Course Syllabus
Ms. Ann Tesar
Room 610
704-296-3088 (7124) [School Voicemail]
American History: The Founding Principles, Civics, and Economics (Honors)
Course Schedule Link (subject to updates and changes)
Course Description
The goal of civics and economics is to prepare students to become responsible and informed citizens who are prepared to engage in and make meaningful contributions to their communities, state, and nation. As such, this course will delve into government and politics on the national, state, and local levels, as well as the basic concepts of economics and business. Having grasped these concepts, students should be able to participate in community life with good decision-making skills and an ability to understand, articulate, and argue various political points of view as they are affected by them. As background for these topic areas, the course covers early American history from colonization through the ratification of the constitution. The focus of this unit will be concepts and history of political freedom and founding documents.
Instructional Philosophy
Much of this class will operate like many others with notes and discussion, but there will also be a number of projects and simulations designed to get the information out of the textbook and into your hands [and hopefully your brain, if not your heart]. There will be projects that will require some charting and drawing – here’s where your colored pencils come in- and simulations in which we will reenact such things as Congress itself. The simulations will put you into both cooperative and competitive group work with your classmates. These simulations are fun and usually pretty lively. You’ll learn without realizing that you are, and learning in ways that no textbook or lecture can do. The other side of this approach is that your participation is vital, expected and required. What you gain from an exercise is proportional to what you put in. It’s more fun that way anyway. Don’t expect to come in every day and just sit in your desk. You’ll be required to work with other people in the class. If you’re assigned to work with someone with whom you’d rather not, deal with it. That’s life, and, therefore, that’s civics.
Course Materials
Required:
- Chromebook
- Headphones (make sure they can connect to your Chromebook)
Optional but Suggested:
- Your Own Individual Paper/Pen/Pencil – for sanitation we’ll be using primarily computers, but if you prefer to use paper for notes please do not share your materials with other students.
- Wipes (for your desk area)
- Personal Hand Sanitizer
- Colored pencils/markers for map/project work
Hand Sanitizer will be provided to classrooms by UCPS, but if you prefer your own make sure to check CDC guidelines.
Course Standards
The goals for this course, as set out by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, are listed below:
Civics and Government
Goal 1 Analyze the foundations and development of American government in terms of principles and values.
Goal 2 Analyze government systems within the United States in terms of their structure, function and relationships.
Goal 3 Analyze the legal system within the United States in terms of the development, execution and protection of citizenship rights at all levels of government.
Goal 4 Understand how democracy depends upon the active participation of the citizens.
Goal 5 Analyze how political and legal systems within and outside of the United States provide a means to balance competing interests and resolve conflicts.
Personal Financial Literacy
Goal 1 Analyze the concepts and factors that enable individuals to make informed financial decisions for effective resource planning.
Goal 2 Understand how risk management strategies empower and protect consumers.
Economics
Goal 1 Understand economies, markets and the role economic factors play in making economic decisions.
Goal 2 Understand the factors of economic interdependence and their impact on nations.
Goal 3 Analyze the role of government and economic institutions in developing and implementing economic stabilization policies in the U.S.
A more detailed breakdown can be found at this website:
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/media/4087/open
DPI’s goals and objectives are very generally worded, but the course content and MSL exam are quite detailed, so it may be helpful to consider “goals” and “objectives” to mean general [I nearly said vague] guidelines. In addition, you’ll note that there are no goals and objectives on the American Revolutionary War. Shame on them. Wrong on multiple levels. It’s impossible to assess the shape of our nation then or now without understanding how the Revolution shaped our society, government and economics. We will study it in my class, or I’ll not be able to live with myself that students have left my classroom without understanding the nation’s true origins
Civics and Economics HN is an honors level course. This course is also available in the Program of Studies at the College Preparatory level. Students earning credit for an Honors level course receive an elevated number of Quality Points for their Grade Point Average. Students choosing the Honors level course should be aware that this Honors level course will include:
- Required extension opportunities that are directly related to the Standard Course of Study. This includes additional content beyond that covered in the College Preparatory level.
- More challenging coursework and assessments. Students will be expected to demonstrate higher levels of understanding for grades.
- Projects and presentations will be more in depth.
- Students will have to focus and study regularly to master the content.
- The expectation that students can move through the coursework at an accelerated pace and students experiencing difficulty should quickly seek guidance from their teacher on how they can be more successful.
Assignments in an honors-level course will also differ from those of a standard course. You will be expected to research, analyze, and engage with material more complex than in a standard course. Below is an example of a differentiated honors-level assignment:
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HONORS level assignment |
COLLEGE PREP level assignment |
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FP.C&G.3.8 - Evaluate the rights of individuals in terms of how well those rights have been upheld by democratic government in the United States, making connections that allow us to compare and contrast the controversial issues involving individual rights today. |
FP.C&G.3.8 - Evaluate the rights of individuals in terms of how well those rights have been upheld by democratic government in the United States. |
Assessment and Grading Plan
Grading Scale: A = 100-90; B = 89-80; C = 79-70; D = 69-60; F = 59-0
Components of the Grade:
Your grade is a running average of how many of the total points possible you’ve gained for each test, quiz, and assignment. In other words, you will accumulate points for each grade item. Your total number of points is divided by the total number of points assigned to all the grade items. So, for example, if all the assignment points to date total 210, and your total is 185, divide 185 by 210. You’ll get 0.8809. Multiply by 100 and you’ll get your grade [rounded off of 88 – that’s a B.] Figure on tests and quizzes counting for approximately 40% of your grade, projects and homework/classwork assignments roughly 30% each.
Tests: Will always be announced and will cover chapters and/or units of material. As such, test points will be from 80-120. I usually include a few extra credit questions at no risk. Some tests will require written responses. As a rule, I allow tests to be rewritten, both for grade help and mostly because it is one of the most effective learning tools I’ve got. Details will come after your first test.
Quizzes: Will be based on the reading and lecture material and will serve as progress checkpoints during a unit.. They will range in points from 10-30 and usually cover reading but will include notes to some degree as well. Bonus Quizzes: We will occasionally have bonus quizzes in class. They will range in points from 10-20 and will include material covered in the notes. Bonus quizzes have no penalty for wrong answers, all correct answers count as extra credit points.
Projects: Depending on the size and length of time given, these assignments will carry weight similar to that of a test, i.e. around 100 points. There will be one to two of these each 6-weeks grading period. 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 [including reading logs!!!]: 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.
Reading Logs: These are a three-part summary of all the textbook chapter sections assigned. Each section will be worth 10 points. Most chapters have 3-4 sections. The format, instructions, and a sample entry are on the Moodle page. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY TO RECEIVE CREDIT! Just as turning in your logs on time will be a real boost to your grade, not turning them in will do serious damage. DON’T GET BEHIND.
Figure on 2-3 of these per week.
Final Exam: Civics and Econ is now a teacher-made exam.
It is the state school board policy that the exam counts for 25% of the final course grade (the same as one 6-weeks grade). In addition there will be two benchmark tests – one about midterm time and the other near the end of the semester. These are primarily for diagnostic purposes to see what the class and/or individual students need to work on to be ready for the final.
Extra Credit Work: 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.
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 8:30-9:00. 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 Canvas.
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. will receive a grade of one (1) until the assignment is made up. If the student misses any tests/quizzes due to an absence, they must make them up before/after school.
Students who fail to turn in their work at the time it is due may turn it in late for a grade point deduction, if applicable. Daily classwork will not be accepted late unless otherwise stated. If more than 3 days pass then student will receive a 0 for the assignment. Each day assignment is late will automatically drop grade 25%. You will receive a 1 in the gradebook if it is late and it will be changed to a 0 if not completed within allotted time.
Course Expectations
Discipline and Tardies: 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 any class 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.
- 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.
- Tardies will result in the following penalties:
- 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.
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: If you cheat or plagiarize, you will receive a 0 for the assignment as well as a referral and parent contact. Cheating does nothing whatsoever to help you understand skills and content. Unless you are asked to research something, you should not be looking for answers on the internet. Plagiarism is a serious offense because you are claiming someone else’s words as your own. You must reference where you get information from in order to give them credit. If not, then that is plagiarism. These are two of the easiest ways to get kicked out of college so let’s practice academic integrity now.
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.
Canvas: The majority of assignments will be submitted on our new "learning platform," Canvas. Assignments can be submitted a variety of ways including, uploading files, typing into text boxes, and sharing Google documents/presentations. Students not having used Canvas before should alert the teacher and they will be shown how to submit assignments on Canvas. Individual assignments will indicate which method of submission on Canvas is expected. If students need a refresher or have questions, they can access the Canvas Student Guide for specific instructions. It is the student's responsibility to ensure assignments are submitted on time and to contact the instructor if there is a problem. The Canvas Learning Platform logs every student log-in on Canvas which provides teachers with a list of when students log-in to Canvas using their user id.
Canvas is used to grade assignments as well, however, the grades in Canvas, while accurate to that assignment, are NOT the teacher’s gradebook. The teacher’s gradebook includes categories of assignments that may be weighted differently and may include grades for assignments that did not use the Canvas Learning Platform. Therefore, students and parents should always check their child’s true average on the Parent Portal on Powerschool.
Daily Expectations
- Have your stuff ready to go at the bell, including your textbook. I’m not Staples, so I can’t supply what everyone is missing.
- Check 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.
- Turn in work on Canvas.[CHECK YOUR SHARING SETTINGS.] If you’re absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. I may not remember everyone that was absent on a given day and what they owe. CALL OR E-MAIL – BEFORE IT’S DUE - IF THERE IS A PROBLEM! Late work is docked 25% 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’s active!
Take a look at the Syllabus Accountability Form. After BOTH parent[s]/guardian[s] and student have read the syllabus print out a copy, sign it and turn it in. This is your first homework assignment.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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