U.S. History Syllabus

 

School Year:  2014-2015

Instructor: J. Michael McDowell                                                                            

Course: US History

Room # Congaree Hall

Phone:  803-822-7040                                             

Email address: mmcdowell@midlandsmiddlecollege.com

Extra Help: I will be available before school by appointment

 

Course Description and Objectives:

 

Course Description: United States History is one of the more challenging End of Course (EOC*) exams. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of basic chronology of major events and themes from colonization to globalization. It will require students to learn these facts and then apply them analytically. Therefore, it is assumed that all students will complete every assignment given to the best of their ability.
 

Objectives: According to South Carolina’s US History Standards:
USHC-1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the settlement of North America.

USHC-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the establishment of the United States as a new nation

USHC-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.

USHC-4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes and the course of the Civil War and Reconstruction in America.

USHC-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.

USHC-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.

USHC-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.

USHC-8: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of World War II on United States’ foreign and domestic policies.

USHC-9: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the social, economic, and political events that impacted the United States during the Cold War era.

USHC-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.

 

 

Course Outline:
Unit 1 & 2: American Beginnings & A New Nation (1st 9 weeks)

Unit 3 & 4: Era of Growth/Disunion & Migration/Industrialization (1st 9 weeks)

Unit 5, 6, 7: Modern America & 1920’s/Great Depression & WWII (2nd 9 weeks)

Unit 8 & 9: Great Turmoil & a New Century (2nd 9 weeks)

Materials:

    - a three ring, loose leaf binder or spiral notebook with pockets - it is EXTREMELY important that students keep a neat, well-  

    organized notebook

    - paper

    - pen or pencil

    - Highlighters, color pens/pencils, etc. may be useful but are not required.

 

Textbook

    - The Americans which will be provided by the school 

 

Grading Scale:

Major Assessments ie tests, projects, etc: 60%

Minor Assessments ie class work, quizzes, etc: 40%

    -In class tests will be given using various types of questions covering all levels of thought processes from recall to synthesis.

A = 93-100              B =   85-92              C =   77-84              D =   70-76              F =     0-69

 

Extra Credit:

    -Each assignment is given the maximum points deserved, so extra credit assignments are never given.

 

Attendance Policy:

                School Policy:  a student may not miss more than five days from a semester long course.  Those five days include parent’s notes, suspensions, unexcused absences, administrative or late arrival notes.  After five absences, a doctor’s note or administrative excuse must be provided or the students will not receive credit for the course. 

    -Tardy and Attendance Policies are outlined in the Student Handbook/Agenda and will be enforced for this class.

    -Hall Passes: Each student will receive three passes from class per semester.  The passes are located in your student handbook.  

    You must have your handbook in order to leave my class. Passes will only be written in the student handbook.

 

What to do if you miss class:

    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. It is important for students to deal with missed work quickly. They need to arrange a time

    to make-up tests, quizzes, notes, etc. by seeing me before or after class immediately upon their return. 

 

Academic and Behavioral Expectations:

Academic:

        Communication of assignments and expectations:

- Students will be informed of all assignments (except pop quizzes) well in advance, and will be expected to complete the assignments on time.

- Tests will be announced in class at least one week in advance, but will normally happen every Friday.

- 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.

       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! Late work is always taken at half credit.

 

Behavioral:

BE ON TIME: You should have closing objectives turned in and be ready to work when the bell ring.
BE PREPARED: Each student is required to have materials for each class session (textbook, paper, writing utensil, assignments).
BE RESPECTFUL: Every person may not have something valuable to say, but each person has value. Therefore it should be understood that everyone needs to respect each other, be it peer, teacher, administrator, guest, etc. Students need to listen when others are speaking and recognize when raising your hand is appropriate. This is essential for an environment needed for learning.
BE ON TASK: Students are expected to be responsible for their learning. Students who are not on task will be sent out of class.
LEAVING CLASS: You should never leave class unless it is an emergency.
CHEATING: Copying or sharing answers on any assignment (classwork, homework, quiz, test) will always be given a zero and referred to the administration.
CONTACT: Email is the best way to contact me for questions or concerns. You can also check my site for links to weekly classroom information. I am available after school and during lunch as needed. The website address is: http://midlandsmiddlecoll.wix.com/eocushistory
*Grading scale, absent/tardy policy, and general classroom rules can be find in the student handbook.

 

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