United States History Syllabus

11th Grade United States History
Syllabus

Mr. Kabir
gazikucla@aol.com.
kabirhistory.blogspot.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

United States History will provide a thorough overview of the history of the United States. In chronological order, we as a class will explore America’s past, examining the cultural, political, geographical, economical and technological changes that have taken place and have helped to shape us and guide us as a nation today. Topics will include issues relating to the discovery of the New World through the Reconstruction period, focusing on constitutional issues, the Civil War, industrialization, and immigration.

Additional emphasis placed on college preparatory activities and exercises to cultivate critical thinking skills and formulate relationships among historical content. Students should learn to assess historical materials—their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance—and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this U.S. History course, you will be able to identify and explain the major individuals and turning points in American History based on the following themes:

• American Diversity
• American Identity
• Culture
• Demographic Changes
• Economic Transformations
• Environment
• Globalization
• Politics and Citizenship
• Reform
• Religion
• Slavery and Its Legacies in North America
• War and Diplomacy

THEMATIC FOCI:

The readings and class lectures will emphasize the importance of valuing diversity of human experiences. Students will be urged to pay close attention to how variables of gender, race, ethnicity, class, religion, community, and nation shaped historical understandings in different parts of the globe.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

All class work, tests, study guides, projects, rubrics, writing assignments etc will be posted in the class blog page (kabirhistory.blogspot.com)

You are expected to engage with weekly readings carefully and critically and participate actively in class discussions, 15% of your course grade will depend upon class discussion of various films and readings. This class will also require use of internet resources.

Informal Writing: You will be expected to write short critical responses to works of fiction, primary documents, and films.

Map Quiz: There will be 2 map quizzes in class, you will be asked to identify specific places on an outline map from a list of places handed out in class ahead of time.

Mid-Term Exam: There will be an in-class mid-term exam. The format of which will be discussed in class.

Final Exam: In-class final exam will consist of essay questions drawn from a list handed out in class two weeks prior to the exam.

PROJECTS:

• The Main element of this class will be project based. You will be challenged to work creatively to create a multitude of products to bring historical concepts to personal relevance. As a class we will strive to work together and finalizing project details and working out other meticulous aspects.

• Journal Log (detailed and thorough)
• The goal will be to have fun and learn in the process.

Important:
• Unit Essays and Debates
• Effort and Improvement

Absences

A. Many assignments are completed in class only and cannot be made up if you are absent. BE IN CLASS! Excessive absences will affect your grade.

B. If you are absent, you are responsible for finding out what you missed. Ask another student or ask the teacher.

C. Follow classroom blog: kabirhistory.blogspot.com

Behavioral and Classroom Expectations

A. Be in the classroom PRIOR TO the tardy bell.

B. Come to class PREPARED and ready to learn.

C. DO NOT talk while the teacher or another student is speaking. Unless otherwise advised, RAISE YOUR HAND before speaking.

D. No food or drinks are permitted in class, with the exception of water. The privilege of chewing gum in class will be revoked if it becomes an interruption to others or becomes a trash problem or any other kind of problem.

E. DO NOT pack up your things before the bell rings, unless advised to do so.

F. At the end of each class period, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your workspace is left in order – desk is to be returned to original location, and ONE World History Book is to be placed under your seat in the chair rack.

G. Pick up after yourself – and others. Our classroom (and our school) is a place we need to take pride in. If you see trash, pick it up. If something is out of place, return it to the right place.

H. I expect you to act appropriately and maturely. Know that I am not here to pick on you, nor do I have time to nag you unnecessarily. If I give you a direction, I expect you to follow it without argument. Any questions or problems can be discussed privately before or after class.

I. The 3 R’s

• Responsibility – Each Student has the ability to succeed in this class as well as life. I will teach you the skills you need to succeed at Montclair and in college, but it is YOUR responsibility to put this information to good use (be present, attentive, and prepared).

• Respect – All students will show respect toward another’s person, opinion, and property (including our classroom). This means LISTENING to ideas and opinions that are different from your own and accepting the right of others to voice that idea or opinion. Remember, just because something is different does not mean it is wrong.

• Rights – Each student that enters my classroom has the right to expect my full attention to the lesson at hand in addition to working in a safe classroom atmosphere that encourages learning. If any student chooses to interfere with my teaching or another student’s learning, I reserve the right to ask that student to leave my classroom (followed by an appropriate consequence).

Materials you need to bring to class every day

1. Yourself (Mind & Body)
2. Your journal and portfolio (journal log)
3. A pen and a #2 pencil (it can often be helpful to carry a couple of each)
4. 3-ring binder with dividers for each of your subjects
5. Three-hole punched, college-ruled, lined paper and flash cards

Letter Grade Percentage Bracket

A 96% - 100%
A- 90% - 95%
B+ 87% - 89%
B 83% - 86%
B- 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79%
C 73% - 76%
C- 70% - 72%

Any Grade Below a 70% will be considered failing.

Grading scale may be altered

LETS HAVE FUN!