; below 60=F.  Grades are confidential.  I WILL NOT provide information about your grade by telephone or e-mail.  However, you are always welcome to come to my  office for that information.  STUDENTS MUST TAKE ALL EXAMINATIONS AND BOTH BOOK REVIEWS TO COMPLETE THE COURSE. 

Attendance: Regular attendance is to the advantage of each student. I will take attendance on a daily basis. Except for approved activities, there will be no excused absences from the regular class meetings. If you miss class, you are responsible for getting notes and assignments.  Class attendance will be used to determine borderline course grades (59%, 69%, 79%, 89%). If you accumulate no more than three unexcused absences, you will receive the next higher grade. Three tardies will be considered as one absence.  Be sure to inform the instructor at the end of class if you arrived after attendance was taken.  If individual absences exceed 12, the student will receive a course grade of "F".

Withdrawals: Students who withdraw from this class prior to the deadline indicated in the class schedule will receive a grade of "W". Students who withdraw after that deadline will receive a grade of "W" if they are passing the course on the date of withdrawal. Students who withdraw after the deadline and are not passing on the date of their withdrawal will receive an "F". Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the professor.

N.S.U.-A.D.A. Policy: "If any member of the class feels he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended."  Your  disability must be registered with the Dean of Students to receive accommodation.

Student Conduct: DO NOT TALK, READ, SLEEP, DRINK, EAT, OR USE TOBACCO IN ANY FORM DURING THE CLASS PERIOD. NO STUDENT IS PERMITTED TO LEAVE THEIR SEAT DURING THE CLASS PERIOD WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE PROFESSOR. CHILDREN ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE CLASSROOM AT ANY TIME.  CELL PHONES, PAGERS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES MUST BE TURNED OFF DURING CLASS.  STUDENTS WHO USE ELECTRONIC DEVICES,  READ, SLEEP, LEAVE, OR DISRUPT CLASS WILL BE MARKED ABSENT.

PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK QUESTIONS AT ANYTIME.