Syllabus: U.S. History
Chattahoochee High School
Mr. Bowler 2007
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a yearlong class organized chronologically but which also focuses on the themes of American democratic heritage, reform movements, and global interdependence. In the first semester, connections are made with enduring social, economic, and political issues in the context of the time period covering the settlement of North America through the early twentieth century. The semester includes an exploration of the development of and challenges to democracy as well as an analysis of national growth and reform.
TEXT: The AMERICANS, (Georgia Edition) McDougal Littell, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998; Cost $64.98. This text will be issued in its second year of use beginning in August 2007.
Suggested Resource: Elements of Style
UNITS:
UNIT ONE – Colonial Era (2 weeks)
UNIT TWO – Revolution to Constitution (3 weeks)
UNIT THREE – Washington to Adams (2 weeks)
UNIT FOUR – National Growth and Reform (3 weeks)
UNIT V – Civil War and Reconstruction (2 weeks)
UNIT VI – Expansion and Industrial Revolution (2 weeks)
UNIT VII – Urbanization and Progressives (2 weeks)
UNIT VIII – Becoming a World Power and WWI (2 1/2-3 weeks)
GRADE BREAKDOWN
Homework (10%): Homework will be assigned on a daily basis and all written work should be handed in at the beginning of class. Late homework will only be accepted up to one day late and will receive a grade no higher than a 75%.
Major Assessments (60%): Major tests will be given approximately every other week. Test format will combine multiple choice, geography and information processing skill questions, and essay questions. This also includes a department wide project.
Minor Assessments (15%): This will include quizzes, daily projects, homework projects, and essays.
Final Exam (15%): The Final will be comprehensive.
Test Dates: (Subject to Change)
Test Unit I- August 24th
Test Unit II- September 17th
Test Unit III- October 1st
Test Unit IV- October 16th
Test Unit V- November 1st
Test Unit VI- November 14th
Test Unit VII- November 30th
Test Unit VIII- Final (Comprehensive)
GRADING SCALE
90-100 =A
80-89 =B
70-79 =C
BELOW 70 =F
MAKE-UP POLICY
It is the student's responsibility to see the teacher about work missed during an excused absence. The time to approach me about missing an assignment is before or after school the day after the missed time.
Homework: All missed assignments are due the day after a student returns. Work that was due on the day absent must be turned in the day the student returns.
Quizzes: Missed quizzes are to be made up the day a student returns to class.
Tests: Tests are to be made up the day a student returns from an absence. If the student has been absent several days, then the make-up will be scheduled for a morning, lunch period, or afternoon. If you are absent the day before a test, you will still take the test on that day. I reserve the option to change make-up tests to 100% essay format.
Projects: Projects are due the day assigned whether you are in school or not.
***If you are in school but miss my class, you are still responsible for turning in any work due and picking up the homework assignment. This includes late or early check-outs, tag classes, or field trips.
EXPECTATIONS
I expect a serious approach to your work in this class. All materials necessary should be brought to class, as you will not be allowed to return to your locker. Each student will be required to keep a three ring binder for their notes and handouts.
CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. Respect everyone and everything
2. Student must be seated when the tardy bell starts ringing
3. Students should come with textbook, paper, and writing utensils everyday
4. Hall passes will be issued in emergency situations only and only in an agenda (you must have a pass no matter how close the restrooms are)
5. It is a student’s responsibility to approach the teacher about make-up work missed during an absence the next day, before or after school
6. No food or drink, except water- strictly enforced
7. Student will not sit on desks, touch other peoples’ belongings, or throw anything within the classroom
8. Private detention will be assigned at the teacher’s discretion
9. Students can get extra help by either coming in before school (I’m here at 7:00 AM) or setting up an appointment with the teacher
10. No late work unless an absence is involved. In the case of an absence you have only the amount of days missed to make up the assignment
11. ABSOLUTELY no one should ever be behind the teacher’s desk or in the teacher’s personal belongings
12. Groups for group work will often be chosen at random by the teacher without complaint of the students
13. Our books are new so damage to the book will result in a costly book fine, so take care of them
14. Test days are absolutely silent and something must be brought by the student to work on after he/she completes their exam. The teacher reserves the right to take points off of the exam score for talking or being disruptive during an exam period
15. Cell phones, IPODS, graphing calculators, and other electronic devices will to confiscated and the student will receive school mandated consequences
16. Do not touch, mark on, or damage anything on my walls (including posters, maps, and bulletin board material)
17. Dress warm
DISCIPLINE
I will abide by and enforce the guidelines as set forth by the Fulton County Board of Education. The most important thing to remember is to respect the rights and sensitivities of others. BE AWARE: I will strictly enforce the tardy policy. THERE IS NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED IN THE HALLS OR CLASSROOM. You may have a water bottle as long as the bottle is made of clear plastic.
Cheating and Plagiarism:
The Social Studies Department considers academic integrity a top priority. Any copying or sharing of answers on homework, class work, assignments, tests or projects is cheating. The only exception to this rule is if the teacher has explicitly stated that the work is a “cooperative learning” experience. If in doubt, ask the teacher.
Plagiarism is also a form of cheating. Plagiarism is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language as the “act of stealing and using the ideas or writings of another as one’s own.” Although the direct copying of another’s work is the most blatant example, any time a student takes another’s ideas and passes them off as their own it is plagiarism. A student must note the source even if he or she “rephrases” the material.
The consequences for cheating or plagiarism on any assignment are the awarding of a zero grade and an honor code referral for all parties involved. Allowing one’s work to be copied is also considered cheating.
FULTON COUNTY RECOVERY POLICY:
(High School version)
Provision for Improving Grades
1. Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low
or failing cumulative grade will be allowed when all work required
to date has been completed and the student has demonstrated
a legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including
attendance.
Students should contact the teacher concerning recovery
opportunities. Teachers are expected to establish a reasonable
time period for recovery work to be completed during the
semester. All recovery work must be directly related to course
objectives and must be completed ten school days prior to the
end of the semester.
2. Teachers will determine when and how students with extenuating
circumstances may improve their grades.
CHATTAHOOCHEE HIGH SCHOOL GUIDELINES:
Recovery is available to students with a cumulative grade below 74% after a minimum of two (2) major grades. The maximum grade a student can earn for a recovery activity is 70%. There will be only one recovery opportunity per failed major assignment or test. The individual teacher will determine the means of recovery. THE STUDENT MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS OF NOTIFICATION OF A FAILING GRADE ON A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT/TEST.
Important Information:
School phone # - 770 521-7600
Email: bowlerk@fulton.k12.ga.us
Parent Signature
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