U.S. History, Fall 2006

Overview of Course:
This is a survey course in United States History based on the social science standards defined by the State of California and San Mateo Union High School District.  The course will provide a brief six week review of the colonial era up to the end of the Civil War and will then focus primarily on modern United States history (1877-present).


11th Grade United States History Standards
11.1 Students analyze the significant events in the founding of the nation and its attempts to realize the philosophy of government described in the Declaration of Independence.

11.2 Students analyze the relationship among the rise of industrialization, large-scale rural-to-urban migration, and massive immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

11.3 Students analyze the role religion played in the founding of America, its lasting moral, social, and political impacts, and issues regarding religious liberty.

11.4 Students trace the rise of the United States to its role as a world power in the twentieth century.

11.5 Students analyze the major political, social, economic, technological, and cultural developments of the 1920s.

11.6 Students analyze the different explanations for the Great Depression and how the New Deal fundamentally changed the role of the federal government.

11.7 Students analyze America’s participation in World War II.

11.8 Students analyze the economic boom and social transformation of post–World War II America.

11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II.

11.10 Students analyze the development of federal civil rights and voting rights.

11.11 Students analyze the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society.

Class Norms:

• Treat and speak to one another with respect.
• If you have a question or need help, ask.
• If you can help or answer a question, do so.
• Honor differences of perspective.
• Practice academic honesty and integrity.
• Come to class on time and prepared.

Method of Instruction:
•    Lecture
•    Discussion
•    In-class individual and group activities
•    Project Based Learning (PBL)

Materials:
•    Textbook:  The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century, published by McDougal Littell.
•    Primary Source Reader:  Voices of a People’s History of the United States, edited by Zinn and Arnove.
•    Notebook
•    3 Ring Binder

Grading Policy:
Student can earn an A, B, C, or F in this class.  Grades of “D” are not issued at Middle College High School.  The final semester grade is based on a student’s mastery of the standards in the following categories:

Exams/Quizzes:              35%
Projects and Essays:             35%
Classroom Assignments/HW:      20%
Notebook:                 10%

The final grade will be determined by a numerical calculation of points according to grading scale below OR by portfolio.

A: 100-90
B: 89-80
C: 79-70
F: 69 or below

Quizzes prepare students for summative exams.  Some quizzes are graded, some are not.  Exams are worth substantially more than quizzes.  I give students multiple opportunities to check their understanding of the material by frequently quizzing students before administering a summative exam.  Students can retake tests, but not the final exam.  Students cannot retake a test due to an unexcused absence (in plainer language, if you cut a class to avoid taking an exam, you cannot retake the test).

Projects and essays provide a way to determine how well you can apply what you have learned in a real world setting.  It helps prepare you for situations you are likely to expect in the world of work or in college.  All major assignments will be graded on a rubric and given to students before the assignment is due. 

Daily participation in the life of the class is crucial for your success.  Homework preparation and completion of classroom assignments helps you learn the material.  Even though I ask for volunteers in class discussions, I more often call on students randomly or require participation in small or large group discussions/activities. 

Keeping a notebook to document and record ideas and information is an important learning skill.  It is a useful resource when it comes time to completing projects, essays, and preparing/taking exams.  I will periodically collect notebooks and grade them to check for note taking, journal writes, or other assignments I ask you to do in the notebook.

Extra Credit:
Extra credit assignments are periodically assigned to extend learning around a core standard.

Late Work
I expect students to turn in assignments on time.  In general, I drop the value of a late assignment by a grade for every day it is late after the due date.  Major assignments (projects/essays) cannot earn more than a “60% after a week late and must be verbally negotiated with me.  A late homework assignment worth less than 10 points is not accepted.

Academic/Intellectual Honesty
I expect you to practice academic/intellectual honesty.  This is clearly specified in the Middle College Student Handbook.  If you are discovered to engage in cheating or plagiarism, it will result in a grade of “0” and a conference.  In general, copying or verbally sharing answers from another student or relying on impermissible resources (eg. notes, text messaging) during an exam or quiz constitutes cheating.  Plagiarism is when you take ideas that are not your own and pass them off as yours in a paper or project without citing your sources.  Typically, this involves copying or paraphrasing information from a print source, the Internet, or a person and passing it off as your own work.  If you have questions about behavior that constitutes cheating or plagiarism, please ask. 

Attendance:
I expect students to attend class daily on time with needed materials.  If you are absent or late, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.  If you are frequently absent or tardy, please expect a phone call home and/or a conference.  If you are ill or there is a family or personal emergency that prevents you from attending class, please contact me by phone, e-mail, or in person.

Office Hours/Study Skills Class
Please come see me during my scheduled office hours, study skills class, or make an appointment if you have questions or need help with issues that arise at CSM.  Asking for help and asking questions is a real-life skill that successful individuals possess.  If you come to me for help, I will do my best to assist you. 

Reading
The Americans will be the primary text for the class and the reading schedule follows below.  The Voices of a People’s History will be assigned on a weekly basis. 

Fall 2006
1st 6 weeks – Colonialism, Revolution and Civil War (Ch. 1-4)
2nd 6 weeks – The Incorporation of Modern America (Ch. 5-9)
3rd 6 weeks – American Foreign Policy from 1890-1945 (Ch. 10, 11, 16, 17)

Spring 2007
1st 6 weeks – The 1920’s and 1930’s (Ch. 12-15)
              The Cold War and Vietnam (Ch. 18 and 22)
2nd 6 weeks – The 1950’s and 1960’s (Ch. 19, 20)
           Civil Rights and Social Change (Ch. 21, 23)
3rd 6 weeks – 1970’s – 1990’s (Ch. 24-26)