Course Syllabus

Ms. Ann Tesar

Room 610

704-296-3088 (7124) [School Voicemail]

Ann.Tesar@ucps.k12.nc.us

 

CP American History II Syllabus

 

Course Description

 

American History II is the second of two required history courses you will take at CATA. The course begins with the end of the Reconstruction period following the American Civil war and continues through Present Day. You will be examining the historical and intellectual origins of the United States from the aftershock of the American Civil War to tumultuous years of the early 20th Century, and up to and through the new millennium. You will learn about the political and economic factors that led to the development of industrial America, the outbreak of two World Wars and their consequences, which helped shape what we think of as the Modern world and helped determine America’s role on the international stage. You will be study the growth and development of political parties, America’s expansion, the emergence of the middle class, America’s changing population and subsequent conflict, and America’s changing role in the global community.

 

Course Materials

 

Required:

  • 3-Ring Binder [1” - 2” recommended] – Do not expect to stuff everything in a folder!
  • Loose-leaf paper [college-ruled]
  • Divider Tabs
  • Pencils
  • Pens [blue/black ink – no shiny gel pens]
  • Internet Access
    • Make sure you have a reliable source of internet access (either at home, the library, school, a friend/family member’s house). Many assignments, especially reading assignments will be online. Assignments will be given with enough time to find access, lack of access will not be taken as an excuse for missing work.

Optional:

  • Highlighters
  • Extra Erasers
  • Colored Pencils/Markers for map/project work

 

If you would like to donate a box of tissues to the classroom, Ms. Tesar and your fellow students would be eternally grateful.

Daily Expectations:

  • Fulfill your role as part of your Team.
  • Have your stuff ready to go at the bell, especially your binder. I’m not Staples, so I can’t supply what everyone is missing. Communal items in the classroom (erasers, markers, etc.) are NOT for you to take.
  • Check the boards as you come in for assignments, objectives, and PoD (Plan of the Day). You are responsible for all information/assignments posted, whether I remember to mention it or not. If you are absent, this is ALSO listed on Canvas.
  • Turn in your work to the appropriate bin (the tray with your block’s number on it). If you’re absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. I may not remember everyone who was absent on a given day and what they owe. CALL OR EMAL – BEFORE IT’S DUE – IF THERE IS A PROBLEM! [Remember, late work is docked 10% per day]
  • Be respectful in class and wait until you are recognized to speak – just like in Congress.
  • Pull your weight in group assignments – your classmates depend on you.
  • PARTICIPATE! Ask questions, make comments, discuss, critique, weigh in. Your brain retains more when it is active!

 

Course Text

 

The vast majority of the reading assignments for this course will be supplementary texts, either primary or secondary sources. These will be given in either paper copy or, more likely, online format. Online textbook resources will be provided on the class Google site. If you would like to use it, there are copies of the Holt McDougal textbook The Americans available for you to sign out in the classroom.

 

Course Website

Canvas: https://ucps.instructure.com/courses/120321

 

Course Standards

 

The course goals, as set out by the North Carolina Department of Education, are listed below:

 

Goal

Standard

1

Apply the four interconnected dimensions of historical thinking to the American History Essential Standards in order to understand the creation and development of the United States over time.

2

Analyze key political, economic, and social turning points in American history using historical thinking.

3

Understand the factors that led to exploration, settlement, movement and expansion and the impact on United States development over time.

4

Analyze how conflict and compromise have shaped politics, economics, and culture in the United States

5

Understand how tensions between freedom, equality, and power have shaped the political, economic, and social development of the United States.

6

Understand how and why the role of the United States in the world has changed over time.

7

Understand the impact of war on American politics, economics, society, and culture.

8

Analyze the relationship between progress, crisis, and the “American Dream” within the United States.

 

Course Evaluation and Assessment

 

**NEW** Grading Scale:   A = 100-90; B = 89-80; C = 79-70; D = 69-60; F = 59-0

 

This course will be graded using the total point system. You can keep track of your grades by adding up the number of points you earned on assignments and dividing that number by the total number of points possible. [i.e. 278 points earned/300 points possible = 92.6, or 93%]

 

Tests will cover lecture and class material, primarily, but will also cover reading material from class. Not all questions will come from our classwork or your reading. Each test will include multiple choice sections and a written portion. The written portion of the test consists of short answer and ID questions in which the student will need to know Who/What a historical person/event/place is, When it took place, Where it took place, and its Historical Significance.. Points for tests will vary from 100 to 120. Rewrites are usually an option because they are a good learning tool.

 

Quizzes will be based on the reading and lecture material. Expect geography.

 

Projects we will work on a project approximately once every six-week grading period. Projects may be either individual or group based and carry around the same weight as a test, 100 points or higher.  Much of this work will need to be done outside of class, and you’ll need to budget your time so that it’s not rushed at the last minute. Project grades are a great way to shore up sagging test scores!

Homework/Classwork: Will range from 10-65 points depending on the size of the assignment. I try to stay away from weekend homework, except for the long-range assignments, but there are times… YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS TO READ THE SYLLABUS AND TURN IN THE COURSE CONTRACT!

 

The Final Exam will be administered during the regular exam schedule at the end of the semester and will count as 25% of your final grade. The Final Exam is now a state-made test called the NC Final Exam. It is cumulative. Review materials are available on the course website and review will be conducted during class leading up to the final.

 

 

 

Discretionary points may be awarded for outstanding work on one or more major assignments, such as a simulation, or a run of excellent well-written assignments.

 

A note on Extra Credit, it is not a given and is available to those who have done all their work but would like to understand more and/or improve their grade. Extra credit work is assigned on an individual, as-needed basis. Extra Credit assignments are typically permitted once every 6-weeks grading period and are due on or before the last day of the grading period.

 

Late Work:

It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to see me and receive all missed work after being absent as well as to turn in any assignments or make up any quizzes/tests that were due when they were absent. All missed tests/quizzes/notebook checks/etc. that a student CAN make up will receive a grade of one (1) until the assignment is made up. Missing assignments that CANNOT be made up will receive a grade of zero (0).

Late assignments will be deducted 10% of their point value for each day late.

If the student misses any tests/quizzes due to an absence, they must make them up before/after school.

 

Policy for Re-Doing Work:
If you have submitted work, and neither of us is satisfied with the results, it can be re-done for an improved grade. You will have two days in which to resubmit regular assignments, such as homework or classwork. Larger projects will have a longer time allowance. Please note, however, that the opportunity to re-do an assignment DOES NOT extend to work that is not turned in on time and is obviously done in a cursory, last minute manner. If you’re having difficulty understanding or completing an assignment, let me know ahead of the due date and we’ll deal with it. That’s the responsible thing to do.

Extra Help: I’m here most mornings before school and can meet with you from 8:15-8:40. If you can give me a day’s notice, that would be helpful. If you’ve got questions or difficulties with assignments or content don’t hesitate to come in, even if you forgot to mention it the day before. E-mail is also a good way to get help. I try to check at least 2-3 times in the evening. I will also put practice games, activities, and review materials on the Google site.

Course Expectations

 

I expect serious approaches to all of your work in this class. Each day, all necessary materials should be brought to class. This includes printed material. You will not be allowed to leave class to print something that is due that day. Plan accordingly.

 

Discipline and Tardies: I will abide by, and enforce, the guidelines as set forth by the Union County Board of Education and CATA. The most important thing to remember is to be respectful of the rights and sensitivities of others.

In all classrooms at CATA, instruction occurs from bell to bell. If a student is not in class when the bell rings, a Tardy Pass or note from a teacher, will be required to enter class.

 

 

TARDY POLICY:  New from 2018-2019

 

At CATA, instruction is very important. All students are expected to be in their classrooms and ready to receive instruction before the tardy bell rings for each class. Following the tardy bell, students who are not in class must report to the front office for a tardy pass if they tardy to first period.  During the rest of the day teachers will mark student tardy in the PowerSchool Attendance System.   Only students with a Tardy Pass will be admitted after the tardy bell rings for first period.  There is absolutely no food allowed in the classrooms.  Students may not bring in food. 

 

Tardies will be recorded as unexcused unless an excuse can be verified by staff. Tardies will result in the following penalties:

 

All students must report to the office when tardy to first period and to class the rest of the day.  Teachers will mark students tardy who are late to 2nd period, 3rd period, and 4th period.  If a student is tardy twice in third period on Cougar Time days (Once before class and once after lunch), then the teacher will  mark them tardy one time in Power School and write it up as a minor incident in Educator Handbook for the second tardy of the period.   

 

1st/2nd Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods)

3rd Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods).  The teacher will contact the parent on the third tardy by phone.  

4th/5th Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 1 day ASD with administration.  The administration will contact the parent.  

6th/7th Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods).  The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 2 days ASD with administration.  The administration will contact the parent.  

8th Tardy: Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods).  The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 3 days ASD.  The administration will set up a parent conference, create a written plan, and possible additional consequences. 

 

  • Please note that administrator warnings will only come from an administrator in the office for first period tardies.  Please be sure to give warnings to students in all other periods. 

 

The administration reserves the right to modify consequences on a case-by-case basis whenever appropriate. This may include loss of parking privileges. Students arriving on late buses will not be considered tardy.

 

Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is presenting borrowed information as a student’s original work. This may involve complete essays or research papers or paraphrases, direct quotations, summaries, or translations derived from translation services or software. Plagiarism is a form of cheating and is usually dealt with severely in higher education, including a failing grade on the assignment, a failing grade in the course, or even academic probation or expulsion.

  • 1st Offense - Any student who is guilty of cheating or plagiarism will receive a zero for the work and will not be allowed to make-up the assignment. the parent/guardian of the student will be notified by the teacher.
  • 2nd Offense - A student who receives a second violation will result in two days of ISS. Any subsequent offense will result in up to a three-day OSS (out-of-school suspension).

 

Make-Up Work: Any time a student is lawfully absent from class, he/she will be given an opportunity to make up any class work, homework, tests, or examinations missed. In cases where the work missed as a one-time activity that cannot feasibly be reproduced (field trips, production work activities, and/or internships), the student will be given an alternative assignment in lieu of the original assignment.

Upon returning from an excused absence, students will be given two days to make up the work missed for each day absent. When arrangements are not made by the student to make up work, or if the make up work is not completed on time, the student will receive no credit.

Students who have an out-of-school suspension and students with unexcused absences and tardies are encouraged to make up all missed work but are only allowed to make up major tests or projects (i.e. research papers) for credit and take semester exams.

Teachers will record zeros on daily work for out-of-school suspensions only when the entire class was required to do work.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due