• American History Syllabus

    Course Description and Essential Knowledge
    This course is designed to give the student a better understanding of American History. Through the course you will gain a deeper understanding of the people and cultures that have made America the country that it is. We will also spend a lot of time discussing current events and Social Injustice (Social injustice definition says that it is a situation when some unfair practices are being carried in the society.)

    Course Overview
    1. Students will acquire knowledge of American History including specific names, terms, and concepts.
    2. Students will weave together the skills and content of civics, history, and geography and learn how they affect each other.
    3. Students will consider multiple perspectives, weigh evidence, and make sound judgments about the contemporary world.
    4. These processes build student confidence as critical thinkers.
    5. Learners will leave prepared for advanced level courses in the social sciences and some of the analytical tasks common to the 21st century work world.


    Textbooks:
    We will utilize 2 digital textbooks for this course. These are:
    American History – Available: http://www.ushistory.org/us/index.asp
    The American Yawp – Available: http://www.americanyawp.com/

    Course outline:
    Unit 1: Exploration & Discovery
    Unit 2: The Early Colonies
    Unit 3: The American Revolution
    Unit 4: The Constitution
    Unit 5: Early America
    Unit 6: The Age of Jackson
    Unit 7: Manifest Destiny
    Unit 8: Sectionalism & Reform
    Unit 9: The Civil War
    Unit 10: Reconstruction

    Supplies
    Students are requested to have the following items in class on a daily basis.
    • 3 ring binder
    • Pens/Pencils
    • Plenty of paper/notebook
    • Other supplies may be requested by each teacher


    Assignments & Grading
    The focus of assessment is to provide feedback on a students’ learning process and to measure students’ level of performance. Information generated through assessments is used by the teacher ad students to reflect and then make adjustments in the learning process that increase student learning over time.

    How Your Grade Will Be Calculated
    Classwork: 35%
    Homework 15%
    Projects 15%
    Test 25%
    Quiz 10%

    The following scale will be used to determine your grade:
    A: (90-100)
    B: (80-89)
    C: (70-79)
    D: (60-69)
    F: (0- 59)


    Expectations:
    1. Arrive to class on time and come to Class prepared. Students should bring a notebook/binder and pen/pencil to class every day.

    2. Student work accountability. Students are responsible for completing ALL assignments. Work that is excessively late detracts from student learning. The instructors of this course believe that responsibility for learning is an essential outcome of the course as well, and as such, all late work handed in after the associated unit test, though always accepted, may be subject to reduction of credit. When assignment deadlines (original or extended) are missed, students will be required to have a conference with the course instructor. The conference may need to be scheduled after school, or some other time outside of the regular time the class meets. Parents, counselors, and administrators may also attend conferences at the discretion of the instructor. All late work is due one week prior to the end of each quarter for consideration in the quarter grade.

    3. Be organized. ALL assignments, notes, and handouts should be kept in your notebook/binder because it is being graded. If you are absent, you should get any missed assignments from Google Classroom . You are responsible for all materials covered in class, including videos, presentations, and supplementary readings.

    4. Do your own work (No plagiarism or cheating). Students are expected to complete their own work. Any student who gives or receives unauthorized help (including materials) on quizzes, tests, or other assignments is cheating. Plagiarism - using text from another source, including Internet web sites, without permission or citation - is also considered inappropriate. Such behavior will result in a student receiving no credit for the assignment.

    5. A classroom is based on RESPECT.
    • You are expected to politely listen to your classmates' opinions and ideas, think about what they have said, and contribute yourself. Throughout the semester students will be introduced to different cultures, lifestyles, and religions, students must be respectful, not judgmental. Statements of bigotry, intolerance, and racism will be punished with detention, and parents will be contacted.
    • Respect property that is not your own. Unless something is yours, do not touch it without permission. This refers to anything belonging to your classmates, the furniture in the room, and the teacher's belongings
    • Conduct yourself appropriately in class. No eating or drinking (including candy and gum) is allowed in the classroom. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

    Late Work:
    If an assignment is not submitted on the day it is due, it is considered late (please see the excused absence late work policy ). An assignment may be submitted late; however, it may result in a deduction of points. Late assignments may be submitted up until one week before the close of interim or quarter grades (whichever is applicable in the instance).

    If a student is absent on the day the assignment is due and wishes to earn full credit, they must turn in their material on the day they return to class. If a student is absent the day the assignment is given, it is his/her responsibility to get the assignment and turn in the material at the next class meeting.

    If and when a student needs assistance, extra help is available after school or by appointment. Although dropping by is acceptable and welcome, students are encouraged to make an appointment.

    If you must miss an examination or test, it is your responsibility to contact your teacher by email BEFORE the test/exam is given. You need to do this in a timely manner and expect a call back or an email from him/her. .


    Revising & Resubmitting Assessments:
    Retakes are an option designed to help students demonstrate mastery on major assessments. A retake can be requested by a student. A retake can also be required by the teacher or a student’s support team (e.g. the Individualized Education Plan team or a parent/student/teacher partnership). When doing retakes, students will be expected to complete a new assessment, not repeat the original. The student should also submit the original assignment with the retake if it was returned to them by their teacher (to document learning over time).

    A retake follows additional learning to help achieve mastery. These activities may include test corrections, after school with the teacher or peers, and/or other remediation activities created by the teacher or course team.

    Additional effort and retakes must be completed within the timeframe established by the teacher to accommodate quarterly grade deadlines. Retakes will not be allowed in the last week of the quarter. In support of mastery learning, the retake opportunity will be the grade recorded (unless otherwise specified by the teacher).

    American History Syllabus:
    Student Signature & Information Sheet
    Cut/paste these two pages and email them to yorkc@nw.halifax.k12.nc.us


    I have read and understand the expectations and procedures described above for American History. Throughout the semester I agree to follow and support them, and when I find that I cannot follow and support them, I agree to discuss my concerns with my instructor.

    Name (printed): _______________________________________

    Signature: _________________________________Date: ____________

    Student’s e-mail address: _______________________________________________________

    Please respond to the following questions.
    Do you have convenient access to a computer and reliable internet access? Is your access at home or someplace else? Is your access to the computer limited, for example do you share this computer with anyone else?





    What (3) words would you give to describe yourself?





    Is there anything else you think the instructor should know about you as a student in this course?


    American History Syllabus:
    Parent/Guardian Signature & Information Sheet



    I have read the expectations and classroom procedures described above and will support them. Throughout the year I agree to support them, and when I find that I cannot follow and support them, I agree to discuss my concerns with my student’s instructor.


    Name (printed): _______________________________________

    Relationship to student: _________________________________

    Signature: ____________________________________________Date: ____________


    Please provide the following information.

    Parent/guardian’s e-mail address: _________________________

    Phone number (home): _________________________________

    Phone number (work): __________________________________


    Please respond to the following questions.

    What are THREE (3) words/phrases that best describe your son/daughter’s personality?






    What are TWO (2) words/phrases that best describe your son/daughter academically?







    Is there any additional information that you feel the instructor should know about your student in this course?