International Baccalaureate: History of the Americas (HOTA)
Mrs. Canada Snyder
Email:
Class Website:
“Office Hours”: 7:30-9:15 & 2:15-3:10, M-F
In this course the US history competencies will be covered for US history credit recognized by the State of Iowa.
IB Mission Statement: “The IB Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.” November 2002
IB History of the Americas Course Description: “History is more than the study of the past. It is the process of recording, reconstructing and interpreting the past through the investigation of a variety of sources. It is a discipline that gives people an understanding of themselves and others in relation to the world, both past and present. History of the Americas focuses on 6 key concepts: change, continuity, causation, consequence, significance and perspective.”
IB HL Information: All students regardless of grade level, will complete the same requirements in the course and be assessed according to IB standards and rubrics; however, HL students (11th grade) will be tested by IBover the material in 12th grade.10th grade students typically take this course instead of AP US history; this is the only HL option for history in the DP so if you are a 10th grader considering the course, make sure you aren’t considering IBDP for junior and senior years otherwise you will need to retake the course in 11th grade!
-HL Topic: History of the Americas (also known as Paper 3):-Independence Movements 1763-1830
-US Civil War: Causes, course and effects 1840-1877
-Mexican Revolution 1884-1940
-Political developments in Latin America after the second World War 1945-1980
-Political developments in US and Canada after the second World War 1945-1980
Resources:
- History of the Americas: Course Companion by Berliner, Leppard, Mamaux, Rogers & Smith. Published by Oxford University Press, 2011.
- Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America by John Charles Chasteen. Published by WW Norton & Company, 2011.
- Access to IB History: Independence Movements by Allen Todd
- Access to IB History: The Mexican Revolution by Phillip Benson
- Consider the Source: Documents in Latin American History by Julie Charlip
- Latin America’s Cold War by Hal Brands
- US Presidents and Latin American Interventions: Pursuing Regime Change in the Cold War by Michael Grow
- A Brief History of Canada by Roger Riendeau. Published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2000.
- A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn.
- Looking for History: Dispatches from Latin America by Alma Guillermoprieto
- My Name is Victoria by Victoria Donda
- Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois
- Avengers of the New World by Laurent Dubois
- Great Issues in American History Volumes 1-3by Richard Hofstadter
- Additional documents, texts and sources as selected by teacher.
Grading:
Grades are updated often in Infinite Campus. Please check your grade often. I do not “round up.”
87.5-100% AClasswork/Participation: 25%
79.5-87.4% BAssessments: 35%
69.5-79.4% CHistorical Analysis: 15%
59.5-69.4% DInternal Assessment: 15%
59.4% and below FSemester Finals: 10%
Coursework:
Reading. Each student is responsible for reading the assigned material. This includes selections from the textbooks, printed readings, and online readings. All students will keep reading notes in their 3 ring binder. The notes must include unit #/title and a title of the reading/notes with dates.
Note taking. The class is taught in discussion and lesson format, with plenty of opportunities for asking questions and/or expressing viewpoints. Students are expected to take notes. Writing what you hear requires paying attention and processing the material. These activities improve your comprehension and retention of information. If you are absent, please copy someone else’s notes FROM CLASS. View the note-taking guide on our class website to learn Cornell note-taking. It works well for lectures and text reading. Again, title class notes with unit #/name and topic title.
Homework. Many of your assignments will include reading, but you will have written assignments, i.e., ID’s, completion sheets, and reaction papers. Some assignments may be overnight; others may be over several days. Copying homework is cheating. This will result in complete loss of points for both parties. Copying from Wikipedia is shortsighted and often results in misinformation and misunderstanding. Homework must be completed on time; late work is frowned upon. Please email me or talk with me personally if there is a conflict!
Participation. Much learning takes place from the exchanging of ideas. Class discussions are an excellent place for this to happen. Remember, history is analyzing and interpreting the past. Your participation is REQUIRED. Please be prepared to share your thoughts and ideas. Good class participation could boost that B++ up to an A-.
Projects. By definition, projects are greater (worth more points and requiring more effort) than homework assignments. These could be oral histories, group presentations, or papers. All projects are due on the day assigned whether you are present or not. It greatly affects the presentation schedule if you are absent on the day of presenting, so make sure you attend class or make other arrangements ahead of time.
Testing. Tests will be in essay format in accordance with IB papers. Taking tests late is not a good idea, and will be seriously frowned upon. Make-up tests, by nature, tend to be harder. In order to do well on the IB exams, students need to be at least at the C level. If a student is operating at less than a C, relearning and retesting may be necessary.
Internal Assessment (IA): Students must conduct an “historical investigation” as prescribed by IB. It will consist of 15% of the students’ IB grade in the Diploma Programme. We will spend much time, both in and outside of class working on this project. Please note this is an absolute requirement for this class. If it is not finished on time, or if it does not fulfill the expectations as outlined by IB, the student’s grade will be severely impacted. Information concerning the IA can be found on our class website.
OPCVL: Origin, Purpose, Content, Value and Limitations. OPCVL is part of your IA (see above), but we will complete several “mini” assignments using OPVL.
Required Materials:
- 3-ring binder (min. 1 inch) withSIX dividers-one divider for each unit!!!
- Loose leaf paper
- Blue and black pens, pencils
- Access to internet and printer-speak with me personally in the 1st week of school if this is an issue!
Absences:Because we move quickly through course material, it is important for students to attend every class; but we all get sick and have important commitments to meet outside of class. Therefore, it is YOUR responsibility to get your make-up work as soon as possible after you are absent. DO NOT ask what you missed at the beginning or end of class! I am busy wrapping up 1 class and prepping for another. I am available from 7:30-9:15 & 2:15-3:10 (often later) each day. EMAIL is a great option to ask what you missed (). I can easily reply, it creates a hard copy for you, and I can attach most assignments electronically. If you missed notes during the class, see a classmate that is trustworthy. I do not have notes for you to copy. Any work missed is due 1 week (this includes test and quizzes) after you are absent unless it is a long-term project or assignment due ahead of time-then it is due when previously assigned, even if you are absent! Example: You are absent March 2, all absent work is due by March 9, regardless if you have class that day. Complete the absent/late work form and turn into late box OR it will NOT count for credit! Email me to make an appointment for all tests and quizzes you missed. Make sure it is within the week!
Class Expectations:
- Be responsible-your grade is entirely up to you!
- Be respectful of others and belongings. In other words, bring your own material and be nice!
- Turn in all assignments on time.
- Be on time.
- No audio devices/cell phones in use—not even lying out on your desk…or in your lap…or in your purse…or in your ear…Get it?
Class Website: Bookmark Most assignments, readings, texts and information are placed here every day. If you do not have internet access at home, speak with me privately ASAP!