American History II Syllabus Ms. Martin

Office Hours: By Appointment, and Tuesdays 2:30-3:30Room 231

Email: lmmartin@wcpss.net Website: msmartinhistory.weebly.com

Welcome to my American History class! I am very excited to be working with you this year.

Course Description: American History II will guide students from the late nineteenth century time period through the early 21st century. Students will examine the political, economic, social and cultural development of the United States from the end of the Reconstruction era to present times. The essential standards of American History II will trace the change in the ethnic composition of American society; the movement toward equal rights for racial minorities and women; and the role of the United States as a major world power. An emphasis is placed on the expanding role of the federal government and federal courts as well as the continuing tension between the individual and the state. The desired outcome of this course is for students to develop an understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship between past and present events, recognize patterns of interactions, and understand the impact of events on in the United States in an interconnected world.

The essential standards of American History II have been designed to provide a framework for studying political, social, economic, and cultural issues, and for analyzing the impact these issues have had on American society over time. Students will continue to build upon previous studies of American History, the fundamental concepts in civics and government, economics, culture and geography taught in grades kindergarten through eight and use skills of historical analysis as they examine American history. This course goes beyond memorization of isolated facts to the development of higher level thinking skills, encouraging students to make historical assessments and evaluations.

In order to give each student the best possible learning experience, it is imperative that all parties are held accountable for success (or failure) in the classroom.  Responsibility falls on each student, their parents, and their team of teachers.  We understand that a student may struggle to master some concepts in a timely manner.  Therefore, our Academic Recovery Process is accessible to all students and offered when:

- the student is attending class on a regular basis- the student has given sufficient first effort on assignments- the student completes recovery in a timely manner

Expectations for Students: Students will be expected to help maintain an atmosphere of learning, productivity, and professionalism in the classroom. This includes following all Sanderson High School rules, as well as the following:

1. Stay on task during class. 2. Participate and engage in class discussions and class activities. 3. Respect the teacher, your fellow students, and the space we are in

Policies and Procedures : 1. Materials: Students should bring the following materials to class each day:

Pen/Pencil Spiral Bound Notebook, full-size (8.5x11) Glue stick

2. Attendance, Makeup Work, and Late Work: All students are expected to be on-time and must be in their seats when the bell rings. After being absent, whether excused or unexcused, it is the student’s responsibility to check for handouts the next day they are in school, and to find out what they missed in class. Assignments will be found in the Make-Up Work Bin at the front of the classroom, and most assignments will also be posted on the class website, making it even easier for students to find missed work.

Make-up work policy: Make up work is only accepted due to an absence.

o After an absence, students have one week to turn in make-up work.o Long-term assignments and presentations are due the day an absent student returns to school. o Make up tests/quizzes must be made up no later than one week past the original assessment date.

Late Work Policy:  Late work will be accepted up to the end of the unit. Once the unit ends, late work for that unit will no longer be accepted.    Students will receive up to 70% based upon mastery of the assignment.

3. Grade Recovery: Students will be allowed to complete Test Corrections after all tests and quizzes to receive partial credit back. Test Corrections will be due at the end of each quarter.

4. Grades: Grades will be posted in POWERSCHOOL and are calculated as follows for each quarter:Major assessments 40%

Includes tests, projects, papers, etc.Minor assessments 35%

Includes quizzes, classwork, small presentations, group work, etc. Homework 10%

Includes vocabulary and study guides4 C’s 15%

Communication Listens, comprehends, critiques, and communicates effectively by adapting to diverse

audiences, tasks, purposes, and disciplines Uses multiple media to demonstrate thinking and justify reasoning

Critical Thinking Identifies inquiry questions related to the task clearly and precisely Analyzes and evaluates information, evidence, arguments, claims, and beliefs Synthesizes information and makes connections between information and arguments

Collaboration Works effectively in teams by sharing ideas, sharing responsibilities, and considering

multiple perspectives in order to achieve goalsCreativity

Demonstrates innovative problem solving by designing unique ideas, solutions, and products, and adapting as necessary

Takes intellectual risks, overcoming challenges and failures within the learning experience Semester grades will be determined as follows:

3rd Quarter 40%4th Quarter 40%Final exam 20%

5. Interactive Notebook: Students will keep an Interactive American History notebook. This will serve as an ongoing portfolio for the course and will be graded at regular intervals. It will be organized into Left (L) sides used for processing and reflecting on ideas, and Right (R) sides used for notes and factual information.

I am available for help! Generally, I am available before school, during A lunch, and after school (with the exception of Wednesdays and certain Mondays for meetings). If you need additional help or have questions for me, please do not hesitate to stop by. You can also e-mail me to set up an appointment at a specific time.

I hope that we will have a great semester learning about the history of the United States, and I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Ms. Martin