Mr. Robert Zywicki
Social Studies Department
Montgomery High School
US I Course Syllabus and Class Policies
Course Overview: US History I encompass the historic developments, individuals, and institutions from the early stages of European migration to the Progressive Era. The course is designed to foster critical thinking skills by exploring social, economic, and political issues. This course addresses the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for US History and New Jersey History.
Course Text: The Americans, Danzer, et al, McDougal Littell & Company, 1999.
Notebooks: Students are to maintain a separate and specific US History notebook.
Grading Policy: Students will be assessed in a variety of manners. Percent grades are determined according to the following weighted distribution:
Tests / Essays / Projects: 50%
Quizzes / “Do Now”: 30%
Homework/ Class Participation: 20%
Homework: Daily homework assignments will be announced daily in class and posted on Mr. Zywicki’s website. Unexcused late homework will result in the loss of half credit. Homework is checked with an emphasis on effort and completeness. Students are required to complete close reading assignments and current events assignments according to the format in supplemental handouts entitled “How to Organize a Close Reading Assignment” and “Current Events Format.” These formats are also posted on the course website. Homework will be checked during “Do Now” activities and pop quizzes.
Semester /Final Grades: Grades will be determined according to the calculation and grading scales set by the Montgomery Township School District.
Absences and Missed Work: It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the Mr. Zywicki to make up missed assignments / grades due to absences. Make up arrangements can be made via e-mail and students can make up missed work in the after school. Upon return to school from an absence, students have one day to make arrangements to make up work.
Classroom Conduct: Students are expected and required to arrive prepared each day for class and conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous, and tolerant manner as per the discipline policies of the Montgomery Township School District. Tardy and disruptive students will receive written remedial assignments and/or teacher detention. Further, disruptive and disrespectful students may be referred to the school administration for disciplinary action.
Parent - Teacher Contact: Parents are encouraged to check the course website and keep up with their student’s progress and assignments. Progress reports will be sent home periodically during each grading period. Parents with question and concerns should contact the teacher at .
Plagiarism: Any student work plagiarized in part or whole will be given a failing grade. Bibliographies and proper citations are required at all times.
US History I Syllabus Acknowledgement:
I, ______(student print name) acknowledge having read this course syllabus and thereby been informed and made aware of the policies and procedures for Mr. Zywicki’s 2010-2011 US History I class.
I, ______(parent print name) acknowledge having read this course syllabus and thereby been informed and made aware of the policies and procedures for Mr. Zywicki’s 2010-2011 US History I class.
______
Student Signature Date
______
Parent Signature Date
Parent Work Phone: ______
Parent Home Phone: ______
Parent e-mail:______
Return by September 15, 2010
CURRENT EVENTS SUMMARY FORMAT
FOR MR. ZYWICKI’S US I CLASS
Each Monday all US I students must blog a Current Events Summary using articles from The New York Times, CNN, or Star Ledger. These articles may be obtained and read in print form or on the internet respectively at nytimes.com, cnn.com, or nj.com. CE Blogs must be posted on the course website blog page under the correct date and heading to receive credit.
Current Event Summaries are to be completed in the following format:
1) - Summary is at least 16 sentences long (20 maximum), contains 3 paragraphs,
2) - 1st paragraph contains the periodical title, article headline, news region, date, topic, newspaper section, and a description of any photos that pertain to the article,
3) - 2nd paragraph provides a brief (5-7 sentences) summary of the article,
4) - 3rd paragraph contains the student’s opinion / reflection on the events described in the article. Further, this is the place to comment on any connections between the current event and US I course material.
HOW TO ORGANIZE CLOSE READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR MR. ZYWICKI’S US I CLASS
Students will be regularly assigned to “Close Read” a textbook section. “Close Read” means that students are required to read the specified textbook section and complete as standard set of corresponding writing tasks. Students are responsible for close reading textbook sections at home in order facilitate cooperative and individual reinforcement, discussions, and writing activities in class. Students are not expected to master the material discussed in the textbook section on their own in one night. The close reading is simply a “jump start” for student understanding of course material and vocabulary. The close reading is also an effective medium for addressing student questions or difficulties with the course material.
Close Reading Format and Instructions
1) Skim the Assigned Section.
2) At the top of single piece of loose leaf paper, write the title of the section, the section’s chapter and section number, and the pages the section can be found on.
3) On the loose-leaf paper, fully define any vocabulary terms provided on the first page of the section.
4) Read the section.
5) Use the information you have read to answer any questions that are posed at the end of the textbook section.
6) Record any questions or problems with the material contained in the section.
THE ESSENTIAL 5 PARAGRAPH SOCIAL STUDIES ESSAY
FOR MR. ZYWICKI’S US I CLASS
Paragraph I: Introduction
This paragraph states your thesis and lets the reader know what topics you will discuss. This paragraph is usually 5 sentences long. The first sentence or sentences can be a “hook.” The “hook” consists of a creative sentence or two that grabs the reader's attention. The thesis statement is the next sentence and the most important sentence of the essay. The thesis statement is where you take a stand and state your response to the essay question or topic. The next three sentences should then briefly detail your three supporting topics that form the body of you essay.
Paragraph II: Supporting Topic I
This paragraph in, at least 6 sentences, gives specific details and information
that forms a uniform topic that supports your thesis statement.
Paragraph III: Supporting Topic II
This paragraph, in at least 6, sentences gives specific details and information
that forms a uniform topic that supports your thesis statement. This topic builds upon the topic discussed in paragraph II.
Paragraph IV: Supporting Topic III
This paragraph in, at least 6 sentences, gives specific details and information
that forms a uniform topic that supports your thesis statement. This topic builds upon the topics discussed in paragraph II and III.
Paragraph V: Conclusion
Summarize your essay thesis and topics in three to five sentences. Before
you write this paragraph ask yourself -- “What is the main idea I want the
reader to get from reading my essay?” Use words “therefore,” “thus one can observe” and “it is plain to see” to set up strong concluding sentences that reinforce your thesis.
Other Required Rules:
1) NEVER use the words: I, me, we, us, our, you, your, mine, my
2) Always skip lines between paragraphs and indent --- five visible neat
paragraphs make your essay appear more organized.
3) Before your write always do a quick pre-writing activity such as
brainstorm web, a chart, or an outline.
4) Always read your essay twice before handing it in to check for
misspellings, punctuations, and grammatical mistakes.
When editing your essay, find each time you used the words they, he, she,
and it to determine if these words can be replaced with specific proper
names or places. Greater use of specific details demonstrates Social Studies
content knowledge and increases your grade!