Written by Administrator | 17 November 2009

United States History Syllabus

Philosophy:

The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes God as the ultimate source of existence and truth. In the beginning, God created in His image a perfect humanity, a perfection later marred by sin. Through Christ and His Spirit, God determined to restore humanity from its lost state. Through the Bible, He has revealed His will to the world, a revelation that supersedes human reason. Through His Church on earth, He seeks the lost for His kingdom. The basic tenets of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as well as the inspired writing of Ellen White, are directed toward God’s restorative plan for fallen humanity. Adventist education seeks to nurture thinkers rather than mere reflectors of others’ thoughts; loving service rather than selfish ambition; maximum development of one’s potential; and an appreciation for all that is beautiful, true, and good. In Adventist education, homes, schools, and churches cooperate together with divine agencies in preparing learners for citizenship here on this earth and in the New Earth to come.

Rationale:

In United States History the students will be pointed to God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, seeing the guiding hand of God in history, studying the unique Adventist perspective of the Great Controversy, and teaching the brotherhood of all mankind. It will prepare students to think critically and make informed decisions as citizens in a multicultural society and interdependent world. It will prepare students for service in this world and citizenship in the world to come. The curriculum includes the teaching of values. The values of personal and corporate integrity, honesty, ethics, morality, and responsibility derive from individual belief systems which affect the way we behave both privately and publicly. Freedom, justice, respect, tolerance, and patriotism are values that affect the way in which individuals and groups interact.

“We need to study the working out of God’s purpose in the revelation of things to come, that we may estimate at their true value things seen and things unseen; that we may learn what is the true aim of life; that, viewing the things of time in the light of eternity, we may put them to their truest and noblest use. Thus, learning here the principles of His kingdom and becoming its students and citizens, we may be prepared at His coming to enter with Him into its possession… Of no study is this true to a greater degree than of history. Let it be considered from the divine point of view.” (Education, 238)

Course Description:

 

United States History covers the period from before the first European colonists to the present. Units will focus on the following: the colonizing of America, the creation of the United States with its Constitution, the growth and expansion across North America, the problems that led up to the Civil War and its aftermath, growth of industrialization, becoming a world power, the boom and bust and wars of the 20^th century, the Cold War, the Great Society, Civil Rights movement, and finally the politics and economics up to the present.

Student Work:

 

Students will be expected to successfully complete the following assignments: vocabulary quizzes, short essays, chapter and unit exams, and a Power Point research presentation each semester on the subject of their choice. In addition, students will be expected to complete some outside readings on a variety of topics, and participate in classroom discussions.

Late Assignments:

Assignments are due on the dater requested except in case of illness or other valid reasons. Late papers will receive half credit for a week after they were due. After that they have no grade value.

Tardies:

For every tardy after the third tardy in a class, the student will lose 2% of their overall quarter grade for that particular class (every quarter gives the student three excused tardies in each class).

Student Handbook:

All of the rules and policies in the student handbook will be followed in this class.

Grade Breakdown:

The class grade average is calculated on the total point value in each area and will be based on the following categories:

40% Chapter and Unit Exams

20% Quizzes and Essays

20% Homework

10% Class Participation

10% Outside Reading/Power Point Presentation

Grading Scale:

A 91.50% and up C 71.5 – 77.49%

A- 89.50 – 91.49% C- 69.5 – 71.49%

B+ 87.5 – 89.49% D+ 67.5 – 69.49%

B 81.5 – 87.49% D 61.5 – 67.49%

B- 79.5 – 81.49% D- 59.5 – 61.49%

C+ 77.5 – 79.49% F 0 – 59.49%

 

Grades are generally posted on Edline every Monday. If parents or students have a question at any time they can contact me by phone at school or via the school E-mail.

Makeup Work:

 

As always, it is the student’s responsibility to pick up any work they may have missed during an absence. Quizzes can be made up for illness and doctor appointments only. I throw out one student quiz score each quarter. Makeup exams are administered when a student returns to class after an EXCUSED ABSENCE. They will be given an alternate exam, but their absence must be cleared when they return. If an illness or family emergency necessitates a student missing several consecutive days of class, requests for homework should be made as soon as possible.

Teacher Conferences:

 

The school has set up two times during the school year when parents and teachers are scheduled to meet: September 28-29, 2009 and February 8-9, 2010.

If a parent would like to meet with me concerning their child at another time, please call to schedule a conference or contact me via the school E-mail.

 

Objectives:

The student will:

1 develop an understanding of the origin, nature, purpose and destiny of humanity based on the Seventh-day Adventist view of the world.

2 acquire a knowledge base of factual information, and a recognition of the relevance of historical and current events.

3 analyze, evaluate and apply information gained from a variety of research and study skills.

4 communicate historical information and interpretations effectively.

5 develop an ethical system based on integrity, morality, and responsibility.

6 develop a value system based upon a respect for human and civil rights, religious tolerance, and multicultural understanding.

7 recognize the value of patriotism and accept the privilege of serving others through the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

8 develop the judgment, perspectives, and analytical skills that are essential for a productive life.

9 develop an individual sense of identity and importance in the human story.

10 develop an appreciation of the beautiful, both in God’s creation and in human expression, while nurturing individual ability.

11 foster a lifelong appreciation and interest in the history of mankind.

 

Expectations:

1 Students will be required to do the bulk of their reading outside of class.

 

2 Turn in all homework assignments completed on time.

 

3 Take quizzes and tests on time.

 

4 Additional reading assignments besides those in the textbook will be assigned periodically.

 

5 Students will be expected to complete a Power Point project each semester.

 

6 Students will be attentive in class and show respect to everyone.

 

7 Students will be on time to class every day.

Unit Themes:

Unit 1 Three Worlds Meet (Prehistory – 1763)

Unit 2 Creating a Nation (1754-1816)

Unit 3 The Young Republic (1816-1848)

Unit 4 The Crisis of Union (1848-1877)

Unit 5 The Birth of Modern America (1865-1896)

Unit 6 Imperialism and Progressivism (1872-1920)

Unit 7 Boom and Bust (1921-1939)

Unit 8 Global Struggles (1931-1960)

Unit 9 A Time of Upheaval (1961-1980)

Unit 10 A Changing Society (1971-Present)

Resource Requirements:

Textbook:

Appleby, Joyce, Alan Brinkley, Albert S. Broussard, James M. McPherson, Donald A. Ritchie.

The American Vision

Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. 2005

 

 

Materials:

Students will be expected to have a notebook specifically for United States History and a three ring binder or folder to organize important assignments and study guides.

Curriculum Requirements

First Semester Schedule

Typical weekly class procedures includes guided lecture using the textbook, and instructor resources. Emphasis on active student learning is promoted by questioning, small group work, and writing activities.

 

WEEK O Aug 17- 2009	Chapter 1: Converging Cultures (pages 10-47)   August 17 Introduction   August 18 Section 1.1 The Migration to America (pages 12-19)   August 19 Section 1.2 Native American Cultures (pages 20-25)   August 20 Section 1.3 African Cultures (pages 26-31)   August 21 Section 1.4 European Cultures (pages 32-37)
WEEK T Aug 24- 2009	August 24 Section 1.5 Europe Encounters America (pages 38-47)   August 25 TEST Chapter 1   August 26 Section 2.1 The Spanish and French Build Empires (pages 50-57)   August 27 Section 2.2 English Colonies in America (pages 58-65)   August 28 Section 2.3 New England (pages 66-71)
WEEK T Aug 31- 2009	August 31 Section 2.4 The Middle and Southern Colonies (pages 72-81) September 1 TEST Chapter 2   September 2 Section 3.1 The Southern Colonies (pages 84-90)   September 3 Section 3.2 New England and the Middle Colonies (pages 91-97) September 4 Section 3.3 The Imperial System (pages 98-103)
WEEK FO Sep 8-1 2009	September 8 Section 3.4 A Diverse Society (pages 104-111) September 9 Review   September 10 TEST Unit 1 September 11 Section 4.1 The Colonies Fight for Their Rights (pages 116-125)
WEEK FI Sep 14- 2009	September 14 Section 4.2 The Revolution Begins (pages 126-137) September 15 Section 4.3 The War for Independence (pages 138-146) September 16 Section 4.4 The War Changes American Society (pages 147-155) September 17 TEST Chapter 4 September 18 Section 5.1 The Confederation (pages 158-163)
WEEK SI Sep 21- 2009	September 21 Section 5.2 A New Constitution (pages 164-171)   September 22 Section 5.3 Ratification (pages 172-177) September 23 The Constitution Handbook (pages 178-187)   September 24 The Constitution of the United States (pages 188-207)
WEEK SE Sep 28- Oct 2 2009	September 28 TEST Chapter 5   September 29 Section 6.1 Washington and Congress (pages 210-214)   September 30 Section 6.2 Partisan Politics (pages 215-220)   October 1 Section 6.3 Jefferson in Office (pages 221-227)   October 2 Section 6.4 The War of 1812 (pages 228-235)
WEEK E Oct 5-8 200	October 5 Review   October 6 TEST Unit 2   October 7 Section 7.1 American Nationalism (pages 240-244)   October 8 Section 7.2 Early Industry (pages 245-250)
NIN Oct 12-1 2009	October 12 Section 7.3 The Land of Cotton (pages 251-256)   October 13 Section 7.4 Growing Sectionalism (pages 257-263)   October 14 TEST Chapter 7   October 15 Section 8.1 Jacksonian America (pages 266-272) October 16 Section 8.2 A Changing Culture (pages 273-277)
WEEK TE Oct 19-2 2009	October 19 Section 8.3 Refroming Society (pages 278-283)   October 20 Section 8.4 The Abolitionist Movement (pages 284-291)   October 21 TEST Chapter 8   October 22 Section 9.1 The Western Pioneers (pages 294-299) October 23 Section 9.2 Independence for Texas (pages 300-305)
WEEK EL Oct 26-3 2009	October 26 Section 9.3 The War With Mexico (pages 306-315)   October 27 Review   October 28 TEST Unit 3   October 29 Section 10.1 Slavery and Western Expansion (pages 320-325) October 30 Section 10.2 Mounting Violence (pages 326-331)
WEEK T Nov 2-6 2009	November 2 Section 10.3 The Crisis Deepens (pages 332-339)   November 3 Section 10.4 The Union Dissolves (pages 340-347)   November 4 TEST Chapter 10   November 5 Section 11.1 The Opposing Sides (pages 350-356) November 6 Section 11.2 The Early Stages (pages 357-363)
WEEK Nov 9-13 2009	November 9 Section 11.3 Life During the War (pages 364-368)   November 10 Section 11.4 The Turning Point (pages 369-375)   November 11 Section 11.5 The War Ends (pages 376-383)   November 12 TEST Chapter 11 November 13 Section 12.1 Reconstruction Plans (pages 386-390)
WEEK F Nov 1 2009	November 16 Section 12.2 Congressional Reconstruction (pages 391-397)   November 17 Section 12.3 Republican Rule (pages 398-402)   November 18 Section 12.4 Reconstruction Collapses (pages 403-409)   November 19 Review   November 20 TEST Unit 4
WEEK F Nov 30- Dec 4 2009	November 30 Section 13.1 Miners and Ranchers (pages 414-419)   December 1 Section 13.2 Farming the Plains (pages 420-424)   December 2 Section 13.3 Native Americans (pages 425-433)   December 3 TEST Chapter 13 December 4 Section 14.1 The Rise of Industry (pages 436-441)
WEEK S Dec 7-11 2009	December 7 Section 14.2 The Railroads (pages 442-446)   December 8 Section 14.3 Big Business (pages 447-453)   December 9 Section 14.4 Unions (pages 454-461) December 10 TEST Chapter 14 December 11
WEEK Dec 14 2009	SEMESTER FINAL EXAM