United States History Syllabus

United States History Mrs. Johnson

[email protected] (615) 291-6600 x101 www.mrsjohnsonssixthperiod.blogspot.com Overview Welcome to United States History! Each of you has your own story full of important people, events and dates. Without knowing your history, you might not fully understand yourself or you might even make the same mistake more than once. Knowing your history is very important- so is knowing American history. Understanding American history is the key to understanding our country’s current conditions- for better or for worse. In this class we will look at America’s past and link it to today and how we have been impacted by things that happened hundreds of years ago.

Methods In order for students to grasp the information they will need to know for this course, students will be required to do outside reading (textbook, newspaper, and other selected works) as well as group and individual projects. Students will be expected to reason, observe, listen and evaluate as well as identify bias and identify cause and effect.

Class Expectations 1. Be in class! (you learn more when you’re actually in class) 2. Be on time! (four tardies and I write you up ) 3. Be prepared to learn! Please see website for specific classroom policies.

Grading Grades are important, they measure how much a student is improving and understanding the material. Students will be given official grades for the following: 1. Homework a. Homework is always due at the beginning of the period. 1

2.

3.

4. 5.

6.

b. Any work turned in after class is done is considered late. c. Late work is accepted up to two days after the assigned date for less points (1 day late = -25 points, 2 days late = -50 points) d. Each student will have one late pass a semester (they may turn the assignment in within two days with no point penalty) Class work a. All work assigned in class is due at the end of the period unless otherwise stated. b. If students do not turn the assignment in at the end of the period, the assignment will be counted as a 0. Notebook a. Students will be required to have a binder in order to support organization. The binder may be combined with another subject, but it must be separated from the other subject. The binder should be organized as follows: i. Calendar (I will copy calendars for each student) ii. Syllabus iii. Divider: Anchors iv. Divider: Notes v. Divider: Returned Assignments b. We will have periodic graded binder checks to ensure everyone is keeping up with their individual work. Projects Students will be assigned two major projects for the semester- information to follow Unit Anchors a. For each unit of study, students will have the opportunity to choose three of nine activities that compliment our unit. b. Students will have the entire unit time to complete the tasks independently. c. Students will be given some in class time to work on the tasks but will also be expected to do some work outside of class. Assessments a. Students will be measured in several different manners throughout the semester- some formal, other informal. b. Students will have one large assessment for each unit as well as a final exam. c. Seniors may qualify to be exempt for exams. (see page 21 in planner) d. At the end of the year, students will take an End of Course test measuring their knowledge from the entire year- this will be in May.

Scale Grade A B C D F

GPA 93-100 85-92 75-84 70-74 0-69

OPA 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0

2

Tentative Year Syllabus August 17-21 August 24-28 August 31-September 4 September 7th September 9-11 September 14-18 September 21-25 September 28-October 2 October 5-9 October 12-14 October 16-23 October 26- 30 November 2-6 November 9-13 November 16-20 November 23-27 November 25-27 November 30-December 4 December 7-11 December 14th December 16-17 December 18-January 4 January 5-8 January 11-15 January 18th January 19-22 January 25-29 February 1-5 February 8-12 February 15th February 16-19 February 22-26 March 1-5 March 8-11 March 12th March 15-19 March 22-26 March 29-April 1 April 2nd April 5-9 April 12-16 April 19-23 April 26-30 May 3-7 May 10-14 May 17-21 May 24th May 26-27 May 28th

Converging Cultures, A Diverse Society & The American Revolution The Constitution, The New Republic & The Growth of a Nation Growing Division and Reform, Manifest Destiny and The Civil War Begins Labor Day! Fighting the Civil War, Reconstruction, Unit 1 Anchors Unit 1 Assessment, Miners and Ranchers & Farming the Plains Native Americans, The Rise of Industry & The Railroads Big Businesses, Unions & Immigration Urbanization, The Gilded Age & Populism The Rise of Segregation, Unit 2 Anchors & Unit 2 Assessments Fall Break! The Imperialist Vision, The Spanish-American War & New American Diplomacy The Roots of Progressivism, Roosevelt and Taft & The Wilson Years The United States Enters WWI, The Home Front & A Bloody Conflict The War's Impact, Unit 3 Anchors & Unit 3 Assessment The Politics of the 1920s, A Growing Economy & A Clash of Values Thanksgiving Break! Cultural Innovations, African American Culture & The Causes of the Great Depression Life During the Depression, Hoover Responds to the Depression, Chapters 10 + 11 Anchors & Review Exam Half-Day for Exams Winter Break! Review, The First New Deal, The Second New Deal & The New Deal Coalition America and the World, World War II Begins & The Holocaust MLK Holiday! America Enters the War, Mobilizing for War & The Early Battles Life on the Home Front, Pushing Back the Axis & The War Ends The Origins of the Cold War, The Early Cold War Years & The Cold War and American Society Eisenhower's Cold War Policies, Truman and Eisenhower & The Affluent Society In-service- No School The Other Side of American Life, Unit 5 Anchors & Unit 5 Assessment The New Frontier, JFK and the Cold War & The Great Society Going to War in Vietnam, Vietnam Divides the Nation & The War Winds Down Students and the Counter Culture, The Feminist Movement & Latino Americans Organize In-service- No School Spring Break Unit 6 Anchors, Unit 6 Assessment, The Nixon Administration & The Watergate Scandal Ford and Carter, New Approaches to Civil Rights & Environmentalism Spring Holiday The New Conservativism, The Reagan Years & Life in the 1980s The End of the Cold War, The Technological Revolution, The Clinton Years & New Immigration An Interdependent World, America Enters A New Century, A War on Terrorism Begins & The Invasion of Iraq A Time of Challenges & Review for End of Course Exam End of Course Exam & In-class project Independent Study & Class Project Independent Study, Class Project & Review Exam Half-Day for Exams No School!

3