United States History - Syllabus

 

Instructor	H. Kaddour	E-mail	hkaddour@dadeschools.net
Phone	305-361-5418	Web Page	http://teacherweb.com/FL/KeyBiscayneCommunity School/MsKaddour/
Room	6-532	Conference Hours	By appointment only.

Course Description:

American History is a yearlong class that focuses on an understanding of the people, places, and events that shaped the history of this nation. Students will examine the history of the United States from the time of early Native American civilizations through World War I and the dawn of the modern era of American civilization.  Throughout the year there will be a variety of assignments designed to allow students to learn and apply the focus of this course while increasing their academic and critical thinking skills and self discipline.

Grading:

It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of their grades in this class by accessing their grades in Excelsior.

 

 

The grading scale, provided by the state, is as follows:

 

100-90	A	OUTSTANDING PROGRESS
89-80	B	ABOVE AVERAGE PROGRESS
79-70	C	AVERAGE PROGRESS
69-60	D	LOWEST ACCEPTABLE PROGRESS
59-0	F	FAILURE

 

* Students will receive a Progress Report midway through each grading period, as well as a breakdown of each assignment and the grade earned.  These should be returned to the instructor with a parent/guardian signature. 

**The Parent Internet Viewer on the school’s website enables parents and students to monitor student progress by accessing grades for each class on a regular basis.

 

Assignments:

All projects/assignments will be collected on the day they are due.  Absolutely no exceptions will be made.

 

Home Learning: will be assigned on a daily basis.  All assignments will be written on the board daily; students are responsible for copying the assignments in their agendas and completing them on time.

 

Quizzes: will be given at random, often unannounced.  Quizzes may be based on reading assignments as well as any home learning assignment previously completed.

 

Examinations: will be given periodically throughout each grading period.  Two cumulative exams will be given, one midway through the year, and one at the end of the school year.  Each exam makes up 10% of the student’s final grade.

 

Projects: may be assigned periodically.  Most projects are to be completed in co-operative groups, and student will have ample time to complete the majority of the projects in class.  Below is a copy of the rubric that will be used to evaluate student projects/presentations.

 

Skill Criteria Points   1 2 3 4   Organization Audience cannot understand presentation because there is no sequence of information. Audience has difficulty following presentation because student jumps around. Student presents information in logical sequence which audience can follow. Student presents information in logical, interesting sequence which audience can follow. ____ Content Knowledge Student does not have grasp of information; student cannot answer questions about subject. Student is uncomfortable with information and is able to answer only rudimentary questions. Student is at ease with content, but fails to elaborate. Student demonstrates full knowledge (more than required) with explanations and elaboration. ____ Visuals Student used no visuals. Student occasionally used visuals that rarely support text and presentation. Visuals related to text and presentation. Student used visuals to reinforce screen text and presentation. ____ Mechanics Student's presentation has four or more spelling errors and/or grammatical errors. Presentation has three misspellings and/or grammatical errors. Presentation has no more than two misspellings and/or grammatical errors. Presentation has no misspellings or grammatical errors. ____ Delivery Student mumbles, incorrectly pronounces terms, and speaks too quietly for students in the back of class to hear. Student incorrectly pronounces terms. Audience members have difficulty hearing presentation. Student's voice is clear. Student pronounces most words correctly. Student used a clear voice and correct, precise pronunciation of terms. ____         Total----> ____

 

*Extra credit is available to each student on a bi-weekly basis in the form of a question posted on the class web page. Students absent on the day the extra credit is due, will not be given additional time to hand it in.

 

Attendance:

Students are expected to be in class and on time every day. Make-up work will be accepted only in the event of an excused absence (please refer to the code of student conduct for a list of excused school absences), on the day immediately following the absence.  Attendance is of great importance, as it will affect the student’s grade.  Please note that:

 

·         All assignments are due on the date(s) specified.

·         If a student is absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility upon returning to class/school to:

o       Provide the instructor with a note from the homeroom teacher stating that the absence was excused, and coordinate a before or after school make-up session if a test or quiz was missed.

o       Hand in any assignments due during the absence.

o       Get any/all missed assignments and class notes from the Activity Log available to each student daily.

o       Sign the “Assignment Make-Up Sheet” located in the back of the classroom as acknowledgement of having reviewed the Activity Log.

·         Students are often assigned projects/assignments worth high percentages of their semester grade.  The due/presentation dates for projects are known and agreed upon by the student and instructor well before the actual date.  This being the case, the student will be unable to make up any part of the presentation if absent on the pre-determined date.

Required Text and Resources:

The American Journey; Glencoe McGraw-Hill

* The textbook is valued at $65 USD.  If the textbook is lost or damaged, the full amount is to be paid to the school’s registrar.

 

History Alive! The United States Through the 21st Century; Teachers' Curriculum Institute

* This textbook will be used in class only, and cannot be taken home.

 

 

A variety of resources will be made available to each student in class.  Additionally, students will be expected to supplement resources used in class to complete research projects and assignments.

Required Materials:

Students are expected to be in their seat, prepared to receive instruction when the tardy bell rings.

Cellular phones must be turned off during school hours.
All assignments should be completed neatly, have the proper heading, and written in blue or black ink only (no gel pens). Points will be deducted for assignments turned in with an incorrect heading, and papers without a name, will not be graded.
Students are expected to turn in all assignments on time. Late work will not be accepted.
Students are expected to respect the opinions of others, even when he/she does not agree with them.
Cheating will not be tolerated. This is not limited to quizzes and exams, and includes cutting and pasting from the internet. Cheating of any sort will automatically result in a failing grade and an administrative referral.
During group-assignments/projects, the student is responsible for his/her share of the assignment.
The student should understand that the supplies, materials, and resources provided in class are not to be mistreated.
The student is responsible for the delivery of all notes/materials sent to their parents/guardians.
The student is responsible for regularly checking the website for updates.
The student is responsible for monitoring his/her grades on the Internet Viewer on a regular basis.
The student is responsible for following all of the classroom rules.
The student is responsible for following all school rules, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.