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Honors US History Syllabus 2006 - 2007 US History is a year-long course required by the state of South Carolina for graduation from high school. In alignment with the new state standards, this course is designed to provide each student with knowledge of the entirety of US history from exploration and colonization through current developments with an emphasis on civic education. At the honors level, students are expected to analyze and synthesize information in greater depth. Assignments may require outside research and documentation. Students will not be simply memorizing names, dates and places but studying cause and effect and working to understand historical movements and trends. Supplies: - Due to the large amount of material covered in this course, it is important for students to keep a neat and well organized notebook. (See notebook instructions for details.) - Please use blue or black ink pens or pencils and white paper for all work. I WILL NOT accept assignments done on color paper or written in ink colors other than blue or black. - Textbook: The Americans - Highlighters, color pens/pencils, etc. may be useful but are not required. Grading Scale: Tests - 40% Quizzes - 30% Homework (HW) and Class Work (CW) - 30% Assessments Used to Determine Student Progress: A variety of techniques will be used to monitor student progress covering the full realm of learning styles. These assignments will be graded for completeness as well as mastery of the material and will count toward the student's final grade. Some examples include, but are not limited to: • Notebook A notebook is required. You will need a three-ring binder with white loose-leaf paper. A. At the front of your notebook, you will need to have your syllabus (this document) B. The second section of your notebook should contain your US History journal. You are expected to work on your journal each day as soon as the bell rings (unless otherwise instructed). You will not be reminded. We will typically discuss your entries as a way to review and begin class. These will be collected and graded at random! C. The third section of your notebook is to be organized by unit/topic (see course curriculum below). You need to keep all notes, handouts, worksheets, quizzes, etc. in chronological order. Notebooks will be graded at the teacher's discretion, at least a 24 hour notice will be given. It is extremely important for you to keep a neat and well organized notebook. • Homework / Class Work – average accounts for 30% of course grade - Students will be provided with reading guides for most units of study as well as enrichment materials/assignments. Mastery of material covered in reading assignments, class work and homework and will be graded on a regular basis using one of the following methods: - classwork and/or homework assignments may be collected and graded in their entirety - graded using a brief, usually 10 - 15 question, check - oral questioning in class - Timelines, charts, etc. will be used frequently to assist students in organizing and visualizing the vast amount of information involved in US History. • Quizzes – average accounts for 30% of course grade - There will be quizzes for most units. They will usually be closed note and will be used to monitor students’ factual recall and conceptual understanding of the material prior to testing. However, open note and take home quizzes will be used occasionally. • Tests – average accounts for 40% of course grade * Students will be required to learn the geographic location of all 50 states. Student progress will be assessed using three quizzes and a test. The first two quizzes will cover twenty states each (students will not be told which twenty) and the third quiz the remaining ten. The final test will cover all 50 states. The state names must be written out, not abbreviated, and spelling will count! - In-class tests will be given using various types of questions covering all levels of thought processes from recall to synthesis. - Take home tests will, on occasion, be assigned. These tests will, typically, be more in depth than classroom tests and will require higher level thinking skills. Students are not to work together. Any collaboration will be considered cheating and a zero given. Additional Assessments: • Essays - Writing is an extremely important skill for PACT testing, SAT and college preparation. Essays will be assigned in a variety of settings. There will be essay and short answer sections on many tests as well as more formal essays where several days are given for students to prepare and write an assignment. • Cooperative learning - will be used on occasion in that it affords students the opportunity to build off one another’s unique knowledge and experiences, compare their perspective and understanding of material to that of their colleagues, and allows the teacher another avenue to assess the level of comprehension and cognitive skills the students have achieved. • Independent studies - May be assigned when an area of study is important but does not require extensive classroom discussion or to supplement a very involved topic. These are in-depth studies requiring the reading of the text, supplemental articles, charts etc. and answering of the questions provided. Again, students are not to work together. Any collaboration will be considered cheating and a zero given. • Projects, research papers and oral presentations - Will be assigned and factored into student assessment when and where appropriate. • Extra Credit - May be given at the teacher's discretion for the entire class. Absolutely no individual extra credit will be assigned or accepted. Communication of assignments and expectations: - A weekly agenda will be given to each student at the beginning of the week. It will contain information about the material being covered in class as well as notification of homework assignments, quizzes and tests, etc A copy of this agenda will also be available on my Southside web site. The address for Southside’s web page is www.greenville.k12.sc.us/southside/. After getting on Southside’s website, click on Faculty and then my name. Agendas can be found on the link entitled Students. - An absence does NOT excuse a student from work due on or scheduled for the day of their return i.e. homework check, quiz, test. This is one of the main reasons for providing weekly agendas! - In most cases, quizzes will be announced, on agendas and in class, at least one to two days in advance. There is, however, always the possibility of a pop or surprise quiz. It is imperative that students do their homework and class work both accurately and completely. - Tests will be announced on agendas and in class approximately one week in advance. - Zeros will be calculated into a student’s grade for any assignment not received or for which no correct answers were given. NO GRADES WILL BE DROPPED. Progress Reports: Progress reports will be sent home every quarter for every student regardless of grade. Attendance: See student handbook. School and district policies for absenteeism and tardiness will be strictly enforced. Please be aware that Greenville county no longer allows students to make up excessive days missed. Make-up Work: Established school and district policies will apply to all make-up work (see handbook). It is the responsibility of the student to get assignments, notes, etc. missed due to absences. Again, an absence does NOT excuse a student from work due on or scheduled for the day of their return. I am working at Southside part-time and will only be available to students at lunch and by appointment. It is important for students to deal with missed work quickly. They need to arrange a time to make-up tests, quizzes, etc. by seeing me before or after class immediately upon their return. Late Work: - Late work impedes student progress and adversely impacts grades. Turning work in late needs to be avoided whenever possible and will result in significant point reductions on the assignment! On the rare occasion late work is unavoidable, the following point values will be deducted from the earned grade: One day = 20 pts., Two days = 30 pts., Three days or more = no credit Rules: School policies regarding tardies, absenteeism, etc. will be strictly enforced (see student handbook). In addition, I require that students refrain from behaving in a manner that is disrespectful to adults, other students, and/or themselves. My classroom is a “nice zone” and my policies are as follows: - Speak positively – if what you have to say does not make the world a better place and benefit the learning in our classroom, please keep it to yourself! - Honor and respect one another’s personal space (18” to 24” in the US) - Only pros may throw – until you are proficient enough at throwing items that someone is willing to pay you to do it, please do not throw and put other people’s safety at risk!!!! (When you are signed by the NFL, NBA, WNBA, etc., you are welcome to come and do a throwing demonstration for my classes!) - This is a classroom NOT a café – please no food or drink other than bottled water. - You have beautiful eyes – prove it! They must be visible at all times!!! - You need to be in your seat ready to begin class when the bell rings, otherwise you will be considered tardy and need to sign in on the tardy sheet. - Each student will receive two passes to leave class per quarter without penalty. Any passes granted in addition to those two will result in a 10 - 15 minute lunch detention. - Honor my bubble, please! It is fragile and after 20 years barely intact!!!! In addition, I expect students to refrain from: talking out of turn, using derogatory words and/or sarcastic tones of voice, passing notes, brushing hair and putting on makeup, sleeping and any other behavior that is determined to be disruptive and/or interferes with another’s right to learn. My goal is to create a comfortable and emotionally safe environment for students to think, communicate, and learn. Consequences will typically be applied as follows: 1st offense: verbal counseling 2nd offense: 5 - 15 minute lunch detention 3rd offense: lunch detention, parent/guardian contact 4th offense: administrative referral State Standards and Course Curriculum: Intro: Pre-test, Writing Sample, American Geography Standard 1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the settlement of North America. Unit 1: Exploration and Colonization Standard 2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the establishment of the United States as a new nation. Unit 2: Colonial Life and the American Revolution Unit 3: Forming a New Nation - The Articles of Confederation and the American Constitution Unit 4: Establishing a Democracy - the Early Presidents Standard 3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the westward movement and the resulting regional conflicts that took place in America in the nineteenth century. Unit 5: Manifest Destiny and the Union in Peril Standard 4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes and the course of the Civil War and Reconstruction in America. Unit 6: Civil War and Reconstruction Standard 5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of major social, political, and economic developments that took place in the United States during the second half of the nineteenth century. Unit 7: Westernization and Industrialization Unit 8: Immigration and Urbanization Standard 6: The student will demonstrate an understanding of foreign developments that contributed to the United States’ emergence as a world power in the twentieth century. Unit 9: Progressivism & Imperialism Unit 10: WWI Standard 7: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the economic boom-and-bust in America in the 1920s and 1930s, its resultant political instability, and the subsequent worldwide response. Unit 11: the Roaring ‘20s Unit 12: the Great Depression and the New Deal Standard 8: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of World War II on United States’ foreign and domestic policies. Unit 13: WWII Standard 9: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the social, economic, and political events that impacted the United States during the Cold War era. Unit 14: Post WWII and the Cold War Unit 15: The Civil Rights Movement Unit 16: Kennedy, Johnson, and Vietnam Unit 17: the Nixon years Standard 10: The student will demonstrate an understanding of developments in foreign policy and economics that have taken place in the United States since the fall of the Soviet Union and its satellite states in 1992. Unit 18: 1980 – the present Important Dates: Interim Progress Reports: 1st quarter: Sept. 19 3rd quarter: Feb. 15 2nd quarter: Nov. 29 4th quarter: May 1 Report Cards: 1st quarter: Oct. 26 3rd quarter: March 29 2nd quarter: Jan. 23 4th quarter: June 6 (mailed) As I stated in previous communications, many students find their high school years challenging. Research shows that the single best predictor of a student’s academic success is the involvement of their parent(s) or guardian(s). I am asking you and your student to commit to a system of active communication with each other and myself throughout the year. I will provide students with an agenda each week that gives detailed information related to the material being covered in class and any assignments, quizzes or tests scheduled. A copy of the weekly agenda will also be available on my web page. (from Southside’s home page, click on faculty, then my name, then click on the link entitled student). My web page will also include important dates for the 2006-2007 school year, class syllabi, list of students who need to make up work and other useful information. Parents/guardians are encouraged to use their student’s syllabus, notebook and weekly agendas as well as my web page to become involved and remain informed about class progress. . If you should need to get in touch with me for any reason, you may call the school, my room at 355-8749, email me at mfford@greenville.k12.sc.us or by using any of the email links available on my web page. I look forward to a great year and thank you in advance for your efforts in making it a success. . Please sign the sheet provided to acknowledge receipt of this course syllabus. |
