American Studies 2 COURSE SYLLABUS: Fall 2016-2017 Wagner
Room A226 ■ http://education.fcps.org/ths/danwagner 240-236-6493
Overview & Description:
American Studies 2 continues the time line from American Studies 1, from the early post-Civil War industrial era to the present. The social, economic, and political issues that shaped 20th-century America are analyzed and their implication for the future is examined so individuals can make considered choices and take appropriate action as active citizens. Students develop and test generalizations about relevant social concepts after acquiring a factual knowledge of our society’s common culture. Topics include the United States as a world leader, civil rights and equality, protest and reform, criminal justice, government and the individual, environmental issues, war and peace, the issues of the 20th century, and a look at the future.
Goals and Objectives:
1) To become a knowledgeable and aware citizen through the study of the origins, history, geography, politics, and current events of the United States. This is essential because it helps to explain why things are the way they are in our society and in the world today, and it also teaches us about ourselves within a social, political, and economic framework.
2) To become a critical thinking individual through the course readings, course assignments and class discussions on the issues, events and people that have shaped the history, culture and government of the United States, and have helped to make us who we are. The skill of critical thinking is an imperative to being a functioning and active participant in our government and our society. Thus, current and historical data (e.g., original documents such as graphs, letters, speeches, constitutions, political cartoons, etc.) will be interpreted, applied, analyzed and evaluated.
3) To become an effective and cooperating member of a community through the class discussions and projects intended to produce collaborative products and collectively solve problems. Members of a community are often asked to work with others to solve problems they collectively face. It is important we do our part and make a significant contribution to our community, especially considering that it is often entangled with our own well-being.
4) To have fun learning about American history and prepare to successfully pass the BMXs.
Resources and Materials:
• Clayton, A., et. al (2003). America: Pathways to the Present: Modern American History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. (approx. cost $85.00)
• Additional articles, essays, papers, primary source documents, books, novels, charts, graphs, handouts, Internet sites, etc. supplied by the teacher.
• Pens and/or pencils, notebook, folder and/or 2" three-ring-binder, and index cards.
Assignments, Activities, Assessments & Grading Procedures:
Participation (10%): Students will be evaluated on their comprehension of course issues and content, in part, by their participation in class discussion and activities. Class discussions (dialogue) on the course material is intended to serve as a means of empowering the student through self-awareness, self-reflection and self-criticism as the student attempts to arrive at meaningful conclusions. Dialogue is also intended to make students active—as opposed to passive—participants in their own learning process by introducing the student to their decision-making potential; a skill fundamental to democracy. Attendance, tardiness and inappropriate behavior will also factor in.
Homework (10%): Examples . . .
Guided Readings & Notes: Homework will consist primarily of guided readings, note taking and outlining related to the textbook and additional sources. In many cases the student will receive questions to answer and/or graphic organizers to complete as they read the assignment.
Current Events Articles: Students will be required to collect current events articles, and write their opinion of the event/issue the article addresses. The articles will be clipped and neatly posted with the student’s comments and opinions. The student will be expected to share the article and their opinion(s) with the class on the day the assignment is due.
Written Responses: Short answer (SA) and essays are designed to fulfill a similar goal to that of the paper (see “Papers”), only not as in-depth. They are also a key component on the BMXs (please see the “Social Studies Rubric” for an explanation of the grading criteria for these activities).
Additional Homework Assignments: On top of the class readings, discussion, current events and public policy articles, and written responses, the teacher reserves the right to assign any other additional homework he sees fit such as handouts, worksheets, review questions, charts, graphic organizers, posters, cartoons, poems, etc.
Classwork (15%): Classwork will consist of either group or individual activities to help reinforce the content and curriculum goals of the course. These projects include a variety of cooperative learning activities, role-play simulations, etc. In many cases, students will be required to “teach” their classmates the information in order to enhance the learning experience.
Journal/Notebook (15%): At the beginning of almost every period (and sometimes at the end), students will be required to write a short answer (SA) response as a warm-up (or closure) for class. These activities are intended to introduce or summarize the information being dealt with in class. The SAs also help to prepare students to successfully pass the BMXs since they are patterned after the questions on the Assessment. It is very important students do these activities and keep their SAs organized in their journal (notebook) since their journal will be periodically evaluated. In addition, students MUST take accurate and well-organized notes to use in preparation for class activities and to study for tests.
Assessments (30%) and Quizzes (20%): Quizzes and Assessments will also be given to test the student’s knowledge and comprehension of the course materials as well as their ability to apply, synthesize and make evaluations or judgments about the issues surrounding the material. All Assessments will be announced and will include selected response (SR), short answer (SA) and essay questions. Quizzes, however, may not be announced and will not include essay questions. (Note: some pop-quizzes will be included with the classwork or homework grade depending on what the quiz is intended to assess). Expect to take, on average, 1-2 pop-quizzes a week.
Papers, Debates & Presentations (20-30%): Students will be required to do up to two papers, debates and/or presentations for the course. The intent of the papers is to encourage the student to formulate a coherent and logical argument about one or more of the issues/events in modern American history and to make an evaluation of (or on) the issue/event. The importance and benefits of debate are very similar to that of writing papers with an obvious additional benefit; public speaking. In summary, the writing of papers requires the student to give special attention to problems of analysis, organization and articulation of arguments which support his/her thoughts and evaluations regarding a variety of topics.
Absences & Make-up Work/Assessments:
Excused Absences: It is the sole responsibility of the student to arrange make-up work for excused absences within two school days of the absence. The teacher will determine an appropriate time frame for the student to complete the make-up work. Failure to complete this work within this time frame will result in zeros as grades for these assignments.
Unexcused Absences: As stated in Frederick County Public School's Regulation 500-25, "students have the right to make up class work missed and to have this work reviewed and evaluated by the teacher. Credit will not be given toward a grade for this work. Students have the responsibility to request make-up work within two (2) days of their return to school."
Student Service Learning: The State of Maryland requires that students complete 75 hours of community service prior to graduation. This requirement may be fulfilled through participating in a number of different activities within the school, classroom, and community such as, but not limited to, volunteering to participate in a community or school youth organization such as Head Start or a Big Buddy program. Working as a Teacher’s Aid/Assistant, or volunteering to work for the Fire Department, Rescue Services, Library, Hospital, Animal Shelter, etc.
Course Grading: “…The final grade … is calculated by multiplying the term grades by 50% and adding the product of each. A student must pass one (1) of the two (2) terms in order to pass the course” (Reg. #500-05).
Example:Term 1 grade: B = 3 x .50 = 1.5
Term 2 grade: C = 2 x .50 = 1.0
2.5 = B
Note: “A student who fails the second term of a one (1) credit semester course due to lack of acceptable effort may be failed for the course regardless of total quality points earned” (500-5). / Term Grades:
Assessments ( Papers) …. 30%
Quizzes ……………………… 20%
Journal ……………………... 15%
Classwork …………………. 15%
Homework ………………….. 10%
Participation ………………..10%
TOTAL ………………………100% / FCPS Grade Scale:
A = 90-100% or 3.50-4.00
B = 80-89% or 2.50-3.49
C = 70-79% or 1.50-2.49
D = 60-70% or 0.50-1.49
F = below 60% or 0.00-0.49
(I will NOT round up
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
—Muhammad Ali
AS2 Course Overview
Unit* / Title / Days / Chapter(s) / Dates1 / Review of Civil War & Reconstruction / 5 / 3, 4 & 5 / Aug 22 – 26
2 / Industrialization / 12 / 6 – 8 / Aug 29 – Sep 14
3 / Era of Reform / 5 / 7-4, 8-4, 9 & 11 / Sep 15 – 21
4a / Imperialism** / 7 / 10 / Sep 22 – Oct 4
4b / World War I / 6 / 12 / Oct 5 – 13
5 / 1920s / 6 / 13 & 14 / Oct 14 – 24
6 / Economic Crisis & the New Deal / 9 / 15 & 16 / Oct 25 – Nov 7
END OF TERM 1 / OCT. 28
7 / World War II** / 11 / 17 & 18 / Nov 9 – 28
8 / Cold War, 1945-1975 / 10 / 19, 22-3 & 24 / Nov 29 – Dec 12
9 / Domestic Issues: 1950s-1970s / 8 / 20 – 22 / Dec 13 – 22
10 / Troubled Years: Nixon, Ford, Carter / 6 / 25 / Jan 3 – 10
11 / The Conservative Tide / 6 / 26 & 27+ / Jan 11 – 19
END OF TERM 2 / JAN. 20
*Anticipate an assessment at the end of every other unit & a quiz after every one to two chapters
**Required Benchmark Exam (BMX): an essay based on a Document Based Question (DBQ)
Resubmit PolicyStudents can receive back up to half the credit they have lost on quizzes and assessments. In order to qualify for this credit, students MUST resubmit their test questions while strictly adhering to the following guidelines. Students who receive a grade of “D” or lower MUST resubmit their test. NO partial credit will be given!
On resubmitted Written Response questions students MUST:
• Identify what they did well.
• Identify what they need to improve on.
• Identify what was out-and-out incorrect and/or provide the correct information.
• Explain what they need to work on for future written responses.
On resubmitted Selected Response (Multiple Choice), Matching, and Fill-in-the-Blank questions students MUST:
• Correctly identify the term or concept the question is testing.
• Write the term or concept on one side of a note card (and include your name).
• On the other side of the card, write an appropriate question to which the term or concept is the answer.
• Do NOT use the term or concept in the question!
The Titan Way
“To conduct oneself with respect, honor, and integrity at all times… .”
Classroom Policies & Procedures
Rules & Policies
Ø DO NOT BE LATE!!! Class begins at the bell and is in session the entire period of every day. A strong warm-up will begin the class and a closure will end the class period. Students shall NOT be waiting at the door for the bell to ring at the end of class. Every minute available for instruction is valuable. Detentions, referrals, and parent contacts will be issued according to school policy.
m USE THE BATHROOMS BEFORE CLASS! I do not handout bathroom passes unless it is an emergency, and only then it will be a couple times a semester. You MUST have a Pass if you want to be excused from class.
m Passes to get out of class are rarely ever issued. This includes bathroom, locker, water fountain, office, phone, etc.
Ø COME TO CLASS PREPARED!!! Students are required bring all appropriate materials (e.g., textbook(s), notebook(s), pen or pencil, homework, projects, assignments, etc.) to class everyday and are not allowed to leave the classroom except in cases of emergency. If students MUST leave the classroom, they can do so ONLY if they have their Passbook.
m NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED IN CLASS! (Unless you are a professional educator with a Master’s degree.)
m The use of electronic devices for instructional purposes is only permissible with the authorization of the teacher and prior approval of a guardian.
Ø All Students are to REMAIN ON TASK throughout the entire period.
m No heads are to be down in class. If you do not feel well you must either stay in class or go to the nurse.
m This class is NOT a beauty parlor or a study hall. You are NOT allowed to apply makeup, fix your hair, or do homework during class, unless otherwise directed.
m Always be respectful and mindful of others. Keep your hands, feet, objects, etc. to yourself, use appropriate language, and listen quietly while others are talking.
Ø Make-up Assessments and other activities which prevent a student from giving full attention to the lesson are to be completed within two days of their return, before or after school.
Ø All independent assignments are to be completed and submitted on time.
m Cheating and plagiarism will NOT be tolerated and will be dealt within accordance to school policy.
Ø Help is always available, all you have to do is ask. I can usually meet with you during my prep period or after school until 3:20 most days.