The life of the law has not been logic, it has been experience

                                               — Oliver Wendell Holmes, jr.

 

History 3600: The US Constitution and the Nation 


 

Instructor:      Dr. Lynne Curry                                       email:            cflc2@eiu.edu                         

Office:             2532 Coleman Hall                                          my office       581-7988

Office hours:  TR 11:00 - 12:30; and by appointment                    department:  581-3310

 

Description: This course surveys the development of the US Constitution and the American legal system within the context of the nation’s political, social, and economic history. 

 

Required texts:       Michael Les Benedict, The Blessings of Liberty

                                 Waldrep, Curry, Riccio, The U. S. Constitution and the Nation

                                 Articles posted on course website           

 

Course requirements:

 

1.  I expect your attendance, thorough preparation, and active participation at each class meeting

 

2.  Two mid-term examinations and a final.  All are in essay format.  The final is not comprehensive.  Dates are as follows: Mid-term I, Thursday, September 30th ; Mid-term II, Thursday, November 11th;  Final, Wednesday, December 15th, 2:45 pm to 4:45 pm.   Note:  I will not reschedule your final examination unless you have three exams scheduled for the same day.

 

3.  Check our course website on WebCT daily.  Important information, announcements, weekly assignments, emails from me,  and additional readings will be posted there.  You are responsible for keeping up to date with all information posted on our course website.

 

4.  Non-credit quizzes.  Week quizzes are available on our course website.  They are optional, and do not affect your grade for the course.  The quizzes serve as a self-check so that you can make sure you are understanding the key concepts from lectures and readings.  If you are having difficulty answering the quiz corrections correctly, reread the assignments and review lecture notes.  If you continue to have difficulty, see me asap. 

 

Grading:

Mid-term exam I             30%

Mid-term exam II          30%

Final exam                     40%              

 

Accommodations:  If you have a documented physical or learning disability, please contact me as soon as possible regarding any required arrangements

                                                                                   

Things that annoy me, so don’t do them: Consistently coming in late.  Getting up in the middle of class to use the restroom.  Cell phones ringing.  Loud gum chewing.  Private conversations in class.  Treating fellow students rudely.  Packing up your books before I say class is over.  Dull, boring, glassy-eyed, unprepared students who just sit there like rocks.